CHAPTER 2 Coming Together
When the two men left to go on their night-time expedition, Mary sat on the couch beside Mrs Campbell who poured them each a large whisky and water. She enquired about Mary, her job and how she had met Jock.
Mary explained her relationship with Bob, her deep disappointment in him not coming this weekend and her meeting with Jock. Before Mary could refuse, Mrs Campbell poured them both another whisky and water.
“Before we go any further Mary, call me Beth, all my friends do and I am going to tell you about Doug and me. We met at college and fell madly in love. We married just before Doug was drafted into the Air Force and shipped over to Korea. I worried myself sick while he was away but during every furlough, you call it leave, it was like another honeymoon, each one getting better and better. When Doug left the Air Force, he and a friend bought two surplus Dakota transport planes and started flying freight for a major oil firm. Exciting days! I worked the books and the money rolled in. The business expanded, taking in road, rail and air freight. Then Doug’s friend and partner died and all was left to Doug. He was grief-stricken for a while but then started to buy various companies in trouble, sort them out and then sell at a profit. My only regret is that we never had children. It just never happened, we thought about adoption but discarded that idea. We have our arguments but we are still each other’s best friend and we are still lovers. But enough about me. Tell me about that young man of yours. He makes an impression does he not. Doug is quite taken with him, especially the way he stood up to him. All I can say, Mary, is that you have met a man, a real man. Hang on to him. All the women at the meal cast envious eyes at you because of him.”
The conversation then reverted to the hotel, work in the firm, the area, shinty and shopping. The alcohol was beginning to affect Mary.
Then the door opened and Doug entered, clad in a jersey with
several small holes in it, smelling of wood resin. His face was smeared in mud
and he had a grubby blanket wrapped around his waist like a kilt but held up by
a piece of thin rope. His footwear, an expensive pair of trainers, were sodden.
Mary could hardly suppress a giggle at the bedraggled head of her
company, standing there with a grin that reached from ear to ear. “Douglas
Campbell, what the hell have you been up to?” exclaimed his wife.
“What an adventure Beth! “answered Doug and he started to talk
about his foray at the river.
“Get into a hot shower now!” commanded Beth, as the two of them
disappeared into the en suite bathroom. Beth reappeared with a big smile on her
face and whispered to Mary, “It looks like I’m going to get lucky tonight!” and
with a little wave she entered the bathroom where peals of laughter broke the
silence.
Mary left the scene and made her way towards her own room and, as
she entered it quietly so as not to disturb Laura, she discovered that she was
alone. Her roommate was obviously staying with Barry. The thought that everyone
was having a romantic evening except her crossed her mind but Mary didn’t dwell
too long on Bob. She was hurt and disappointed in him but the rugged soldier
who had unexpectedly come into her life was taking up more of her thoughts. She
admitted to herself that she was strongly attracted to him but he hadn’t even
come to say goodnight when he returned Doug to the hotel. Mary drifted off into
an alcohol-induced sleep, thinking of a powerful figure of a man, dressed in
Highland attire and dancing between two broadswords.
Next morning at the breakfast table, Mary met up with a sheepish
Laura and Barry, and soon they were joined by Mr and Mrs Campbell. After an
exchange of pleasantries and apologies for interrupting their meal, Mr Campbell
asked Mary, “Instead of attending a meeting of shop stewards and management all
morning and best part of the afternoon, would you take Mrs Campbell shopping to
Fort William for some souvenirs?”
“Of course,” replied Mary. “We can use my car.”
“And knowing my wife, you’ll need the help of your assistant and
her boyfriend who can help carry all the presents but be back at the shinty
park at Ballachulish for four o’clock.”
The sun was shining and the water of Loch Leven was as still as a
mill pond. After a successful shopping trip, Mary parked her car on the road
next to the shinty park and as she stepped out of the car, the entourage from
Campbell Holdings arrived.
Mr and Mrs Campbell greeted one another, each declaring that they
had had a highly successful morning and afternoon. “Remember to bring the
whisky,” called Mr Campbell to his wife as he strode towards the shinty park.
A large crowd was watching the game and the mood of the spectators
was good natured but partisan in their support. What surprised Mary was that no
one playing was wearing protective clothing and the size of the playing area
was almost double that of a football pitch. A lot of young boys and a few girls
were playing and practising their shinty skills on a spare piece of ground. No
bad language could be heard. What a contrast to the cold afternoons at Lesser
Hampden Park when she was obliged to watch Bob playing football.
Mary could see Jock pointing to Mr Campbell and shouting to an
official at the other side of the park who came over and introduced himself to
Mr Campbell. She could not hear the conversation so turned her attention to the
game.
Jock was playing as a forward near to where Mary was standing. He
was closely marked by his opponent but every time they ran into a position,
Jock was always two or three paces in front of him and was causing a lot of
problems for the opposition. From a highball at a touchline hit, Jock jumped
higher than anyone else and struck the ball with a resounding connection,
hitting the crossbar with an almighty thud. The goalkeeper was unable to move
in time and the crowd applauded the relevant skill displayed.
A few humorous remarks were being directed at Jock’s opponent who
was obviously tired, trying to keep up with Jock’s non-stop pace. At one stage,
Jock was through on his own and in desperation his opponent used his caman to
trip Jock up. A howl of protest came from the crowd and as Jock picked himself
up, the two players shook hands and laughed.
