Chapter 26
Una believed an army marched on its stomach, so the table at the Grant Forestry office meeting was always laden with goodies from the café along the road, as well as countless cups of coffee and tea to keep everyone going while they ran over the figures and caught up on who was where for the following week.
By their nature, the forestry workers weren’t inclined to appreciate sitting down for a meeting, preferring to be out and about. Una had clearly worked out that bribery through the medium of baked goods was the way forward. Gabe had been roped into joining the meetings not long after he’d started working, which probably should have been a sign to him that Donald was hoping he’d move into a more senior role. Now he’d agreed to take a promotion and would be salaried, rather than paid on a weekly basis, there would be no getting out of them.
Sitting on the edge of a table in a scruffy, relaxed old building in the Highlands was a far cry from his years of listening to corporate speak. That was probably why he didn’t scarper out of the door at the first opportunity, staying behind long enough to pick up the leftovers for his gang up on the hill.
‘Take these up for your tree planters,’ Una said, tying a bag at the top and handing it to Gabe. She’d stuffed it full of the leftover pain au chocolat and flaky croissants, along with a couple of brown bags full of chocolate cookies which had been left untouched.
‘Will do,’ he said, grabbing the planting plan for the following week with his other hand. They had one more week on the moorland, and then they’d be getting started on the Lochbrannich Estate. The duke had been keen to get moving as soon as possible, and Donald had agreed, which had left Una chuntering with disapproval.
‘The amount of money he’s going to be sending our way,’ Gabe’s employer had said, thorough a mouthful of croissant, ‘I’d get my two kids up there if it was going to make a difference.’
Everyone had laughed.
‘I don’t know what you’re laughing about,’ Donald had said with a chuckle. ‘I’ll have your kids as well. There’s a decent bonus for everyone in the offing if we can get this job in the bag.’
‘Right, I’m off,’ said George in his Inverness accent. Short and wiry, he was one of their lead tree surgeons who’d recently been grounded due to injury and after years of working at height in the trees was reluctantly trying to keep himself busy. ‘I’ve put the measurements for the lighthouse job on that email for you, Una, and I’m away to put those new trees in up at Midsummer House.’
He raised a hand in farewell and disappeared out of the door. A moment later, Una shot out of her seat and rushed after him.
‘George, where’s that measuring wheel you borrowed?’
She turned back a moment later, shaking her head in mock-disapproval.
‘I don’t know, you lot are a disgrace. He says he hasn’t a clue what he’s done with it. I wouldn’t mind, but that’s the third one we’ve misplaced this week. I bet he’s left it up at the lighthouse.’
Gabe saw an opportunity and grabbed it. Meg had been on his mind since they’d been for that unexpected walk together, but he hadn’t been able to think of a way to engineer a meeting. It was ridiculous, really, to be feeling this clueless at his age.
‘I’ll nip up and get it,’ he said casually.
‘Would you?’ Una beamed at him, slipping back into her chair and frowning for a moment at the screen in front of her. ‘I’ve got so much to do here, and I can guarantee George won’t remember later.’
‘No problem, I’ll grab it. I could do with casting an eye over it before we start work next week in any case.’
He called Stanley, who’d been dozing on a dog bed under Una’s desk.
‘Bye darling,’ said Una, reaching down and stroking the spaniel’s ears. ‘You be a good boy, now.’
‘I will,’ said Gabe, laughing.
‘Not you,’ Una said, rolling her eyes. ‘Off you go. Out of my hair.’
Laughing, he headed to his truck. He threw the bag of pastries and cookies in the back, well out of reach of hungry spaniel jaws, and headed off towards the lighthouse.
He glanced at the clock. Nine in the morning. Meg didn’t have any reason to be up early… he’d probably get there and find she was still fast asleep.
It was another gorgeous day. Everyone in Applemore had promised that early spring was the nicest time of year up in the Highlands, but the weather seemed to be pulling out all the stops. The sky was blue and the sun unseasonably warm, so much so that he rolled down the window as he drove along the narrow road that led to the lighthouse. Stanley leaned out of the window, his ears flapping and his tongue lolling as he took in the sights and the scents of the countryside.
Cow parsley had suddenly appeared out of nowhere along the hedgerows. The trees and bushes seemed to be covered with green shadow as their leaves burst into life. In the fields, the farmers were busying themselves with the lambs. Daffodils gathered around a wooden stile that led to a footpath through the woods. He pulled the truck to a halt as a red-haired young farmer on a quad bike appeared from a gateway and raised a hand in warning.
‘Won’t be long,’ he shouted to Gabe, giving a friendly wave.
A moment later, one shaggy-coated Highland cow appeared, stepping out onto the road as if she wasn’t quite sure she was in the right place. She looked from left to right, peering in the direction of Gabe’s truck. He leaned over and put a hand on Stan’s collar.
‘No leaping out of the window,’ he said, warningly. Stan was stock still, his eyes wide. Even after six months of living in the countryside all the wild – and not so wild – life was a novelty to him.
