Zac smiled. ‘Poor Uncle Leonard – he has no idea what he’s about to deal with, does he?’
It didn’t take very long to cycle to their uncle’s farm as it neighboured their own. Lettie was relieved to find him working quietly and alone in one of his barns.
‘Mind if we join you?’ she asked as they walked into the cool space.
He looked up and beamed at them. ‘Well, this is a treat. When did you get back to the island?’ He jerked his head in Zac’s direction. ‘I thought you were away working somewhere, too.’
‘Me – yesterday,’ Lettie said feeling a little nervous now that heruncle was standing in front of her. ‘Zac had a job on the mainland for a few weeks but got back the day before.’
‘It’s good to see you both.’ He indicated the house. ‘Want to come in for a cool drink, or something?’
Lettie suddenly felt the urge to get her question out of the way, needing to find out his thoughts on the matter.
Zac must have noticed her nerves. ‘Lettie’s had an idea and wanted to ask a favour of you.’
Her heart pounded as her anxiety increased.
Uncle Leonard locked eyes with her. ‘I have a feeling I might know what this is about.’
‘You do?’ Did that mean she might not have any need of persuading him to change his mind?
‘You’ve discovered your father’s offered to sell me the farmland. Is that it?’
‘Yes.’ Lettie held her breath, waiting for him to speak again.
His smile slipped. ‘Aren’t you happy about it then?’
She looked at Zac for support but he seemed to be purposely not looking her way.
‘Go on,’ Zac said finally. ‘Spit it out.’
Lettie swallowed and cleared her throat. ‘I was hoping you’d agree to let me take over from Dad.’
Her uncle didn’t speak for over a minute and as she waited for him to say something, Lettie watched his expression change from one of surprise, to thoughtfulness, then something bordering on sadness.
‘Uncle Leonard?’ She hoped he hadn’t been offended by her suggestion. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’
‘Sorry, I’m a little taken aback – that’s all. Have you told your father you’re hoping to do this?’
She nodded. ‘Yes. I’m not sure he thinks I can do it though.’ There was no point in lying, especially when he would probablyonly ask her father anyway. ‘I suspect he thinks me wanting to is just a knee-jerk reaction to him telling us about wanting to sell.’
He stared at her silently for a moment. ‘But you believe you can?’
‘I do,’ she said not completely convinced she was right. She explained about her job in London, hoping that might help persuade him.
‘I don’t know what to say.’ He went over to a hay bale and sat down. ‘Look, Lettie. I would hate you to think I would ever get in the way of you keeping Hollyhock Farm in your family.’ It was a relief to hear him say so. ‘I understand how much that place means to you both, and to your parents.’ He sighed. ‘Like this place means to me and my family.’
‘Can I sense a but coming?’ Zac asked.
He nodded. ‘You’ve put me in a difficult position. I’ve been talking everything through with Auntie Sue and I know she’ll be disappointed if we weren’t to go ahead with the purchase.’
Lettie thought of her cousins.
He rubbed his chin. ‘If I’m honest I was hoping Damon might want to take on your Dad’s land when he comes back to the island. He’s the only one who’s ever shown any inclination,’ her uncle admitted. ‘He’s slowly working his way home now. I told him about my plans to diversify from our dairy herd and take on your father’s organic crops to see how it goes. I was hoping he could look after those, you see.’
‘Has he said he wants to do it?’ Zac asked, folding his arms. Their uncle shook his head looking sad. Zac sighed. ‘I can see how us asking this of you is really messing with your plans. And Dad’s. But Lettie is serious about wanting to give it a try. Would you agree to hold back on pressing ahead with plans to buy the land and consider giving her some time to try and prove she can do it?’
Lettie wasn’t sure whether she only wanted to be trusted withthe work for a few months. She suspected her uncle was less impressed to realise they were hoping their father would make her tenure running the farm a permanent one. ‘I know we’re asking a lot, Uncle Leonard.’
