Page 18 of Walk on the Wildsyde

“Are you sweet on her then, mister?”

“Nae,” Hamilton replied easily. “But it does a fellow nae harm to be in a pretty lassie’s good book, aye?”

“Aye,” the cheeky fellow replied, chuckling. “Reckon that’s true enough.”

They walked back to the vicarage and Hamilton hesitated as Jimmy led them around the back. “The reverend doesnae come out here?”

“Nah,” the boy said confidently. “He’s never so much as stuck his nose in the kitchen since we got ’ere. Reckon he thinks his dinner arrives on a cloud sent by the Almighty.”

Hamilton fought a bark of laughter and arranged his face into something more serious. “Ye will mind ye manners,” he told the lad, who smirked all the same.

Opening the back door, Jimmy went inside, and Hamilton heard the feminine cries of distress before he set a foot over the threshold.

“Jimmy!”

“Oh, laddie, whatever befell ye?”

Hamilton entered in time to view both women hurrying over and enveloping Jimmy, each embracing him in turn and running hands over him to check he was whole and sound.

“There’s nae harm done,” Hamilton said, gaining himself a squeak of surprised alarm from Miss Halliday, who sprang to her feet, gazing at him like he’d appeared in a puff of smoke.

“Mr Anderson!” she exclaimed. “Whatever are you doing here?” He noted the way she glanced behind her, as if fearing his presence would somehow transmit itself to the reverend and bring him down upon them.

“I thought I had best bring him home to ye, since ye are the angel that rescued him from fate. I did a wee bit of rescuing myself today,” he added with a modest smile. “The local lads were getting a tad rough, but we had a chat with them, and all’s mended now, is it nae, Jimmy? They’ll be friendly the next time they cross paths, I promise ye.”

“Oh, no. You weren’t fighting?” Clara said, her expression one of anxiety.

“They jumped me! Weren’t my doing,” Jimmy objected.

“Good heavens!” Clara gasped, pulling Jimmy close again. “You poor dear.”

“Ach, I’ll lay money it was Jockie Dunbar’s lad and his gang, the wee devils,” Mrs Macready said, puffing herself up like an irritated hen. “Ye just wait, I’ll be having a wee word with Jockie and—”

“Ye will do nothing of the sort,” Hamilton said gently. “I told ye, did I nae, that it’s all sorted. The boys were a bit out of line but they’re all friends now. There’s nae need to stir trouble with the lad’s da, for it will only come back on Jimmy.”

“I had nae thought of that,” Mrs Macready admitted gruffly. “Aye, well, if ye say so, but ye mind me well, if they lay another hand on him, I’ll be having words with Jockie myself and ye may warn the wee scoundrels to make certain they behave.”

“That’s fair,” Hamilton agreed, knowing such a threat would certainly get Brodie and Jack’s attention.

“Come, then, my wee warrior, let’s see to that eye,” Mrs Macready said, bustling Jimmy away amidst a deal of grumbling and leaving Hamilton alone with Clara.

“You saw Miss Flemming home safely, then?” Clara said, an amused glint in her eyes.

“Aye, I did. Are ye jealous?” Hamilton asked, grinning at her.

“Don’t be impudent.”

The look was stern but there was no heat behind the words, which he felt was an encouraging sign.

“I wouldn’t ken where to begin,” Hamilton replied with a shrug.

Clara sighed, shaking her head. “Can I offer you a cup of tea, Mr Anderson?”

“I’d prefer a wee dram after all the excitement, but aye. I’ll take tea with ye, with pleasure,” he added, taking a seat at the table. “Won’t yer da be up in arms if he finds me here?”

“Certainly, so I shall thank you for leaving the way you arrived, but he never comes down here. You do not drink to excess, do you, Mr Anderson?” she demanded suddenly.

Hamilton blinked, a little startled at the bold question. There was a look in her eyes that told him she was concerned, not only about him, but about the situation in Wick.