Chapter Text
It was the sound of his name that woke him.
Sitting up, Golly glanced across at the entrance to his makeshift home, the tent moving slightly in the breeze as the wind and rain crashed against them.
“Golly” the voice repeated.
Pulling the blankets off his body, the cold air hitting his body as he moved out of the bed, Golly slowly approached the entrance to the tent, stopping when he heard the voice whisper his name again. The voice was almost musical against the crashing of the weather, familiar to him and yet unearthly. Reaching out, Golly began to slowly untie the material, feeling it pull away from his fingertips as the wind grew heavier. Stepping out through the gap in the tent, Golly stopped when he noticed in the figure in front of him, staring back at him in the rain.
“Molly lass, are you mad?” Golly stated, his arm reaching out to brush his fingers against her arm as she continued to stare at him in silence. “What are you doing out here?” he asked, his hand moving to cradle her elbow as he attempted to convince himself that she was really standing outside of his tent in the pouring rain in the early hours of the morning. “You’re shaking Molly,” he commented, feeling her arm shake beneath his hand. “Get inside before you freeze,” he finally ordered, using his elbow to direct her inside the tent and away from the rain.
“Golly I…” Molly began as she stood in the centre of the tent, watching him tie the entrance back up. “I…” she started once more before shaking her head and wrapping her arms around her body, finally realising how cold she was.
“You’re not even dressed lass,” Golly muttered under his breath as he turned to face her, suddenly realising how dark it was. “What were you thinking coming out in this weather?” He asked quietly, his hand reaching out to find her in her darkness, finally resting against her elbow again. It would haunt him for years, the image of her standing out in the stormy night in her coat and boots, the looseness of the material indicating her lack of layers. She hadn’t even thrown her hat on so her hair was soaked. “Get that coat off, I’ll find you something warmer to wear,” Golly said quickly when he realised she wasn’t going to say anything to him in that moment. Stepping away, he slowly approached the table he had thrown in when the rain had started and switched on the small lamp, filling the tent with a pale glow. Noticing out of the corner of his eye that she hadn’t moved, Golly shook his head before approaching the pile of clothes he had thrown into one corner, pulling out his thickest jumper before turning to face her. “Here,” he smiled nervously, holding out the grey material before her. “Coat Molly,” he ordered, trying to keep his voice calm as she remained silent. Shaking his head again, he moved closer to her before resting his hands to her arms, gently cupping her elbows again. “Molly, you need to take your coat off,” Golly whispered, not knowing what else to say. He had never imagined finding himself in this situation, stood in a tent in the middle of a stormy night with a drenched and silent Molly MacDonald.
“Yes,” she finally responded, moving her shaking hands towards the buttons of her coat before stopping. “I can’t…” she whispered nervously, looking him straight in the eyes before he nodded and moved the jumper under his arm, leaving his hands free. Brushing his fingers against her shaking hands, Golly smiled nervously at her before he began to undo the buttons on her soaked coat, feeling the material move away from her tiny figure as he opened each one. Pushing the material away from her gently, Golly sighed as the coat finally dropped to the floor and he took in the sight of her.
“What on earth made you think it was a good idea to go walking around in the middle of the night dressed like that?” he asked quietly, glancing down at the pale blue pyjamas she was now wearing. She looked so vulnerable, standing in front of him in his tent in the middle of the night. “Hopefully this’ll warm you up,” he smiled as he removed the jumper from under his arm and passed it to her, the blonde nodding as she took the jumper from him and pulled it over her head. It swamped her really, almost touching her knees whilst the sleeves covered her hands. “Now get those boots off and I’ll see if I can find you some socks,” he laughed, glancing down at the grey boots she had clearly thrown on over her pyjamas. Moving quietly around the tent in search of a pair of socks that were clean and ideally without any holes, Golly could hear Molly kicking her shoes off behind him, the boots hitting his possessions as they flew across the floor. Finding a pair of socks that seemed acceptable, Golly smiled to himself before turning and holding out the socks towards Molly, looking down briefly to see her bare feet.
