After all it was a good feeling being able to do something for Lettie and Brodie, who really were two of the nicest people he knew. He also reasoned that it was hardly Skye’s fault that Melody and Zac had asked her to step in at the farm. She was clearly as disappointed as him to have to work alongside someone else and it would be easier all round if they could find a way to live at the farm and keep things going while Lettie was otherwise engaged with her pregnancy and new baby and recovery afterwards.
Thinking of Skye at Hollyhock Farm, Joe hoped her first night there alone had gone without a hitch.
He drove into the yard and parked his car, spotting Skye up in the top field with the alpacas. Then, reminding himself that now was as good a time as any to change how he behaved, Joe left his things by the front door and ran up to see her.
‘Hey there,’ he shouted, giving her a wave and hoping he came across as friendly as he intended. ‘I was going to do that?’
She looked over at him, frowned briefly. ‘I wasn’t sure what time you’d be back so thought I’d do it for you.’
He frowned and resisted the urge to say anything else about it. ‘Everything else OK?’
‘Fine, thanks. Just letting these three out before seeing to the girls.’
By ‘the girls’ he knew she meant the elderly cows Lettie’s father, Gareth, hadn’t wanted to part with when he sold on the herd a decade before to move his farm to grow organic crops instead.
Joe was glad that Skye seemed to be taking her cue from him. He was slightly out of puff when he reached her. ‘I thought I was fitter than that,’ he joked.
‘You’re still fitter than me, so I won’t tease you about it.’
She seemed refreshed and happier than she had the previous day, he was relieved to note. Maybe they could find a way to make their time here go smoothly? ‘Did you sleep well?’
Skye nodded. ‘Very, thanks. Although I’ve been wanting to ask you about something I heard.’
Intrigued to discover what, he asked, ‘Shall I guess what it might be?’
‘You can.’ She smiled and her face lit up. ‘But I’m not sure you’ll get it.’
‘Let me try.’ He tried to recall sounds that had seemed unusual to him when he first returned to live on the island. For a moment he was stumped, then it dawned on him. ‘Was it the waves?’
‘Sorry?’
‘Like a rumbling in the distance?’
She nodded. ‘That can’t have been the sea, could it? Surely it’s too far away.’
‘It’s about a five-minute drive from here, but that’s still close. And we’re high up here on the farm.’ He recalled his surprise on hearing this sound for the first time several years before. ‘I’m not sure how loud it was last night, but it can be very loud on occasion when you live on this side of the island.’
‘That’s amazing.’ She listened, looking disappointed. ‘I can’t hear it over the cars on the road.’ She cocked her head in the direction of tractors working the next-door farm. ‘It’s impossible to hear the sea when there’s noise.’
‘Don’t look so disappointed,’ he said. ‘You’ll more than likely hear it again tonight.’
‘I do hope so.’
Joe yawned. ‘I’m going to try and get a few hours’ sleep, then I’ll come and join you.’
‘No rush on my account,’ Skye said. ‘I’ve got loads to keep me busy and I’ll be fine. I’ll see you a bit later.’
* * *
Several hours later, showered and dressed, Joe made himself a piece of toast and a coffee and went to find Skye on the farm. He walked up to the fields and studied the potatoes. They looked almost ready, as far as he could tell. He had missed a call from Lettie while he was sleeping and, not wishing to disturb her, he messaged her to apologise for not picking up and saying he was free whenever she liked to call.
As he was studying the crops covering two fields, he heard Skye’s voice. Turning, Joe saw her coming towards him, smiling. She gave him a wave.
‘I hope you managed to get some sleep,’ she said, reaching him. ‘You’re up much sooner than I expected.’
‘Me, too,’ he admitted. ‘But once I woke I couldn’t fall back to sleep, so thought I’d be more useful if I got up.’ He explained about missing Lettie’s call. ‘I haven’t heard back from her so I presume she’s resting, which is a good thing.’
He had only just finished speaking when Skye grinned and pointed in the direction of the driveway. ‘Is that her, do you think?’
