Annie glanced around at her friends. “I’d imagine there’s all sorts of things that can happen at such a large event as this.” She smiled into Ian’s eyes. “Thank you, Ian, for sharing your story. It has given me a whole new perspective.”
Ian bowed slightly, and he made an attempt at a Southern drawl. “My pleasure, Ma’am.”
Alice winced. “Oh, Ian. Don’t try a drawl again until Annie’s given you some private lessons.”
The clapping of the audience eclipsed the laughter of the group, as the green-kilted shepherd shut the gate of the pen behind the last sheep. Wiping his face with a melodramatic flourish, he bowed to the crowd and received an appreciative response. The Stony Point folks and their young friend clapped and whistled enthusiastically.
“In a few years, your uncle might have another challenger to watch out for,” Peggy said as she clapped.
Kyla bobbed her head in agreement. “Uncle Leath likes competition. He says it benefits the breed too.” She turned her head to see which shepherd was coming next and bounced up onto her knees. “My uncle is next!”
She and Emily jumped up and pressed close to the barrier. “Come on, Clyth! Move those sheep!” Kyla yelled. The broad-shouldered man now standing by the starting post looked over toward the group and tipped his hat in acknowledgement. “Clyth is Uncle Leath’s collie,” Kyla explained.
Emily kept jumping as the sheep were released and the shepherding began. The rest of the group silently watched the movement of dog and sheep. By now they understood the meaning of most of the whistles they heard. Wheet-wheeo-wheet-wheet for “move away from the sheep” and whee-who for “go counterclockwise around the sheep,” although Leath used the common short vocal commands of “Get out!” and “Way to me!”
At one point two sheep began to stray from the others, but Clyth responded to Leath’s “Look back!” and who-hee-who with such speed they only had time to move a couple steps away before being herded into the small flock and onward to the next gate.
“It’s going to be close,” Kyla said as the sheep neared the pen.
Clyth moved the sheep through the final gate and into the pen, lowering himself to the ground at his owner’s hee-hee-hee-hee and “That’ll do!” The man confidently swung the pen gate shut, and the crowd jumped to its feet, whistling and applauding.
As the judge was conferring with the timekeeper, Annie gazed at Kyla’s uncle. Noticing he wore a sporran, she looked around until she located an older gentleman with a sporting scope. Her friends watched as she slipped through the spectators to where the man stood. In short order, all the Stony Point adults saw her speak to him and then lean over to peer into the scope. When she straightened again, she shook the man’s hand in thanks and hurried back to the group. Glancing over at Kyla to make sure she and Emily were occupied, she whispered her find first to Ian and then her other friends. Kyla’s Uncle Leath was wearing a sporran with a cantle extremely similar, if not identical, to the one Annie had found in her attic.
After several more runs, the announcer and Scottie Shaw moved to the center of the field to declare the winner. “This year’s final was a heart-stopper,” the announcer began. “Scottie agrees this year’s competition is indicative of how strong border collie breeding and training is in New England.” The crowd applauded but showed its impatience.
“But enough gabbing,” the man continued on cue. “Our second fastest time was achieved by Patrice Grant.” He paused as the crowd reacted with cheering. “And our winner, for the second year in a row, is Leathan Gunn.”
Kyla threw her hands over her head in triumph and danced a happy quick step, Emily trying her best to follow her. Leathan strode out to the center to accept the prize and to shake hands with the judge, Clyth obediently at his side.
“Come on,” Kyla told her new friends. “I’ll introduce you to Uncle Leath, and to Clyth.” Eager to talk to the man wearing the sporran with the juniper cantle, the adults followed Kyla and Emily as they ducked under the barrier.
“Uncle Leath!” Kyla called once they were within hearing range. The man paused in his steps as he was walking off the field and turned toward his niece, holding out his arms. The girl launched herself into his arms, and he twirled her around.
“How did the Seann Triubhas go?” he asked as he set her feet back on the ground.
“Well enough to win,” Kyla answered, her face flushed.
Emily interrupted the family moment. “Kyla was beautiful! I’ve never seen anyone dance like her!”