“Thank you,” Molly said quietly, taking the socks from him before moving towards the wooden chair in the corner. Taking a seat, Molly pulled his socks on over her freezing feet, her head shaking as her hair dripped down own her back. What had she been thinking coming out in this weather? If she was honest with herself, she hadn’t been thinking, she probably still wasn’t thinking but she had needed to see him. “I’m sorry for waking you Golly,” she apologised, moving her hair to one shoulder and smiling when he passed her a towel.
“It’s clean I promise,” Golly said quietly, smiling to himself when Molly laughed lightly at his comment and began to dry her hair with the towel. “Now,” Golly began as he knelt down in front of her. “It’s always lovely to see you Molly but what are you doing here?” He asked, trying to keep his tone light as he watched her continue to dry her hair.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Molly finally admitted, shaking her head as she sighed and rested the towel down on the arm of the chair. “I couldn’t stop thinking about this afternoon, about Archie and Paul, and then all I could see was Jamie,” she explained, burying her head in her hands when tears began to roll down her cheeks. She felt so foolish. She should have just stayed in bed and waited until morning. Instead she had gone out in a storm and woken him up because she couldn’t sleep. “Every time I shut my eyes Golly, I’m back there…” Molly sobbed, looking up at him before shaking her head. “’It’s like it’s happening all over again.”
“Oh Molly,” Golly sighed, reaching across to rest his hand on her knee. He should have known this would happen when he had seen her standing by the water waiting for Archie and Paul. She had seemed so relaxed that afternoon, drinking beer and laughing with everyone. She had even spoken to Paul after the accident.
“I had to see you because you’re the only one who understands Golly. Hector’s gone and Archie, well Archie has his own memories of that day, but you were with me. You remember what it was like, waiting for them,” Molly explained through the tears, glancing down at his hand on her knee. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched her knee, let alone rest their hand there for so long. “It’s like this place wants to take everyone from me Golly. Jamie and Hector are gone and I nearly lost Archie today.”
“You know that’s not true Molly. Jamie’s death was an accident, Hector’s a result of his own recklessness probably,” he began, stopping when she laughed gently. “And Archie isn’t going anywhere Molly,” he concluded. “He’s stubborn, like his mother,” Golly joked, smiling when she laughed again and rested her hand on top of his.
“Thank you Golly,” Molly said quietly, lacing her fingers with his as they both glanced down at their joined hands. “I’m so sorry for waking you, you must hate me,” she apologised, glancing around the tent and taking in how dark it really was. What had she been thinking?
“I could never hate you lass,” Golly admitted. He wouldn't ever tell her but there was nothing she could do to make him hate her. “Would you like me to take you home? There’s still a few hours before anyone is awake. No one even needs to know that you left,” he said quietly, moving his hand from hers before he stood up and started to look for his keys.
“I don’t want to go back yet,” Molly stated, wrapping her arms around her body again. “I just want some time to think,” Molly admitted as Golly turned to face her. Was she still planning to leave Glenbogle? He thought she’d decided against going away, despite her recent conversations with Andrew. “It’s too busy at the house, with everyone there and Andrew and Kilwillie visiting all the time. I never have a moment to myself. It even feels like Hector’s watching me sometimes,” Molly explained, forcing herself out of the chair before she started to pace up and down the tent, her fingers pushing her damp hair back from her face.
“Then stay here,” Golly found himself offering, surprising them both. Stopping, Molly looked across at him in shock.
“Sorry?” She asked quietly, wanting to be one hundred per cent certain about what she had heard before she answered.
“Stay here,” he repeated, desperately trying to sound confident. What was he thinking? She was the widow of a Laird and he- the gillie of her husband and then her son- was offering her a bunk in his tent. “You can decide in the morning what you want to do,” he added.
“Thank you Golly,” Molly smiled nervously, nodding to herself at the idea. Golly was safe. He had always been the person she went too when she needed a moment of clarity. He was her closest friend, the person she went to for advice and to hear the honest truth. “Thank you,” she said again, this time sounding more certain.
