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Hope frowned. ‘I’d have to chat to Cam about it. I don’t think it’s feasible for Easter because we wouldn’t have time to review the health and safety protocols, but they might be able to do a couple of open days over the summer.’
‘I’m trying to do too much all at once, aren’t I?’ Tasha admitted with an embarrassed smile. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this energised though. Just getting out of the office and into a different environment had been enough to demonstrate how stale she’d been getting, more worried about what everyone else was up to and listening to the gossip on the office grapevine than focusing on her own work. She’d bet that grapevine was buzzing now with speculation over her sudden absence. Let them talk.
‘No, it’s great. Never worry about voicing ideas because this business is all about collaboration. We’re too small an operation to stand on ceremony or worry about treading on each other’s toes.’ It reaffirmed what Rhys had told her about the way they worked. ‘What I do have planned that we can promote to guests right now are several arts and crafts sessions at The Old Stable Yard. We’re going all out over the actual Easter weekend with an egg hunt and decorating classes, face-painting and colouring in for the little ones.’
‘I was wondering about putting together some activity packs for the children who are staying at the campsite.’
Hope nodded. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘It’s still a bit of a top-of-my-head idea, but something like a list of things they need to collect or take a photograph of that can be found on the estate. Maybe some trivia questions about the history of the place for the older children. A couple of discount vouchers for the craft activities, maybe? I’d cover the difference from my budget so whoever is running the classes isn’t missing out.’
‘I love the sound of all of that. Speak to Martha and Joe at the village store. Maybe you could do a similar discount voucher for an Easter egg to encourage guests to pop in?’
‘They’re on my list of people to talk to in the next few days about the campsite shop so I’ll bump them up to the top and touch base with them after I have seen Graham.’ Tasha made a note. ‘I was wondering about giving the kids an egg when they arrive, but I’m a bit worried about allergies or dietary stuff. A voucher would be a good compromise and if I give the pack to the parents and explain it on the quiet then it’ll be their choice whether to use it or not.’
‘I really like this voucher idea,’ Hope said, pulling out her phone. She carried on talking as she began to tap away. ‘We should have a proper brainstorm about it with Mum and Rowena, see if we can come up with a whole booklet of special offers for the summer. They do lovely food in the pub. I bet Iain would be interested in a meal deal for guests during the week.’ After setting her phone aside, she reached across the table and placed a hand on Tasha’s arm. ‘I’m so glad you came to Juniper Meadows! We’re going to have so much fun working together.’
13
It was after lunch by the time Rhys and Denny finished repairing the fence. What had looked like an hour’s work had turned into a full morning of hard, filthy work when they discovered the reason the fence had failed was a rotting post. They were due to transfer the cows into this bigger pasture and, with guests arriving within weeks, they couldn’t risk the animals straying onto the road as had happened the previous year causing several hours of chaos. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, they’d inspected the entire fence line and found more than half a dozen other posts showing signs of weakness. Digging them out and replacing them had been a miserable task, the ground still sodden from the late snows, and both Rhys and Denny had been covered in mud and freezing cold by the time they’d carried out the repairs.
Rhys had barely warmed up in the shower and got into a clean change of clothes when there’d been a call from another one of his team about a sheep in distress. Hair still wet, he’d rushed across the yard to the sheep pens where his small flock of longwools had been brought in for lambing. They’d all been bleating, set off by the struggling ewe, and it had been hard to concentrate for the noise. By the time the vet had arrived, they’d got both the lambs out but only one had survived.
Death was part and parcel of farming life, but any loss was a blow to the whole team. If only he’d been there instead of messing around with the fence he might have spotted the problem earlier. No, that wasn’t fair. Jos was one of the best livestock handlers around and what he didn’t know about the care of animals wasn’t worth worrying about. Still, that didn’t stop Rhys from worrying.
Rhys had left Jos and the vet to check on the rest of the flock while he’d taken charge of the sad task of transporting the lamb to the secure storage area and contacting a local cooperative who managed collection and disposal. He’d returned to the sheds to the much happier sight and sound of two more healthy lambs, and the mother who’d lost her lamb was feeding her surviving one. Between them he and Jos oversaw the births of several more and by the time he left for a break the shed was much calmer. Jos was going to stay on until 7p.m. and then Rhys would relieve him so he could go home and have a few hours’ sleep before coming back in at midnight for the overnight shift. Before Rhys knew it, it was getting on for five o’clock.
