Page 46 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

The day after the shearing – God, it had been a tough physical labour – Rachel was up sharp, despite her aches and pains. They were three days into the barn renovations and Rachel couldn’t resist a look in. She swung open the barn door with a sense of expectation. Oh … there was dust and grime and a broken-up floor where it needed levelling out, and it all looked a bit of a mess. Her heart sank – they were at the point where you walked into a renovation project and wondered what the hell you’d embarked upon. It was early days, she reminded herself. It needed to be stripped to its shell so that they could move forward. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to call to mind the lovely interior design inspiration on her pinboard … it was doable, with a bit of creativity and graft.

She came back out and got on the quad ready to do her morning tour of the farm’s livestock. At the top of the grassy bank, where her signal was better, Rachel took out her mobile and phoned Carl the electrician, to see if he could make it there in the coming day or two. She didn’t want anything to hold things up.

‘Hi, Rach.’ His voice was warm and friendly down the line. ‘Yes, I should be able to make it up really soon. I’ve a couple of jobs arranged up your way from tomorrow actually, and I’ve got a B&B sorted for a couple of nights near there so that ties in well. I can come in on Thursday, take a look, and maybe fit in the work Friday if that’s any good?’

‘Yes, that’d be great. Thanks so much for squeezing us in.’

‘Okay, I’ll see you around nine, Thursday.’

‘Perfect.’

On Thursday morning, Carl whizzed up the farm track in his little white van that read ‘CJT Electrics’ on the side – Carl John Turner.

‘Hey Rachel,’ he called, stepping out of the van. He was dressed casually in jeans and a black polo-shirt. ‘How’s it going?’

‘Hey Carl, well, it’s all getting going in the barn. Looks a bit chaotic just now, but it’s coming on – so the builders say, anyway,’ answered Rachel.

‘Ah, don’t worry, that’s often the way with this kind of a project,’ Carl acknowledged, reassuringly.

‘Right, well if you come across, I can show you where we need you. Can I get you a cup of tea, coffee? I’m sure Ian and Dan, the two builders, will be ready for a coffee now too.’

Over the past four days, the builders hadn’t yet been known to say no to a cup, served strong with two sugars each – in fact, there seemed to be a constant caffeine supply wending its way across to the barn since they’d arrived, and Mum was being rather liberal with supplies of cakes and puddings too. Rachel had a feeling she was testing out her new bakes on the two workmen, and they were more than happy to oblige.

‘Yeah, a coffee would be great thanks, white one sugar.’ He gave a big white-toothed grin.

He was actually quite a good-looking chap, Rachel mused. ‘Well, if you want to head across to the barn and introduce yourself to the other lads, Ian and Dan, I’ll be across with the coffees in two ticks.’

‘Great, no worries. I’ll take a quick look around. Remind myself of the job.’

Later in the morning, Carl came knocking at the farmhouse door.

‘Right then, do you want the good news or the bad?’ He flashed a smile, then proceeded to tell Rachel and Jill that the costs might have to be slightly higher than his original quote. He’d discovered a few dodgy bits of wiring that would need further work in the new kitchen area.

‘Well, if it needs doing then we want to get it right. Can you email me the new figures to look over?’ said Rachel.

‘Yep, will do. It’s a great place out here, isn’t it,’ he added, looking around him from his doorstep vantage point. ‘I like to do a bit of mountain-biking sometimes, bet there’s some great trails and lovely views further up the hills.’

‘Oh you bet, it’s a beautiful part of the world. I’ve never mountain-biked myself, but I know people flock to the trails from miles around.’

It was nice that he appreciated their valley.

‘Hmm, might have to head back for a trip out on one of my days off. Come and say hi.’ He raised his eyebrows just a touch, which took Rachel off guard. Was he just being friendly?

‘Right, well that’s me away till tomorrow afternoon,’ said Carl. ‘Need to crack on with this job over at the grain dryers in Belford, that’s going to be as exciting as watching paint dry, I’m sure. I’ll see you tomorrow then, yeah?’ His smile was warm and friendly. ‘Looking forward to it,’ he added.

Rachel wasn’t quite sure, but had there been a touch of flirting going on there? She was so out of practice with all that, she couldn’t be certain. But she certainly did like the cheeky twinkle in his bright green eyes …