“Top or bottom bunk?” he asked, glancing back at the two beds. It was clear that the bottom bunk was the one he had climbed out of, with the blanket now thrown back from when he had rushed to answer her.
“I’ll take the top bunk, I’m not kicking you out of your bed for a second time tonight,” Molly joked, moving towards the beds before stopping by the ladder. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept in bunk beds before,” she admitted with a smile, turning her head to glance back at Golly. He almost seemed frozen, looking at her from across the tent as the wind continued to hit the material walls surrounding them. “Is everything okay Golly?” Molly asked, Golly nodding as he started to move towards the table to switch off the light.
“Get into bed and I’ll switch the light off,” Golly responded, turning away so he didn’t watch her climb into the top bunk. Hearing the bed creak when Molly moved onto the bunk, Golly quickly switched off the light before walking back towards the bed and climbing into his bed again. Escaping the chill by pulling the blankets over his body once more, Golly sighed before he laid down and stared up at the bed above him. How had he found himself here with Molly MacDonald trying to sleep above him?
“Golly, are you asleep?” Molly asked a few moments later, a smile covering Golly’s face at the sound of her voice.
“Yes, fast asleep,” he responded, shaking his head when she giggled.
“How do you sleep in here? It’s freezing,’ Molly admitted. Whilst she hadn’t felt the cold earlier, now that she was lying still she was frozen to her core.
“I don’t usually go for a walk in the rain right before bed,” Golly responded, both of them laughing gently before Molly sighed.
“Golly would you be really uncomfortable if I…” Molly began.
“Get down here lass,” Golly interrupted, kicking the blankets off this body again before climbing out of the warmth of his bed, stopping when his body hit Molly’s. He hadn’t even realised that she had already gotten down from the bunk. “Sorry Molly, didn’t see you there,” he laughed nervously, aware of how ridiculous he sounded. He could barely see anything in the darkness but he could feel her breath against his skin and her hands shaking as they moved to rest against his chest.
“Nothing to apologise for,” Molly responded, glancing across at the bed.
“You get in first, you’ll be warmer away from the door,” Golly suggested, Molly nodding to herself before she stepped away from him and slid into the bed. Turning onto her side so she didn’t take up the entire mattress, Molly bit into her lip when she felt the mattress dip slightly under Golly’s weight. Smiling to herself when she felt Golly pull the blankets over them, Molly relaxed before closing her eyes. “Good night Molly.”
“Good night Golly,” Molly whispered, suddenly feeling much warmer as sleep finally began to claim her.
——————
It was the sun across his face that woke him later that morning. Groaning to himself, Golly froze when he felt movement beside him. Opening his eyes slowly, he glanced down and couldn’t help but smile to himself at the sight of Molly curled into his side, fast asleep, her arm thrown over his chest whilst her face was buried into his neck. Now what was he supposed to do? If he tried to move his arm- which had somehow found its way around her hips in the night- he would wake her and then they would have to face each other? Would their entire friendship be ruined because overnight they had found themselves reaching out for the one another? Moving slightly to test whether he could move his arm without waking her, Golly stopped when Molly moaned and tightened her arm around his chest.
“Don’t,” she whispered so quietly he almost missed it.
“Don’t what?” He asked.
“Don’t wake up,” Molly responded, a small smile decorating her face as she kept her eyes firmly closed. Laughing gently at the comment, Golly slowly moved his free hand up, nervously reaching across to brush some of the hair from her face so he could see her better.
“So we’re just going to pretend we’re not awake,” he muttered in amusement, moving her hair between his fingers.
“Just for a little longer,” Molly smiled, enjoying the feeling of Golly playing with her hair. It had been such a long time since someone had run their fingers through her hair like this. She couldn’t even remember the last time that Hector had done so. “If we’re awake, this becomes real,” Molly said nervously, desperately trying to keep her eyes closed. Whilst part of her desperately wanted to see his face, she also didn’t want to have to acknowledge what was happening between them right now.
“And you don’t want it to be real?” Golly asked, his fingers still lightly playing with her.
