CHAPTER 26 A New Life in New Zealand

 

When Jock’s flight landed at Christchurch and he had collected his large rucksack, he stood outside the airport and decided that he would hitch-hike rather than take public transport to see his family at Nelson. He thought it would be good to phone Nan in Glen Feshie and tell her about his travels.

Nan was delighted to get his phone call. After Jock had told her about his travels, she informed him that her son Ewan and his girlfriend Betty were getting married the following week as Betty was pregnant. Nan was excited about the prospect of becoming a grandmother. The business and the croft were doing well, but Kingussie Shinty team were struggling a bit. Now that the business was doing so well, the bank had offered a huge mortgage to buy the croft and Jock’s share of business. She also informed him that Linda McCulloch was due to get married and was very interested in buying the flat in Glasgow. She asked him if he knew where the key was and could he phone Linda when Nan had given Jock her number. Jock told her that once he had visited his family, he would return to Scotland and settle the sale of the croft.

He then phoned Linda McCulloch and told her to get a joiner to change the lock of the door in the flat, move in, put all the personal property in boxes and store them in the loft. He said that they could come to some arrangement, either to buy or rent when he returned to Glasgow. There were tears of happiness and gratitude over the phone as she told him that her wedding was in three weeks’ time and they had still not found suitable accommodation. Staying rent free until Jock returned was his wedding present to them.

No sooner had Jock got on the main road than he got a lift from a timber lorry that was going to the Picton sawmill. They reached the sawmill just before it closed and seeing Slade and his harvesting squad coming out of the shower block, he went over to greet them. They were astonished to see him and, after a hearty welcome, they all expressed their condolences and said that they were all saddened to hear what happened to the ‘Boss Lady.’ Slade asked him if he would join them for their Friday night drink in the local pub before they all went their separate ways for the weekend.

Once they had a drink in hand, Jock told them all that had taken place, starting with the timber company, the assault in the house, the trial, the explosion and the walk in America. They sat there spellbound, listening to all his exploits. Although tempted, he never told of his revenge trip to Scotland.

After Jock finished, Slade told him that they had been talking about him that morning and that there was a job going, felling trees in the Rai Valley between Nelson and Blenheim, in a remote area of the forest. A whole section of radiata pine had to be clear-felled by hand and extracted by high wire. There weren’t any tractors in the felled area and all branches had to be burned as the trees had developed a disease. Only one fire was allowed per day and burning was to cease at three o’clock in the afternoon. There would be someone on site twenty-four hours a day until the job was completed. The sale of timber had been bought by a firm in Nelson called Anderson whose rate of pay by tonnage was well above the top rate yet no-one had wanted the job.

Although the remoteness of the job, the burning of branches and having to be on site for at least four months were all drawbacks, the worst part was the person in charge of the harvesting. She was the owner’s daughter and her name was Anita Anderson, although she had been nicknamed the ‘Ice Maiden.’ Prior to her marriage, six or seven years ago, she had been an outstanding triathlete and a very attractive woman but when she was pregnant, her husband had had an affair and they then went through a very messy and vindictive divorce. Since then, she had been very supercilious towards male staff and had never been in any relationship since. Her pride and joy was her five-year-old daughter, Ruth.

Jock was intrigued and the thought of staying in a remote forest appealed to him. He agreed with Slade that he would meet him on Monday morning in the Rai Valley to see the job but that now he was going to visit his family.

On Slade’s advice, he hired a small car in Picton and telephoned his mother to say that he was coming to see her that evening. When he arrived at the farm later, it was like the prodigal son returning, tears of joy and hugs from his mother and sister.

The next day being Saturday, Jock spent the whole morning talking about his exploits in America and playing with his nephew and niece. In the evening, he helped his brother-in-law to finish building a fence on the farm. Next day, the whole family went to church and in the afternoon he had a serious discussion with his mother and sister about the Anderson sawmill. Both had heard that it had a good reputation for honest prices and hard work but knew nothing of any gossip about the ‘Ice Maiden,’ other than that she was very good-looking when she was out of her working clothes.

On Monday morning, as arranged, he met Slade and another man who was introduced as Robbie Adams, the forester for the area. They drove about five miles into the forest to the top of a hill which was where the trees were to be felled. The forest road was in very good condition but there was a bridge, which didn’t look very robust, over a large depression with a small stream running beneath it. When Jock remarked on it, he was informed that it was only capable of taking small lorry loads of timber hence why Anderson was the only bidder for the sale and got the wood at rock-bottom price.

Walking through the trees, they could see that it covered an area of approximately two to three hundred yards wide and just over half a mile long, with a gentle slope to the road, making it ideal for extraction by high wire. Once the inspection was over and Slade and Robbie were about to leave, an old bus with a stainless-steel chimney sticking out of the roof, drove slowly into view. When it stopped, a woman driver got out and Jock assumed, looking at her working attire, that she was the ‘Ice Maiden.’

Introductions were made but were very formal. She quoted prices and conditions in as much as he would be self-employed and the bus would be his living quarters. It had a shower, chemical toilet, electricity, which ran off the engine, a gas cooker and a log-burning stove. On inspection, Jock found it to be very comfortable, almost luxurious compared to what he had used in the past.

On his acceptance of the job, the ‘Ice Maiden’ suddenly spoke in a threatening manner. “If you think, that because I am a woman, I am an object of desire and you try to make a move on me, I’ll cut off your manhood with this,” and she brandished a wicked-looking knife.

Slade and Robbie were appalled at the venom in her voice but Jock burst out laughing. He turned as if to walk away, but spun around rapidly, seized her knife-hand with both of his hands and tripped the ‘Ice Maiden’ to the ground. He threw the knife into the trunk of the nearest tree and stood beside her pointing his finger at her and in a similarly threatening voice, told her, “I do not like being threatened. If you had been a man, I would have broken your arm but I have never hurt a woman, so you can get someone else to cut your timber. I came here to ease the pain of grief from the loss of a real woman, and you are not even good enough to lace her boots. Even Sophia Loren would not interest me, never mind you.” Jock then turned and walked away.

Scrambling to her feet, her face red with embarrassment, the ‘Ice Maiden’ called out, “I’m sorry Scotty. I was out of order and must apologise. I’m in need of your help. I must have a load of sixteen-foot logs, first thing Monday morning at the sawmill or we’re going to lose out on a big contract and the business will go bankrupt. I’ll even bring a packed lunch for you on the days that I’m on site. Please, forgive me and change your mind.”

Without looking back, Jock answered, “Give me free diesel for the running of the bus and it’s a deal.”

“I’ll agree to that,” came the very grateful reply.

Jock turned round and offered his handshake to confirm the deal. It was readily accepted. Slade and Robbie Adam could only look on with amazement at the dialogue just exchanged between Jock and the ‘Ice Maiden.’

Jock then explained how he would start the job to get a quick and easy first load of logs. He would need to go the bank and buy equipment, tools, workwear and provisions that would enable him to start work on Wednesday afternoon at the latest. Driving back down the forest track, Slade and Robbie congratulated Jock on the manner in which he had handled the ‘Ice Maiden.’

That afternoon, Jock visited the bank to open an account and was amazed at the money that had accrued in it. On the strength of this balance, he made some more extravagant purchases including three power saws, safety clothing and axes. He then did a huge shop for provisions in the supermarket. He visited a charity shop and bought a large number of shirts and jerseys, anticipating that in burning the branches the sparks would burn holes in his clothes. It was evening when he arrived back at his family’s farm and he talked with them, long into the night, about his plans and his return to Scotland.

