Page 50 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Chapter 21

HAY AND DELAY

A few days later, Rachel was setting out to run some errands when she saw Tom’s truck coming down the country lane in the opposite direction. She felt all knotted up inside for some strange reason as he slowed to a stop, winding down his window. Rachel did the same.

‘Hi, Rachel. Just to let you know I’ll be cutting the rented hay fields in the next couple of days, so while I’m all set up do you want me to come in and do yours for you too? The forecast’s looking good. Then we can row it up and maybe you can help me bale later in the week.’

‘Well, if you’re sure, that’d be great. Thanks so much. But, let me do the baling and then we’ll be quits, okay?’

‘Fair enough, and you can always pay me in puddings,’ he grinned. ‘Is it all going okay with that? It’ll be full on with converting the barn, I bet. I’ve seen the builders’ van toing and froing.’

‘I wish it was full on,’ she replied wryly. ‘It’s all come to a grinding halt yesterday, while we wait for missing kitchen units.’

Oh yes, Ian had caught up with her yesterday morning to enlighten them that there was at least a week’s delay on the kitchen units that she and Jill had chosen, which was unfortunately going to hold up all the other works. There wasn’t a lot they could do but wait and be patient.

‘Ah, sorry to hear there’s a hiccup.’ Tom’s face creased in sympathy.

‘It has been pretty hectic up until now though, and yes, it’s been keeping us out of mischief. Despite these last-minute hitches, we’re nearly there.’ Rachel was trying to stay positive.

‘Great, well, I’ll have to come and try it out. How long until you open, do you think?’

‘Well, hopefully we’ll be able to open in two or three weeks’ time, in time for the school summer holidays.’

She was going to spend the next couple of weeks getting the tearoom furniture sourced. She was excited to look around the local second-hand shops or any house sales with Eve and Mum to find chairs, tables and a dresser and then get them all painted up ready. And Jill was busy with a baking production line – the big new fridge they’d invested in was bursting with puddings already.

‘You will be full on then.’

‘So yes, help with the hay just now will be brilliant.’

A shadow then crossed his face. ‘Was everything okay the other night, by the way? You know, out in Kirkton?’ There was a loaded silence, the word ‘date’ left hanging, unspoken, between them.

‘Oh … at the pub, last week?’ Rachel suddenly felt a bit awkward. ‘Yes, that was just the electrician who’d been working for us. Seemed friendly enough, but he turned out to be a bit of a creep … I don’t think we’ll be seeing him around here again, somehow.’

‘Ah, okay, well sorry to hear it wasn’t the most memorable night out.’ Tom sounded relieved, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he spoke. ‘Right, well I’d better be getting on. See you about.’

‘Cheers, Tom, see you around.’

After checking out the Kirkton antique and bric-a-brac trader for any furniture for the Pantry, which turned up a dresser but no suitable tables and chairs – she didn’t think a set of Georgian furniture would quite suit the barn or the budget – and calling in at the agricultural merchant for some sheep wormer and washing powder they needed, Rachel decided to stop by at Granny Ruth’s on the outskirts of the village.

Having been so busy with all the works on at the farm, and with Granny Ruth no longer able to drive herself to visit at the farm, she hadn’t seen her for the past eight days, which was quite unusual.

Rachel pulled the Land Rover up on the verge in the pretty lane surrounded by country fields. Four stone cottages were lined up behind an old low stone wall, where colourful snapdragon flowers had seeded and bloomed from between the crevices. Rachel walked to the door of Granny Ruth’s two-up two-down cottage, where a small-budded pale-pink rambling rose arched across in summer bloom. She knocked on the door and called a quick ‘Hello Granny!’ to announce her arrival, before opening the door into the cottage.

‘Oh hello, pet.’ Ruth was just getting up out of her armchair in her front room where she’d been crocheting. She liked to make bed throws and cushion covers which she gave to the local charity shop to sell. ‘Lovely of you to stop by, I’ll get the kettle on, shall I?’

‘Oh, yes please. And sorry we haven’t been over this week, it’s just been a bit crazy with everything going on at the farm.’ Rachel followed Ruth through to the kitchen.

‘Don’t you worry about that, pet. I’m fine. I know you and your mum have a lot on at the moment. Mind …’ she gave her granddaughter a thorough look over, ‘you are looking a bit pasty. You need to take care of yourself a bit more too.’

‘Hah, I’ll try. But someone’s gotta do it all, Granny, the farm won’t run itself.’ Who on earth would get everything done if she took a back seat on it? There was no resting up for a good while yet, Rachel mused. But she knew Granny’s heart was in the right place, and all she wanted was to see that Rachel was all right – even in her late seventies, Ruth’s nurturing instinct was still strong.

‘No, I suppose not. Now then, I made some cake yesterday, a banana loaf, would you like some, pet?’

‘Oh yes, that sounds lovely. Oh … and before I forget I brought you some of our eggs. I’ll quickly go fetch them from the truck.’ She and Jill always brought Ruth a regular supply of their fresh farm eggs.

‘Thank you. I bet you’ll be needing more hens with all the baking going on at the farm now.’

‘We do, actually. I’ve got another dozen birds coming this week, and I need to extend the hen house for them.’ Another job that was added to her never-ending list. But, for now, it was nice to have a half hour of respite; sitting with her granny, and nattering over some homemade cake and a cuppa.