It was Christmas Eve. At midday the rain stopped and, for the first time in weeks, the sun came out. By mid- afternoon the floodwaters seemed to be slowly subsiding. The river was still running very fast though. Colin insisted on taking the boat across the river to fetch the Christmas mail and to greet his mother. She had moved to the village when they married. Flora was not happy to see him go, but he insisted. He promised to be back before nightfall. Only a fool would have tried to cross in the dark.
At five o'clock Angus arrived at the farm - bringing gifts for the Campbells. Flora asked him to stay till Colin returned. He would surely not be long. It was the first time they had been alone together for over ten years. Who knows what they said to each other? We can only imagine. At five o'clock it was already dark.