Kirsty's Glen, by Stephanie Scott

A Book for kids who love to travel. Check back for more chapters!

Chapter 4

Kirsty slept fitfully until the crow of the cock reminded her it was time to rise. She heard mother bustling about downstairs and the smell of scones baking told her breakfast would be ready soon.

Quickly she dressed and hurried down to help set the table, as she heard Robert trying to wake up Ewen, exhausted after his first day of “real man’s work.” Once downstairs, she noticed Father was still not there. She looked out the window toward the byre a couple of times as she passed back and forth with the plates and mugs. It was all so unusual. She felt like bursting out with questions to her mother, but bit her tongue, knowing that if there was anything they needed to know, they would be told about it.

Just as Robert and Ewen came down the steps, father came in the front door and sat down. He was looking very tired, with a reflective gleam in his eyes.

Mother gave a few looks to Calum, but not a word passed between them. Father reached over and pulled out his Bible, read a chapter for devotions over the table, and Robert said grace. Father then explained the plans of the day:

1. Ewen would go with him to ready the kirk for the wedding.    

2. Robert would take the horse to bring a note to the chieftain. It was important and needed haste.

3. No one was to go near the old byre for the time being.” 

Robert and Ewen looked at Father, then Mother, and then to Kirsty to see if any would explain why.

“Whatever could be the reason?!”  They wondered. It was unlike Father not to give an explanation, and Kirsty was bursting with curiosity.

It was a beautiful morning as Robert bade Father leave and rode out to see the chieftain. After breakfast, Father and Ewen went off to visit sister Isabel and cousin Catriona, to see if all was well, before heading off to the kirk. Kirsty was *redding up after breakfast and Mother had disappeared to the old byre with a covered tray! This was getting more and more mysterious. Mother returned and started on the last of the sewing before the wedding.

It would be another three hours before they would start over to her cousin’s. After she had finished her chores, Kirsty slipped out the door and sat behind the house, looking over the braes*, and glancing at the old byre.

Finally, her urge to find out what was going on took over and she sneaked around the back of the byre, to where there was a hole she and Ewen often used when they played hide and seek. She was very nervous, knowing she was disobeying her father, but the pull of this mystery was strong! Quietly she tried to squeeze into the small hole behind the tree trunk. Once inside, it took a little time for her eyes to get used to the darkness, but soon she could make out her surroundings. She moved quietly to where the old stalls were and peered through a gap in the planks.

“Ah, there he was, the stranger!”

He was sleeping and his face was turned towards her. He was handsome-looking, she thought, and probably in his thirties. There was a scar on his uncovered arm that told Kirsty he was probably used to fighting, as it was not a scar that would have come from working the lands. His clothes were torn and soiled, but made of fine linen with lace and bright, red colors.

She had heard of the Royalists who fought on the side of Charles I, and now there was much conflict in the Lowlands between Charles’ supporters and the *Covenanters.

“Was this man one of the Royalists? Why was he here?” she thought.

She knew her father well enough to realize that if someone, was in need, he would not flinch at being the one to lend a hand. He had often quoted to her the story of the Good Samaritan as a sample of how Jesus wants His followers to be.

Some of Calum’s previous deeds had caused no end of gossip. To some, he was an example of a good Christian; to others, they said he helped unbelievers. Kirsty’s father always reminded her of Jesus and His example, and how He kept company with the drunks and dregs of life. None was turned away from Him, not even the Roman soldier who came to seek his servant’s healing. Who was he to do other than his Lord? God was the Judge and not man. He would try to look on the heart, as God did.

((…End of Chapter 4…))

Kirsty's Glen, written and illustrated by Stephanie Scott. 

You can read our interview with Stephanie here.

Click here for Chapter 5.