The Shadow of the Sycamores by Doris Davidson Read Free Book Online Page A

his thoughts got out of hand. He kept still as she set about making the churns ready for the butter-making and washed out the pails ready for the five o’clock milking, before it dawned on him that the din she was making would be excellent cover for him to make his escape.
    He had no chance to dwell on what he had seen, however, until he was safely in his chaff bed in the bothy and the other inhabitants had finished their men’s rowdy talk. He had never looked purposely at any girl before, only at their faces, but breasts had been in his mind in the dairy – that was why he had noticed Louie’s. They weren’t big and horrible, like his father’s wife’s, nor as round as Janet’s, but she was still a young lassie, about the same age as his sister, so they were likely still growing. He had never noticed Abby’s, he was so used to seeing her, but the dairymaid’s looked pretty firm, though he wouldn’t know for real unless … he fondled them.
    Becoming aware that his wandering thoughts were having a most unusual effect on him, he reined them in, afraid of what might happen if he allowed the lead he could feel gathering in his ‘pencil’ to get out of control. Maybe it wouldn’t go away until he ‘took’ a lassie. Maybe.
    Trying to think of everyday, mundane things, he lay awake for some time but, when sleep finally overtook him, his dreams were of breasts – big, small, pointy, half-formed, of blouses being unbuttoned but never as far as to reveal the treasures lying below.
    In the morning, some more of Janet’s words came back to him. ‘Some men, you see, just use a woman but a decent man only touches her like that if he loves her.’
    Was that what a man did … used a woman? It wasn’t a very nice thing to do so Henry silently vowed that no woman or girl would ever say that he had used her. He would never touch a woman like that unless he had made her his wife first and, if a girl was expected to be pure on her wedding night, as Janet had also said, so it should be with the man. So it would be with him.

    On Christmas Day, Jim Legge made a surprise announcement at the breakfast table. ‘This has been a right good year for us and I’m that pleased with the work you did during the harvesting, I’m giving you all a day off. Not at the same time,’ he added, seeing some puzzled expressions. ‘The lads in the bothy and young Harry, our new orra loon, will get this Saturday coming and the rest of you, you’ll get yours the week after. Janet, you and the lassies can decide among yourselves who’ll be off this first Saturday and who’ll be off the next. If there’s no problems with this, I’ll do it every year so it’s up to yourselves.’
    Their day off was the sole topic in the bothy that night and it was decided that those who were off on the first Saturday would go to the New Year Dance that was to be held in Corrieben.
    ‘You should come, Henry,’ Mick coaxed. ‘You’re bound tomeet a lass that’s mair than willing and, wi’ a few drinks inside you, you’ll nae care if she’s the right ane for you or no’.’
    Accustomed now to being teased about his refusal to drink alcohol as much as for his oft-voiced intention of keeping himself for the girl he married, Henry gave a guffawing laugh. ‘I’d rather bide here and read. I’ll get peace wi’ you lot awa’.’
    After a moment’s consideration, Mick put forward a more acceptable proposition. ‘Well, you can get a len’ o’ my bike if you want to go and see your sister.’
    Henry jumped at the chance of seeing Abby again but, with little experience of bicycles, the almost ten-mile-journey was hard going for him. His welcome at the end of it, however, made up for every sweating minute, although his grandmother’s hugging made him hotter than ever.
    ‘Oh, laddie!’ Isie breathed when he broke away. ‘I’m that pleased to see you.’
    ‘Me and all,’ said Abby, keeping hold of his hand. ‘We’ve been wondering how you were