Page 57 of A Scottish Country Escape

Dexter paused, watching the strobes of light slice through the woodland and stream down on both of us. ‘And that’s why you reopened the shop as Paper Roses? To keep busy?’

‘Partly that and partly to make them proud of me.’

Dexter’s blue eyes shone. ‘I’m sure they were very proud of you anyway.’

I turned away, pointing towards a large brown tourist sign with the words, ‘Fir Haven Nature Reserve’ emblazoned across it. A lump gathered in my throat. ‘Here we are.’

I strode ahead, with Dexter taking up the rear. He examined the protest placards which were growing in number day by day, planted along the entrance. Several more had been added, shouting the slogans, ‘Fir Haven: It’s in our Nature!’ and ‘Fir Haven: It’s Only Natural!’

‘They love their reserve,’ he remarked.

‘I think you will too when you see it.’

We arrived at a small wooden gate. I unlocked it and gestured for him to step through first. ‘I hope you’re ready for this.’

The gate led out onto a path strewn with chocolate-coloured bark. On either side, the woodland spread out her branches, as though she were showing off a sumptuous ballgown. It was a tangle of ancient trunks, topped with assorted plumed leaves that stretched like a glossy canopy over our heads.

We walked on, with me inwardly betting he would be able to appreciate the mystery and beauty of this place every bit as much as me and the rest of the other Fir Haven locals did.

The path snaked downwards, with the woodland now opening out onto a vista of wild hills, peppered with lilac heather. From behind me I heard Dexter murmur, ‘Oh my god!’ and my chest zinged in delight.

‘Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.’

I took a turn to the right and stopped. From our viewpoint, I indicated downwards and told Dexter to take a look. He took a couple of steps in his designer sneakers and peered down the slope of the hill. His eyes gaped at the flashes of the three streams criss-crossing like silver ribbons which rose up to greet him.

‘It’s beautiful,’ he breathed. ‘Really beautiful.’

I beamed, comforted by his genuine appreciation. ‘Come on.’

As the water bubbled and coursed over the stones, I advised him to follow me, moving right into a denser part of the reserve. It was at this point that the tops of the trees closed in, creating a dark roof. Only fingers of light were able to poke through. There was the rich scent of fresh grass and damp pine needles.

‘If we’re quiet, we should hopefully see something.’ I crouched down behind a large rock and Dexter followed suit. I was aware of his close proximity. He was wearing a delicious sea-fresh cologne. I fought not to inhale and trained my gaze on the distance.

‘What are we looking for?’

‘You’ll see.’

I glanced down at my watch, willing this particular apparition to appear. The skyline, just visible in triangular snatches through the undergrowth, was twisting into an evening sky of tangerine. Only a matter of weeks and then the nights would start closing in.

Dexter, hunkered down beside me, spoke in a hushed tone. ‘Did your parents used to bring you up here a lot when you were a kid?’

My lips twitched with recollection. ‘They met up here as teenagers. My dad proposed to my mum in the reserve, over a haphazard picnic he had prepared for the occasion. Then they used to bring me up here for rambles and to show me the wildlife.’

Dexter listened, smiling and nodding.

‘I’m sorry about this,’ I apologised, taking another desperate look at my wristwatch. ‘Sod’s law but I think I’ve picked the one evening when— Oh, look!’

My hand shot out and squeezed Dexter’s knee. Oh shit! What am I doing?! I yanked back my hand and dropped it down by my side. That was the second time my hand had lunged for him like that!

Dexter glanced down at where I had touched him. ‘You don’t have to stop on my account.’

I blushed and channelled all my attention elsewhere. ‘There! Over there!’

I jabbed my finger to the left. ‘If you look beyond that tall grass and through that cluster of buttercups.’

Dexter followed my finger before he locked on. ‘I see it.’ He let out an appreciative sigh.

A glimmer of satin beige coat flinched in our line of sight. As the slim, angular deer emerged from out of the undergrowth, she displayed a dash of white tail and a wet black nose. ‘Keep watching,’ I murmured. ‘More might appear alongside her.’