 Next morning, Jock’s sister and brother-in-law were going to a sheep auction in Picton so his sister returned his hire car while his brother-in-law dropped Jock and all of his equipment off at the forest in the Rai Valley, before going on to join her in Picton. Before they left, Jock borrowed several tools from the farm, some old pots and a large metal grill to be used as a barbeque.

Dropped off in the early morning, it took Jock until lunchtime to get his home in order. He was impressed with the little workshop at the rear of the bus where he could do all his power saw maintenance in comfortable surroundings.

It was late in the afternoon and he was having a tea-break when he heard the noise of a vehicle approaching. He recognised the sound of the engine but could hardly believe his eyes when he saw a Ford Major tractor, being driven by the ‘Ice Maiden’ and pulling a Timber Master trailer behind it. Jock walked over to meet her.

“Which museum did you get that from?” queried Jock.

“Don’t knock it Scotty,” came the reply, “I learned to drive on this machine and I’ve looked after it ever since.”

“Not at all Miss Anderson. I also learned to drive on a similar tractor, but it had a powerful hook winch on the back of it, before Timber Masters came into the industry,” explained Jock.

“Before we go any further with this conversation, I want to apologise for my conduct yesterday. I’d also be obliged if you’d call me Anita as Miss Anderson sounds too formal for a bushman,” asked Anita.

“So be it,” agreed Jock with a cheeky smile on his face.

“I see you started earlier than you expected,” said Anita. “I’m impressed with the standard of your work. Slade said you were good, but I didn’t think you’d be this good.”

Jock was taken aback by the compliment, stroked his chin with his forefinger and thumb and the only thing he could think to say was, “How are you going to get back to Nelson?”

“My bike is in the back of the Timber Master and it’s only fifteen miles, most of which is downhill.”

At a loss for words, Jock returned to where he was working and started to fell another tree. By the time the saw ran out of fuel, Anita had gone and Jock carried on working until darkness fell.

Up at first light next morning, Jock was soon at work felling timber. At about ten o’clock, an eight-wheeled timber wagon driven by Anita arrived on site. She asked if they could get a load of ten ton ready by the afternoon, using the grab of the crane on the timber lorry and a length of chain. When Jock agreed to help her, she handed over a packed lunch with the remark, “As promised.”

There was very little conversation during lunch break and then they started to load the lorry. Jock chained each log and then unchained it after it had been brought to the area where it was to be loaded with the grab. It was a slow process and it was almost three o’clock before it was all loaded. It was Jock’s turn to be impressed, with the skill Anita demonstrated in using the levers on the grab to load the timber wagon, but he didn’t comment. No conversation took place, communication was only carried out via hand signals. When Anita indicated that the wagon was loaded, Jock waved his hand in acknowledgment and went back to felling trees, leaving her to chain the load and ensure that it was secure.

It was a similar story the following day when the timber lorry appeared mid-morning and Anita handed over his packed lunch. She explained that she was going to carry the three-metre pulp logs to the side of the lorry, then load them with the grab. Jock offered to help her carry the logs but his offer was politely declined.

They were felling and extracting so much wood now that this was adding to the cash flow problem. It was therefore essential to take the wood to the docks at Nelson harbour as soon as possible as Anita’s firm was paid as soon as the boat was loaded.

Anita also mentioned that she would not be coming the following day, but could Jock have a spar tree prepared for Saturday morning and they would also extract whatever timber he had cut by then. Jock agreed and returned to felling trees.

Just after lunch, Robbie visited the site to conduct a safety check on Jock. Everything from bench-felling the trees to the contents of his First Aid box were examined and Robbie took photographs of it all. Everything was in perfect working order and Robbie was clearly impressed with Jock’s work. Jock informed him that he would start burning the branches after the second spar tree had been felled. Again, he worked until darkness fell.

The next day, he worked alone from dawn until early evening.

On Saturday morning, he was felling beside the spar tree when Anita arrived in the timber wagon. Working together, they set up the high wire in just over an hour. As they sat on a pile of logs having an early lunch, Anita broke the silence, “You don’t say much Scotty. You don’t like me, do you?”

“There is no like or dislike,” came the reply.

Antia continued, “Slade told me about your troubles and about most of what happened. I can almost relate to what you are going through but please don’t bottle it up. If you want to talk about it, I’m a good listener.”

Jock just shook his head to signal his refusal, then suggested, “Let’s get the timber to the roadside or it will be dark before we finish.”

Everything went smoothly and again Jock was impressed with the way in which Anita handled the Timber Master’s controls as he secured the logs before they were whisked down to the roadside. When they were finished, Anita took down the high wire herself while Jock carried on working. He noticed her loading the lorry and was surprised that she drove off with no goodbyes or other parting acknowledgements.

Going for a run next morning, Jock came across a good-sized stream which was teaming with trout. Reverting to his childhood, he lay on the bank and practised the art of guddling, catching the fish with his bare hands after tickling their bellies with his fingers. Within half an hour he had six sizeable trout on the bank. He was amazed at how easy it was compared to guddling in a Scottish Highland stream.

Back at the bothy, as he called the bus, he used the power saw to cut an angled slice from a long log to make a plaque on which he prepared the fish for cooking. He then lit a fire and started to burn branches. About lunch time, he let the fire die down until it was just a heap of hot ash, on which he placed the metal grill and fish. He was just turning the fish with a forked stick when a pickup drew up. It was the same model and colour as the one he owned in Achlean and a lot of unhappy memories came flooding back.

Antia was driving but he barely recognised her as she was dressed in a dark suit which showed off her figure to its best advantage. Her blonde hair was tied back and a little bit of make-up made her look very attractive. She was accompanied by a little girl of five to six years of age, similarly dressed and looking like a miniature Anita. Mother and daughter came over to the fire and Anita introduced Jock to her daughter Ruth.

“I would shake your hand Ruth,” explained Jock, “but my hands are very dirty.”

“That’s alright,” said Ruth, “Mummy’s hands are always dirty.”

This remark made Jock and Anita laugh out loud. Anita told Jock that after church and Sunday school, she had decided to bring Jock’s provisions, two jerry cans of fuel for the power saws and diesel for the bus. She also brought an account of the tonnage extracted and the money paid into Jock’s bank account after expenses had been deducted.

Anita was curious about what Jock was doing and when she saw and smelled the cooked fish, remarked, “A bit of cave man cuisine is it not? Where did the fish come from? Can I have a taste?”

Jock shook his head and offered her a piece of fish impaled on a pointed stick. When she ate it, she exclaimed, “That’s delicious! Better than some I have tasted in posh restaurants.”

“Mummy, can we have a barbeque and roast marshmallows?” came a small voice.

“Not today but in the very near future I promise.”

Walking back to the pickup and unloading it, Jock was having a conversation with Ruth about the Sunday school and her likes and dislikes. As they were about to drive off, Ruth asked if Jock had a little girl and being informed of the negative, she announced, “I don’t have a daddy so you could be my daddy and I could be your little girl.”

The simplicity of the statement caught Jock unawares. The memory of the pickup, a well-dressed woman and the innocence of a small child brought a lump to his throat and a flood of tears to his eyes which he could not hold back. He turned around and walked away, clenching his fists in despair and self-pity. Anita, seeing his distress, got out of the car, put a hand on his shoulder and asked if he was alright.

