Strangely, the Veitch hills were not all that different from the Tweedie hills.They comprised the same mixture of long grassy slopes, heather that hid leg-snaring holes, dark peaty pools of uncertain depth, and sudden scree slopes where the ground fell away to the unseen ground below.
I did not try to force the pace.My mare had been tried and tested in her journey from Liddesdale.She knew exactly what she was doing.I allowed her to walk at her own pace and knew she would find the safest paths, which would always lead somewhere.In this case that somewhere would be owned by the Veitches.I allowed my mind to drift, seeing again the picture of Robert panting astride Kate's wiry body, seeing him wince under my blows, seeing Kate's sneaking glances at me and Robert's appealing brown eyes.
'Name yourself, stranger!'
The voice floated from the dark.
I stopped.I had not thought that I might be challenged.'Jeannie,' I said and, knowing that I could not give my real surname, I added 'Ninestane.'It was the first name that came to my mind.
'You are late wandering the Heights,' that voice said.'And coming from Tweedie lands.What do you seek here?'
I remembered one of my mother's sayings.If in doubt, tell the truth.'I am looking for Hugh Veitch,' I said.
'Which one?'the voice said.'We have many men of that name.Is it Bessie's Hugh, or Hugh of the Gate, Lugless Hugh, or Hugh Rob…?'
'I don't know his to-name,' I said, for in my time, with so many people sharing a limited number of surnames, most were known by their to-name.I was Bessie's Jeannie Tweedie, although I never called myself that.'He is about twenty-two with dark hair and…'
'Well met, Jeannie Ninestane.'Hugh appeared from the dark, smiling.'What the devil are you doing here?And barebacked, I see; don't they have saddles where you come from?'
'Do you know this woman, Hugh?'that voice in the dark asked.
'We have met,' Hugh said, 'she saved my life in Tarras.'
Two more men emerged from the dark.'What do you wish done with her, Hugh?'
'I'll take her to the tower,' Hugh said.'You carry on here.'He held out a hand to me.'Come, Jeannie, and welcome.'
'I must talk to you,' I said urgently, 'Hugh; you have to get away from here.'We were descending a steep path with my mare following Hugh's piebald, both horses picking their own way.It was full dark ahead of us, broken only by flickering lights from scattered cottages and towers.
'It's just like the Lethan Valley,' I said.It was the first time I had seen Faladale, even though it was so close to my home.
'Very similar,' Hugh said.'Why are you here?'
'To see you,' I said quietly.Now that I had found him, I was not sure how to go about things.'I have to talk to you.'
'I am listening,' Hugh said.
We stopped on the hillside beside a small waterfall.The sound brought back a host of memories, of Hugh naked and washing as I stood in the shelter of a tree, of what I saw and how I felt, and how I still felt.
'Hugh!'I took hold of his arm, 'you have to get away from here!'
'Why?'He sounded quite amused.
'It's not safe for you!'
'Tell me more once we get inside,' Hugh said.'Or don't we have time to do that?'
'I don't know,' I said honestly.
'I will take the chance,' Hugh raised his voice.'It's Hugh!Open the gate!'
We rode through a high arched gate with a brace of spearmen watching us; both acknowledged Hugh's salute.
'They treat you with respect,' I said.
Hugh laughed.'They know me and my ugly face.'
The interior of the tower was very similar to Cardrona Tower, with the turnpike staircase leading to the great hall on the first floor.There was the same gaggle of servants and dogs sleeping on the same rush-and-straw flooring and the same scrabble to get out of the way when Hugh and I walked in.
