Beltane Night- The Story of Nan con't...(Part 5)

Nan's mum called for her to come to the table for their evening meal. They were having her favorite meal ...venison (back strap) medallions with Juniper berries and Bramble sauce.
A stag had been stuck in a bog and broke his leg just the week before. Her father had shot it to 'put it out of it's misery' and brought in home to hang up and process. And though it wasn't an 'official' time to 'hunt' ..it was necessary ... and 3 local families were very pleased to have the meat after the long Winter. Her father having made the kill and butchered the prize ... kept the tenderloin meat for his own family.
Even with all this ...Nan sat there with a dreamy-far-away look in her eyes and just poked and played with the food, taking an occasional bite here and there.

Her parents looked at each other with a questioning in their eyes but not speaking a word. Finally her father said,
"What's on yer mind Nan? You seem to be quite preoccupied in deep thought..."

Nan snapped back from her "away state" focused on her father face, then her mum's and answered,
" Oh....I'm just thinking about all that has happened in the past day or two."
'Well she wasn't speaking any untruths....was she?' And her parents just assumed that she was thinking about her herbs and such, ...and maybe they'd just let it be.
As her father looked at her again with some concern, she decided that she wouldn't take any chances of further investigation on his part. She started to eat her food very fast...she shoved the last bite into her mouth and got up to clear her plate. Still chewing the last bit she said,
"I'm just going out to the shed for awhile to check on things and leave for my walk from there." and as she made her way to the door she said, " It was a great dinner mum, thank you, ..and you to Da!"

Her parents looked at each other, knowing that this was a bit of an odd behavior, but shrugged it off and continued to enjoy their meal.
She got through the door and outside before they had a chance to say anything.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she walked to the shed.
'I'll just turn the roots and stay here until he comes into sight.'

In what seemed to be a lifetime she turned the roots and tidied things up in the shed. Then she saw Gillian walking toward the croft, on the horizon. She knew her father was outside now....but luckily he was on the other side of the house cutting wood and stacking peat to bring into the house for the fire.
She made haste to leave, grabbing a coat that she had hanging in the shed and slipping out unnoticed.
'If I can just get over the wee hillock fast we'll be out of eyesight.....why do I feel this need of secrecy ?...It's all a bit exciting....'