The three of us headed to the farmyard where Des’s truck was parked. From a distance, I could see Hunter was talking to Maddie and they both had their phones out. I glanced at Mam and she smiled. Were they exchanging phone numbers? I knew that Hunter was single from a passing comment Des had made. He’d come across really well in a few brief chats I’d had with him. Whether they formed a friendship or something more, the alarm bells certainly didn’t ring around Hunter like they’d done with Alfie.
It didn’t take long for Des and Hunter to dismantle the shed so they were gone by lunchtime.
‘How was your ride this morning?’ Mam asked Maddie over lunch.
‘Good. I was a bit nervous at first – been a while – but it soon came back to me. Scout’s a lovely horse.’
Mam nodded. ‘And you got on well with Willow?’
‘Yeah, she’s nice.’
‘What were you chatting about?’ I asked.
‘None of your business,’ she snapped, flashing her eyes at me. ‘Do I interrogate you about your conversations with Jude?’
I dropped my sandwich onto my plate, reeling at Maddie’s reaction. She’d been pleasant all morning but I should have known it was too much to expect a complete personality reversion overnight.
‘I was just trying to make conversation and I don’t appreciate the sarcastic tone.’
‘Yes, boss! From now on, I’ll stay silent so I don’t upset anyone. Would that work better for you?’
‘Maddie!’ Mam exclaimed.
Maddie was staring at me, that familiar challenge in her eyes for me to respond. A feeling of weariness consumed me from head to toe. Her helping on the farm this morning, laughing with Willow, riding Scout and engaging with Hunter had lulled me into a false sense of security. If being supportive and understanding about her pregnancy scare wasn’t going to help build bridges between us, I had no idea what was. Appetite gone, I pushed my plate away.
‘You know what, Maddie? You do what you want. I thought we’d had a breakthrough yesterday but…’ I shoved my chair back, shaking my head. ‘I’ll be in the stables, Mam.’
I called the dogs and left the farmhouse, releasing a heavy sigh. After two years of attitude, the occasional snarky comment was going to slip out but that hadn’t been that. Was there any hope for us?
30
Among other things, Mam and I had tasked our builders with converting the museum into a private dining room for the briefing and refreshments during the cow cuddling experiences. They’d helped us relocate the cart and farm machinery into one of the barns flanking the farmyard and Mam and I had been gradually moving all the other exhibits and information boards. The latter could do with replacing but we wanted to see how popular the museum was before we spent money on it.
Access to the farm would still be via the café but, with the museum gone, all visitors would be directed through the stables. We’d secured large noticeboards to the long plain wall beside the ramp and my first task for this afternoon was to display some laminated factsheets and photos about each of the horses. Mam joined me as I was finishing with the noticeboards and told me that Maddie had cycled into Rowanbridge.
‘Cycled?’ I raised my eyebrows.
Riding her bike had been another thing she’d ditched after starting sixth form. When I was sorting out the garage ready for the move, I’d asked her if she wanted to keep or sell her bike.Do what you like. I don’t care!had been her delightful response. I’dbeen tempted to sell it but I’d thought about our remote location and how, as she hadn’t wanted driving lessons when she turned seventeen because Carmen hadn’t learned to drive, she might be grateful to have a mode of transport. I’d taken it to a bicycle specialist and had it serviced and the tyres replaced. I was glad she’d decided to use it although I dreaded to hear her verdict on Rowanbridge. It was a beautiful village, popular with tourists in the summer, but I could see it through her eyes and imagine her contempt.There’s nothing to do there!That wasn’t the point of our move. We were here for the animals and the countryside.
By the time Mam and I went into the farmhouse to make tea, Maddie hadn’t returned and I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. It was possible she’d decided to explore the whole Triple Trees area but, even so, I’d have expected her back by now or to have messaged me to say where she was.
‘I’ve got a text from her,’ Mam said.
From Maddie
I’m at Willow’s. Her mum’s invited me to stay for tea. Back before it’s dark
Relief that Maddie was safe blended with hurt that she’d texted Mam rather than me.
‘At least she let one of us know,’ I said. But I knew how Maddie worked. She wasn’t speaking to me and this was her petty way of showing it. It didn’t make sense. I thought I’d handled yesterday really well and her eagerness to help this morning had backed that up, but clearly that wasn’t the case.
* * *
‘Whose is this?’ Mam asked as we cleared away after tea. ‘I keep knocking it over.’
I looked at the silver drinks bottle in her hand. ‘It’s Caleb’s. He gave me some juice in it when I fainted and I keep forgetting to return it.’
‘Why don’t you take it back now?’ she suggested, that mischievous twinkle returning to her eyes. ‘And, as it’s a Saturday night, perhaps you could take a bottle of wine to thank him for helping with Clemmie and partake of it together.’
