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

love to, as long as there’s enough food and I won’t be in the way. Thea has told me what you’re doing here. It sounds brilliant.’

‘Actually, my offer of food came with an ulterior motive.’ Sam gestured for them to join him as he walked towards the benches by the kitchen door. ‘Thea and I wondered about including archaeological techniques as part of the rehabilitation we offer here. I’d be interested to know what you think.’

‘Gut feeling, it’s a good idea. Archaeology is a transferable skill after all.’

‘It is?’

‘Sure.’ Helen pushed a stray red curl from her eyes. ‘It teaches patience, determination and the ability to focus. Not only do you need to be able to see and identify what you’re searching for, but you also need to be able to map it, draw it, measure it, and interpret it. Plus, you’re constantly learning to fight the urge to rush when it’s exciting, or give up when you’re resigned to sifting through miles of nothing much.’

Thea agreed. ‘Then there’s field walking. For those who don’t fancy the slow pace that goes with excavation, there’s searching for surface items. It’s also disciplined, but produces more immediate results.’

‘If there’s something to find of course,’ Helen added. ‘Here it would be more woodland walking than field walking, but it will need doing if you want to build a full picture of the site’s development. Then there’s the research, report writing, cataloguing, data analysis… I could go on.’

As they approached the kitchen, Sam saw Tina and Woody laying plates and cutlery on two benches that had been pushed together. ‘Would you be able to oversee all that, Thea?’

She laughed. ‘If you were happy for me to give up everything else, then yes, but we’d have to provide basic training first. I could do that, but if you wanted me to oversee the site and co-run the retreat—’

Sam cut in, ‘I get it. Your plate is already overflowing. So, we’d need an archaeology tutor after all. Is it possible to employ such a person on a temporary basis?’

‘Absolutely,’ the women replied in unison, before Thea added, ‘I can put an ad in Current Archaeology, but you should know it’s a skilled position. You’d have to pay proper wages.’

‘I was thinking of talking to Tina about getting a bank loan to tide us over with wages until we’re running properly.’

Sam looked so pleased by this prospect that Thea found herself holding back on the news about the second email from Treasure Hunters, saying instead, ‘I wish Shaun’s lot could afford to pay to film here.’

Sam paused. ‘I did wonder about saying we’d wait until the next series.’

Thea shook her head. ‘I’d already thought of that; they’re booked up. If we waited for a series episode then we are talking the year after next, which would mean delaying using the site for therapy purposes.’

‘Christmas it is then.’

Crossing her fingers inside her pockets, Thea smiled. ‘I’m talking to Shaun later. I’ll ask how they’re getting on time-wise.’ Changing the subject, she sniffed. ‘Dinner smells amazing! Come on, Helen, I’ll introduce you to everyone.’

September 9th

Thea blinked against the stark light of her mobile phone screen. There was no message from Shaun.

After clicking on the bedside lamp, Thea pulled a jumper over her shoulders as she shivered in the early morning chill. She’d tried to call him three times the evening before, but each time the phone had taken her to voicemail. The texts she’d sent had gone unanswered.

She knew it was possible that the phone signal wasn’t working down there. When Shaun had checked the place out, prior to filming, in the summer, they’d had a few connection issues, but nothing since he’d gone there this time round. Thea felt frustrated as well as concerned. Not only did she want to talk to him in general, she had to tell Shaun about Treasure Hunters’ latest offer – and she wanted to ask what he thought about an idea Helen had had during dinner.

Perhaps he got talking to that ‘very helpful’ Sophie, and forgot the time.

Wondering where that thought had come from, and not liking how it unsettled her, she yanked her duvet up under her chin.

Giving herself a mental shake, Thea put off getting up for a few more minutes, turning her thoughts to Helen. Her friend had fitted in with everyone straight away. Thea had always envied Helen’s ability to work with anyone; it was one of the reasons she was so good at running the Roman Baths. Helen always seemed to know how to get the best from the people she worked with – when to be stern and when a smile would go a long way.

Chatting away to Woody, Ann and Dave as if she’d know them all their lives, Helen had stopped chewing mid mouthful and asked Sam if he’d considered asking for sponsorship. It was so obvious that Thea had cursed herself for not thinking of it. As Mill Grange’s co-manager it was the sort of idea she ought to have come up with.

The Roman Baths couldn’t sponsor anything else; they were already spoken for in that capacity many times over but, Helen had suggested they ask Landscape Treasures to sponsor them. An archaeology training scheme championed by a popular television show wouldn’t be a bad idea. Or, if that was too costly long term, perhaps they could sponsor the first month’s work by paying for a tutor, or buying the tools they needed. Thea had jumped on the idea like a dog with a bone. If Landscape Treasures were actively backing the site, then surely Treasure Hunters wouldn’t be so keen to film it.

Thea reluctantly climbed from her bed, then dressed and headed to the kitchen.

This morning, as soon as the table was laid with cereal, yogurt, bread and the various spreads they’d accumulated in the hope that no taste would go unsatisfied, Thea intended to grab her laptop and email Shaun. If he didn’t reply to that, then she’d allow herself to