DONNA ALWARD - The Girl from Honeysuckle Farm / One Dance with the Cowboy - The Girl from Honeysuckle Farm / One Dance with the Cowboy

That, ‘Get off my land!’ and a threat to summons her for trespass hardly constituted ‘a chat’ was neither here nor there. But it was plain Ash thought that there was more to Ty inviting her to live under his roof and offering to stable her horse than appeared on the surface. Hadn’t she herself asked Ty, ‘You think he’ll believe such philanthropy?’ Clearly Ash did not. What Ash had chosen to believe was that she was some kind of would-be girlfriend to his brother. And, bearing in mind that she could not tell Ash the truth, there was nothing she could do to disabuse him of the idea.

Having reached the conclusion that Ash was not so down as she had at first thought, she saw the more cheerful mood he had been in while they had been busy start to fall away once the stable was empty of impedimenta and Mickie Yates had called and carted everything away.

‘I think I’ll take a shortcut through the spinney and collect Ruby,’ Phinn said lightly. Straw was down; water was in the trough they had unearthed and scrubbed.

‘I’ll drive you there if you like?’ he offered, but she knew that his heart was not in it.

For a moment she wondered if the fact that Geraldine had the look of her cousin and it would upset him had anything to do with it. If so, perhaps it would be kinder not to trigger memories of Leanne should Geraldine be about.

‘No need,’ she answered gently. But, bearing in mind that he had seemed happier when working, she went on. ‘Though if you’re strolling down anywhere near the paddock you might check if it’s Ruby-friendly for me.’

Ash nodded and went on his way. By then Phinn was learning to trust Ty enough that if he thought the paddock was suitable for Ruby, there would be no stray barbed wire or plant-life dangerous to horses.

She was feeling sorely in need of a shower and a change of clothes, but Ruby still had to be Phinn’s first priority. She wanted her away from the other horses, and so went as quickly as she could to get her.

First she was met by Geraldine—a smiling Geraldine—who offered to supply her with hay and straw from her own supplies. ‘You can have it for the price I pay for it,’ she offered pleasantly.

Thanking her, feeling cheered, Phinn went looking for Ruby, and was instantly rewarded when Ruby spotted her straight away and came over to her as fast as she could. ‘Come on, darling,’ Phinn murmured to her softly. ‘Have I got a lovely surprise for you.’

Ruby did not have much of an appetite, and after staying with her for a while as she got used to her new surroundings, Phinn left her and went over to the house.

She went in though the kitchen door and at once saw Mrs Starkey, who was at the sink scrubbing new potatoes. She smiled when she saw her. ‘Come in, Phinn, come in. Your room’s all ready for you.’

‘I hope I haven’t put you to a lot of trouble?’ Phinn apologised.

‘None at all! It will be nice having you in the house,’ Mrs Starkey answered cheerfully, more than happy, it seemed, in her now streamlined kitchen. ‘Dinner’s usually about seven-thirty, but I’ve made you a sandwich to tide you over. Or you could have some soup, or a salad, or…’

‘A sandwich will do fine, Mrs Starkey. What I need most is a shower and a change of clothes.’

Mrs Starkey washed and dried her hands. ‘Come on, then. I’ll show you your room. Ashley came in earlier with your belongings and took them up for you. I hope it’s all right? I’ve had your cardboard boxes put in the storeroom, but…’

‘That’s lovely.’ Phinn thanked her, and as they climbed the winding staircase asked, ‘Where is Ash? Do you know?’

For a brief second or two the housekeeper lost her smile. ‘I think he’s taken himself off for a walk. He didn’t want anything to eat, and he barely touched his breakfast.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, more to herself than anything as they went along the landing.

Phinn was unsure what, if anything, to answer. But she was saved having to make a reply when Mrs Starkey halted at one of the bedroom doors.

‘Here we are,’ she said, opening the door and standing back for Phinn to go in. ‘I hope it’s to your liking.’

Liking! ‘Oh, Mrs Starkey, it’s lovely!’ she cried. And it was.

‘I’ll leave you to get settled in and have your shower.’ Mrs Starkey seemed as pleased as Phinn herself.

Phinn stood in the centre of the recently refurbished room and turned very slowly around. The huge, high-ceilinged, light and airy room, with its own modernised bathroom, was more of a bedsitting room than anything. One wall had been given over to built-in wardrobes, with a dressing table in between—far more wardrobe space than she would ever need, Phinn mused. And there was a padded stool in delicate cream and antique gold in front of the dressing table area that had a light above it.

The bed was a double bed, with a cream and antique gold bedcover. At the foot of the bed was a padded cream ottoman, and further in front of that a padded antique gold-coloured chaise longue. A small round table reposed to the side of it, and to the side of that stood a small matching padded chair.

Remembering her cold and draughty bedroom at Honeysuckle Farm, where she would have been returning today but for the turn of events, Phinn could only stare in wonder. She took another slow turn around again—and she had thought Ruby’s accommodation luxurious!

Feeling a little stunned, and thinking that she would not want to leave when her six months at Broadlands Hall were over, Phinn went to inspect the bathroom. She was not disappointed. There must be a snag, she pondered. And, stripping off, stepped into the shower—certain that the plumbing or some such would prove faulty.

It proved not faulty. The water was fine, as hot or not as she would have wished.

Refreshed from her shower, Phinn quickly dressed in some clean clothes and, with her thoughts on introducing Ruby to the paddock, swiftly left her room—she could unpack later. She went to the kitchen.

‘Tea or coffee?’ Mrs Starkey asked as soon as she saw her. And only then did Phinn realise that she felt quite parched.

‘Actually, I’d better go and see to Ruby. But I’ll have a glass of water,’ she answered. No time to wait for tea or coffee.

‘Juice?’ Mrs Starkey offered, and as Phinn glanced at the motherly woman she suddenly felt as if she had come home.

‘Juice would be lovely,’ she replied gratefully. And while she drank her juice she saw Mrs Starkey fold her sandwich up in a paper napkin.

‘Our John never used to have a moment to breathe either,’ she remarked, handing over the sandwich with a smile.

‘Thank you, Mrs Starkey,’ Phinn said, and had her empty glass taken out of her hand when she would have taken it over to the sink and washed it, and the sandwich pressed in its place.

Life was suddenly good. Phinn all at once realised that she was feeling the best she had felt since her father had died. Now, who did she thank for that? Ty, Ash, Mrs Starkey—or just the passage of time?

Whatever—just enjoy.

Another plus was that Ruby appeared a little hungry. Some of her special feed had gone anyway. Phinn took her down to the fenced-off paddock, checked she had water, and sat on the fence eating her sandwich while Ruby found her way around.

After a while Phinn got down from the fence. Ruby was not her only concern, but this was her first day, and apart from having to clear out the stables and make everything ready, Phinn had not got into any sort of pattern as yet. But she was mindful that she should be looking out for Ash.

Leaving Ruby, Phinn went looking for him. He had gone for a walk, Mrs Starkey had said. But that had been hours ago.

Phinn had gone some way, and was near to the pool when through the trees she caught a glimpse of something blue. If memory served, Ash had been wearing a blue shirt that morning. Should she leave him or keep him company?