‘I suppose not.’ Stifling a yawn, he added, ‘Maybe I should give it another go.’
‘Good idea,’ Skye said. ‘We have a lot to do tomorrow and you won’t have time to stop and take a nap if you’re tired.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Feeling happy but sleepy finally, he stared out at the stars and listened to the waves, aware he was starting to enjoy being at the farm much more. ‘I’ll see you in the morning then. Night.’
‘Goodnight, Joe. Sleep well.’
He walked back to his bed and got in. He hoped the experience of doing something completely different would satisfy his need to feel like he had achieved something, and helping Lettie out at such an important time could be the answer.
He closed his eyes, imagining Skye still staring out at the window and wondered what had really brought her here. There was a loneliness about her that he couldn’t help noticing. He turned on his side and moved his pillow until it was perfect. Could it be that he recognised the loneliness in her because he felt like he was missing out on something, or that perfect someone too? It was a bit presumptuous of him to think of her feeling lost, but what if he was right?
What if he was wrong though? He decided not to think about it any longer and cleared his mind. He was overtired and needed to sleep, otherwise he would be no help to Skye or Lettie tomorrow.
12
SKYE
Skye woke earlier than she had expected. It was still dark outside and the clocks weren’t due to go forward an hour until the end of March. She much preferred the lighter mornings after the clocks changed each spring, and summer couldn’t come soon enough. She sat up and stared out at the dusky pink and salmon coloured sky. She shouldn’t wish away the days, because when the summer did come she would be back in Edinburgh or somewhere else. Either way she would no longer be here.
She thought of Joe sleeping soundly in the next room. She wasn’t sure if it was because both their windows were open, or if his snoring was loud, but she rather liked hearing him peacefully sleeping nearby. He was a good man; she knew that much now. Kind too to offer to help Lettie so readily. Skye wondered if there had every been anything between the pair of them to make him want to help her so much. Or maybe Lettie was simply a good friend of his and he was determined to help out in a crisis.
Skye knew that she had her grandmother and of course her best friend, Melody, there for her whenever she needed them, and for that she was grateful. It was lonely only having Gran left as family. She wondered what it must be like to have a large, close family you could call upon whenever you needed them.
Enough. There was little point in wishing for something that was impossible. It was time to get up and go and start feeding the animals while Joe let the cows and alpacas into their paddocks. She needed to check the sheep and goats and make sure their water was fine. After that she had stalls to muck out and wanted to do some of it before returning to the farmhouse and eating breakfast with Joe.
Dressing and hurrying outside with Spud and Derek in tow, Skye heard Joe calling to the alpacas as he let them out of their stall and took them to the lower meadow. She recalled the dream she’d had the previous night. It had been odd, as most dreams were, but in this one she had kissed Joe. She cringed remembering how in her dream she had been the one to instigate the kiss by getting up from the sofa in the living room where they had been drinking and going to sit on his lap, taking his bottle of lager from his hand and placing it down on the table next to him before kissing him hard on the lips. A tingle ran through her, just as Joe called for the alpacas once more.
She went into the barn and lifted the lid of the chicken pellets, picking up the scoop.
‘What the hell?’ She shook her head, patting Spud when she noticed him tilting his head, trying to understand what she was going on about. ‘It’s OK, boy,’ she soothed. ‘I’m just embarrassing myself in my sleep now.’ She led the way to the back of the barn and opened the small storeroom. ‘Let’s get those chickens fed, shall we?’
‘You talking to me, or one of the dogs?’ Joe said, striding into the barn.
Hearing his voice, Skye jumped. ‘How are you here already?’
He frowned, looking confused. ‘I was on my way back to get the girls when I heard you talking. I’ve put the coffee on ready for us when we go back inside.’
Skye realised she was blushing and focused her attention on filling the scoop with pellets for the chickens, so Joe didn’t notice. It was bad enough having a dream about him without him finding out about it. They were starting to get along well, and she had no intention of ruining that.
‘It’s still early,’ she explained, hoping he would think her not quite awake yet. ‘I was in a world of my own then.’
‘Talking to Spud here.’
She turned to look at Joe, seeing him crouch down and cuddle the dog who – by the way his tail was wagging – clearly loved him.
‘He’s my buddy, aren’t you, mate?’ Joe straightened up. ‘Have you fed the dogs yet or would you like me to?’
Realising they had forgotten to add the dogs’ mealtimes to their list, Skye made a mental note to do so. ‘I was going to feed them when we went in to make breakfast but you can go feed them once you’ve finished taking the cows out and I’ll join you both soon.’
He stared at her for a moment before smiling. ‘Shall I make us a fry-up?’
His expectant look was so appealing that Skye thought her heart would leap out of her throat. ‘Great idea,’ she said, trying her best to sound cool. ‘I won’t be much longer.’
She watched him go to let out the cows with Spud and Derek running on ahead of him. How was that man single? Skye wondered. He was gorgeous to look at and once he let you in a bit was actually a nice bloke too. Maybe there was something untoward about him that she hadn’t discovered yet. She hoped not.
By the time she reached the kitchen the smell of bacon and eggs filled her nostrils. Her stomach grumbled noisily, no doubt to encourage her to sit and eat just in case she hadn’t been going to.
‘Take a seat,’ Joe said from the cooker. She did as she was told and watched him work, a tea towel slung lazily over his shoulder as he hummed something she couldn’t place, happily to himself.
