A dead shot.

The shot was a loud 'crack' over in the rough meadow to our right.

"That's the stag dead then." Said Barbara.

"Oh I do hope so, he's been such a nuisance lately." Answered our host Denise.

Hearing the rifle shot I rose from the table laid out with our generous meal and excused myself. I needed to go and see to Tanya. She is terrified of loud bangs and was alone in Sadie who was parked close to where the rifle shot rang out. I met Colin in his truck as I stepped out of the house into the darkness. Colin was the Roshven postman plus deer manager for the local estate. He had been after this particular stag for weeks as it was refusing to follow the hinds back up into the hills come evening. Preferring instead to cross a busy road after juicier menus in the hay meadows and rough pastures bordering Loch Ailort around our location of Roshven.

Colin gave me a torch and invited me to see the still warm, stone dead but handsome stag before he expertly bled it, loaded it onto his truck and headed off to the estates game larder. We may well see a repeat if we stay in the area as we had all viewed the second 'nuisance' stag silhouetted against the evening gloom of the loch.

Tanya, when I finally got to her, was fine but mighty glad to see me. She trotted along beside me as we headed back to Denise's beautiful and brand new cathedral like glassed home to finish our meal. Bugsy, Denise's dog once again became very keen to bestow sexual favours upon Tanya. Tanya solved the problem by perching herself right behind me on my seat.

We ate, drank and talked till late. We listened as Denise outlined some of the difficulties, frustration and joys of living in such a beautiful place running a business comprising several holiday chalets, 50 acres, and a local burial ground. Not an easy task for a single widow of similar age as ourselves.

We were here as this was a special place with many good memories that Barbara wished to share with me. Good memories for me too now. I love the Scottish West Coast so to be able to stay in this location and enjoy the stunning scenery under sunny blue skies with an attractive and lovely lady friend was complete bliss.

Tonight we are both in awe. Not only have we enjoyed a picnic on a silver sanded beach under warm sunshine at Traigh farm beach, just North of Arisaig we are now, at 7.00pm, preparing to enjoy our evening meal while the spectacular panoramic vista in front of us comprising the islands of Skye, Canna, Rhum and Eigg are painted in ever changing and infinite golden glory by the slowly sinking Western sun.

We sit quietly in contemplative silence for a few moments. Each of us thankful, amazed and deeply humbled that such visual glory is ours to enjoy for the evening.