“Leave me and leave here,” ordered Jock, between his suppressed sobs.

When he heard the pickup leave, his grief poured out in great wracking sobs, eventually leaving him with a real mix of emotions. Shame for the tears and remorse for his grief but then a feeling of wellbeing, as though he had been cleansed of an illness.

He moodily ate the rest of the fish and gazed at the remnants of the fire, before working like a madman, throwing branches on the fire, until three o’clock. That night in bed he knew he had to apologise to Anita for his shortcomings.

Up at first light next morning and working hard, he was snedding the branches of a tree he had just felled when he looked up and was surprised to see Anita standing at the end of the tree trunk. As well as a packed lunch, she was offering a plastic cup of coffee. He stopped the saw and apologised for his distress the day before.

For the first time they sat on a log together, drinking coffee. At Anita’s insistence he told her all about Mary, how they met and then fell out, got together again, the attack in the house, the croft at Achlean, the explosion and the funeral. He had to admit to himself that talking about it did make him feel better.

Anita asked only a few questions for clarification and then told him about her very bitter divorce, empathising with him over the loss and grief. Apparently, her ex-husband was also a triathlete and after a whirlwind romance they had got married and she immediately became pregnant. He was competing at an event in Christchurch and she thought she would surprise him with a visit. She did too when she found him in bed with a female triathlete and she knew that she could never forgive him or trust him again. He was English and was now living in London and there was no way she would ever be in contact with him again.

As they told each other about their past troubles, there seemed to be a chemistry developing between them and they soon started to share their lunch and tea breaks.

Three days later, Jock completed his bench-felling to the second spar tree and they extracted the timber on the following Saturday. They loaded the timber wagon and as he was giving her a hand to tighten the load with rope, she remarked, “After church tomorrow, my brother, who runs the sawmill, his wife and two boys, my mother, my daughter and I intend to come up for a barbeque. Could you have a pile of hot ashes ready and let them taste your fish? My brother and mother are keen to meet you.”

Taken aback, Jock could only reply, “I’ll do my best.”

That night he gave his ‘bothy’ a good clean and washed and hung out his washing on a makeshift line, hoping it would dry before the visitors arrived.

He ran to the stream next morning and had a successful guddling with eight good-sized trout on the bank by the time he had finished. The fire was blazing and he was preparing the fish when Anita drew up in the pickup with her mother and daughter, followed by another vehicle which had wheelchair access. Once the ramp was lowered, a man in a wheelchair reversed onto the road and drove towards where Jock was standing. Two boys, aged about twelve to thirteen years, were already on the road and throwing rugby balls to one another. Ruth came running towards Jock shouting, “Mr Scotty, we’ve got a big packet of marshmallows for toasting.”

Anita introduced her mother Anna, who looked like an older version of her daughter, her brother Peter and his wife Rose. The two boys were intent on throwing the rugby balls to each other. The women went to the back of the car and Peter took Jock aside, “Before we start to enjoy ourselves, can we talk about the job?”

“Go ahead,” replied Jock, “It’s as good a time as any.”

“First of all, I’m impressed with the tonnage you have produced and your standard of presentation. I met Slade at Picton sawmill on Friday and he was astounded when I told him how many tons you had felled. I didn’t know until then that it was your late wife who discovered the theft that was going on there and then turned it to her firm’s advantage. She must have been quite a woman!” Jock just nodded in agreement, unable to comment.

Peter continued, “As soon as possible, we need you to cut some eight-and-a-half-foot long logs that can be used for four-by-four baton posts. The firm that ordered the sixteen-foot boards for fencing omitted to ask for posts, hence the rush. That’s why I was down at Picton sawmill on Friday, but none were available. The second request is a favour for my foreman. He has a sixteen-year-old son who has a very bad speech impediment. Could you show him your work and teach him to be a bushman? He has a motorbike, so transport isn’t a problem. We’ll pay his wages as a favour to his father who has been with our firm over twenty years. Anita could bring him up tomorrow to show him the way and to introduce you to each other.”

Jock stroked his chin with his thumb and forefinger before he announced, “The logs aren’t a problem as I have opened up the area so I can increase production. It would be handy to have someone here with me for health and safety reasons but if he doesn’t shape up or acts the fool or is lazy, he will be back down the road. Make that clear to him before he starts, but if I find him a willing worker I’ll teach him all I know.”

“That’s fair enough,” concurred Peter and the two men joined the ladies who had seats all around the fire which was now a huge heap of glowing ash.

The fish that Jock had prepared were ideal starters, but instead of a pointed stick, this time they were served on paper plates. The beef burgers came next, washed down with a beer called Monteith’s Summer Ale. The highlight for the three children was toasting the marshmallows on a pointed stick that Jock prepared with his knife. Ruth came over and sat beside Jock, chatting away to him as though she had known him for years. Jock and Peter played with the boys, throwing the rugby balls at them when they were running. Peter told him that they were playing in a tournament in Blenheim the following weekend. Jock could not help admiring how Peter coped with everything he did in a wheelchair. Speaking to Anita, he learned that Peter’s loss of mobility was due to a motorcycle accident but he drove round the sawmill without any problems. Jock couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed being in such relaxed company.

As they were packing up to go home, Anna came over to speak to Jock. Taking him aside and speaking in a confidential manner, she said, “First of all, thank you for your hospitality. I don’t know if it’s the work here or you, but my daughter is more like her old self than she’s been in a long time. Maybe it’s a combination of both. It’s good to see her laugh and smile again. The other thing that has roused my curiosity is what that big blue bag hanging on the washing line is?”

Jock laughed, “That’s the liner for my sleeping bag. I had hoped to have them dry before you came as I thought it would be afternoon before you arrived. At home in Scotland it would be frowned upon to hang out a washing on a Sunday.”

It was Anna’s turn to laugh, “What nonsense! I’ll give Anita some old duvets and covers and then every weekend you will get a change of bedding. I’ll put them in the laundrette, together with all your other laundry. I won’t take no for an answer young man.”

Jock protested but Anna continued unabated, “You’re working hard all day and cooking for yourself, that’s enough for any man. I just wish my daughter had met someone like you instead of that playboy. He was really good-looking, like a film star, but didn’t know what a hard day’s work was like. A spoiled brat, living off his rich parents’ allowance.”

Anita and Ruth came over to join them, “What are you two talking about?” she enquired.

In an instant, Jock declared, “Your mother insists that I am hopeless at washing clothes so every weekend you have to take my dirty clothes and she will take them to a laundrette.”

Anita laughed, remarking, “That is so she can have a coffee and a gossip with all the staff and customers. Thanks for everything, everyone has enjoyed themselves.”

Ruth then spoke up, “Mr Scotty, could you take my hand and walk me to the pickup please.” Jock did as requested and felt overcome with happiness, talking to a wee girl about going to school the next day. Waving the vehicles goodbye, Jock felt lonely for the first time but then dismissed it and got all his tools prepared for the next day’s graft.

He had just got the fire lit next morning and was burning the branches when he saw the pickup, followed by a motorbike. Anita and the youth came over to where he was working. She introduced the boy as Billy Green. The lad tried to introduce himself, but the words would not come, so Jock showed him the special way to put the branches on the fire. Anita informed him that his fuel, provisions, packed lunch and laundry were outside the bus and that in her daughter’s eyes, he was a knight in shining armour.

