Chapter Text
Chapter One: Glenbogle
She was nineteen and running away for the second time in her life. This time just to the other side of Glasgow wasn’t far enough. No, this time she intended to go as far as the twenty three pounds she had to her name would get her.
She walked into the train station with nothing but the clothes on her back and the few measly possessions she had in a backpack slung over her shoulder. It was deserted now at half past ten at night and the place was dimly lit, the lights flickering feebly on the gloomy walls, and the air of general sadness fitted her mood perfectly. The distant sound of a radio did nothing to give the place any cheer and she approached the slightly overweight and balding man sat behind the desk with a determined air that belied her real feelings.
“How can I help you, lass?” he asked kindly.
“How far can I get on twenty pounds?” she asked.
He looked at her curiously. “Which direction do you want to go?”
She shrugged. “Anywhere so long as it’s not here.”
He tapped some keys on his computer. “There’s a train to Glenbogle leaving in half an hour.”
“Where’s that?”
“It’s a little place in the Highlands, takes ten and a half hours to get there.”
“That’ll do,” she replied, biting her bottom lip and hoping that for once she could have a change of luck in a new place.
“That’s sixteen pounds eighty then,” he said.
She ducked her head to fumble in her pockets for her money and missed the faintly pitying look he gave her.
“Name please?” he asked as she handed over the money.
“Lexie McTavish.”
“Here you are then, lass,” he said, handing her the ticket and change.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, accepting them.
“Good luck to you, lass,” he said as she made to walk away.
She gave an awkward nod of her head in acknowledgement as she turned to go and find her train, painfully aware of how obvious it was to him that she was running away.
As she settled into her seat for the long journey she realised just how close to tears she was, and just how much those few kind words had affected her.
Years later, as she thought back to that day, she would marvel at just how lucky she had been, that her fate had been in that man’s hands, and in sending her to Glenbogle he’d set in motion a course of events that would change her life forever.
But that was still in the future, and right then she was still a mess, and on the train that was steadily chugging it’s way towards the Highlands and the little place called Glenbogle that she knew nothing of, and which there was probably nothing for her there. The only difference there to in Glasgow would be that she would be seventeen pounds poorer. She had no home, no job, no expectations from life, and no hope. The reality was that she was drifting just as much as her shattered soul was, desperately needing something to grasp, to hold onto, but just not knowing what.
She had slept fitfully on the train and rubbed her eyes tiredly when it finally pulled up at a little station. She looked out of the window at the sign with it’s faded letters announcing her arrival in Glenbogle
She stood up and stretched. She just hoped that for once in her life she could have a change of luck and be able to find a place to find home, instead of living in constant fear of the future.
She sighed and made her way off the train and onto the platform where she stopped and looked around her. The air smelt fresh and crisp and there was a few daffodils poking their heads up above the ground at the first sign of spring. She was the only person on the platform as the train chugged away from her and she looked around for any other sign of life. There was none other than the birds in the trees and a single lane road leading away from the station towards, she hoped, civilisation.
Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since the afternoon before. She rifled in my pockets and found that she now had six pounds and twenty pence left. She sighed heavily and decided to head into the village to see if she could talk her way into a job before she began to worry about food or a place to stay.
After a short walk along the road she found the village. It was pretty in a quaint sort of way. There was a few people on the street, going about their business and a little row of shops lined the street and a pub stood on the corner. The backdrop itself was what was beautiful. There was what could only be described as a mountain in the distance and the sun had turned the top of it golden.
She gave herself a mental shake and reminded herself to focus on the matter at hand. She decided to try to local shop and post office first. As good a place as any, she thought to herself.
She walked into the shop and hoped she looked more confident than she felt in her travel weary clothes and backpack over her shoulder.
“How can I help you?” asked the old lady behind the counter.
“Well, I’m actually looking for a job,” she replied, “and I was wondering if there was anything going here?”
The lady shook her head and Lexie felt her stomach drop. “I’m sorry, dear, I wish I could help you, but there’s barely enough work for us, let alone anyone else. I tell you what though, you could try up at the big house, they might have need of someone up there.”
“That’s great, thank you,” she said with relief. She turned to go then realised she didn’t have a clue where to go. “Er, where is ‘the big house’,” she asked.
“Out of the village at the far end and over the bridge then it’s about five miles further on, you can’t miss it. If you go over the road to the B&B you should be able to get a lift with Duncan as he’ll be about ready to leave for work there now. He’ll be the one in the Land Rover that thinks he’s on a race track, just don’t tell him I said that,” she whispered with a wink.
Lexie laughed. “I’ll bear that in mind, thank you again.”
“Oh, don’t thank me yet, I might be sending you on a wild goose chase for all I know.”
Feeling in slightly higher spirits, Lexie crossed the road just as boy about her own age raced out of the B&B, pulling on a leather jacket over a ratty looking kilt. “Are you Duncan?” she asked as he skidded to a stop next to a battered Land Rover.
He looked round quizzically. “Aye, who wants to know?”
“The lady in the post office said you might be able to give me a lift to, ah, the big house? I’m looking for a job.”
“Oh, alright, jump in then.”
With a hard tug, she managed to get the door open and climbed in with her backpack at her feet just before Duncan sped away from the kerb.
“What’s your name?” he asked her.
“Lexie,” she replied. “Do you work up here then?”
“Aye, I’ve just started working on the estate a few months ago. I work with the ghillie, but I’d like to be a head keeper some day.”
“What is this place then - she only said it was ‘the big house’.”
“You’ll see,” replied Duncan as he rattled over the bridge and sped away up the road. “It’s the biggest estate in the area and it’s a grand old house. Normally it’d be Mrs McDonald you’d need to see if you’re after a job in the house, but you might need to speak to the new Laird now.”
