Fiona Jameson was frustrated. Her Land Rover had developed a broken axle and she was confined to Oban until the local garage could effect a repair.
This won’t look good on my record. I am sure I did not cause this to happen.
She fussed around her old cottage near the seafront but it took only an hour to tidy and polish everything in the tiny place.
Inactivity was foreign to Fiona. From the time her dear Granny took over her care when she was left an orphan by the sad deaths of her parents, Fiona had understood how essential it was that she should contribute to the household expenses. She did odd jobs for neighbours and helped around the house until she was old enough for babysitting duties. She always had a part-time job somewhere in the community and that was her introduction to many people in Oban.
She waited tables at restaurants and shelved books in the library and in summer she helped out with any tourist-related activities that needed an extra hand. Everyone knew Fiona as a hard
worker who arrived on time and did whatever she was asked to do without complaint.
As soon as she was old enough to get her driver’s license she invested every penny she had saved and took on an older driving partner in a taxi service business. They leased a car at first and got a
good deal from the local garage because of Fiona’s reputation.
Schoolwork often got short shrift as she built up clients by posting lists of prices and services in doctors’ surgeries, legal offices and the veterinarian’s premises. It didn’t take long before seniors in the community, who did not drive, were calling on Grant during the day and Fiona at night, to take them to appointments and events.
When local businesses began to employ them for last-minute deliveries, they knew they had a viable business. After her Granny died, Fiona owned the cottage and had the security of knowing she could support herself no matter what else happened in her life.
It was through her taxi business that she met Anna Mason. Fiona always thought of that as a lucky day.
Anna quickly became a valued customer but, more importantly, she became a mentor and friend to Fiona and was responsible for coaching her through her secondary school exams.
“I would never have made the marks to get into the university if Anna had not come to Oban,” she mused as she watched leaves blow across the road that separated her cottage from the shoreline.
“I can’t wait to see her again and tell her all about my new career.”
This thought reminded Fiona that she should press her uniform jacket so it would be in top condition whenever the Land Rover was ready to take to the road. Sitting for hours driving around on supervision duties did nothing for the smart appearance required of Wildlife Officers.
She immediately fetched her jacket from the closet and set up the ironing table in the kitchen. She always smiled during this task remembering the many hours she had watched her Granny iron her school blouse and press the pleats in her skirts. It was one of those times when they could talk together and her grandmother would share stories of the days when Fiona’s mother was a child in this very cottage.
Granny had taught Fiona the importance of preparing the garment to be pressed. Check for spots and stains, examine cuffs and pockets for lint or handkerchiefs, use a lightly-damped clean cloth and make sure the iron is hot enough for steam.
Fiona went through the list of instructions in her mind as she always did. She found a used tissue in a pocket and a crumpled card the size of a business card. At first she thought it was one of her own cards.
Although Grant had taken over most of the work now she was employed, she still maintained the habit of handing out her cards whenever the opportunity arose. She was about to toss the card into the kitchen bin when she saw the name.
Gordon Campbell
Estate Manager
Glenmorie Castle
There were two phone numbers and a fax number on the card and a symbol that looked like a deer’s head.
“What?”
It took a moment before she remembered the card handed to her on her exit from the castle. Busy days had gone by and the truth was she had forgotten that she had promised to call and arrange a time to return and speak formally to the gamekeepers about the Scottish wildcat project.
“Oh, heavens above! Did I call him a stableman and he’s the one in charge of the estate? And he’s a Campbell! He could be related to the Duke of Argyll himself. What have I done?”
She quickly finished pressing the jacket and tried to calm her mind. During the probationary period she was acutely aware that any negative report could look bad on her record. She needed to fix the unsatisfactory first impression she had left at the castle and she needed to do it now!
The Land Rover was out of commission. Where could she borrow a vehicle?
She found her mobile phone and dialed the number on speed dial for Grant.
“Oban Taxi Services, Grant speaking.”
“Are you on the road, Grant?”
“It’s yourself, Fiona! What’s the problem, lass? I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. How’s the new job going?
“Grant, I need to know right away where you are and where the car is?”
“It’s right here by the house. I’ve no jobs until the school run in a couple of hours or so. What’s wrong Fi? You sound mighty upset about something.”
“Oh, Grant, I need to mend fences. I’ve made a big mistake and I need to fix it as soon as possible.”
“I take it you don’t mean that fence-mending literally? A mistake? That doesn’t sound like you, Fiona.
I thought you liked the new life out on the moors all the day long?”
“I do! It’s just difficult to keep all the balls in the air at the moment. My work car has broken down. Will you meet me at the Columba Hotel? I’ll drive you home then return the car as soon as I can.”
“Don’t worry yourself, Fi. Leave me in town. The wife has a shopping list for me as long as your arm. I’ll get it done in Tesco and you can collect me there.”
“Oh, thanks Grant. That’ll save me time.”
“I’ll be expecting to hear all about this emergency, Fi.”
“Never you mind about that! Just get into the car. I’ll be waiting.”