“Any chance of putting everything in the workshop and bringing the packed lunch here?” asked Jock.

“I give the orders here Scotty but this once I’ll do as you ask, in return you better have a load of these eight-foot-six-inch posts for Thursday morning.”

Jock just laughed and gave her a wave of his hand in acknowledgement, then he started to fell some trees. He kept a watchful eye on Billy and was content with what he saw. At lunch time, he tried to engage him in conversation but found it really hard, so he showed him the saw and how it worked. He explained that if he worked well with no messing about, then in a couple of weeks he could be using one. Billy seemed pleased with that and went back to burning the branches.

After their afternoon break, Jock showed Billy the different sizes of logs and how to stack them using a set of tongs to drag and lift them, ready for the high wire. When he had done that, he was shown how to sned the branches of a tree using an axe and how to keep the tree as a barrier between himself and the axe. At five o’clock, Jock told him it was time to go home and without a stammer he said, “It’s been hard work but I enjoyed it. See you tomorrow.” It was Jock’s turn to be surprised.

Very early on Thursday, the timber wagon arrived, driven by Anita and followed by Billy on his motorbike. Together they showed Billy how to set up the high wire and how to unhook the logs at the Timber Master. They also explained all of the safety procedures. The extraction went like clockwork, with Anita not having to leave the controls to unhook the logs while Jock hooked the logs in the wood at the other end. They were finished by lunch time and even Billy contributed to the conversation. It was agreed that Anita would take a load of posts to the sawmill that afternoon and leave the high wire up so that Jock could fell the trees at an angle. She would return on Saturday for another load and extract the timber.

It was the same on Friday with Billy getting more confident in his work and with his speech. As he left on his motorbike, he shouted, without any hesitation, “See you on Monday morning Jock.” Jock laughed and waved goodbye and kept working till dark.

He had just finished felling a tree next morning when he saw the timber wagon arrive, so he went over to meet Anita and they had a tea break together, enjoying one another’s company. She told him that the whole forest was coming up for sale next year and some big firm would probably buy it as it was way out of Anderson’s price range. The bank would never lend her that amount of money.

She asked Jock how he had caught the fish and when he told her she didn’t believe him, so he agreed to demonstrate once the timber was extracted and loaded onto the wagon. It was a really warm day and Jock was just wearing a vest. He noticed that Anita had a t-shirt on but was not wearing a bra.

By lunchtime, the timber was extracted, the lorry loaded and the fuel line taken down. Sitting together in the sun, they were both very relaxed as they ate their lunch and enjoyed some pleasant conversation. They decided to walk along the stream and on the way Anita told him about competing in triathlons. When they reached the water’s edge, Jock lay on the bank feeling for a trout. Anita sat beside him, still unconvinced that he would catch anything. When Jock felt a fish, he tickled it then flipped it onto the bank.

Unfortunately, it landed on Anita’s lap, making her scream. She then burst into uncontrollable laughter, exclaiming, “I take it all back Scotty!” Jock put the trout back in the water and helped Anita to her feet. In doing so there was very little space between their bodies. They suddenly found themselves gazing into each other’s eyes but immediately broke away.

Anita suggested that they jogged back to the site and Jock could not help noticing that her breasts were moving up and down to the rhythm of her pace. For the first time since leaving Scotland, his sexual appetite was aroused.

About a mile from the site, Anita challenged him to a race to the end, which he accepted. He ran behind her most of the way and as the timber wagon came into view, he overtook her and sprinted to the finish. She came behind him and held onto him for support, both of them were breathing deeply. Once she regained her composure, she put both hands on his shoulders, looked into his eyes and muttered, “I’ll never do that again.”

Jock suddenly kissed her and felt her arms around him, her body hard against his as she responded to his advances. His hands were all over her body and she moaned in ecstasy. Just as Jock was about to remove her t-shirt, she burst into a flood of tears and pushed him away. Bewildered, Jock’s ardour cooled as though someone had poured a bucket of cold water over him.

In between sobs she cried, “I am so sorry Jock. I want to, but I can’t do this.”

Jock didn’t know what to do or say but was bemused by the chain of events. She couldn’t look him in the face and as she climbed into the cabin of the timber wagon, she turned to face him, her face streaked with tears and sweat and said, “I never meant this to happen. Please forgive me, I just couldn’t do it although I really wanted to.”

All Jock could say was, “A woman’s’ prerogative, I am just glad you didn’t have a knife,” which brought a weak smile to Anita’s face before she drove off.

That afternoon, Jock worked like a demon to destroy the frustration that was gnawing inside him. It was only when it was dark that he stopped and realised how tired he was.

Lying in bed next morning, as the first rays of daylight penetrated the darkness of the bothy, he looked at his watch. It’s Sunday he thought to himself, I’ll turn over for an hour or so. As he did so, he heard a faint noise in the bothy and turned over to see a figure beside his bed. His reactions were to attack but a voice that he instantly recognised, whispered, “It’s only me Jock, coming to make amends.”

Anita slipped into his bed and snuggled up against him, kissing him passionately. At first he thought he was dreaming, but then feeling her cold skin against his, he knew he was in the real world. Now fully awake, their passion surged like a river in spate, coming to an explosive climax together.

Lying back, completely relaxed, Jock was the first to speak, “Where did you come from at this time in the morning?”

“I couldn’t sleep last night, thinking about you,” came the reply, “so I got up early, put my cycling gear on and my bike in the rear of the Ute, drove a bit on the forest road and then cycled the rest. “I crept in here as quietly as I could.” She started to run her hands over Jock’s body and the lovemaking started all over again, albeit at a slower pace. This happened several times and after falling asleep, Jock awoke to find himself alone. Again, he thought he had been dreaming but he could smell Anita’s perfumed body odour and concluded that it was no dream.

Dressed, washed, shaved and dined, Jock started working in the rear of the bus with the back door open, doing power saw maintenance. So engrossed was he in his work that he was startled when a small voice spoke, “Please Mr Scotty, could you show me how to catch fish?”  Jock swung round and there was Ruth, standing with her mother who had a sheepish smile on her face.

Jock was taken aback but managed to answer, “Just let me wash my hands, then we’ll go there,” and winking at her mother, did as he promised.

Instead of walking they drove there, with Ruth sitting on Jocks’ knee, rather than in the back seat, and she chatted with him for the whole journey. When Jock performed as requested, there were squeals of delight, then a cry of dismay when the fish was returned to the water. They had a small picnic by the stream and Jock and Anita would often catch each other’s eye, it was very clear that they both wanted a repeat of that morning’s activities.

Later, returning to the site, Anita estimated that six or seven loads needed to be taken to the sawmill and she would have this done by Wednesday, extract the wood on Thursday and again on Saturday and try to make that the pattern for the remainder of the contract.

So it continued, looking at one another during work, with desire in their hearts and the occasional visit from Anita in the evenings, either on her bike or in the pickup.

One day several weeks later, Jock saw a pickup arrive and recognised his brother-in-law and his mother. “We were stopping in Nelson so I thought I would come and visit you,” his mother announced, “Seeing this wood being cut takes me back a few years. You’re getting more like your father every time I see you, although that is not very often. Anyway, I brought you a “clootie” dumpling because I know it’s your favourite, with a glass of milk to wash it down. I even brought a knife to cut it so you can eat it right away.”

