Fraser glances at me, and I sigh. We both want to say yes. Fixing the barn will take forever with just three men. But Alec is notoriously terrible at accepting help. He’d probably turn away any volunteers we managed to scrape up.
Liam clicks his tongue. “You tell your Alec that he needs to let us down in the village help out. What are we, English, ignoring our neighbours?”
“I’ll ask him,” Fraser promises.
Liam nods. “All righty. Oh, I have one for you.” He shuffles a letter out of his satchel and passes it to Fraser. “Looksimportant. See you two later, okay?” He squelches back down the drive, humming under his breath.
Fraser and I both look at the envelope. It’s thick and has the council’s stamp across our address.
“Well, that’s not good,” Fraser says brightly. He claps me on the back. “C’mon. Let’s find our girl.”
When we get inside the farmhouse, it’s dark and eerily silent. I don’t even realise Alec is sitting at the kitchen table until I flick on the light. He’s staring at his laptop blankly.
A feeling of dread trickles down my spine. Something is wrong.
“Bad night, huh?” Fraser says, shucking off his boots. “Good job securing the sheep. Thank God none of them got hurt. Here, letter from the council for you.” He passes it over and looks around. “Where’s the wee sunbeam? Bet she needs a cuddle after all that drama.”
For the first time, Alec stirs. “She’s gone,” he says quietly.
Fraser blinks at him. “Where? Down to town?”
Alec doesn’t say anything, and the dread that’s slowly been seeping through me solidifies. Fraser stares at him for a moment and then walks towards the guest room. I hear him calling for Summer, opening doors.
I lean my cane against the kitchen table. “What happened,” I ask Alec.
“I messed up,” he says slowly, like the words are hard to get out.
“And Summer?”
Alec doesn’t answer, ripping open the envelope and shaking out the letter. He reads it quickly, his shoulders slumping. “The council is taking the eastern quadrant.”
“What?”
Alec starts to read the letter in a monotone. “‘Due to recent council plans to develop the county’s economy, the land parcelscomprising E1 to E12 on Lochview Farm will be subject to a compulsory purchase order. Should you or any local citizens wish to contest this, a public consultation survey is available on our website for the next seven days, after which the compulsory purchase order shall take effect.’” He drops the letter and takes off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“The whole eastern quadrant?” I ask. “That’s most of our pasture. We’ll have to cut our flock by half.” I do some quick maths. “It doesn’t work,” I realise. “The business will collapse. What’s that bit about a survey mean?”
“It’s a sham,” Alec says into his hands. “They’re saying if enough locals complain via the survey, they’ll halt the purchase. But public consultations usually last for months. They’re meant to be properly advertised with leaflets posted through doors, ads in the papers… They’ve hidden it on their website and given us no time to let anyone know it exists.” He swears. “I should have taken Isla up on her offer to spread the word,” he mutters. “I should have?—”
Before he can finish the thought, Fraser comes stomping back. His face is red, and he’s waving a sheet of paper. “What. Did. You. Do?” he snarls at Alec.
“What is it?” I ask.
He shoves the page at my chest. I scan Summer’s handwriting.
Fraser and Cameron,
I’ve had to leave. I’m really, really sorry I couldn’t stay to say goodbye, but Alec doesn’t want me here, and I don’t want to be in your way any longer. It’s time for me to stop hiding and go home.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve both treated me better than anyone ever has. Give Crumpet a cuddle from me.
Love,
Summer x
I stare at the paper until all of the words blur.
No.