“I don’t want anything to ruin it,” she admitted before sighing. “Golly, I’m going to go away for a few days,” she said quietly, finally certain in her decision. Whilst she had been talking to Andrew about leaving Glenbogle, she had been uncertain about her choice, doubting whether it was the right thing to do. Now she knew that she just needed some space to think about everything that had happened over the last few days.
“You’ll be missed,” Golly responded, shutting his eyes. He didn’t want her to leave, even if it was just for a couple of days.
“Will you miss me Golly?” Molly asked.
“I’ll miss you more than I should,” he said honestly, glancing up at the bunk above him and missing the small smile that decorated her face at his comment.
“Golly,” Molly whispered, not knowing what to say. Were they really going to discuss this now? Discuss everything that had been brewing just beneath the surface, allowing them to pretend that nothing had changed between them since Hector had died? “Golly, I…” she began.
“Golly?” A voice suddenly called out from outside, interrupting her. Freezing at the sound, Molly’s eyes opened to look at Golly just as he glanced down at her, their eyes locking for the first time that morning. “Golly, where are you?”
“It’s Archie,” Molly said, the surprise obvious in her voice. What was he doing here?
“I’ll go and talk to him,” Golly responded, Molly nodding as she felt him move his arm from around her body before he climbed out of the bed. Grabbing a nearby jumper, Golly threw it on as he walked over to the entrance of his tent and began to open it slightly. Stepping out into the cool air, Golly wrapped his arms around his chest as Archie walked around the corner. “Morning Archie,” Golly greeted, trying to remain calm as the younger man nodded at him.
“Golly, have you seen my mother?” Archie asked immediately. “We can’t find her. Lexie thought she might have gone to see Andrew but he just arrived at the House and hasn’t seen her either,” Archie explained, clearly worried.
“I saw her out walking about half an hour ago,” Golly lied.
“Thanks Golly. We were worried that she’d run off in the middle of the night,” Archie admitted before shaking his head and laughing, clearly beginning to relax. “I better go and call off the search,” he joked, shaking his head before walking back towards his car. Watching as Archie moved further away, Golly froze when he heard Archie call his name again. “If you see my mother, tell her to leave a note next time,” Archie called out across the field. Stepping back inside the tent once Archie had driven away, Golly stepped back inside before turning to see Molly still lying in bed, staring up at the bunk above her.
“You’ve worried them up at the house,” Golly commented, Molly nodding in acknowledgment before she turned her body to face him, her hand moving to rest under her cheek. “When will you go?”
“This afternoon. I’ll tell Archie that I’m going to see some friends,” she responded. “I don’t want Paul to think I’m going because of him,” she added. She wasn’t running away from Paul, she might have wanted to when she first found out about him but she didn’t want to now. She just wanted some breathing space. Taking a seat in his chair, Golly nodded as he took in everything she was saying. She was going today. She was leaving Glenbogle today. Leaving before they had the chance to discuss anything.
“I’ll drive you to the station,” Golly offered.
“Thank you,” Molly said, sitting up in the bed before she brushed her fingers through her hair. “Golly, I…” she began, desperately trying to say what she had attempted to say before Archie had interrupted.
“We should get you back if you want to pack and catch the train today,” Golly stated, climbing out of his chair and moving towards one of the numerous boxes around the tent in search of a fresh set of clothes. “I haven’t got anything that you can wear,” he admitted, turning to look at her briefly as she glanced down at the jumper she was wearing over her pyjamas.
“I’ll put my coat on and hope I get upstairs before anyone sees me,” she smiled, wishing that she’d been able to ask him what she had wanted too before he’d changed the conversation. Sliding out of the bed, Molly found her coat and pulled it on over what she was wearing before searching for her boots. Finding both boots, Molly quickly slid her feet in before turning to see Golly watching her. “I can turn my back…” she smirked, taking in the pile of clothes under his arm.
“Or you can wait in the car,” he laughed, reaching across for his keys before throwing them across to her. Catching the keys, Molly smiled across at him before moving towards the entrance and stepping out into the morning sun, regretting her decision not to ask him to come with her when she had had the chance.