Jock shouted Billy to come over and they each had a large slice of dumpling and a paper cup of milk to wash it down. Jock introduced Billy to his relatives, but he could only stammer a few words of welcome.

Just as Jock was finishing his snack, the timber wagon drew up. Anita was introduced and given a small piece of dumpling which she seemed to enjoy. “What brings you out here?” enquired Anita.

“Just to tell him that he has to come and stay with us at Christmas, and to see if he is in good health and behaving himself,” was the retort.

“You and I will need to have a good chat so you can tell me all about Jock when he was younger Mrs Stewart, I am sure you have some good stories! It was nice meeting you but I have to load this wagon and drive it to the sawmill before it shuts.” With that closing remark Anita climbed onto the wagon and started loading it.

“You can call me Bunty,” shouted Jock’s mother, and received a wave of acknowledgement from Anita.

Billy got to his feet and, without a stammer, said, “Nice to meet you Bunty. It was nice talking to you and I really enjoyed the milk and dumpling. You must be a very good cook. I must get back to work now or I’ll get the sack.” Jock was astounded to hear him talk so clearly and, after Billy left, he told his relatives that those were the most words he had ever heard Billy speak.

Jock showed them round the bothy and explained how the job was working. They talked about various subjects and their memories. As they were leaving, Anita passed in the loaded timber wagon and gave a blast of the horn as a farewell gesture. Bunty turned to Jock with a little smile and said, “I saw the way that you and Anita looked at one another. She’s more than just your boss, isn’t she?”

Jock laughed to cover his embarrassment and replied, “I am saying nothing except I’ll see you on Christmas Eve,” and gave her a hug and kiss before she got into the car.

That Saturday when he and Anita had finished extracting the wood and loading the timber wagon, they shared a tea break. Before she drove off, she said, “I’d like to ask you a big favour Jock. I have been meaning to ask you for a couple of weeks but have not had the courage to do so.”

“That sounds serious,” commented Jock.

“Next Saturday, I’ve been invited to my cousin’s wedding, to be held at a hotel just outside Nelson, and I’ve been asked to bring a partner. Would you do me the honour? She’s marrying a Scotsman and so all the men have been asked to wear a kilt. She knows that I have had nothing to do with men since my divorce and this is her way of being spiteful as she has got herself a man, at long last. My mother, who has been a widow for four years, wasn’t invited to bring a partner.”

Jock stroked his chin several times, considering how he would answer. “No, I don’t think I can. It would bring back memories that I’m trying to get over. You’ve helped me a lot in that respect and normally I would have been delighted to go but it’s too soon for me. Besides, my kilt and jacket are in Scotland. Sorry, but I just can’t do it.”

Anita was really disappointed and it showed in her voice, “What about me? I have bad memories too but I am past that and looking to the future. You would be better doing the same and not dwelling on the past.”

“I said I’m not going and that is the final word on the subject,” snarled Jock.

Anita said nothing and climbed into the cabin, slamming the door shut and drove off without a wave or a blast of the horn. Jock went back to work, his mind in conflict about whether he should or shouldn’t have accepted the invitation.

He finished work for the day and was carrying his tools back to the bothy when he saw the pickup arrive. She has come to apologise for driving off in anger thought Jock, but then he saw Anna and Anita get out of the vehicle. “Jock Stewart, I have come here to change the mind of a stubborn Scotsman with a bribe. If you come to the wedding, I will send you up home-baking two or three times a week for the remainder of the contract.”

Jock put his tools down, looked Anna straight in the eye and said, in a very regretful voice, “It’s a very tempting offer Anita but I just couldn’t do it, even two good-looking women could not make me accept.”

Then, a small voice from the rear of the pickup, spoke up, “Mr Scotty, I would like you to come to the wedding, so you could dance with me. Please say yes.” Jock had a lump in his throat and wondered how any man could refuse the request of such a bonnie, innocent child.

“Because it’s you Ruth, I would be honoured to come to the wedding with you,” and pointing to Anita continued, “It was bad enough trying to get your mother to bribe me to come, but that’s below the belt using your daughter as the ace card. What man has a chance against three women!”

Anita and Anna laughed and Anna gave Jock a kiss on the cheek, whispering, “Thanks Jock. I’ll keep my promise with the home-baking.” Anita stood there with a big smile of satisfaction and declared, “Ruth did that of her own accord. We were as surprised as you.”

When Jock spoke of his concern about not having a kilt, he was informed that there was a dress-hire shop in Nelson and they made an appointment for him on Friday afternoon. The three of them discussed travel arrangements and Jock’s accommodation for the weekend. They decided that he could sleep on the couch in the house that Anita and Anna shared.

That Friday afternoon, Anita and Jock took Billy to the forest store in Nelson and got him a light power saw, all the safety gear, fuel can and spare chains. They agreed that it was time for him to start using the power saw and this was their treat for his upcoming seventeenth birthday. Billy was so excited that he could only manage a few words of thanks.

After a visit to the hairdresser’s, Jock went to the dress-hire shop and was dismayed to find that the only kilt to fit him properly was in the Campbell tartan, but all the other accessories were in good condition. He finished off his day’s shopping by buying a lot of casual dress clothes and shoes. As agreed, he slept on the couch in the house that Anna and Anita shared. He was awakened early that morning by a small voice asking him to read a story from the book that was in her hand.

With the duvet wrapped around him, and sitting upright on the couch, Jock was enjoying reading to his new-found admirer when Anna brought him a cup of coffee, “I never thought a big tough bushman could he persuaded to read a fairy tale to a wee girl at seven-thirty in the morning. You never fail to surprise me, Jock.”

He was just about to finish the fairy tale when Anita came into the room in her housecoat, clutching a cup of coffee. When she saw what was taking place she also remarked, “That daughter of mine has got you wrapped around her little finger Jock.”

After breakfast, it was bedlam with them all getting showered and dressed for the wedding. However, at the appointed time all were ready, amid mutual congratulations on how well they looked, all dressed up. Photographs were taken and Anita promised to send one of Jock, dressed in a Campbell kilt to Doug and Beth Campbell. They went to the wedding in the pickup, which had been washed and polished for the event.

The church service was held on the lawn of the hotel and was impressive in its simplicity in the open air. Two psalms were sung. Ruth was between Anita and Jock. After the service, Ruth announced, “Mummy, Mr Scotty sings like a baby cow!” which made the three adults laugh out loud.

“Actually Jock,” conceded Anita, “You have a rich, baritone voice and I noticed you never looked at the hymn sheet once when you were singing. You were away somewhere else in your mind.”

Surprised by the compliment, Jock admitted, “I was away back in the kirk at Ballachulish, as a laddie at Sunday school.”

The entertainment after the meal was all Scottish country dances and Jock danced with all of his companions several times. The three of them had several drinks but were not intoxicated. During the interval, he was chatting to Peter and Rose and playing with balloons with the two boys when Anna came across the room. She had been talking to friends and relatives. “Jock, you’ve done it again,” she declared, “Everyone has noticed you and been impressed with the manner in which you have conducted yourself. They’re all curious about where you’re from.”

“You should have told them that I’m from an escort agency,” laughed Jock, “and that I’m a top-of -the-range model.” At that reply, everyone including Anita burst into gales of laughter.

