Strictly Taboo(130)

Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.





Chapter 1

Isobel had lived in Dunn Hill all of her life. The small town offered everything she could ever need and as a child her desire to travel beyond the town’s security had been quelled by tales of the neighboring highlanders. For twenty two years Isobel McCullogh had come to know every face and every door in the town, but now, on the eve of her twenty third birthday, she found herself restless.

“Isobel, fetch me two bowls of stobhach!” Duncan shouted back to the kitchen.

“Comin’ right up!” She called back, tearing her eyes from the small window over the kitchen sink.

Lately life for Isobel had consisted of washing dishes, cooking the thick Irish stew and carrying it out to the patrons of the Highlander Arms. She couldn't complain, jobs like hers were hard to come by. Most of the women in town spent their time sewing – a skill that Isobel had never managed to perfect. And at least working in the pub offered free food and drink when she so desired.

Isobel slopped the thick stew in to the bowls and ripped off a chunk of bread for the top of each serving.

“Here we go, Duncan.” She carried them through the narrow entrance to the bar back.

“Thank ye, lassie.” He said from behind his thick red beard. Taking the bowls he placed them on the bar. “Cameron Dunnoch! Ye stobhach!” He shouted. Isobel lingered. When Duncan turned around and saw her still there he glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Yeah, ye can go home.” Isobel didn't hesitate to untie her apron. It was still ten minutes before her shift was over, but things hadn't been too busy since the lunch rush.

“Thank you!” Isobel said, offering Duncan a smile.

“Just don't make a habit of it!” He said.

Isobel headed back in to the kitchen with her apron in hand. She was starving and the smell of the stew on the stove had been making her salivate all morning. Grabbing a bowl off the shelf, she ladled a healthy portion out for herself and ripped off a chunk of bread. It was a good dinner and it saved her having to cook at home. Though her parents always offered her whatever they were eating, she felt embarrassed to take from them now that she was working. Most girls her age were married by now and living with their husbands and while the idea didn't appeal to Isobel, she knew that her being single put a strain on her parents. Many times she had offered to rent a room over the pub, she made enough to pay for it, but her parents wouldn't hear of it.

“You stay under your father’s roof until you find a man can provide you the life you deserve.” Her father said, and Isobel truly believed that he meant it.

As an only child, Isobel was certainly more privileged than most in the town. She had grown up never knowing a day of hunger and without siblings to fight for attention, she had always been given her parents full care. Still, she was fiercely independent and understood the responsibility that fell on her shoulders as soon as she was of working age. She had worked at the Highlander Arms ever since, bringing home each weeks wages and handing them over to her father to help pay her way.

Isobel was spooning the stew hungrily in to her mouth when a knock came on the open kitchen door. She looked up quickly, a dribble of gravy on her chin.

“Excuse me, Miss. Isobel, but I have a letter for Mr. Duncan that needs signing for.” Danny, the young post-boy stood looking at his shoes nervously, shuffling from one foot to the other. Isobel wiped her hand on her skirt and held it out across the table.

“Hand it here, Danny. I'll sign for it so’s you don't have to go disturbin’ Duncan.” Danny stepped forward as he fumbled in his post bag.

“Well, it says as it’s only for Mr. Duncan…” He hesitated as he pulled it from his bag.

“Give it here,” Isobel said, waving her hand. “Nobody’ll know but you and me if I write Duncan’s name.” Danny looked back at the kitchen door before reluctantly handing over the letter. Isobel took it from him and looked at the postmark. It came from Loch Mead, just a few towns over.

“Miss. You have to sign…” Danny said quietly.

“Right…” Isobel said, turning the letter back over in her hands and reaching out for the pencil that Danny had pulled out of his pocket. Handing her the pencil, Danny reached in to his bag for a small card and handed that to Isobel to sign. Quickly she scrawled her best impersonation of Duncan’s signature and handed it back to Danny. “There we go.” She said, handing back the pencil and the card. “I'll get this right to him as soon as I'm finished here.” She said.

“Yes, Miss.” Danny said, tucking the card back in to his bag and the pencil in to his pocket. He then glanced hungrily at the near empty bowl in front of Isobel. She smiled and shook her head.