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

to Woody, while he sanded the gate to the walled garden. Her arms cradled a bowl of vegetable peelings for the chickens, she had a blotch of mud on her left cheek, and her plaits were in disarray. She wasn’t the neat office blonde he’d first met when he’d arrived at Mill Grange – well, not unless she was in financial advisor mode for the Exmoor Trust. Every day he loved his girlfriend more, especially for overcoming her natural deference and talking to his friends. I ought to tell her. I ought to acknowledge that I’ve noticed she’s fighting her anxiety about not fitting in.

He bit back a sigh. Tina was fighting her fears and winning, whereas he…

Thinking of his mother, Sam wondered how she’d get on with Tina. Well he hoped they’d get along. He didn’t waste his time thinking about his father’s reaction to his girlfriend. She wasn’t from the right sort of family, so that was that.

Sam was convinced his father was behind the invitation being for an overnight stay. It was a test to see if his son could handle it. Well, it was out of the question anyway. He only had a few weeks in between Woody, Ann and Dave leaving and the full-paying guests arriving. His parents would have to wait.

The buzz of his phone in his pocket brought Sam back to the immediate present. It was a text from Thea asking him to turn on his Skype link.

Seconds later, from the comfort of his tent, Sam was talking a virtual stroll through the manor. His palms prickled as he realised Thea was walking down the corridor he’d frozen in the day before.

‘How can I help?’

Thea kept walking, holding her tablet out before her, so he could see the house rather than her. ‘I’m about to reply to Current Archaeology, saying thank you very much, I’d love to write an article about the fortlet and its discovery, providing they don’t mind waiting a few weeks for it. While I was at it, I wondered if you were serious about advertising for an archaeology tutor. If so, I need to run the advert wording past you, and find out how much we can afford to pay.’

‘Blimey, Thea, you’re quick off the mark.’

‘Sorry, Sam, I didn’t mean to steamroller you. If you’ve changed your mind, then no problem at all.’

‘To be honest, I haven’t had time to think much beyond our chat last night. I think it’s a good idea, but as to pay, I haven’t talked to Tina about arranging a bridging loan yet. Do you know what to put in the ad?’

‘Not really. Helen might.’

‘Is she still at the Stag, or was yesterday a stop-off on the way to somewhere else?’

‘She’s staying tonight; after that I suppose she’ll go back to work.’ Thea paused. ‘I’ve never known Helen take a holiday before.’

‘Never?’

‘No.’ Thea realised she’d been so tied up in Mill Grange and showing off the dig, that she’d failed to enquire after her friend’s welfare. Was it really just curiosity for a new Roman site that had got Helen out of her business suit and into her dungarees?

‘Why don’t you take Helen to Sybil’s for coffee? Apart from one weekend, you haven’t had a single day off since you got here either. Take a bit of time with your friend today.’

Thea smiled. ‘Thanks, Sam. I’ll certainly take you up on half your offer.’

‘Which half?’

‘I’ll take Helen for coffee, assuming she doesn’t already have plans, but then I’m coming back to work. Hopefully I’ll be armed with all the information we need to get an archaeology tutor, how to arrange a sponsorship deal, as well as a belly full of Sybil’s cheese scones.’

Seventeen

September 9th

‘I consider brunch one of the finest innovations of the modern age.’ Helen scrutinised the menu with unashamed enthusiasm. ‘Thank goodness I only booked the bed part of B&B.’

Thea laughed as she waved to Sybil across the crowded café. ‘You had a good night at Moira’s?’

‘Slept like a log. Must have been the fresh air. I don’t tend to get much of that these days.’ Helen gave the menu a dramatic flourish. ‘I give up. Too much to choose from. What are you having?’

At that moment, Sybil arrived at their table. ‘Unless Thea has had a blow to the head, she will have two crumpets with poached eggs and a black coffee or, if she’s eaten breakfast, she’ll have two cheese scones and coffee, while only admitting to eating one if asked later.’

Thea stuck out her tongue. ‘Sybil, this is Helen, my friend and former boss from Bath. I shall overlook your implication of greed if you make my coffee extra strong.’

‘I’d be delighted. Pleased to meet you, Helen. What would you like to drink? That’s by far the easiest decision in here.’

Helen chuckled. ‘I’ll make it easy and go with the extra strong black coffee as well. As to the food, it all smells delicious. Perhaps I’ll go for the crumpets and poached eggs, but then again… I can’t remember the last time I had freshly cooked scones.’

Sybil laughed. ‘That’s an easily solved dilemma. How about two cheese scones with poached eggs on top?’

‘Perfect.’

‘And for me!’ Thea chipped in. ‘I will overlook that you’ve never offered me such a culinary delight before.’

Sybil laughed again as she headed to the kitchen, hailing new customs and greeting regulars as she went.

‘I can see why you come here.’ Helen brushed her curls from her eyes. ‘Are you happy, Thea? I mean, you come across as being happy; you’re certainly looking great on it. Lost weight, glow to the skin and all that, but… I wondered, umm…’

‘Are you alright, Helen?’

‘Me? I’m always alright.’

‘Yes, you are, but you’re also someone who never takes days off; yet here you are.’ Thea paused as Sybil returned with their drinks.

Placing a huge pot of coffee covered in a long slim pot warmer in the centre of the round table, Sybil winked at them. ‘I thought it