A Maxwell Misled (ebook)

Argumento de A Maxwell Misled (ebook)

At sixteen, Rachel OBrian finds herself alone in the world and accepts a home with an old friend of her fathers, but she is unprepared for his wifes malice and cannot guess at the secret which feeds the womans hatred.

The younger Maxwells welcome Rachel to their Ayrshire farm, especially Ross, but he too has earned Gertrude Maxwells spite. When Ross disappears Rachel is dismayed to find herself destitute and expecting his child. Not until past secrets are revealed can the two find each other again.

Well! Gertrude Maxwell gasped. I cant believe Connor OBrian would write after all this time. And such a letter.

He must be desperate, Cameron agreed. Since the seizure he was not the energetic, decisive man he had once been, but his mind still functioned clearly except when his wife administered more of the medicine than the doctor had recommended. He had a way of considering his words now, but once uttered there was no mistaking his opinion.

The letter had been addressed only to him but he knew Gertrude longed to snatch the single page and read it for herself. He and Connor were old friends; they had attended the same village school, all those years ago.

He must feel his end is near. Cameron sighed with regret for a youth long past. Ill Well ignore the letter.

Gertie! You canna mean that. He needs reassurance that his lassie will have a roof over her head.

I do mean it. Her mouth tightened into a thin line.

Wheres the Christian spirit youre always preaching, woman?

Ive told you, Cameron

Oh aye? Well, Im not finished yet. Ill have my way over this, Gertie. We cant see Connors bairn without a home, and neither kith nor kin to help her.

She stared at him. Her mouth opened, then shut with a snap. Even in the early days, when he was fit and strong, Cameron had rarely argued, but he had always got his own way when something mattered to him.

Those days were gone. Cameron needed her to care for him now. He was dependant on her to keep the farm going, along with Meg and Willie. It was harder since the war the Great War that had taken away her beloved Josh to fight, and to die, in the trenches. Only this week, Lloyd George had announced that Germany would have to pay for the devastation in France, but that would not bring Josh back, or the thousands of other young men.

The lassie can bide with us for as long as she needs a home. Camerons tone was still firm, but gentler. `Youre always saying you need more help now that Im not fit to work. She will help you.

I have a daughter of my own to help.

Aye, you have that. And fine you know Meg would be happier married to Peter Sedgeman and looking after his wee bairnies. You can give her your blessing and stop making her feel shed be deserting us if youll only give Connors lassie a home.

I will not see my only daughter waste her life slaving after another womans family!

She loves bairns. Youve told her often enough shell never have any of her own.

Dont change the subject. When I need a maid Ill find my own. Theres folk everywhere looking for work. I dont want a brat of Connor OBrians in my home.

Gertie! Cameron fixed her with his steady gaze. She turned away. He didnt understand. How could he? He didnt know the memories Connor OBrians letter was awakening. She felt the old panic rising, tightening her chest. The past came flooding back. She could not bear to have the daughter of Mhairi MacLean and Connor OBrian under her roof a constant reminder of her rejection, her humiliation and the horror of it.

They had all attended the same school, and later the same village dances. Gertrude had been an only child. Her mother had borne two boys before her. They had died in infancy. There had been another baby after her, but he too, had died at birth. So she had been doubly cherished and shamefully indulged.

My ain lassie, yere a survivor, her father had told her often. He had doted on her, buying her the smartest wee pony he could afford and teaching her to ride at an early age. When she was bossy at school it was because she was used to having her own way.

Mhairi MacLean was the daughter of a shepherd and walked three miles or more to school, and back in the afternoon. She had rarely mixed with other children and had never seen so many faces until she started school. She was dark and pretty and very shy and Cameron Maxwell and Connor OBrian had taken her under their wing with youthful chivalry. Gertrude had been envious, until she realised that Mhairi gave everyone that same shy smile, including herself.0