The proceedings were coming to an end and Anita had taken Ruth to the toilet when Anna took Jock aside and spoke to him in a serious tone, “Jock, I’m going to speak frankly with you. I can see the way you and Anita look at each other and I suspect that you are having an affair, which has been good for her as she is back to being the daughter she once was. However, she’s had a terrible time lately, with the divorce, then her father died and her brother had that terrible accident and she’s running the sawmill by herself. I help her as much as I can with Ruth who, by the way, just adores you. I don’t condemn you having an affair as you’re both adults and you are an outstanding man for any woman to be with. All I ask is please don’t hurt her the way she was hurt before. I’m going to take Ruth home as it is long past her bedtime, so you can stay here with Anita. Take this, I’ve just paid for it.” She smiled, gave Jock a tender kiss and handed him a hotel bedroom key with a number on it.

Anita and Ruth came back and, in a very jocular manner, Anita said, “Was that you kissing my mother?”

“Other way around,” laughed Jock, “and she has sussed that her daughter is having an affair with one of the employees.”

Anita put her hand over her face and muttered, “Oh no! At least it’s in the open now. Does she approve?”

“Yes and no,” replied Jock, “but she gave me this and she’s going to take Ruth home. They’re getting a lift with some friends.”

When she saw the key, Anita smiled and said, “Well, we’d better make the most of it then and get value for the money she spent.”

That night, their lovemaking was long, slow, loving, relaxed and fulfilling. In the morning, after showering and getting dressed, they were alone in the dining area enjoying a continental breakfast, and discussing various subjects when Anita asked, “Jock, what are your plans after the contract is finished?”

“Oh, that’s simple,” replied Jock, “I’m going back to Scotland to sell two properties that have potential buyers, tidy up my affairs, load a container with all of my personal affects and then return to New Zealand to start up a business of some sort. Or maybe I’ll get a small holding, it all depends on how much money I accrue when everything is sold. Does that answer your question? I know I’m a good few years older than you, but you are one of the reasons I am returning to New Zealand.”

Anita said nothing but leaned over and gave him a passionate kiss. In a tearful voice, she said, “Thanks, that’s all I needed to know.”

They arrived back at the house before Anna and Ruth were out of bed. They agreed that Jock would leave his casual clothes at the house, he would go to church with them that morning, and Anita would drive him back to the site with all of the fuel, laundry, provisions, Billy’s equipment and the home-baking as promised, that afternoon. Either Anita or her mother would return his kilt outfit to the store the next day.

On Monday morning, it was a very excited Billy who arrived for work, long before his allotted starting time. He handed Jock a big envelope, and without a stammer, said, “That’s for you because you have helped me a lot.” Jock opened the envelope and what he saw astounded him. It was a pencil drawn sketch of him, Anita and Billy extracting timber with the high wire. It was so perfect in detail, the three figures were instantly recognisable.

“Did you do that?” asked Jock.

“Aye, do you like it?” replied Billy.

“You have a talent that should be encouraged because it’s something special. Don’t say anything to Anita because I’m thinking of something more elaborate,” explained Jock.

Once Billy was confident using the new saw, production increased weekly in the build-up to Christmas. On one of Robbie Adam’s visits, Jock asked for permission to fell a birch tree in a different part of the forest, where they were growing in profusion. Permission was given on the condition that it was done discreetly, as the forest was coming up for sale early in the New Year. Anita could hardly keep up, between the extraction and driving. The tonnage slowly added up which meant that she had to work some evenings.

On Christmas Eve, she called at the bothy with the pickup to collect Jock, and his belongings, and take him to his family’s farm. They stopped at the sawmill to see Peter and, as they left the pickup to go into the office, they were approached by a man who introduced himself as Ron Green, Billy’s father. He thanked Jock most profusely for the way he had helped his son, not only in work but with his conversation which had improved so much that he had stopped stuttering. Jock told him that he would be learning to fell trees when he came back to work the following week.

After a visit to Peter, they did some Christmas shopping and Jock bought the biggest doll in the shop for Ruth and a fancy wristwatch for Anita. He realised that he was actually enjoying himself with Anita, browsing and selecting presents for all their relatives.

When they arrived at the farm, Anita declined an invitation to stay for a meal, saying that she still had so many tasks to do in preparation for Christmas. Their parting kiss was more of a gentle peck than a passionate embrace. That night Jock had a long conversation with his mother and sister and told them about his plans and hopes for the future.

After the Church service on Christmas day, they opened the presents at the foot of the tree and Jock played with his nephew. For Christmas lunch, they had a barbeque at the loch side which Jock found strange, to be celebrating Christmas in brilliant sunshine instead of snow and ice and inclement weather.

All that day, Jock kept thinking about when he had proposed to Mary in Aviemore, and how much he now regretted and felt ashamed of leaving her there after a silly argument. It was also painful to realise how much he missed Anita, especially after only knowing her for such a short time and how much he looked forward to seeing her again.

On Boxing Day morning, everyone was sitting on the lawn enjoying a mid-morning tea break when Anita’s pickup arrived with the rear load space loaded with fence posts. They all got up and went to welcome her.

Getting out of the vehicle, Anita announced, “These posts are a present from Jock to the farm as I took the price of them from his next pay cheque, but they are at cost price.” Everyone started clapping and laughing. Jock could only smile and shake his head, lost for words to reply. Anita joined the ladies for refreshments and a gossip while the men unloaded the pickup.

Again, as Jock left with Anita there were tearful farewells from his mother and sister. The conversation between Jock and Anita, as they drove towards Nelson, was very lively as they told each other how they had spent Christmas Day. Both admitted to missing each another. Anita told him that they were going to Peter and Roses’ house for a meal as there was a small family gathering, after which she would drive him to the work site so that he could start work first thing in the morning.

The meal was excellent and the company even better. Ruth sat between Jock and Anita with Anna sitting on the other side of Jock. As coffee was being served, Peter spoke to Jock across the table, “Slade told me that you took part in the Falkland War Jock, with a bit of distinction. What are your thoughts on that?”

The room went quiet and everyone looked to Jock to hear what his response would be. Jock frowned and stroked his chin several times before he began, “I don’t like talking about it but I will tell you about this one particular incident that speaks volumes about the whole thing. After I first landed there, my feet were always wet due to the damp terrain and the poor quality of the British Army footwear. My first action of the conflict was when my patrol ambushed an Argentinian patrol and we took them prisoners. After we had disarmed and searched them, I saw they were all wearing these beautiful brown leather boots, so I selected a prisoner about my height and build and discovered that his boots fitted me perfectly. I took his boots and, in exchange, I gave him my boots, cigarettes, coffee and a bar of chocolate and he was delighted. Next thing I knew, all my patrol were doing the same thing and we ended up having a brew-up with the prisoners. We were all sitting around together, drinking tea or coffee, sharing photographs of wives and girlfriends and talking about football. If an officer had come on the scene I would have been on a charge but it just shows you the futility of war. An hour beforehand, we were all trying to kill one another.”

When he finished speaking, all those sitting at the table started clapping, with exclamations of “Well done” and “Well said.”

Anna leaned over and gave him a kiss, causing Anita to retort, “I am watching you mother, that’s the second time I’ve caught you,” whereby everyone burst out cheering and laughing.

It was dark when they got to the bothy and, after he had unloaded and lit the fire, he was about to light the lamp when he noticed that Anita was nowhere to be seen. When he called out to her, a voice from the bedroom replied, “I am in here and I am cold, waiting to be heated up.” Jock had a quiet chuckle and did as requested.

