‘What?’ Florrie asked, glancing around at everyone, wondering if she’d heard right.
Bear gave a couple of oinks, making everyone but Florrie laugh some more – her brain was too busy scrabbling about and trying to work out what pig herding would involve. It sounded messy and chaotic, and she was overwhelmed by the sinking feeling that it was something she wouldn’t enjoy. Surely, it was another wind up? But, then again, they were driving through the countrysidewhere there would no doubt be pig farms aplenty, so it did lend an element of truth to Maggie’s words.
And if they really were supposed to be herding pigs, how big would the said pigs be exactly? She bit down on a sigh as some vague memory of a countryside television programme she used to watch with Mr H told her they could be quite large creatures, not to mention occasionally bad-tempered.Oh, please no.One thing was for sure, she didn’t fancy getting on the wrong side of an angry pig that was bigger than her!
But she could hardly tell her friends she’d stand and watch while they got busy herding pigs when they’d organised the event specially for her and Ed. And, come to think of it, which one of her friends had come up with such an ‘out there’ idea? Jasmine and Maggie popped into her mind. It would be one of them, if not both. She could see how pig herding would appeal to their, at times, riotous sense of fun, particularly so Jasmine.
‘I had no idea pig herding was even a thing.’ She tried to inject a note of cheerfulness into her voice, not wanting to sound like a killjoy or that she was ungrateful for their efforts.
‘Well, let me reassure you it really is a thing, isn’t it, Bear?’ Maggie turned to face her husband.
Florrie wasn’t so sure ‘reassure’ was the word she’d use.
‘Oh, aye, it is.’ He nodded. ‘It’s another way for farmers to diversify. And, let me add for Larkie here’s benefit, the pigs are very well looked after. In fact, I’d say they’re as happy as pigs in sh—’ Bear was stopped from finishing his sentence by a brace of pheasants that had darted out from the roadside, their colourful plumage glowing in the sun. ‘Ey up, bloomin’ wildlife out here could do with a bit of road sense.’
‘And, from what I’ve heard, pig herding’s a right laugh.’ Maggie picked up where her husband had left off. ‘Granted, it’s a bit messy and smelly, but I believe the farm provides overalls. I thought we’d all get ourselves into the spirit and let our hair down, make sure we enjoy it.’
Thought we’d all get into the spirit? Enjoy it?Did her friendseven know her at all? Just as Florrie was trying to work out what their immaculately groomed friend with never a hair out of place Stella would make of chasing a load of pigs around a pen, realisation struck like a lightbulb pinging on. ‘Maggie Marsay, you’re a terrible fibber! I know we’re not going pig herding. There’s no way in a million years you’d get Stella within a mile of a pig, never mind herding a whole load of them,’ she said through her giggles. ‘Nor Lark, for that matter. Lark always smells of aromatherapy oils – there’s not a chance she’d want to swap that for pig muck!’
Roars of laughter filled the Land Rover, with Florrie and Lark bent double.
‘That’s a very good point,’ said Lark, catching her breath for a moment.
‘Ah, well, I clearly hadn’t thought that one through, but it wouldn’t half be a right laugh watching Stells tiptoeing around clarty mud and pig muck in her designer high heels while tackling a load of snorty pigs. Can you imagine the look on her face, especially if she slipped over?’ Maggie was laughing so hard, tears were pouring down her cheeks, which only made the rest of them laugh all the more.
Florrie could see Stella’s face clearly in her mind, the unimpressed look she’d wear. It made her laugh even harder.
‘Oh blimey, we’ll have to share this with her when we see her, she’ll think it’s hilarious.’ Lark wiped tears of mirth from her eyes.
‘Please stop now, if I laugh any more, I’m going to be in serious danger of cracking a rib,’ spluttered Florrie.
‘I’m not so sure how long my bladder can hold out. It’s not what it used to be since I had Lucy,’ added Maggie.
Bear shot her a concerned look. ‘Let me know if you need me to stop. I’ve just hosed the Landie down. I don’t need you piddlin’ in your seat and undoing all my hard work.’
That set them all off howling with laughteragain.
‘Right then, folks, here we are,’ Bear announced as the Land Rover nosed its way between two sturdy sandstone gateposts and into a large parking area. ‘There’s Alex’s car over there, he’s brought Stella, Max, and Jazz.’
‘Where are we?’ asked Florrie, scrunching her nose up and leaning forward to peer through the wide windscreen. They’d been so busy laughing and chatting she’d been totally oblivious to where they’d driven.
‘Danskelfe Business Centre,’ said Lark, as they jumped out of the back of the Land Rover. ‘Though it looks a bit genteel to be described as a “business centre”, if you ask me.’ She was looking colourful in her stripy, loose-fitting harem pants she’d teamed with a lilac-coloured hoodie. She had a couple of skinny plaits either side of her face which were pulled back with the rest of her hair and tied in a long plait. Around her neck was an amethyst pendant Nate had given her.
Florrie’s eyes swept around the well-appointed Georgian buildings of buttery sandstone, with their freshly painted wooden sash windows and doors, and lead planters brimming with spring flowers. She had to agree; it looked nothing like any business centre she’d ever seen. Amongst the hand-painted business signs she spotted a beautician’s, a dance studio and a veterinary surgery. It sparked a memory of something Lady Caro Hammondely had said at Jasmine’s meeting: she’d mentioned that as part of her plans to make the Danskelfe Estate more profitable, as well as helping to support the local rural economy, they’d been gradually converting the old unused buildings into affordable rental premises for local businesspeople. This was obviously such a place.
‘Pretty nice spot to have your office, eh?’ said Ed, squinting in the bright sunshine.
‘Just a bit,’ agreed Florrie, not that she would change where she worked; she’d always said the bookshop was her happy place and she couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.
She was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of car tyres crunching over gravel. She looked over to see Jack at the wheel ofhis small four-wheel drive, Jenna beside him, wearing her familiar big smile and waving enthusiastically, with Jean in the back.
Jenna practically leapt out of the car once Jack had pulled up beside the Land Rover. She rushed over to Florrie and enveloped her in a hug. ‘Happy hen party, pet. I bet you’ve been dead excited about what was planned.’
‘Excited’s a word.’ Florrie shot Maggie and Lark a knowing look as Stella and Jasmine joined them.
‘Oh?’ Jenna asked, glancing at Maggie.
Once they’d exchanged hellos with Jasmine and Stella – the men had grouped together, looking at something Bear was pointing out on his beloved Landie – Florrie shared how Maggie had teased her about pig herding. Stella threw her head back and let out an amused cackle on hearing their description of her attempts at herding pigs. Like the others in the friendship group, Stella didn’t take herself too seriously. ‘Not gonna happen,’ she said, shaking her head and smiling. ‘They’ll be selling ice creams in hell before you get me anywhere near a pig.’