“The new Laird?”
“Aye, the son. He’s come away back from London to take over running the place. Course Hector’s not too happy about it, but it was Mrs McDonald who hatched the plan to bring Archie back home, so he’s not really got a say in it.”
“Right,” said Lexie, feeling nervous at the prospect of asking an apparently grand family for a job.
They rounded another bend and she gasped at the sight before her. They were approaching what could only be described as a castle, complete with turrets and a loch sitting at it’s feet and her mind instantly went to one of her few prized possessions tucked away in her bag - a battered old drawing she’d done as a child when she’d imagined she was a fairy princess living in a grand old castle. It was that picture that had got her through some of her worst nights, the thought of being someone else and living far, far away. As she looked again at the sight before her she felt a sense of peace, a feeling of coming home. It was stupid really, because she knew she might not get the job, but just maybe, maybe if she could, she could be happy for once.
Before she knew it they were skidding to a stop on the gravel drive. “Well here we are,” said Duncan, jumping out and spreading his arms. “Glenbogle House.”
Lexie climbed out slower and slung her bag over her shoulder as she took a closer look. It was still beautiful, but now she was nearer, she could see the signs of age and disrepair.
“Come on, I’ll take you to find Mrs McDonald,” said Duncan, hurrying into the house through a side door.
Lexie ran to catch up with him just as he pushed open the door to the kitchen.
“Ah, Mrs McDonald, this is Lexie, she’s looking for a job. I’ve got to get going now though, Golly will be looking for me otherwise. See you later, Lexie,” he called over his shoulder as he tore off again.
Lexie stared after him.
“Don’t worry, he’s always like that, you’ll get used to it.”
Lexie turned to look the older but still pretty woman who had just spoken. “Mrs McDonald?” she asked.
“Molly, dear, and you’re Lexie?”
Lexie nodded. “Aye, Lexie McTavish.”
“And you’re looking for a job?”
“Yeah, the lady at the post office suggested I ask here.”
“I see. How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
“Can you cook?”
“I, ah, yes, a bit,” replied Lexie nervously.
“Good, and do you mind hard work?”
“No, not at all.”
“Even better,” replied Molly. “So how about cook and housekeeper then? We’ve been muddling along for a while now, but I’m completely hopeless, and Hector, well Hector is even worse than me.”
“That would be great, thank you very much.”
“Now you’re new to the village aren’t you? Have you got somewhere to stay yet?”
Lexie shook her head. “No, not yet.”
“No matter, there’s plenty of rooms here, you can have your pick of them.”
Lexie could hardly believe her luck. “I really appreciate that, thank you.”
Molly smiled at her. “Come along, dear, we’ll find you a room and you can get settled in.”
As Lexie unpacked her few possessions in the room that she could now call her own, she finally felt a sense of peace wash over her. She had a roof over her head, a job, an absolutely beautiful place to work and live, and so far lovely people to work for, she felt like she had finally landed on her feet and right now the last four years felt so far removed from her current surroundings that she could almost pretend that they hadn’t happened at all.
She propped her drawing of the castle up on the bedside cabinet against the light and smiled. Her stomach growled and she realised it was long past time she got herself something to eat so she headed out of her room and tried to find her way back downstairs.
After two definite wrong turns, she heard voices just below her and cautiously made her way down the stairs in the direction of the kitchen. The voices grew louder.
Lexie knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop, but she couldn’t exactly help it.
“You can’t just hire someone without consulting me, Mother! For better or worse, I run the estate now, and it was your idea to hatch a plan to bring me back up here, remember? The estate is struggling and yet you want to be shelling out another wage?”
“Archie, I don’t know whether you’ve realised it yet or not, but neither your father or I can cook, and we can’t expect you to feed us as well as run the estate. Not only that, but the place is caked in dust and I can’t keep on top of it. The girl is getting her room and board and will cook and clean. I hardly think it’s excessive for a place this size, do you?
“Fine! But I’ll need references from her!”
Lexie heard the footsteps approaching the door a split second before it opened and she had no time to move out of the way. A firm body collided with hers and gripped her arms to stop her toppling over. She looked up into the eyes of the person who had collided with her and had the sudden feeling that he could read her very soul. She looked away quickly.
“Were you eavesdropping?” he asked.
“No,” she said quickly. “I was just on my way down here.”
“You’re Lexie?”
“Aye, and you’re Archie?”
“Yes.” He suddenly realised he was still holding her arms. He let go and took a step back quickly.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” she said, “and you can have my references - I worked in a cafe in Glasgow until they cut back on their staff.”
Molly appeared in the doorway behind Archie. “Take no notice of him, Lexie, he’s cross with me, not you.”
Archie had the good grace to flush as he stepped around Lexie. “I’ll speak to you later.”
“I’m sorry, Molly,” said Lexie, “I didn’t mean to overhear, and I don’t want to cause any trouble for you with your family…”
Molly ushered her into the kitchen. “Don’t worry about it, Lexie. You’ll soon realise Archie is much like his father - all bark and no bite. He’s still cross with me for bringing him back up here to run the estate when he was happy in London, but this is our home, our heritage, and if it’s not run properly now then who knows where we’ll end up,” she finished in a rush.
Lexie wasn’t quite sure what to say to that.
“Oh, don’t worry,” said Molly, noticing her unease, “I meant what I said to Archie, taking you on is hardly excessive for a place this size, and we desperately need the help. Now why don’t you get something to eat and tell me all about yourself.”
Lexie smiled, “There’s really not much to tell…”