When he awoke, he was alone and after getting his power saw ready, he was joined by Billy. The first hour was spent on instruction and demonstration and Billy was then allowed to fell the smaller trees.

Anita appeared with the timber wagon two days later and they extracted all the felled timber. After the timber wagon was loaded, she asked Jock about New Year. She was dismayed when he told her he was going to work, as the quicker he got the contract finished the quicker he would get to Scotland and the quicker he could return to New Zealand.

At Hogmanay, before Billy set off home on his motorbike, Jock wished him all the best for the New Year. A little despondent, he worked until dark, and then after the evening meal he carried out maintenance on all of the power saws, not stopping until about midnight. Just as he was finishing, the door opened and there stood Anita, dressed casually in a seductive pair of shorts and a t-shirt that showed off all of the contours of her body. The little make-up that she had applied made Jock think what a fine-looking woman this was standing before him. She was holding a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Jock, come and see this. It is a sight worth seeing,” informed Anita.

When he went outside, the constellations of the stars against the dark sky were a sight to behold and, with the eerie silence in the forest, it made them feel like they were in outer space. Anita had brought big cushions and two heavy blankets and they sat there, sipping wine and gazing at the sky in awe of the sheer majesty of the natural beauty.

At midnight, they wished each other all the hope and good fortune in the coming year. Jock told Anita of the many different places where he had brought in the New Year. She said that Anna and Ruth were coming up in the afternoon and could he burn a lot of branches so that they could have a barbeque on the hot ashes. Eventually, by mutual consent, they retired to the bed in the bothy and when Jock woke up, he was all alone.

That afternoon, when the pickup arrived, Jock had a huge pile of hot ashes from the branches he had burned. He was completely spoiled by Anna and Anita who did all the cooking while he just sat in a chair, drinking beer and eating freshly cooked food. At the end of the meal, he helped Ruth toast marshmallows. The conversation was lively with a lot of good-natured banter. When they left Jock was aware how much he missed family life.

At the end of January, the contract was completed and he booked a flight from Christchurch to Glasgow via Dubai. As he had been roughing it for the last few months he decided to fly business class.

Anita drove the bus back to the sawmill and Jock borrowed the pickup to take all of his gear, tools and the birch plaques he had cut to his mother’s house and returned that night to say goodbye to Anna and Ruth. Anita drove him to the airport where, as he kissed her goodbye, he told her that he had only bought a one-way ticket as he didn’t know how long it would take to settle his affairs. The tears flowed from the ‘Ice Maiden’s’ eyes.

The flight was uneventful and he arrived in Glasgow quite fresh considering the journey. He took a taxi to Campbell Holdings Office in Hope Street where he met Linda McCulloch. When meeting her he sensed there was something not quite right and asked her outright what was wrong. It was then that she came out with the bad news. Doug and Beth Campbell had been killed in a road crash, by a drunk driver in a heavy goods vehicle on Christmas morning. The head office in Dallas, Texas had been trying to get in touch with Jock but all anyone knew was that he was in New Zealand and no-one knew where. The funeral had already taken place.

Jock was shocked by the news and phoned the head office who asked him to fly out as soon as it was convenient. Jock informed them that once he had settled his affairs in Scotland he would come over. He stayed that night in a hotel in Glasgow and the following morning he hired a small van. He drove to Mary’s flat and, as they had previously arranged, he met Linda and her husband Paul. They helped him to load the van with the remainder of Mary’s estate. Linda had packed and labelled everything in cardboard boxes, but it was very hard for Jock to be there and to take away items that had belonged to Mary.

Once the van was loaded, they went to the estate agent and the sale of house transaction went very smoothly. Having no use for the furniture, Jock gave it to the happy couple who were delighted. It was when they were having a meal in a restaurant to celebrate the sale that Jock asked Paul how busy he was now that he was in the CID.

“When you were in America,” answered Paul, “We had gang warfare on a massive scale in Glasgow, with murder and violence nearly every day. Then, due to tip-offs containing a lot of information about crime in Glasgow and Liverpool, we made several seizures of huge quantities of drugs. Criminals were scared to deal in drugs for a while in case they were assassinated, but now they are slowly getting back to normal after all the arrests were made. Whoever was responsible did the work of a thousand police officers.”

Hearing this information lessened Jock’s feelings of guilt and he shook hands with them before driving off to Memus.

When he reached the caravan park, he was given a very warm welcome by a surprised Laura and Barry. At their invitation, he stayed the night and in the morning told Laura that he had a lot of boxes for her, especially the box of dolls for her daughter Mary. Any clothes or jewellery that she didn’t want could be given to the local charity shop.

Jock told them of his travels in the USA and working and meeting Anita in New Zealand. Before leaving, he gave them an open invitation to visit him in New Zealand once he had got settled there.

He drove to Kingussie and booked into the Duke of Gordon Hotel. That evening, with a heavy heart, he walked to the cemetery where Mary, Jean and Shona were buried. He knelt in prayer at their gravesides until, with a lump in his throat, he rose and walked away, his eyes blinded with tears but an inner peace within.

In the morning, he phoned Anita who, because of the time difference, was getting ready for bed. To say that she was delighted to get his phone call was putting it mildly. However, she was a bit downhearted when Jock told her that he was going to America and that he didn’t know when he would return to New Zealand.

With a heavy heart, he drove up Glen Feshie to Achlean where he was surprised to see that the container had been delivered and was deposited in the driveway. As soon as he parked the van, Nan, Ewan and Betty came out of the house to meet him. It was a tearful Nan who threw her arms around him and bade him welcome with a long embrace. Ewan and Betty shook his hand. When Jock enquired, “Where is this bonnie bairn then?,” he was told in no uncertain terms that she was sleeping and should not be disturbed.

They decided to start loading the container right away and emptied the van. They then emptied the workshop of his tools, safety gear and plaques. They loaded the goods from the house and again Jock said that he didn’t want any of Mary’s belongings and would Nan take what jewellery there was and take whatever she didn’t want to the charity shop.

After the container was loaded, Jock locked it and walked around the croft for the last time. He had a stop at the tree where Rambo was buried and in a reflective mind, he thought of all the happy memories that he enjoyed. The croft was looking well with the polytunnels, the vegetable plots, the orchard and the hens. He picked a couple of carrots and walked over to Whiskey who was contentedly grazing and, as the pony ambled over to meet him at the fence, Jock wondered if he recognised him or if the carrots were the attraction.

Later that afternoon, in the estate office of the agent and the lawyer, the sale of the house and his share of business was completed in the presence of Ewan and Nan. They agreed to meet for a meal in the Duke of Gordon Hotel that night.

Before he went to the hotel, Jock called in at the police office to visit Inspector Murdo McLeod. In his office, he was made most welcome and Jock handed over a bottle of duty-free expensive malt whisky to a man he now regarded as a friend. On being asked about developments in the search for those responsible for the bombing in Glen Feshie, Jock was told that cigarette butts found at the area where the bomb was detonated had been forensically tested and that they belonged to the Quinn brothers, two well-known Glasgow criminals who carried out a lot of assignments for Tommy Arthur.

Before they could be questioned, both of them were shot dead in their own garage area in Possil, the day after Tommy Arthur had been shot. Their vehicles and stores were also destroyed by fire. All this took place when Jock was in America. A consensus of opinion was that some big drug cartel was going to take over control of Glasgow’s, if not Scotland’s, drug scene and were getting rid of any opposition. This information pleased Jock and again the burden of guilt that he was enduring was getting lighter every day.

