Boldly Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Unto the Hills

Mrs. Sullivan was as good as her word. There came a steady stream of visitors to her door all that Saturday, suitors wishing to call on the new teacher. And each one, per Lorna's request, was politely but firmly turned away. Mrs. Sullivan could be very firm when she put her mind to it.

Lorna certainly had no intention of ever allowing anyone to call on her again. She was past and done with that... and her heart lay buried far away on the shores of Aberdeen. But her mind was presently in Dakota territory and much occupied with her twelve little students. She was already feeling rather like a mother hen towards them and they came to her, not only with academic questions, but with every little problem and confidence. It was a great comfort to be trusted in such a way and she warmed to the students under her care. She was beginning to feel again that life was a beautiful thing. And the unparalleled majesty of those pine-covered hills only made it more so.

Saturday came like a breath of fresh air after a long week of teaching. An entire day with nothing to do, except grade a stack of essays. At first, Lorna had thought to finish the essays first and sat determinedly down at the side table in Mrs. Sullivan's parlor. But the window was open and fresh, pine-scented breezes were blowing down from the hills. They seemed almost to be calling her to come out.

In one quick movement, she stood, sweeping the essays aside. Not one moment longer could she bear to be indoors. Taking the back door, as Mrs. Sullivan advised, lest she be overtaken and forced into several conversations in quick suggestions, Lorna slipped through the little vegetable garden and, taking care to shut the gate so the hens would not be set loose again, she set out for the hills. She walked at first, with the town still in sight behind her. Then she turned down a little path and found herself in a thin strip of pine woods. The forest was nothing short of glory with the towering evergreens high above her head and the wind whispering softly through the treetops. For a long while she walked in a kind of awed silence, soaking in the music of the pines and the songs of the birds. And then she emerged on the other side... a wide grassy plain as far as the eye could see. Seized by a sudden wild impulse, she gathered up her skirts and broke into a run, tearing across the prairie just as she had once run across the highlands. There in the center of that valley, surrounded by the high hills on every side, she threw back her head and raised her face to the sun. Her wild running had shaken her pins loose and she gloried in the feel of the wind blowing through her hair. It was the first time in at least a year that she had felt so... so... carefree.

"I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." she called aloud, hearing her voice echo across the empty plains. "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth... The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork."

"Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge," continued a deep voice from somewhere behind her and she started, whirling about to see a man on horseback. A middle-aged man, tall and lanky. "There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." he smiled.

"Good mornin', Miss. Out fer a walk?"

"Aye," Lorna blushed suddenly, embarrassed to have been caught when she thought no one could see her.

"Hills shore are beautiful, aren't they?"

"Aye. Remind me o' my homeland," Lorna smiled softly.

"Where are ya from?"

"Aberdeen... Scotland."

"Thought so," the man grinned as he dismounted and held out his hand. "I'm Henry Mulligan by the way, but everyone calls me Hank."

"I'm Lorna," she answered. "Lorna McAllister. I... I'm sorry... have I been trespassing? I dinna ken whose land this is..."

"It ain't mine," Hank answered. "I jes work fer the man who owns it. Jason McCulloch. But he wouldn't mind."

"McCulloch?" Lorna gasped. Seeing her face turn white, Hank frowned.

"When did ya come t' town?"

"Last... last Thursday," Lorna faltered and Hank nodded in understanding.

"Then ya've met Jason. Sit down... There's somethin' I want t' talk t' ya about. Jason told me 'bout seein' ya again... something you said made him think. I want t' thank ya fer that."