Tired and hungry, having forgotten about lunch, Rhys wanted nothing more than to head inside for a hot bath, but if he did that he’d end up too sleepy to give Jos a break. He had only a couple of hours to eat and try and catch up with Tasha. He’d had a text from her saying she was having lunch with Hope, so she hadn’t been on her own all day at least. Still, he should’ve been there for her on her first day. Rhys shook the thought away. At this rate he’d need to clone about five different versions of himself to cover all the things he was feeling guilty about neglecting.
Pulling out his phone, he dialled the work mobile he’d given her, only for it to ring out and click into the answerphone. He smiled as he listened to the polite, efficient message she’d recorded, wondering when she’d found the time. The beep sounded and he suddenly panicked about what he was going to say. She’d made it pretty clear she didn’t want him watching over her shoulder that morning so how to frame it without sounding as if he was checking up on her? ‘Uh, hi. I hope you’ve had a good first day. Just ringing for umm, a quick catch-up so, yeah, give me a call back when you get this, please. It’s Rhys, by the way.’ He cut himself off before he drivelled on any more and shoved his phone in his pocket.
The kitchen was quiet when he walked in via the boot room, where he stopped long enough to shove his overalls into the machine on top of that morning’s dirty clothes and stick the whole lot on a hot wash. He’d cleaned up before leaving the barn, but he washed his hands again before entering the kitchen. Opening the fridge to get a drink, he saw a note on a dish of marinading chicken left by Stevie and, following the instructions, he switched on the oven and slid the dish onto the middle shelf.
Too hungry to wait, he retrieved a can of soup from the cupboard and poured it into a pan to heat while he started peeling potatoes. Having set them on to boil, he cut a couple of thick slices from the loaf in the bread bin and sat at the table with his soup. He’d just spooned in the last mouthful when his mother and aunt arrived home from the hotel, filling the silent kitchen with joyful greetings.
‘Oh, you put the chicken in?’ Stevie asked, pausing to bend and brush a kiss on his cheek. ‘You are a good boy, thank you.’
Though it had grated on his last nerve when he was growing up, Rhys had matured enough now to understand he would always be a ‘good boy’ to his parents, aunt, and uncle, and he accepted it as the loving affection it was meant to be. ‘I wasn’t sure what else you had planned but I’ve put some potatoes on as well.’
‘Oh, lovely. Once they’re parboiled, I think I’ll pop them in the air fryer. Just let me wash my hands and then I’ll take over.’ She frowned at his empty bowl. ‘Not eating with us tonight?’
‘I might have a small portion, but I missed lunch. It’s been a bit of a day.’ Though he tried to keep his voice neutral, there must’ve been a hint of his lingering sadness because his mother came over and placed a gentle hand on top of his head.
‘Anything I can do, darling?’
Rhys tilted his head back to look up at her, accepting the comforting caress as she slid her hand down to touch his cheek. ‘Not really. Denny and I spent the morning wrestling with the fence up at Top Field and then we lost a lamb this afternoon.’
‘Oh, such a shame.’
‘I should’ve been there.’ The words were out before he realised it. His mother frowned at him, but didn’t say anything. ‘Not that it’s likely I could’ve done any better than Jos, of course.’ Rhys pushed away the edges of the black gloom and reached for the positive. ‘But we had seven healthy additions to the flock, so the day ended on a good note.’
Sitting beside him, his mum gave him an encouraging smile. ‘That is good news because it means that spring is finally on its way.’
‘I took some photos for the website and what-have-you. Hang on and I’ll send them to you.’ She and Stevie had started a blog as a way of increasing engagement and also ran an Instagram account, which was starting to build followers. He forwarded the photos he’d taken.
‘Adorable! Look at this one, Stevie.’ His mum held up her phone, showing a close up he’d taken of one of the lambs snuggled deep in the straw beside its mother.
‘I’ve got a video as well.’ Rhys sent her the short clip of the same lamb taking several shaky steps. ‘I should mention the blog to Tasha, see if she can put together a few words about the improvements she’s making at the campsite.’ Thinking of her reminded him that she hadn’t called back. He double-checked his phone to make sure he hadn’t accidentally put it on silent but there were no missed calls or messages. Frowning, he dialled her number again, but it rang out to voicemail.
