Part 26 (2/2)
He consulted his pocket watch: ”It's already half past two. Time flies fast. When are we supposed to be on the boat?”
”Around five o'clock... I guess I won't go to sleep anymore tonight. Would you young ones like to have a cup of strong coffee too?”
They said ”yes” in unison, and then smiled at each other. Helen's lips brushed Andrew's cheek. ”I love your smooth skin when you're clean shaven,” she murmured.
He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. ”I would like to eat you slowly, my love bird,” he whispered huskily, nibbling her earlobe.
She moved away teasingly and replied mockingly: ”Oh no, there's no time for that now.”
”Now, now!” exclaimed Rose. ”Is this all you've in mind at a time of crisis?” And then she added with a light chuckle: ”But then you got cheated out of your wedding night, young man, didn't you?”
The two young people blushed, and hid their faces behind their mugs.
”So, I've two horses to sell, legitimate ones,” said Rose with a big yawn, ”now that the offending animal has been disposed of so neatly. This brings in more than you owe me for Joe's supply of liquor and the ten-pound gift to Owen.”
”You keep the rest for your own trouble,” said Helen.
”And what does your husband say to this?”
”I trust Helen to decide wisely.”
Rose looked at them for a while, a warm glow in her eyes. Suddenly, she got up and disappeared in her private quarters. She returned a minute later with a gold medallion on a fine filigree chain.
”Helen, I want you to have this heirloom of mine. My mother gave it to me when I left for Glasgow. I can't really wear it here, ... and have no children to pa.s.s it on.”
She put the medallion around Helen's neck. Andrew instantly recognized its fine Italian craftsmans.h.i.+p. Helen opened the tiny lid. Inside was an ivory carving of a Madonna.
”Look Andrew, how beautiful,” and turning to Rose, she murmured: ”Rose, I can't take this. Really. It's too precious. You must keep this for yourself.”
She raised her hands to take it off, but Rose prevented her. ”I want you to have it, Helen. To remember me. You've become very dear to me, like a daughter of my own.” Her usually boisterous voice trembled, and her eyes had a watery sheen.
”Oh Rose,” exclaimed Helen, hugging the chubby motherly figure. ”How can I thank you?” she cried, wiping her tears. ”I love you also... And I owe you so much.”
”It makes me happy to see you happy,” whispered Rose.
Helen turned to Andrew: ”May I keep it?”
”Helen, you're your own master. But if you ask me, I would like you to wear it always so that I'm reminded of a true friend when we needed one.”
Rose grabbed him spontaneously and gave his a hearty hug. ”You're all right, young man. She's in good hands.”
Shortly after three, Owen returned, beaming broadly. He did not wait for Rose to ask him why, but began spouting out the news. ”I waited around the tolbooth. It only took a few minutes, and one of the jailers ran straight over to the chief constable's office with the letter, and raised the alarm, and soon afterward three constables went at the double down Saltmarket and into Bridgegate. I followed them at a safe distance and then sneaked around to the Golden Eagle from the back. And sure, they had found the stallion already. Two of them went into the tavern and tried to wake the Highlanders. It must have taken five minutes before they managed to rouse the old man.”
”That's what he calls your father,” Andrew whispered with a chuckle.
”He wouldn't be pleased to hear that,” she answered smiling.
”And then?” questioned Rose.
”Then ... nothing. I left. I thought you all wanted to know!”
Rose stared at him with her mouth open. ”This is so unlike you to leave when things start hotting up.”
”As I said, nothing happened. Each time a constable got one of the guys awake and then tried to rouse the one next to him, the first one would simply slump back on the table. I wouldn't be surprised if they were still at it.”
Helen giggled. ”I would have liked to see this. But mind you, once they are awake, three constables will hardly contain them.”
”Two constables,” Owen corrected her, ”the third was guarding the horse. But now, I want to turn in. So master Andrew, and lady, it was a pleasure to be of service to you and I wish you a good journey to America. I may want to make that journey too, one of these days.”
”May I hug you, Owen,” asked Helen. Her eyes got moist again. After a short hesitation, he came over to her and allowed her to hold him briefly.
”Bye now, lady, sir.” He looked first at Helen, then at Andrew, bent forward slightly, and with a ”Bye, Rose” he walked out of the kitchen.
”That one's a character,” exclaimed Rose with a motherly chuckle after the door had closed behind him.
”I will miss him,” replied Helen, drying her eyes.
19.
Shortly before five o'clock Rose reminded Andrew and Helen that it was time to go to the boat which would take them to Greenock. The young couple fetched their few belongings from Helen's little room and waited in the courtyard. A low, murky cloud cover diffused the early morning light to a dull, depressing grey. The sharp westerly went right through their clothing, chilling them to the bones. Helen s.h.i.+vered, crossing her arms tightly over her bosom. She didn't know whether it was the cold wind, or her lack of sleep, or her anxiety, or all three of them.
Andrew plucked a delicate rose from her favorite bush, stuck it into her hair, and kissed her.
”I love you. You're so beautiful,” he whispered.
She answered with a smile, trying to suppress her s.h.i.+vers. It still surprised her how often and freely he told her that he loved her, that he found her pretty. She couldn't remember hearing her father ever say that to her mother, nor had Robert ever used the word love. He had said ”I fancy you” a couple of times, ”I want you” more often, but never ”I love you”.
Andrew put his arms around her, s.h.i.+elding her from the wind. She buried her head under his chin, drawing warmth and energy from him.
”Don't let me disturb you, my love birds,” Rose chuckled as she came into the yard. ”I go reconnoiter first, to make sure no policemen are about.”
She left the yard and returned a few minutes later. ”All's clear. Ready?”
”Yes,” replied Helen, with a weary smile.
Andrew hoisted the saddle bags onto his left shoulder and followed the two women. Before they entered the wharf, Rose again checked if everything was clear. In fact, except for the four people busy on one boat, the wharf looked deserted, all the boats still asleep.
”There's your boat! The Clyde!” Rose pointed to the one farthest downstream, the one with the sailors on its deck. It rode high as the tide filled the river. ”Captain McGeorge is her owner.”
She hugged Helen again, and both women fought their tears, finding it hard to say farewell to each other forever. Finally, Rose tore herself away, gave Andrew a quick kiss on the cheek, whispering: ”Look well after her,” and rushed off.
Andrew and Helen walked briskly to the Clyde and climbed up a narrow plank to its deck. The captain welcomed them in a hushed voice, briefly scanned the wharf, and ushered them below deck into the small cargo hold full of crates and bales of wool. Its ceiling was so low that Andrew had to stoop.
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