A moment later, another two cows appeared, nostrils flaring as they bunched together with the leader.
‘Come on lassies, get a move on,’ called the young farmer.
About twenty more cows came through the gate, jostling each other and mooing as they were guided by the young farmer towards the gateway which was already open just up the lane. The young farmer gave a wave and shouted his thanks as he scooted off on his quad bike. An older farmer, identical in the same dark green boiler suit and red hair, appeared from the original field with a long walking stick in his hand.
‘Morning,’ he said with a nod. ‘Sorry to keep you.’
‘No problem,’ said Gabe, lifting a hand in acknowledgement.
He bumped over the cattle grid that led onto the road down to the lighthouse, and was surprised to find the gate already open but nobody about.
He pulled up, closing the gate behind him out of habit, and made his way down the track towards the lighthouse, pulling up on the grass verge by the path.
His heart jumped as he noticed Meg walking back up from the lighthouse library. He climbed out of the truck and stood leaning against it, watching as she made her way towards him.
Stanley hurtled towards Eliza with undisguised delight, bouncing around her with his feathery tail wagging furiously.
‘I’m sorry, he’s got no chill whatsoever.’
‘Nor does Eliza, it would seem.’ Meg joined him, laughing as her little corgi rolled upside down on the grass.
‘Fortunately, I’m much cooler.’ He grinned. ‘Although it’s a low bar.’
‘Fortunately, I’m too old to be impressed by people pretending to be cool.’
‘Touché.’ He grinned. ‘I shall stop trying, in that case.’
‘Were you trying?’ Meg said innocently.
‘You’re very sharp for this time of day.’ He looked at her dress, which was pale green and patterned with flowers. ‘And not in pyjamas, I see.’
Meg laughed. ‘No, I’ve taken to sleeping in my clothes so I don’t get caught out by random men turning up at all times of the day and night.’
‘Is that a problem around here?’
The sea wind was blowing up the path from the beach, and she caught her hair in a ponytail in her hand, twisting it over her shoulder as she spoke.
‘No, it’s mainly you.’ Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
‘I’m glad to hear it.’
‘Actually,’ she continued. ‘I say that, but there’s an ever-increasing number of tourists turning up to look at the lighthouse. In fact, I did have a random man who appeared yesterday. A pharologist, no less.’
Gabe rubbed his jaw. ‘A what?’
‘I’m glad you said that. I felt very ill educated when he announced himself. Turns out it’s the proper name for a lighthouse enthusiast.’
‘A lighthouse enthusiast.’
‘Not just a person who quite likes lighthouse,’ Meg went on. ‘A full-on enthusiast.’
‘Who knew that was a thing.’
‘Exactly. Well, you learn something new every day. And now it’s only – what time is it? Nine? And you’ve learned a thing already. That means you can take the rest of the day off.’
Gabe laughed. ‘That would be nice.’
It would be nice, particularly if it meant he could stand here chatting to Meg in the sunshine all morning. He’d wondered since their walk if he’d imagined the spark between them as they spoke, but it was definitely there. There was something in the air – something he hadn’t felt for a very long time.
‘I was just putting some stuff down in the library cupboard. It’s definitely getting busier since the weather has improved.’
‘Ah, that makes sense.’ They started walking down towards the lighthouse. ‘I came to see if one of the fencers left a measuring wheel down here yesterday.’
‘It’s by the side of the lighthouse door. I haven’t seen one of those since school. Do you remember when they used to give us one and make us measure the football field?’
Gabe laughed. ‘I’d forgotten that. Do you think it was just an excuse for the teachers to get us out of their hair for half an hour?’
‘Oh, definitely. I wouldn’t want to be in charge of a class of ten-year-olds, would you?’
Gabe picked up the wheel and turned it, resetting the counter to zero. ‘Absolutely not. So did your pharologist get what he wanted?’
‘Nope. I had to disappoint him.’ A smile curled on her lips. She really was pretty.
He lifted an eyebrow in query as he looked up at the lighthouse.
‘He wanted to look inside. I had to tell a small white lie when he asked if it was open.’
‘So it’s unlocked?’
She nodded. ‘I don’t think we’re meant to have the key – but there’s a spare one hanging up in the building that’s being turned into the visitor centre.’
‘I’ve never been to the top of a lighthouse.’
‘I hadn’t either,’ she said, and then put a hand to her mouth.
‘Uh-huh?’
‘I sneaked up. The door was open, and I figured the chances of being caught were fairly slim.’ She stole a glance up at him and her eyes danced with mischief.
‘So now I know where to come if I want to break in.’
‘Yep. I’m here for all your lighthouse needs.’
He looked at the dogs, gambolling happily around in the long sea-grass. Stanley didn’t have any reservations – he just leapt straight in feet first, grabbing the opportunity for fun whenever it arose.
‘How about now? I’m game if you are.’
She bit her bottom lip and her brow furrowed for a brief moment, then she nodded.
