Seeing the photos reminded him that Lettie had also taken photos but must have forgotten about them with all she had to focus on at the farm.
‘And I’ve posted it up on various local platforms, so it shouldn’t be too long until someone recognises him and alerts either us or his owners where Thistle is being kept.’
‘Right. Thank you.’ As much as Brodie hated to think of Thistle’s owners worrying about him, he wasn’t looking forward to giving him back, but knew that was very selfish of him.
He said goodnight to Tina who had agreed to lock up for him and leave the key through his cottage letter box. He walked with Thistle back to the cottage and changed into his shorts to go surfing. His eyesight was lousy without his glasses but he never wore them surfing, so placed them on his bookcase. He realised he would be hungry after spending a couple of hours in the sea and needed something for supper. Brodie was tempted to take a chance on the village shop still being open when he finished, but decided not to risk it. He was always forgetting the time when he was on his boardand was already slightly hungry and knew he had nothing in the house to feed either himself or the dog.
He walked to the shop, quickly choosing something, before hurrying home to pop it in the fridge and fetch his surfboard, eager to get down to the beach while the surf was good.
26
LETTIE
Lettie waved goodbye to Joe as he left to go home and shower before starting his shift, hoping he hadn’t overdone things when he had his own job to get to. It had been kind of him to come and help with the watering in the polytunnels and then going with her to deliver the goats’ milk to several of their clients. Seeing that she had little food in the house she decided to take a stroll to the village before getting too settled. She quickly showered and taking her purse and a shopping bag walked the ten-minute distance there.
‘Lettie, hey wait a sec.’
Hearing Tina’s voice, she turned to her. ‘Hi there, you’re looking happy.’
‘I am, very.’
Intrigued, Lettie gave her friend a quizzical look. ‘Well, are you going to tell me why, or keep me guessing?’
Tina gave her a thoughtful look. ‘It’s the job at the practice.’
Supposing she was enjoying it, Lettie thought it best to ask to be certain.
‘I’m loving it. In fact, I’d work there full-time if I didn’t haveNoah at home to look after.’ She lowered her voice as a couple of women passed them. ‘That vet of yours is such a cutie.’
Lettie doubted Brodie would be impressed with that description of himself. ‘I’m not so sure that’s how I would describe him.’ She grinned at the thought of him hearing them.
‘How would you describe him then?’
Now she was on the spot. Lettie gave Tina’s question some thought. ‘I suppose I’d say he’s, um…’
‘Hot?’
Lettie sighed recalling his unexpected appearance at the farm a couple of weeks ago and wondering what he had made of it. ‘I wouldn’t have used that word exactly, but I have to agree with you.’
‘You do still like him then?’ Tina whispered looking, Lettie thought, very pleased with herself. ‘I knew he was your type. Mind you, I gather you’ve been seeing quite a bit of that cute firefighter. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?’ Tina folded her arms and waited impatiently.
Lettie raised a finger to her mouth to quieten Tina in case anyone overheard their conversation. ‘It’s a bit complicated,’ she said unsure how else to explain their situation. Suspecting her friend might conjure up a plan to orchestrate her and Brodie going out on a date, she decided to put her straight. ‘I’m not really sure, to be honest with you. I have been to his cottage for supper.’
‘Whose? Brodie’s?’ Lettie nodded. Tina gasped, clearly delighted with this unexpected development. ‘When?’
‘A couple of weeks ago.’
‘That’s so exciting. How?’
Confused, Lettie frowned. ‘What do you mean how?’
Tina nudged her. ‘How did you wrangle an invitation to dinner?’
‘I didn’t wrangle anything.’ Lettie shook her head, not wishingTina to get carried away. ‘It wasn’t a big deal and it just happened. You know how it is…’
‘I’ve been with Kyle so long that I can barely remember how these things are.’
Lettie didn’t like being questioned and being made to think more deeply about her situation with both men. Not when she was battling having so much to contend with running the farm. ‘It was very relaxed and unplanned. Nothing exciting.’