That evening in the Duke of Gordon Hotel he met the new baby, Jean Cameron, and her mother, father and grandmother. There was no doubt that she was the apple of Nan’s eye who took every opportunity to baby-sit with her. It was over the meal that Jock told them about his plans and mentioned Anita for the first time.

When Jock gave Nan a standing invitation to visit him in New Zealand once he had settled with a house, she was delighted and promised to do so.

When they left to return to Glen Feshie, tears were shed and Jock had a lump in his throat as their vehicle left the car park. Before he left next morning, Jock laid a wreath at the grave and knelt in prayer to say his thanks for all the good times and to express sorrow for leaving the country so that he could rid himself of the pain of his grief.

Arriving in Glasgow, he returned the hired van, booked into a hotel at the airport and, next day, flew to Dallas, Texas via Toronto. When he eventually reached Dallas, there was a representative from Campbell Holdings waiting to meet him as he left the arrival gate. He was taken to a hotel where he spent the night and a private hire took him next morning to the office of Campbell Holdings. As he was ushered in to the Chief Executives Office, he was surprised to see Max and Amy sitting in attendance.

Protocol deserted, Jock went over and embraced them both, in solace and welcome. When they had all managed to compose themselves, they were given the news that Max and Amy were the main recipients of the wills left by Doug and Beth Campbell. The estate in Wyoming and all its contents were left to them. They were clearly shaken by the gesture and had trouble absorbing the fact that they now owned property worth many millions of dollars.

It was Jock’s turn to be shocked when he learned that he was to choose a forest, up to the value of twenty million American dollars, which would be purchased for him by Campbell Holdings, with the only caveat being that the word Campbell should be in its renaming. He was not allowed to sell it but had to work it to achieve a living. There was an added request in the will, which would be considered a favour in as much as if Jock should ever remarry and have a son, that he would be called Campbell Stewart. If that came about, there would be an undisclosed sum of money given to see him through university when he was older.

Jock was speechless, then his mind cleared and he nominated the forest in the Rai Valley, South Island of New Zealand. His immediate choice astounded the lawyer and a hurried conversation took place between the executives. At Max and Amy’s invitation, Jock would return with them to their new residence and when the formalities of the purchase of the forest were completed, he would return to the office, sign the bill of sale and leave for New Zealand.

Before he left with Max and Amy, he telephoned Anita to say that he had been held up by unforeseen circumstances and that he still didn’t know when he would be returning to New Zealand. She was delighted that he phoned but extremely upset about the delay to his return. Jock didn’t tell her his news about the forest he was due to acquire, hoping to make it a surprise and wanting to tell her face to face.

When they were back at the Campbell residence, Jock helped Max and Amy, doing chores from dawn to dark. Some days he went hunting with Max but there was still a lot of snow around and Max found it heavy-going using snowshoes. Jock told them all about Anita and his work in the forest. He promised that, if all his plans came to fruition, he would bring Anita and Ruth to America to visit them.

After almost two weeks, he was contacted by the head office who told him that everything was now in order and that a plane would return him to Dallas to sign the document of ownership. Before long, he was on the concourse at Dallas Airport and the proud owner of a huge forest. He made a call to Anita, asking her to meet him at Christchurch Airport the following day. She was ecstatic.

On the flight over, he was in a reflective mood and various trains of thought flowed through his mind. He had missed Anita but the feelings he had for her were not the same that he had had for Mary. He deeply regretted all those years that he and Mary had been apart but he also remembered, with great fondness, how happy they had been at Achlean. Could he achieve that with Anita?

He also wondered how different his life might have been if he had received that money to buy a forest when he had been at Glen Feshie. And how everything that had happened since Glen Feshie had been because of Mary, how she went undercover at Kinlochleven Smelter, unwittingly sending a letter containing a cheque to a gang boss and later speaking about it in a court of law, upsetting a criminal gang leader’s ego. The chain of events that followed could have been prevented but the criminals declared war on Jock and his family and Jock had defeated them at a costly price. However, he believed that he had made Glasgow, indeed Scotland, a better place to live.

He awoke just as the plane came into land at Christchurch Airport. Anita was waiting for him at the arrival gate. She was dressed in a smart casual way that showed off her body in an attractive manner and with her warm radiant smile, made Jock think how much he had missed her and how desirable she was. They met in a passionate embrace with a long kiss before either of them spoke. Both expressed how much they had missed one another. As they drove back in the pickup, it was dark but it was also a beautiful, late summer evening. On the way home, Anita chatted about Ruth, Anna and work, and Jock told her of his trips to Scotland and America. He was desperate to tell her about the forest but waited for an appropriate time and place to do so.

As they left Blenheim and drove up the Rai Valley to Nelson, Anita told him that the forest had been sold to a multi-national company in America and that she didn’t know the price, but the family sawmill could be in trouble if work was not forthcoming. When they reached the main forest track, she turned into it and drove to the site where she and Jock had cut and extracted the timer. It was an ideal night, the air was warm and the sky was adorned with a constellation of stars which appeared to be within touching distance.

The two of them kissed passionately. Jock broke his embrace and said, “Before we go any further, there is something very important and special I want to say to you.”

Anita put her hand to his lips and sobbed, “Please don’t ask me to marry you because the answer would be no. I will share your life, your home and your bed but no marriage because you still have a love in your heart for Mary. Until that has gone, the answer is no. Perhaps, if I became pregnant it would change my mind but I am not sure. I was hurt really badly five years ago and I couldn’t go through that again.”

Jock stroked his chin several times before he spoke, “You’ve jumped the gun a bit there. What I was going to tell you is that I am now the owner of this forest.”

Anita gasped in disbelief, then Jock told her why he had had to go to Dallas and the conditions of the ownership of the forest. When he showed her the bill of sale, all she could utter was, “I don’t believe it. It’s like a dream come true. Congratulations! But that still doesn’t change what I said about marriage.”

She then started kissing him in an aggressive manner, and he responded in a similar fashion. Their lovemaking was furious and fulfilling, both soon climaxing together. After rearranging their clothes and regaining their composure they sat on the tailgate of the pickup, arms around one another and gazed at the stars.

“What are your plans now?” asked Anita in a soft voice.

Jock turned Anita’s face so that he could look into her eyes while talking to her, “The first thing is to contact your brother, tell him the news and ask in the future if he would relocate the sawmill to the edge of the forest. Then build a house nearby with a cafe for the passing trade and a canteen at the rear for the workers. I intend to have a large tree nursery, orchard and market garden to supply the café and canteen. The café would also have a gift shop with art and furniture made from the forest, such as wooden plaques, chairs and garden benches. A versatile workforce to work in all aspects of the enterprise which would be called Campbell’s Kingdom. The timber operations would be similar to that at Picton with a huge Trans Alp high wire for extracting and a processor to process the timber and a huge chipper to dispose of the branches which would be taken to a self-feed biomass boiler that would heat and supply hot water to the café and also heat a kiln in the sawmill to dry the cut wood for the building trade. Hopefully, the canteen would be extended for a truck stop for the many lorries that pass between Nelson and Blenheim.”

“Where do I figure in these very ambitious and grand plans?” enquired Anita.

“You will be too busy looking after Ruth and her little sisters and brothers,” laughed Jock.

The two of them embraced, each with their own thoughts about what the future would hold but very confident that they would be happy and content if their plans came to fruition.