Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (the little red hen ebook .txt) 📗

‘She knew it was on my mind, but when we spoke, I hadn’t got the go-ahead from Phil on “if time allows” basis. I thought I ought to check with you, as the owner of the property, before I told Thea, in case you didn’t fancy it.’

‘Of course I do. An episode of Landscape Treasures is free advertising forever! I know how often the show gets repeated!’

‘Excellent.’ Now you’ve said yes, I can give Phil the official thumbs up.’ Shaun seemed to lose a fraction of his bounce. ‘I’d best get on. The lady of the manor has put a heap of conditions on our dig here, and her daughter isn’t exactly helping.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘I’d love to tell you, mate, but trust me: it’s a story best told over a pint in the Stag and Hound!’

Eight

September 4th

Thea turned away from her computer monitor and then looked back again. She hadn’t imagined it. There really were twenty-three emails awaiting her attention, all of which had subject headings that included a variation on the words ‘Rare Roman Find Enquiry’.

Opening the first message, from a sender she didn’t recognise, Thea’s jaw dropped. It was an invitation to be interviewed by Current Archaeology magazine on how the site was found and its potential importance to the canon of knowledge pertaining to the Roman occupation in the south-west of Britain.

She picked up her phone to call Shaun. Current Archaeology was about as good as it got in commercial magazine terms, but something stopped her. Instead she flagged the email for her attention and opened the next one. It was a request from the Exmoor Archaeological Society to run a day visit for its members.

Making a note of the group’s contact name and number, Thea opened the next email and exhaled a sigh of relief that she hadn’t realised she’d been suppressing. The archaeology unit at Exeter University would be delighted to use the site as a training dig for six of its students. They’d also be pleased to loan Mill Grange a number of basic essentials, from trowels to buckets, find sieves and tape measures, for the duration of their time on site.

‘We have diggers!’ Thea closed her eyes and rested her head against the back of her chair. ‘With the students making a start, and then Shaun joining us once his filming schedule has ended, this might just work.’

She badly wanted to discuss things with Shaun, to know how far he wanted the dig to have progressed before he arrived, not to mention to hear his advice on which of the many offers of article coverage she should go for, if not all of them. She didn’t though. Any interruption during the working day had the potential to slow his schedule, and if that happened, they wouldn’t make it to Mill Grange. That was an opportunity she did not want to jeopardise.

Thea was about to go and find Sam to share the good news, when another email arrived at the top of the page. Her hand hovered over the open button as she read and reread the subject line. “Offer to film – Treasure Hunters.”

Feeling disloyal to Shaun, Thea took a deep breath and read on.

*

Tina sat in the café, her laptop open, an empty latte glass at her side. It had been several weeks since she’d visited the Exmoor Trust’s head office in Taunton. Having popped in to collect some financial records to check over, she’d decided to work in the nearest coffee shop with free Wi-Fi before heading home.

She’d justified not going straight back to Mill Grange by telling herself that, as local car parking was so expensive, she should use all of the parking time she’d paid for. She was absolutely not avoiding going back because Sam still hadn’t spoken to her.

Unable to concentrate on the spreadsheet before her, Tina watched out of the window. The sun was trying to push through the covering of cloud. A few hardy types were wandering through the busy shopping centre wearing T-shirts and no jumpers, and a courier was unloading a van on the roadside opposite wearing nothing but shorts and a tank top. She shivered at the thought as she crossed her legs tighter under the table. Even after sleeping inside, Tina didn’t feel properly warm. It was as if the chill of all the nights she’d spent outside had invaded her bones and decided to take up permanent residence.

Picking up the empty cup, Tina cradled it, soaking up the fading traces of warmth as her eyes landed on her bag. As she’d passed the main door at Mill Grange that morning, the post had arrived, including another letter addressed to Sam in his mother’s distinctive handwriting. Panicked by its arrival, she’d stuffed it into her bag unopened. She could almost hear it shouting at her. I don’t belong to you!

Getting up order a new drink, Tina checked her watch. There was time to do one set of account checks and then go back. I’ll give Sam the letter. I’ll apologise again, and then that’s it. It’s up to him. It is Friday today. If he doesn’t speak to me by Monday, I’m leaving.

Refusing to let the tears that prickled at the backs of her eyes to fall, with her decision made, she sat back down with a chair-cushioned thump and began to work.

*

‘A considerable sum.’ Thea repeated the sentence as Betty and Gertrude peered up at her, feigning interest in her latest dilemma. ‘A considerable sum in excess of five thousand pounds – that’s what the email said. I call anything over five grand a fortune!’

Gertrude cocked her head to the side in such a way that reassured Thea she was listening.

‘But if they pay Sam to film here then Shaun can’t do the excavation. I know Landscape Treasures could film the site and provide fabulous free publicity, but they won’t have much budget left for a big filming fee. Whereas