‘You only live once. What are they going to do – kick me out?’
‘That’s a good point.’ He called Stanley, who hurtled over and skidded to a halt at his feet.
‘He’s so well behaved.’
‘Most of the time.’ He took the truck keys out of his back pocket. ‘I’ll stick him in there out of trouble.’
‘You can leave him in the cottage with Eliza if you like. I’m sure they’ll be fine.’
He followed her into the little cottage, ducking his head to avoid a low beam as they stepped down into the cosy sitting room. Eliza hopped up onto the sofa while Stanley rushed around, sniffing the furniture.
‘Stanley, lie down and try to look like you’re at least halfway to house trained.’
After a moment, Stanley joined Eliza on the sofa.
‘There you are,’ Meg said, laughing. ‘They look like they’re about to watch something on Netflix. They just need some popcorn and a Coke each.’
‘It’s quite a long way up,’ she added a few minutes later as they sneaked through the door that led into the lighthouse itself.
Meg went in front, which left him no choice but to admire the dip of her waist in the pretty dress as she climbed the stairs in front of him. She stopped midway for a rest, bending over at the window ledge to catch her breath.
‘Sorry,’ she said, puffing. ‘I’m not quite at forestry fitness level.’
‘Don’t apologise,’ said Gabe, who’d been admiring her curves. He averted his gaze as she straightened up. ‘I expect if you did this every day, you’d soon get used to it.’
‘I don’t know,’ Meg said as they started climbing again, ‘– for all we know the rocks could be littered with the bodies of exhausted lighthouse keepers who keeled over from overwork.’
He shook his head, laughing. ‘It’s a possibility, I suppose.’
They reached the top and he gave a low whistle.
‘It is amazing, isn’t it?’
‘Imagine being up here every day, in all weathers.’
He ran a hand along the rail that stood around the lamp.
‘It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?’ She put her hand alongside his. ‘Imagine being up here in the middle of winter in a storm. It’s so high.’
‘I suspect they were so busy keeping safe that they didn’t have time to think about anything else.’
Meg turned and gazed out to sea. ‘Apparently you can see the light from here for five nautical miles. And did you know that every lighthouse has a different sequence? I didn’t have a clue about any of that stuff.’
‘Careful,’ he said, looking at her profile. ‘Your disguise is slipping. You look like a perfectly nice girl, but you’re actually an undercover pharologist, aren’t you?’
She put her hands over her face and turned to look at him, pulling them away with a silly expression on her face. ‘Exposed!’
‘I knew it.’
‘There is a perfectly logical explanation,’ she went on. ‘I’ve been reading up a load of information that was sent to me for the website.’
He stood looking out to sea alongside her as Meg explained how she’d volunteered to help out.
‘That’s really kind of you.’
She tipped her head to one side, frowning. ‘It is, but I’ve also realised I miss the creative side of my work.’
‘Funny to think we were both working in the same field and here we are now, on top of a lighthouse, miles away from civilisation.’
‘I think the residents of Applemore might object to that remark.’ Meg laughed.
He gave a vague, open-handed gesture of apology. ‘I guess I’m officially a resident now I’ve signed on the dotted line, so I think I’ll give us a pass for that one.’
‘Ooh.’ She turned to look at him. ‘So it’s official?’
‘It is. Contract signed, and somehow my attempt at running away from reality has ended up with me finding a whole new career in forestry.’
‘Not sure what it says about me that I ran away from reality and ended up building a website, which is exactly what I spent the last twenty years doing, more or less.’
‘I suspect it means you’ve got a good handle on what your skills are.’
‘Or I’m really very boring and have no sense of adventure.’ She wrinkled her nose and made a funny face, which made him laugh.
‘I don’t think anyone could accuse you of that. You sold everything, bought a camper van, and drove to the frozen north.’
‘True, I suppose. Anyway, so now you’re officially on the payroll, what happens now? Are you going to be off chopping down trees all over the Highlands?’
He shook his head and tapped the glass, pointing down towards the sea path below them. ‘I’ll be back next week, getting a crash course in fencing from George, the guy who left the measuring wheel here. Talking of which, I really ought to get back. I’ve got a mountain of snacks for my tree planters in the back of the truck and they get tetchy if they’re not fed regularly.’
‘I don’t want you getting sacked for sloping off to climb lighthouses when you’ve just officially started working,’ Meg said as she walked ahead of him out of the light room, ‘Although it would be a pretty good story to tell at dinner parties.’
‘I’ve found that my dinner party opportunities are a bit thin on the ground up here,’ Gabe said, his voice echoing in the narrow stairwell.
He picked up Stanley from the cottage and headed back to the truck, giving Meg a wave and a sound of the horn as he left.
You are such an idiot,he berated himself as he drove back along the street past the harbour, catching a glimpse of the lighthouse in the mirror. That would have been the perfect opportunity to ask her out for a drink or something to eat one night. The only consolation was that he’d be back there the following week. Maybe he’d actually get his act together by then.