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

Treasure Hunters are willing to pay for the privilege of being at Mill Grange, and provide Sam with a similar level of marketing.’

Disappointed that neither of the hens suggested pretending the email had fallen into her SPAM folder so she could act as if she hadn’t found it, Thea tried again. ‘If I tell Sam, he’ll say yes. I mean, why wouldn’t he? It’s a good thing for Mill Grange, but if Treasure Hunters come here, how will I ever be able to look Shaun in the eye again?’

Gertrude pecked at the almost-empty food tray and then peered at Thea with such an old-fashioned stare that she burst out laughing. ‘Alright, so your need for more food is way more of a crisis than me worrying about something that isn’t my decision anyway. I’ll fetch you some food, but do me a favour, girls, get your heads together and think about how I’m going to persuade Sam that waiting for Landscape Treasures would be the better option rather than taking whatever it is that Treasure Hunters mean by “a considerable sum”. Strikes me as weird they didn’t state a definite figure in the first place.’

*

Mabel was in the kitchen sorting through the crockery cupboard when Tina arrived back at the manor. Her trusty clipboard lay on the oak kitchen table, and a mountain of recipe books, most of which had pieces of paper sticking out of them at various intervals, were piled up to either side of it.

‘Hello, Mabel, what are you up to?’ Tina gestured to the open cupboard. ‘Anything you’re hunting for in particular?’

‘Just making sure we have enough plates, tins and cooking pots ready for next week. I’ve been putting together some sample lunch and dinner menus for approval before our first guests come on Monday.’

Tina gulped. Monday. She wondered if she’d be here to meet Sam’s friends from his time in post-trauma rehab, or if a broken heart would have seen her off the premises. Forcing herself to sound cheerful, Tina asked, ‘What have you come up with so far? I know Sam was keen on keeping things simple but filling, and as home grown as possible.’

‘I couldn’t agree more. Good honest home cooking is just the thing.’ Mabel opened the top book on the pile and stabbed a finger at the bookmarked recipe. ‘Leek and potato soup. Would you object if I gave it a try on the Aga? I don’t have one at home and past experience here tells me it can take a few tries to get the hang of the required temperature when you’re trying something new.’

‘Please, go ahead and…’ She paused. It wasn’t her decision to make was it – not if she wasn’t with Sam anymore.

‘And?’

Not wanting to explain the situation, Tina smiled. ‘And I love soup!’

*

Thea passed Tina a glass of Pinot. The knowledge of the email from Treasure Hunters had weighed heavy on her shoulders all day. In fact the only thing salving her conscience was that she hadn’t seen Sam to tell him. He’d gone to choose new chickens from one of the local farms not long after first light, and hadn’t been seen since.

‘Thanks.’ Tina tucked her feet under her body as she curled up on one of the four sofas in the drawing room.

‘It’s going to be strange sharing the house with guests, isn’t it?’ Thea stroked the arm of the comfortable armchair in which she’d flopped. ‘Nice, but not quite so relaxing.’

Tina sipped the chilled wine, its soothing magic coating her throat. ‘It had been on my mind to suggest that the bigger of the attic rooms be transformed into a lounge for the three of us – well, four when Shaun’s here, but now…’

‘Now what?’ Thea frowned. ‘Are you still giving Sam space?’

‘Yes. But he hasn’t said a word to me and…’ Tina felt the presence of the new letter from his mother that was now folded in her jeans pocket. ‘I can’t live with someone who won’t talk to me whenever I make a mistake.’

‘You don’t want to go, do you?’

‘No.’ Tina sighed. ‘And there’s something else. Something I should have left for him to find or taken to him straight away, but I was scared of it making things even worse and so I hid it. I hate secrets; they’re never a good idea, and let’s face it, Sam is a man full of secrets.’

Thea shifted in her seat, the weight of her own secret hanging heavy on her shoulders. Leaning forward, she grabbed the bottle of wine and refilled both their glasses. ‘How about you tell me what you’re hiding from Sam, then I’ll tell you what I’m hiding from Sam and Shaun. Deal?’

Nine

September 4th

‘Bert, I need your help.’ Sam felt awkward as he pushed the pint of Otter Ale in front of his friend. ‘At least, I wondered if you’d mind helping me.’

‘Anything, Sam, you know that. Since you offered Mabel the chance to work at the manor, she’s got her bounce back. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.’

‘And so are we. Mabel is a born organiser. Thea and Tina are too, but in different ways. The three of them at Mill Grange will make us unstoppable.’

Chuckling into his beer, Bert glanced around the Stag and Hound, earning himself a wave from Moira as she happily bustled around the bar. ‘You three and Shaun have done a lot for this village. Everyone is thrilled you’ll be bringing in extra mouths for food and ale as well.’

Thinking there was something about Bert’s company that made everything better, Sam said, ‘I hope they’ll bring in extra custom for Moira, not to mention Sybil at the tea room, but not all of our guests will be comfortable with that sort of socialising. It’s one of the issues I’m hoping Mill Grange will help with.’

‘It will. I’m sure it will.’ Bert peered into his pint. ‘Your idea of therapy through working on things that need pride taken