Now it was Mother speaking again. ‘Auntie Netta went to live in Yorkshire and worked hard at her sewing to prove that she could look after you just as well as we could. It made her very sad not to have you by her side so she came up as often as she could to see you. She’s always wanted you to know that she’s your real mother, not your auntie or your sister, but we wanted you to go on thinking of us as your parents too. Can you understand all this, son?’

Gus stared at them unblinking. ‘I’ve got two mammies then?’ No one spoke and then Father added some more in a hurry.

‘That’s right, two mammies to fuss over you and spoil you, and me who’s trying to show you how to be a farmer. One day Stratharvar will be all yours. I wanted a son to follow on the line o’ things so I made you mine.’

‘What about Auntie Netta, can’t girls be farmers?’ There was silence again and Auntie Netta spoke softly.

‘Farming’s not for me, you know the sorts of stuff I make, but what I do mind is you not knowing who I really am. I didna want some laddie blurting it out to you in the playground. They might say that you were not Father’s son but mine and you wouldn’t understand and get teased. I got used to being called Auntie Netta years ago. You’re a special wee boy to have two mammies who care for you.’

Gus looked puzzled. ‘Now I’ve got two mammies, do I get two paws as well?’

They were all looking at each other, spluttering crumbs, and Father added his sixpence.

‘Your brave daddy, Rae Hunter, died in the war. He’s not here to look after you so I’m doing it for him.’ Auntie Netta was smiling with damp eyes and a soppy look on her face. It was time to ask a better question. ‘Did you buy me at the hospital then? Jamie Paterson said they bought his wee sister at the Cresswell or was the shop closed?’ There was silence again. That had shut them up. Auntie Netta was blushing and Father was scratching his head, flummoxed.

‘You don’t buy bairns in hospitals, son. You helped me pull out Maisie when she was born…’

‘But she’s a cow, just an animal,’ he argued.

‘And we’re just animals when it comes to birthing. Babies grow big in their mother’s tummies in a safe watery nest, just like Maisie!’