After walking for what felt like ages Liv’s ankle started to complain. Unlike most of the rest of her it wasn’t numb with the cold. It felt like snow was now coming from every direction, not just above. She had to keep blinking because it was pelting into her face. All around them was white. Effie was heading back towards her, which was a relief.
‘Effie, I’m sorry but I can’t walk any further,’ called Liv over the wind.
‘You’re meant to be resting,’ said Effie her tone quite accusatory.
‘I didn’t realise we’d be going this far. I think I might head back.’
‘Okay. See you later,’ said Effie.
Liv turned around. She had no idea where she was. All she could see was snow and trees, but her footprints were still visible in the snow so she began following those. She trudged on with her head down to avoid getting a face full of snow. She hoped it wasn’t as far back to the hotel as it felt, because her ankle was throbbing. Liv was concentrating hard on following the footprints in the snow, which was getting more difficult the further she went as they were being blurred by the snowfall. Staring at all the white was also making her eyes go funny. Then all of a sudden she stopped because there was something very different in front of her.
She followed hairy ginger legs up until she was nose to very large wet nose. ‘Eurgh, snotty cow,’ said Liv.
The cow let out the same noise they’d heard earlier – sort of a wheezy honk but it was very much louder now she was this close to the beast. Ginger stepped forward and Liv tried to reverse away but stumbled and landed on her bum in the snow.
‘Argh!’ she yelled. She didn’t care what they said about her being small; this was a big fat cow and she feared she was about to be trampled. ‘Effie, help!’
She heard the squeak of wellies on snow before she saw Effie. A bucket came over the top of Liv’s head and the cow immediately stuck her face in it and started to munch away.
‘You found her,’ said Effie. ‘Well done. She’s hard to find when she’s out roaming.’
‘She kind of found me really,’ said Liv.
‘Why are you sitting down?’ asked Effie.
‘Just checking gravity still works,’ said Liv, rolling over and very inelegantly getting to her feet. The bottom of her borrowed dress was now covered in snow and sticking to her legs. ‘I’m going back.’
‘We’re coming too, because it’ll be dark soon,’ said Effie. ‘Come on, Ginger.’ She walked off with the bucket, much to the cow’s disgust.
By the time they got back to the stables Liv was freezing cold, her ankle was pounding and she was getting a bit grumpy. Effie walked into the stall with Ginger close behind. Liv went to follow but Effie pushed the top of the stable door shut, smacking Liv in the face and sending her flying onto her backside for the second time that day. Thankfully the layer of snow was a softer landing than the concrete underneath.
‘Ow! Bloody hell, Effie. I’ll have another lump on me now.’ Liv sat in the snow holding her cheek. The cold of her palm felt quite nice.
Effie closed the bottom half of the door, opened the top and peered out. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘Looking for my bagpipes,’ said Liv.
‘Ooh do you play?’ asked Effie now leaning on the lower section of the door.
‘No!’ said Liv trying not to get cross. ‘You smacked me in the face with the door.’
‘That’s good. Sometimes another knock on the head can bring memory back. We should have done it earlier. Can you remember anything, Daphne?’
‘I remember that I’m definitely not called sodding Daphne.’
‘That’s progress!’ said Effie. ‘Well done me,’ she added turning her attention back to Ginger.
Liv went inside and found Fraser in the kitchen humming ‘Fantasy’ by Mariah Carey but he stopped and did a double take when she walked in. ‘What happened to you?’ he asked failing to hide the smirk on his face.
Liv could imagine she looked like the abominable snowman. ‘I got knocked over by Ginger,again. And then Effie smacked me in the face with the stable door.’
Fraser spluttered a laugh. ‘Sorry, it’s not funny,’ he said although he was grinning.
‘It might be a little funnier from where you’re standing.’ Liv touched her puffy cheek and winced.
‘I promise not to laugh.’
She gave him a look.
