Dr Finlay's Casebook Read Online Free Page A

As they stepped off the Moors to the Tannochbrae road, young Bob carrying the fish, they
observed a young woman stepping briskly towards them. And suddenly Bob let out a shout.
    ‘Good heavens, it’s my mother!’
    Within five yards of them she stopped, looking them over, then in a tone of admiration and surprise she said ‘Bob! I can’t believe it’s you! And Finlay! You don’t look a
day older than my big son. And both of you so brown and healthy, stepping off the Moor as though you’d walked ten miles to catch that lovely fish.’
    She took her son in her arms and gave him a big kiss, then, unable to resist the impulse, she turned to Finlay and pressed her lips against his glowing cheek murmuring, ‘Why didna ye, mon?
Why didna ye?’
    There was a long moment of stillness, then, recovering herself, she addressed her son.
    ‘I came to Tannochbrae expecting to find you still pale as a sheet and here ye are, brown and healthy, better than I ever saw you.’ She turned to Finlay, ‘His grandad told me
it is all due to some wonderful medicine Dr Cameron gave him, that worked like magic. It’s the talk of the town.’
    Bob, excited at seeing his mother, let out a wild exuberant laugh.
    ‘Mother, dear Mother, I have to tell you.’
    ‘Now, Bob, remember your promise.’
    ‘I should be allowed to tell my mother, Finlay. It won’t go further.’
    Arm in arm the three had begun the long walk home. ‘Listen, dear Mother . . .’ Out came the whole story while his mother listened intently, half turning now and then to study
Finlay’s set face.
    ‘So you see, Mother, here I am walking for miles with Finlay’s good blood in me while that auld fraud gets all the credit for a bottle of medicine I never took but just poured down
the lavatory.’ He added, ‘But for his transfusion, I’d still be crawling about like a broken-down ghost.’
    Bob’s mother did not reply but she looked at Finlay several times, then her grip on his arm tightened and in a quiet but determined voice, she said:
    ‘I never in all my life have heard of such a cheap and beastly swindle. Here is my dear Finlay who diagnosed my son’s condition and gave freely his own life’s blood to save
him, to put him back striding on the moors instead of crawling around like Hamlet’s ghost while that puffed-up old Cameron, who doesna ken a transfusion from a bull’s behind, has the
whole town bowin’ and scrapin’ to him.’
    ‘Hush, Gracie. Mind your language.’
    ‘If you had lived with a man like my husband you would have picked up a few choice bits and pieces. Oh, Finlay, why didna ye follow on after that last dance at the Reunion? I was fair
crazy for you and I could weel tell that you liked me.’
    ‘Ah, Gracie, my love,’ Finlay sighed, ‘that’s old history now. I was so young and inexperienced in my job, a miserable assistant. I spoke to Janet and she said there was
no place for a wife in the house. I hadna the courage to tell ye I loved ye.’
    ‘So you left me to Will Macfarlane, a worthy man according to his neighbours, but sae coarse and insensitive to a woman’s feelings, I was shocked and disgusted with him before the
honeymoon was over. Oh Finlay, how often have I missed you and longed to put the clock back. That night of the Reunion when you held me in your arms I could feel you loved me.’
    ‘I’ll tell ye one thing, Grace dear, I have never looked at or touched a woman since that wonderful night and that is many a year past.’
    ‘That’s proof ye loved me dearest Finlay. Surely I can see you mair often than I do now?’
    ‘You’ll be up occasionally visiting your big son.’
    ‘My big son! He’s as much yours now as mine. Well, darling, my train leaves in an hour’s time. Would you walk up to the station with me?’
    ‘I will, indeed, Gracie. Just bide here a few minutes, I have a patient waiting for me in the surgery.’ When Finlay had gone Grace did not sit down but stood staring moodily out of
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