Deception Read Free

prompted another. It might be easier
to speak to his parents as soon as possible. 'Are your father and mother in?'
she asked, trying to be diplomatic.
    His small hesitation
was barely noticeable. 'My father is.'
    'Do you think I could
speak to him, then?' Casting a hasty glance over her shoulder at the wild
bleakness of the glen, she added quickly, 'Even if you've stopped taking in
paying guests, I think I'll have to ask if'you could put me up, as I don't
think I'd be able to find my way back to Fort William tonight.'
    'Then you'd better
come in.' With an uncertain flicker of heavy lashes, the boy stood aside, but
Thea could see he was wary. The hall was cavernous and dark. Shivering afresh,
she felt no warmer here than she'd done outside.
    The boy didn't move.
When she glanced at him enquiringly, he said slowly, 'I'm not sure if I'm
doing the right thing. You won't be able to see my father, you see. He's ill in
bed.'
    'HI?' Disconcerted,
she stared at him, 'But if your daddy's in bed, who's looking after you?'
    'I don't need anyone.'
    'There must
be—someone?'
    He sighed, patendy
tired of her questions. 'There's only old Martha, but she can't look after
herself. She'll have to go soon, Father says, if we can't find a housekeeper.'         
    Small
wonder they hadn't! Cold and hungry as she was, the scornful thought
flashed through Thea's head. No wages and a house this
size to look after, not to mention a young boy and old lady.
His father must believe in miracles —if he hadn't found one yet!
    'What's
your name?' he forestalled her almost similar query.
    'Oh,
I'm Thea Andrews,' hastily she introduced her self. 'Are you a
Murray?'
    'Yes,'
his well-shaped dark head tilted proudly, 'I'm Jamie, after my grandfather.'
    He
must be the son of one of the brothers. Hesitantly she
said, 'I don't want to disturb your father if he's ill, but I'm
sure he wouldn't mind, Jamie, if you showed me where I
could change out of my wet clothes. I have dry ones in my rucksack.'
    This
he was eyeing with some interest, but all he said was, 'I can take you
upstairs if you like.'
    As
if deciding suddenly to trust her, he led the way across
the huge hall, up the wide staircase. Simultaneously they
halted outside a bathroom door. 'I'll wait downstairs, in the kitchen,' he
informed her, turning away.
    With
a perception which surprised her, Thea knew he was frightened.
'Is your father very ill?' she asked gently.
    As
Jamie threw her a glance, very dark and anxious, Thea knew she was
right. 'He's quite ill,' he nodded.
    'Hasn't
the doctor been?'
    'No.'
    She
controlled her impatience with difficulty. 'For good ness' sake, why not?'
    He
looked as if he considered she should have known. 'The lines are down
and the burn is up.'
    'So
you've no telephone?'
    'No.
We won't have until the men come to mend the wires.'
    'Then
who's looking after your father? Martha?'         
    'No,'
his voice hardened scornfully, 'she's gone to bed because she's old. I'm
taking care of him.'
    'You?'
Thea was unable to hide her startled reactions. It seemed
incredible that a boy of his age should be anywhere near
a sickroom, let alone trying to manage it!
    She
regretted her brief exclamation when his face fell; she
had not expected him to look so chastened.
    'I've
done my best,' he mumbled unhappily, 'but I sup pose
I haven't been able to do much. I made some soup, but it's
a bit of a mess. Martha tried some before she went to bed and said it was
only fit for pigs.'
    Thea
frowned, deciding not to give Martha full marks for tact. This boy might try to act
like an adult, but no one could mistake him
for anything but the child he was. 'Look,'
she offered impulsively, suddenly not able to bear such hidden pathos any longer, 'if you wait until
I change, I'll see what I can do for
your father. Unless, of course, your mother will be home by then?'
    'No,'
his green eyes were very steady, 'she won't be com ing home.'
    The
way he said it almost made Thea shiver as, without adding