Jock’s opponent’s name went into the referee’s book and he got a
yellow card. How different from football thought Mary. She inquired of the
score and was informed it was three-three with twenty minutes left to play.
Jock's opponent was substituted but it made little difference as he could not
match Jock for speed or stamina.
Play surged from one end to the other and Mary was quite excited
as the intensity of the play increased. Both goalkeepers had fine saves and
shots cleared of the line.
Jock was causing havoc amid the opposition defence and was
creating chance after chance for teammates who were unlucky not to score. At
the final whistle, there was a round of applause for the players who were all
laughing and shaking hands. As the players and the crowd made their way to the
small grandstands for the presentation, Mary caught up with Mr McLean and asked
him how the meeting had gone that morning with the factories’ management and
trade unions. Mr. McLean informed her that it could not have gone better and
that Mr Campbell was a very shrewd negotiator.
“By the way,” he added. “I told him that it was you who brought
the idea to the office, about the two factories being available for sale
shortly.”
Before Mary could reply, an official was calling for silence to
make the presentation and introduced Mr. Campbell to make the award.
Mr. Campbell came forward and spoke in a very authoritative voice.
“Being a Campbell, I don't know if I will be welcome here but I can now inform
you that my company has bought the smelters at Kinlochleven and Fort William.” At
that remark, an expectant hush came over the crowd and his speech was held in
rapt attention.
“All I can say at this time,” continued Mr. Campbell, “is that I
am impressed with the location, the product and the workforce and I expect
management will have extremely good news for all the workers on Monday morning.
Can I now ask both captains to collect the trophy. Being a draw at three-three,
the competition rules state that each club will hold it for six months. So,
each can have a bottle of whisky to celebrate.” A huge cheer and clapping
drowned out his words as the players came up and shook his hand.
The noise was brought to an abrupt halt by the official blowing a
whistle and he called for order, “This has been one of the best games we've
seen here in years. Good weather, good crowd, good hard play in a sporting game
of shinty and good news from the gentleman from America. Even if he is a
Campbell.”
This remark brought a ripple of laughter. “The man of the match
award, unanimous by all officials in both teams, is Jocky Stewart. What a
performance he put on today!”
There was another huge cheer from the crowd as Jock collected his
award from Mr Campbell. Mary saw the two of them exchange a bit of banter and
both were smiling. Jock returned to the line of players and now that the
ceremony and speechmaking were over, the crowd, players and officials began to
drift off towards the Ballachulish Hotel to celebrate the game of shinty in
time honoured tradition.
Mary made her way over to where Jock was putting on a tracksuit.
“Congratulations,” said Mary,” on winning the award.”
“It’s yourself,” replied Jock, “Was this the first game of shinty
that you have watched?”
“Yes, and most impressed,” was the answer.
“Well then, take this as a souvenir to remember it and the scruffy
woodcutter you asked out on a dinner date. That will be a fine conversation
piece at some fancy dinner you will be hosting.”
And at that
Jock handed over the plinth of a shinty player on a marble stand.
A surprised Mary, stunned by this act of generosity, exclaimed, “I
am deeply proud to accept it and will always treasure it.” Whilst thinking to
herself that Bob would never even dream of offering her a football trophy that
he had won, she went on, “Are you coming to the dance tonight at the hotel?”
Jock stroked his thumb and forefinger against his chin before
replying with a smile. “I’ll do my best to be there but I have things to do
after I shower and change.”
“See you then,” called Mary and she made her way to where Mrs
Campbell, Laura and Barry were waiting for her.
As Mary drove her Ford Escort to the hotel, her three passengers
were teasing her about her conversation with Jock and his gift to her.
When they reached the hotel, they made to go to the bar but beat a
hasty retreat as it was full of shinty players and spectators reliving the
game. Laura and Barry excused themselves and left Mary and Mrs Campbell
relaxing in the hotel lounge with a glass of whisky and lemonade. Beth Campbell
looked at Mary, smiled and commented, “I have had a marvellous day thanks to
you. Going to the woollen mill at Spean Bridge was an inspiration. All that
tartan we bought will be home before us if they send it off in time. When Doug
comes in, he’ll be delighted with the pair of trousers, especially in the
Campbell tartan.”
At that, the door opened and in strode Doug, a ruddy glow to his
cheeks on account of the good glass of whisky he’d enjoyed with members of the
management team.
“What a great day! I've had a ball honey,” he proclaimed as he
reached over to give her a welcome kiss. “The deal with the trade unions and
management went better than expected and that shinty match was something else.”
Turning to Mary, he continued, “I believe this is all down to you,
young lady. You started the ball rolling. How did you find out that the
smelters were struggling? And what are you doing with Jock’s trophy?”
Mary smiled, blushed a little bit and replied, “Last year I was
skiing at Glencoe and I overheard a conversation that a group of men waiting
for the ski lift were having. Instinct made me follow it up when I got to the
office on Monday morning. And as for your second question, the trophy is now
mine because Jock gave it to me after the game.”
“Well said Mary!” exclaimed Beth, and turning to her husband,
said, “and you can try on this pair of trews in the hunting Campbell tartan for
the dance tonight and for the big golf match you're playing in when we get back
home.”