nd stood a-tiptoe to kiss Claire, beaming."Oh, it's grand that you're home, Ma'am, you and Himself, and I've the supper all made, so you'll not be worrit a bit with it,Ma'am, but come inside, come inside, and be takin' off them dusty cloots, and I'll send old Arch along to the mash-hoose for abit of the lively, and we'll..." She had Claire by one hand, towing her helplessly into the house, talking and talking, the otherhand still polishing briskly away, her stubby fingers dextrously rubbing the cloth inside the cup. Claire gave him a helpless glanceover one shoulder, and he grinned at her as she disappeared inside the house. Mrs. Bug would not blink an eye, once informedthat supper would be for ten more than expected.Gideon shoved an impatient nose under his arm and bumped his elbow."Oh, aye," he said, recalled to his chores. "Come along then, ye prickly wee bastard."By the time he had the big bay and the mare unsaddled, wiped down with a wisp of dry hay and turned out to their feed, Clairehad escaped from Mrs. Bug; coming back from the paddock, he saw the door of the house swing open and Claire slip out,looking guiltily over her shoulder as though fearing pursuit.Where was she bound? She didn't see him; she turned and hurried toward the far corner of the house, disappearing in a swishof homespun. He followed, curious.Ah. She had seen to her surgery; now she was going to her garden before it got completely dark; he caught a glimpse of heragainst the sky on the upward path behind the house, the last of the daylight caught like cobwebs in her hair. There would belittle growing now, only the overwintering things like carrots and onions and garlic, but it made no difference; she always wentto see how things were, no matter how short a time she had been gone.He understood the urge; he would not feel entirely home himself until he had checked all the stock and buildings, and made sureof matters up at the still.The evening breeze brought him a...