————
It had been too simple sneaking into the house. Glancing out of her window for a brief moment, Molly spotted Golly speaking to Archie and Lexie, who he had successfully intercepted on their way back to the house whilst Molly had disappeared inside. Smiling to herself, Molly turned and moved towards the bed, where her smallest case was wide open, her clothes uncharacteristically thrown inside. Reaching across the bed for Golly’s jumper, Molly bit into her lip as she held the heavy material in her hands. Despite knowing she should give it back to him, Molly threw the jumper into her case before closing it and turning to move back towards the window. She could see Golly waiting by the car whilst Archie and Lexie were approaching the entrance to the house. The idea of speaking to Archie unnerved her. Despite knowing that she wasn’t doing anything wrong, that she was a free woman and she could come and go as she pleased, something about telling him that she was going away scared her. She didn’t want to upset him or make him feel like his friendship with Paul was making her take a step back.
“Mother, are you home?” Archie asked from the corridor, Molly smiling as she turned once more and watched her son step into the room. “Did you have a nice walk?” he asked, glancing across at the suitcase on the bed.
“I did, thank you,” she responded.
“What’s the suitcase for?” Archie asked. He was just like his father sometimes, Molly thought. Straight to the point when he absolutely needed to.
“A friend called asking me to visit so I thought I’d go this afternoon,” Molly lied, surprising herself with how easily it was. “Golly’s going to drive me to the station,” she added, reaching across to take hold of the suitcase before approaching her son. “You won’t even notice I’m gone,” she smiled, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek gently.
“This isn’t about Paul is it?” Archie asked quietly, aware that the other man was somewhere in the house.
“Of course not,” Molly responded. “I just thought it would be nice to go and see my friend for a few days and give you both some time together without me around. The poor man is terrified of upsetting me, he can’t relax or ask anything about your father with me here,” she added. Their father. Archie and Paul’s father. How could Hector have kept Paul’s existence from her for so many years? “He deserves to know about your father and you need to get to know your brother,” Molly whispered, smiling weakly when Archie walked towards her and held his hand out.
“I’ll carry your case,” Archie said quietly, taking the suitcase from her before moving towards the door. Looking around the room to check that she hadn’t left anything, Molly nodded to herself before she followed Archie out of the room and down the corridor towards the stairs, her mind thinking of the figure who was somewhere inside her home. Archie’s brother. How could he have a brother? Jamie was gone. Her eldest son was dead. The idea of Archie having another brother who wasn’t her child made her feel empty, even if she didn’t want it too. She wanted desperately to like Paul, to be able to talk to him and feel comfortable around him without feeling like her whole world was falling apart. “When will you be back?” Archie asked, interrupting her thoughts as they began to walk down the stairs.
“Tuesday,” Molly answered. That would give her two days to herself. Two days to recover from the shock of learning that Hector had had another child, that he had lied to her for the duration of their marriage, and that her son could have drowned trying to save that child. Stepping out of the house behind Archie, Molly spotted Golly waiting by the car and stopped to watch Archie pass her suitcase to him. What would Archie think if he knew about where she had woken up that morning? What would he say if he ever learnt about how she had enjoyed waking up in Golly’s arms and had spent most of the morning missing his arm around her body? Walking towards the vehicle, Molly stopped when Golly opened the passenger door and smiled at her.
“Thank you Golly,” Molly said quietly, moving towards Archie to press a quick kiss to his cheek before she climbed into the car and relaxed into the seat.
“Have a lovely time with your friend Mother,” Archie smiled at her, waving goodbye as he started to walk back towards the house. Shutting her eyes, Molly breathed out before shaking her head at the whole situation.
“You don’t have to go Molly,” Golly said quietly, standing inside of the passenger door beside her.
“Yes I do. Archie needs to get to know Paul and he can’t do that with me here,” Molly responded, opening her eyes to look at him. “And I need to get used to the fact that Archie has a brother who isn’t my son,” she whispered, glancing down her lap for a brief moment to stop herself from tearing up.
