Mystic Mountains

England, and I missed the animals. I followed this old hawker about for a while begging him to let me ride his pony. He got fed up with me and sent me packing in the end. The poor old pony was on its last legs anyway." His shrug spoke volumes.
    "Right lad, I 'll show you how to get the pony out of the rig, then later I'll teach you how to harness up and how to saddle old Satan. One thing I demand, lad, is that you treat the animals with kindness. There's no act of cruelty allowed on my property. Is that clear?"
    "Yes, sir." He nodded twice. "One lesson I 've learned is that men may treat their fellow man as if they're worthless, but if you show an animal kindness they'll return it in kind."
    "Well said." Tiger slapped him on the back. "We 'll get on fine. Now let's get the pony settled."
    Once the gelding was in its stall Tiger showed Dougal where and how to stow the wagon. "You can sleep in here." Tiger pointed to a section of the stable partitioned off from the stall where the gelding was munching grain happily. "'Tis not the best on offer, but at least it has a door and is weather tight to keep out the rain. Most nights you'll not want the door shut anyway. After the time on the ship 'tis my belief you'll be wanting to be out in the open as much as possible. Is that right?"
    "Aye sir, that 's the truth." Dougal grinned.
    "There 's not room in the house for another." Tiger frowned as he rubbed his nape. "There's just a small room for the girl. Is the wench always so fractious?"
    Dougal chewed on the inside of his mouth. "Bella 's a fine woman, Mr. Carstairs. She's been through hell an' back."
    "I dare say. She 's had to put up with many a struggle, eh? And there's an Englishman at the back of all her problems, by the sound of it."
    The Scot pulled a wry face, shaking his head. "It 's a fact, sir, she hates all the gentry. She never told me exactly why, though."
    "No, I reckon she 's got hurts locked up inside her that will take a while to find their way out. She don't know it yet, Dougal, but her problems are over."
    "Thank the Lord." Shuffling his feet Dougal cuffed at his nose awkwardly. "She probably won 't do it, sir, so I'd like to thank you for taking us on. You won't ever regret it, I promise."
    "That 's all I ask." Tiger gripped one of his shoulders. "What made you want to seek a new life in the colony, man?"
    Studying his feet, Dougal said, "I just wanted a bit of food in me belly, and reckoned it sounded better over here than back home. An ' there was little back there to hold me." His eyes held a wealth of sadness.
    "That 's what most of us are after. Well, lad, if you work hard around here you'll get a decent meal inside you. Be fair with me, and I'll treat you right. I've got no time for people who don't appreciate what's done for them." Tiger glanced thoughtfully towards the front of the house. That little chit in there had a few lessons to learn along those lines.
    "I 'll work hard for you, sir. You'll never regret letting me come to work for you."
    Tiger grinned. "I hope not. An ' you can call me Tiger. Everyone does. We don't stand on ceremony here. Only the convict hands are expected to show a bit of respect by using my full name."
    "Thank you ... Tiger. And this 'll do me just fine." The lad rubbed his hands together as he glanced about. "After the filth of the poky little ship's cabin I shared below decks with a dozen others this is the next best thing to a fine hostelry."
    " Gillie'll see about giving you some clean clothes when he comes along shortly. You'll find water in the barrel behind the stable here. We men bathe there. One of your jobs will be to fetch water from the dam when the barrel is empty after weeks of no rain. Wash your hair and body, lad, and once you have the stink of the ship off you, you'll be feeling up to scratch. How did your father come to be in England, by the way?"
    "Me Da left Scotland when I was just a little 'un, as I said. He went south looking for work, an' ended up dying of starvation. He gave all the food he found to his family. My three little brothers died of the consumption." Dougal lifted his broad shoulders in a helpless shrug. 
    "That 's a sorry tale, Dougal. And what of your Ma? Did you leave her behind?" Tiger felt so much sympathy for him, knowing the pain of leaving all that was familiar in England.
    The Scot looked about furtively, and for a moment Tiger thought he wouldn 't answer. But then he blurted, "She went on the streets, didn't she? I hated