God's Highlander by E. V. Thompson Page A

made a gift of a cow to every Highlander who’s been given a cot by Factor Garrett, I’d be no poorer than I am today – and you’re the first preacher to give a blessing inside this house. I thank you for that.’
    â€˜Minister Gunn never came here?’ Wyatt was surprised. He had been given to understand that his predecessor had been welcomed into every house in the parish of Eskaig.
    â€˜Preacher Gunn was well thought of in the communities along the loch-side, but I doubt whether he ever toiled up the side of a mountain in his life. We have no Sunday suits to wear to church, so we were never his kind of people.’
    â€˜There’ll always be a place for the Rosses in my church, however you’re dressed. If you don’t find your way there soon, I’ll need to come here again. Thanks for your “water of life”. It’s put the strength back in my legs.’
    â€˜One of my lads will come with you. The rain’s stopped, but the cloud has lowered….’
    â€˜ I’ll show him the way.’ The unexpected offer came from Mairi Ross.
    Her words brought Eneas Ross’s bushy eyebrows together in a frown, and Mairi’s chin came up defiantly.
    â€˜Tibbie and I have made clothes for Elsa’s two youngest from a couple of our old dresses. If they’re to be living among folk, she’ll want them to look respectable.’
    Eneas Ross had seen the nakedness of the youngest Munro children. He nodded. ‘You know the mountains as well as anyone, girl – better than most – and the rest of us have work to do now the rain’s stopped for a while. Tell Lachlan he or the boy can come for the cow whenever he’s a mind.’

Five
    T HE MIST OUTSIDE the thatched cottage was so thick it was impossible to see for a distance of more than ten paces, but Mairi Ross was unconcerned. Clutching a bundle of home-made clothing, she strode barefoot across the coarse Highland grass with the assurance of someone who knew exactly where she was heading. Wyatt had already gained the impression she went through life with the same confidence in herself. She moved with the long easy stride of someone used to walking long distances across the wide empty country.
    â€˜You have a freedom that’s rare for a girl, Mairi Ross.’ Wyatt broke a silence that had held for ten minutes after leaving the small crowded cottage.
    Mairi shrugged. ‘Have I? I wouldn’t know. Father was so used to sons when I came along he didn’t think to treat me any different. Does it bother you?’
    â€˜It’s not my concern. It’s your life.’
    There was just a trace of amusement in Mairi’s eyes when she said: ‘I thought preachers weren’t happy unless they were changing people. Making them all dress alike and sitting them in neat little rows in a kirk. Isn’t that what being a preacher is all about?’
    â€˜Not to me, it isn’t. I believe for much of the time it’s possible to feel closer to God up here in the mountains than in a kirk. The important thing is to teach people to recognise God wherever they find Him.’
    Mairi thought about this for a few minutes before saying seriously: ‘That’s the way I’ve always felt, but I could never have said so to Preacher Gunn. He certainly wouldn’t have said such a thing to me – or to anyone else.’ She gave him a sidelong glance. ‘You’re a rare kind of minister, Mr Jamieson. I’m not forgetting that you probably saved Father’s life down in Eskaig the day you arrived – and my brothers’,
too. They’ll remember. It’s rare for anyone to take the part of a Highland crofter in these times. That reminds me…. How did you come to take Lachlan and Elsa Munro’s part against the factor?’
    Wyatt gave Mairi a sketchy explanation of his meeting with young Ewan Munro and told her what he had found when he reached