“Then I better get you to the station,” Golly sighed, closing the passenger door before walking over to the drivers side and climbing into the vehicle. Driving towards the station, Golly found himself briefly looking across at Molly as she stared out of the window in the silence. He didn’t know what to say to her. He had helped to keep Hector’s secret child from her. He was still amazed that she was talking to him. Driving into the station car park, Golly pulled into one of the spots before turning the car off. They had a few minutes before the next train was due. “Where are you going to go?”
“I’ll find a hotel somewhere,” Molly responded, turning slightly to face him, moving her hand across to rest on his knee. “I’ll call and let you know where I am,” she promised, smiling at him as he nodded and rested his hand on top of hers. “If I ring around seven, will you be at the house?” Molly asked.
“I’ll make sure I am,” he promised, looking down at their hands for a brief moment before looking up at the station. “Your train will be here soon,” he said quietly, wishing that they could stay here for just a few moments longer.
“Yes it will,” Molly whispered, sighing when Golly moved his hand away and climbed out of the car. Forcing herself to smile when he opened her door, Molly slid out of the vehicle, rewrapping the light pink scarf she was wearing around her neck as Golly reached in and removed her suitcase. Following Golly onto the platform, Molly wrapped her arms around her body to protect herself from the slight breeze as they both glanced down the train that was approaching in the distance. “Golly I…” she began again, falling silent once more as she looked at him. Why couldn’t she bring herself to have this conversation with him?
“Phone on Monday night and tell me when your train is due and I’ll collect you,” he stated, resting his hand on her shoulder as the train approached. He would be counting down the hours until she stepped off the train on Tuesday.
“Thank you Golly, I’d like that,” Molly whispered, looking around them to see another man waiting on the platform. Why on the one day that she wanted some privacy on this tiny station was there another passenger? Falling silent when the train pulled up at the platform, Molly sighed as Golly approached the nearest door and opened it for her before turning to face her, her suitcase still in his hand. “I’ll see you on Tuesday,” Molly smiled nervously, taking the case from him before stepping up into the train, placing the suitcase onto the ground before turning to face him.
“Don’t forget to phone this evening,” he reminded her, Molly nodding as she looked down at him from the train. “I’ll be waiting to hear that you’re safe.”
“I will, I promise,” she responded, stopping when Golly reached across and took hold of her hand, squeezing it gently in his. “Golly, this morning when I said I was going away, you said you’d miss me more than you should,” Molly suddenly said, Golly nodding as he remembered their conversation that morning. “Well I’ll…” she began, stopping when the conductor approached them on the platform. Why were they always being interrupted? Why were they both incapable of having a conversation when they were alone?
“Are you getting onboard sir? The train needs to leave in a minute,” the conductor asked Golly.
“No, no I’m just saying goodbye to my friend,” Golly said quickly, the conductor nodding before he continued his walk down the platform. “Molly, you better go and find a seat,” he whispered, also wishing that they hadn’t been interrupted.
“I’ll miss you too Golly,” Molly admitted quickly, glancing down at their hands again. “More than I should,’ she added, freezing when she heard the conductor’s whistle down the platform. Golly had to go. He had to leave before they even had the chance to discuss anything. Why hadn’t she been braver that morning or when they were in the car?
“Sir if you’re not boarding the train, you need to step away now,” the conductor’s voice ordered from down the platform, interrupting her thoughts again and forcing her to look at Golly. Watching Golly, Molly felt the shock cover her face when he stepped into the train and shut the door behind him, his free hand moving to sit on her hip.
“Golly what are you…”
“If you want me to, I’ll get off at the next station and make my back to Glenbogle,” he whispered, stepping closer to her as his hand slowly moved from her hip to the small of her back. “But Molly, if there’s any part of you that wants me to…” he began, falling silent when she moved her free hand to rest against his cheek. Was she dreaming? Had he really just climbed onboard the train to offer to come with her
“Yes,” Molly answered, smiles decorating both of their faces at her response. “Yes Golly,” she repeated, nodding up at him as she moved her hand away from his cheek. “I want you to come with me,” she admitted, the hand on the small of her back bringing her closer to him. “Golly will you come with me?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”