The changeover worked out as planned and Fiona settled into the familiar driver’s seat thinking of the many hours she had spent driving the big People Mover car in all weathers. It seemed like a long gone past life. Now she had other priorities and at the moment getting to the castle was the most important of them.
There was a bit of a line-up waiting to cross the Connnel Bridge so she had the chance to call ahead and announce her arrival. A cool voice, that might have been that of Gordon Campbell, stated he would be available to discuss the matter with her.
“Thank heaven, he’s there!” she declared to the sheep in the field. “I’ll not sleep a wink if this mistake isn’t fixed today.”
Risking a traffic violation, she roared all the way up the divided highway and along the snaking driveway to the castle, parking beside the double gate into the stableyard.
As she was not strictly on official business, she was wearing jeans and an old blue sweater her Granny had knitted. She ran her fingers through her brown hair and found an elastic band on the floor of the car to tie it back in the ponytail she usually favoured. She hoped her more casual style would make it easier for the estate manager to forget his first impression of her.
She found him in an office attached to the last horse box at the end of the stable block. The sign outside had the same name and job description as his business card with hours of operation added and the deer’s head in a much larger and more detailed illustration.
Clearing her throat and straightening her shoulders for possible battle, Fiona prepared a smile and opened the office door.
Gordon Campbell looked up as soon as she entered, then stood and extended his hand in welcome.
His dark hair was combed in a side part, his face and hands clean, and his clothes, the tweed jacket with leather patches over twill trousers, were much more indicative of the attire belonging to an important man on the estate.
“So glad to see you again.” The identical phrase emerged from both mouths at exactly the same time and caused both of them to stop in surprise.
“Sorry about that!” It happened again, and Fiona dissolved in helpless laughter followed closely by Gordon Campbell’s deep chuckles.
“You go first,” he managed to say.
“No, you go!” replied Fiona. “I have to wipe my eyes before I can speak sensibly.”
“Fine! Whatever you want. Please sit down for a minute. I really am glad you came back. I feel we got off on the wrong foot the other day and I want to make amends.”
“No, please! I am the one who needs to explain myself. I took a very inappropriate, righteous attitude with you. I admit I thought you were a stablehand, but that’s not an excuse,” she rushed to add.
“There I go again! I apologize. You probably guessed I was new at the job.”
He hid a smile behind his hand and politely denied her inadequacy.
“Look! Let’s forget all that and start again. Is it a deal?”
Fiona nodded her head in gratitude and took her first deep breath since entering the office. He was being very understanding and now that the ice was truly broken she could explain herself more effectively.
“My name is Fiona Jameson and I have just qualified with the Scottish Wildlife Services. As you could tell, Mr. Campbell, I am trying to find my way around the properties in the area and establish connections with landowners and managers like yourself. This is a job I relish immensely. I knew I was meant to do this as soon as I began to take the courses and I mean to spend the rest of my working days in protecting and preserving the best of Scotland for future generations.”
God help me, I’ve gone too far and bored the man into a semi conscious state! He looks stunned! What am I doing? Shut up Fiona! He has no interest in hearing your life story.
“I am pleased to meet you. May I call you Fiona, and please call me Gordon?
I feel I know you already, Fiona, as my lawyer in Oban is George McLennan. He speaks highly of your reliability and skills in photography. I am sure this new position can only add to your reputation.”
Thank you George! There’s free babysitting coming your way for this.
“I’m thinking you are not here on official business today, Fiona?”
She tugged at the neckline of her sweater. Sunshine had darted into the office from between a line of trees nearby and Fiona blamed her sudden sense of heat on the warm autumn rays.
“That’s correct, Mr. Campbell ………Gordon. My Land Rover is out of commission at the moment. I borrowed the car from the taxi business I share and I need to return it soon or Grant will be late for an appointment.”
There I go again! Too much information! What is wrong with me today?
Gordon Campbell stood up and advanced around his desk to stand in front of Fiona.
“Right you are! I won’t keep you much longer, then. I just want to tell you that I have discussed the wildcat project with the estate staff and they are in agreement that this is an important step in maintaining the welfare of the wildcat in Scotland. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Please come by whenever you are in the area, Fiona, and if I can do anything at all to help you in the future, let me know. I admire what you are doing. It’s a vital job.”
Another handshake was exchanged, and Fiona found herself walking back to the car wondering what had just happened.
I thought things were going quite well considering all my stupid remarks but then he turned all official on me and rushed me out the door. Maybe he can’t spare the time to chat with a mere girl like me. He looks to be about thirty, perhaps. Probably married with a gaggle of weans about his feet but I didn’t notice any family photographs on his desk. He was very nice to me all the same. I think he was cuter with his hair all flopped over his forehead and his temper riled up. I wish I had worn something smarter for the meeting but I had no time to think about that.
Fiona’s practical Scottish side asserted itself and she concluded, as she reversed the car and headed down the driveway with the tower castle in her rearview mirror;
At least he doesn’t sound as if he will contact head office about my rudeness. I’ve mended that fence, I am pretty sure. I wonder if I’ll ever have cause to come back here again. I would love to see more of the estate and meet those gamekeepers. They might not want to talk to the likes of me but I bet they have some amazing stories to tell.
