First Steps

By Donna and Toni

A church social was held in Edan every month, alternating between being hosted by the Mission and the Presbyterian Church. It was the Mission's turn, and everyone was gathered in the shaded garden area behind the church. One of the highlights of the social was the bachelors bidding on the box lunches brought for that occasion by any of the *unattached* women that wanted to participate. Of course some of them made sure that the man they had their eye on knew what their box looked like, but most of the men just bid, knowing that they would enjoy the company of the maker while they shared it, whoever she was.

Finley MacNab, being one of the unattached men since he and Grace had become just friends, had decided to go and try his luck at those box lunches. He noticed one in particular had a tartan ribbon around it, so, smiling as he thought of Scotland, he decided to try for that particular one and see where it led.

It was awhile before it came up for bid. There were others, especially those rumored to be made by some of the better cooks that were bid for first. All of them were decorated fancy, and some of them when sniffed over by the men, promised to provide a scrumptious lunch, and were bid on heavily.

But Finley hung near the back of the crowd, just watching and waiting....and then, finally, there it was! The one he wanted! Elbowing his way to the front of the crowd, he started the bidding off with a good sum, crossing his fingers mentally that he'd be the winner.

There were a few other Scots in the crowd that upped his bid, just because of the ribbon! Rob Roy was one of them. Mercy had a lunch in the selection too, and he was sure the tartan ribbon was a clue for him to bid on it. Soon the bidding was neck and neck between the two, but in the end, Finley made one last bid that Rob Roy could not top, and was declared the winner! As the disappointed loser congratulated him, he assured him that whoever the lady was, he would be a strict gentleman - just in case it was Mercy! There wasn't a person in town that didn't know how they felt about each other, so that was an easy promise to make. Finley awaited the young lady whose lunch company he'd "won" to step forward and identify herself.

To his surprise, it was a Campbell, but not the one that Rob Roy was walking out with. It was her younger sister, Joy! He may have been surprised, but he was also delighted; she was one of the loveliest examples of a Scotswoman he'd ever seen, which was an opinion he'd always held from the moment he'd seen her. True to his word, though, he bowed slightly, and smiled, "Well, Miss Campbell; it's an honor indeed to be lunching with you. And might I say you look exceptionally lovely today." He hadn't used these kind of manners except for his short time with Grace since....well, since his late wife. But he pushed those thoughts away, and just concentrated on the sweet young woman before him; she deserved nothing less than his whole attention.

She smiled shyly at him. The youngest of the Bride Ship girls, she had only recently come of an age that it was considered proper for her to start dating. "I hope ye like the tucker I ma'," she said in a soft voice as they walked away together to share it.

He knew he was one of her first "dates", and this brought out the gentlemanly streak in him even more. Though as they ate their meal, there was genuine pleasure in his voice as he smiled, "I haven't tasted food this good since before I left home to come to Texas! Though I'd appreciate you not tellin' the other ladies, if you wouldn't mind. They're all wonderful cooks, but there's just somethin' about Scottish food that fills a special space inside, if you know what I mean."

She had made tender roast beef sandwiches with homemade cheese and thick slices of honey oat bread. Two jars of fresh squeezed lemonade, an assortment of veggies, a glazed fruit tart and honest to goodness Scotch Shortbread rounded out the meal.

When everything was at last finished and only crumbs remained, Finley laid back on the blanket and watched her take out some bread she'd broken up into tiny pieces and feed it to some appreciative small birds that were flying about nearby. When she returned to the blanket, he smiled, "I see you came prepared for extra guests."

She blushed. "I always feed the wee ones... Their sweet song is such a blessin' to me. I love to listen to it while doin' me sewin'."

"I enjoy listenin' to it myself. I have a family of sparrows near my farm that actually dive in and take some of the grain from my chickens, bold little things that they are! Maybe someday you could come out and see 'em." Then, realizing he had spoken without thinking, he added softly, "I mean, maybe you and a friend, or your sister....anyone you'd like to bring out." Meanwhile, he was cursing himself mentally - the last thing he wanted was this young woman to think he wanted to get her alone to take advantage of her!

She smiled at him. "I wa' like that very much! I grew up on a farm, ye know. And I miss it."

He relaxed then, glad to see he hadn't blown it after all. "I've some fine horses there, includin' a young mare that's very sweet, with a good mouth; she responds well to a light touch. Maybe you and I could go ridin', I know she'd love to meet you." So far, he was doing all right, he congratulated himself - she hadn't made an excuse and left yet!

"Mercy and I used to ride when we were just girls. Papa had some fine Thoroughbreds that he used to improve the local farmer's stock, and we both had our pick of the young stock to ride until they were sold on," Joy said, a sweet look on her face as she reminisced.

"Well, then, I will definitely have to arrange an introduction between you two. That is, when you're not too busy...with other people, things like that." Now it was his turn to turn slightly pink; he was well aware of the age difference between the two of them, and that he considered his looks to be average at best. He was sure her social calendar must be filled to the brim, but he had to try anyway.

She laughed. "The only thing I'm busy with is me sewin'!" It was true. Till recently, Mercy had kept her on a fairly short leash

He hoped he didn't look too eager, his light eyes looking into hers as he asked, "Then maybe you wouldn't mind comin' over, say....tomorrow, after lunch?" God, was that too soon? He had no idea how to act with a woman this young anymore, it'd been too many years, what was considered proper these days, especially in this strange place!

She looked thoughtful. "Faith said that she was going to go with Father Alec to visit some of the farms. Perhaps they can drop me off, and then pick me up on the way back."

He couldn't help the happiness in his voice or on his face, as he smiled, "That'd be wonderful! Make sure you arrange it with them, now, so that we're back when they come to get you. I wouldn't want to put your honor in question by havin' people say we were dallyin' in the woods and that's what made us late gettin' back. Not to mention that sister of yours would come near to killin' me once she got her hands on me!" He laughed softly, but he meant what he said about not staining her honor by losing track of the time.

Joy laughed, looking over to where Mercy and Rob Roy were sharing a basket. Mercy had got his attention by bouncing a soft roll off his head when her box lunch had come up for bidding.

He saw her line of vision, and smiled, "They're a well suited couple; there's nothin' he wouldn't do for her. It's a grand thing when two people that are meant to be together find each other." His voice softened on that last, as he looked at her.

She ducked her head and blushed again. Like Faith, she tended to be the quiet, shy type, unlike her rather outspoken sister. "Aye. Perhaps there will be weddin' bells fer them in the near future," she giggled softly. 

"Perhaps there will," he agreed, again looking at her. Any further comments or thoughts were interrupted by the announcement from one of the crowd that the weaving competition was about to begin, and Finley knew she was involved in that. So he stood and helped her get things together, smiling, "Maybe I'll be able to get one of the throws you weave when the competition is over, as well as your lunch; I'm feelin' luckier than usual today."

She giggled, and the two of them shook hands as they parted, both looking forward to the next day.