Gordon Campbell watched the neat figure of Fiona Jameson retreating toward the double gate. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, causing the tidy, longer locks to descend over his forehead.
She was such a bonny lass with that youthful enthusiasm and glowing good looks. Why couldn’t he have built on the comfortable first moments they had shared in the office? Instead he had hustled her out the door with not a word about another meeting.
He never seemed to meet any women at all in this job. Only hunting, fishing types ever arrived on the estate and all the workers were men, even the chef. The ‘daily’ woman came and went like a ghost, leaving food behind for his supper. He had never yet seen her to thank her.
He knew about the range of social events in Oban through reading the weekly Oban Times but he rarely managed to organize a visit there to participate in any of them.
He decided to be more proactive in the near future. At this rate he would be an old man hobbling around the castle on his own forever. If there were more lovely females like Fiona Jameson around he would have to make a sincere effort before it was too late.
A word or two with George McLennan on his next business trip to town would not go amiss. George might have some connections, or some ideas of suitable occasions where he could meet people. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to ask George some discreet questions about Miss Fiona Jameson. He had seen no rings on those strong fingers.
He returned to his desk and the piles of accounts and calendar dates to be scheduled. Autumn in the Highlands was the busiest time of the year. He must be dreaming to think a social life was possible for him, never mind a romantic life.
He could hear the beaters approaching the stableyard with the sturdy highland ponies that carried game down from the hills for the hunting parties. From the sound of the chatter, they had had a good day.
He pushed the paperwork aside and went out to greet them. Ensuring the estate was able to pay its bills was his main concern. All other matters took a back seat today, as they did every day.
It was his life.
For a moment he envied the young Fiona who would spend her days out on patrol in all weathers, not stuck in an office for most of the time like he was.
He hurried out to greet the paying customers with the subtle female scent of Fiona’s hair lingering in his nostrils.
“So how did your fence-mending visit go, Fiona?” Grant’s face and voice expressed deep curiosity. Obviously he had been thinking over the unusual emergency situation while gathering the groceries for his wife.
“Ach, it’s not as bad as I thought, Grant, don’t you worry about it.”
Grant was not about to let this interesting event go by without more information. He continued to quiz Fiona while they transferred the shopping from his cart to the back of the big car.
“Who was it you were so anxious to see, again?”
Although she was reluctant to give Grant fuel for the fire of curiosity, she did wonder if he might have any knowledge of Gordon Campbell.
“Well, I had business up at Glenmorie Castle with the manager, Gordon Campbell.”
“Oh, yes!”
Clearly, Grant was expecting more details before he would divulge any gossip.
“He seems like a nice man. Hard working and quite young for the responsibilities he has on the estate.” Help! ‘nice’ man! That’s the death knell to any decent description!
“Do you know anything of him at all, Grant? He didn’t sound as if he had much of a brogue. I’m thinking he might be upper class Scottish or one of those English incomers.” Fiona realized she had broken down and asked the question directly. She was not going to get anything out of Grant without some degree of honesty. He knew her from childhood.
Grant picked up on Fiona’s interest immediately but he was determined to tease her a while longer.
“I may have heard a thing or two around town about him.”
“What have you heard then?” Fiona slammed down the rear door of the car to punctuate her words.
‘He arrived when you were away at the university that first year. He took over the job after old Hamish retired to live with his daughter in Aberdeen. His legs were giving out on him and he couldn’t manage the stairs in the castle. That’s why the new office was built in the stableyard.”
Never mind old Hamish! What about Gordon Campbell?
‘I think your Mr. Campbell is a nephew of the Duke himself; some relationship of that sort in any case.
He doesn’t get into town much but a few local folk speak quite well of him.”
“Oh, and what do they say?”
Having stretched Fiona’s patience to the limit, Grant gave in and told her everything he knew.
“He’s a fine gentleman, by all accounts although a bittie lonely up there in the castle with no women around. He moved here from Carlisle or is it Melrose? One of those border towns anyway. He didn’t have much in the way of luggage, they say, so I fancy he was not expecting a wife and family to join him.
Does that help you, Fiona?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean Grant. Shouldn’t you be heading to the school about now? You don’t want to keep those kiddies waiting.”
Waving her hand casually as she turned away, Fiona knew she was hiding nothing from her partner.
The word about her interest in Gordon Campbell would be spread all over Oban in no time flat. Just as well the man in question would not hear that word. That might be extremely embarrassing.
She walked briskly through the parking lot and headed back to her cottage.
I fancy a meat pie and beans for supper tonight and I’ll be calling the garage first thing tomorrow about the Land Rover. It’s time to get back to work. I need to start watching out for the arrival of the Greenland White-Fronted geese now that they will be receiving special protection.
A light rain had blown in from the west picking up moisture from the sea. Fiona marched along with a smile on her face impervious to the droplets accumulating on her hair and on her sweater. For some reason she did not notice the weather.