Cassie barely heard another word as Allegra continued to enthuse, touching Raf’s arm occasionally, and once resting her hand on his. She turned back to Jago, happy to hear more about his work and inspiration. She liked that he was interested in her career too and she made a mental note to check the date of his launch in July. He was chatty and fun, and she could imagine worse first-date candidates, if she ever took the plunge.
‘Muuuuum…’
Harriet and Isla were tearing across the lawn with Alfie, Harriet’s boyfriend, behind them. A young farmer who lived locally, Alfie was often at Home Farm, helping Harriet with the ponies. Maud and Lola had already caught the new excitement, and Maud tumbled over as she raced towards them. Harriet stuttered to a halt and helped her up, catching Isla up on the terrace and thrusting her phone at Pippa.
‘It’s actually happening, Flo’s about to give birth! Look!’ Harriet rushed on to explain the pony had been showing signs of ‘bagging up’, when her udders began to fill with milk. Since feeding and mucking out earlier, they’d left her alone to give birth in peace, and from the camera Gil had set up in her stable, they could see Flo was restless and pacing.
‘Oh, wow. That’s so exciting!’ Pippa and Cassie clustered around Harriet to stare at the images. The pony was pawing impatiently at the ground, a thick bed of shavings piled up to her hocks around the walls.
‘Gil said her udder is waxed up, when colostrum starts to leak from her teats.’ Harriet easily absorbed information, especially where animal science was concerned. ‘She’s been staring at her tummy and getting up and down, which is stage one of labour. Her waters have broken as well, which means the birth should happen soon, and she’s having contractions. Oh look, she’s lying down again,’ she finished eagerly. ‘This could be it, Mum! Flo’s about to have her foal!’
‘Doesn’t someone need to be with her in case she needs help?’ Pippa glanced worriedly at Gil, who shook his head.
‘No, Gil said she’ll be fine on her own. Mares often give birth overnight, but it’s important to keep checking on them. Oh wow,’ Harriet shrieked, waving the phone again, Isla squealing across her shoulder. ‘Look, a foot! It’s actually happening! The other foot comes next, and the foal’s chin should be resting on top of it, like it’s in a diving position.’
‘That’s amazing, and you’ve learnt so much already, Harriet. Come back and tell us the minute you have more news, okay?’ Pippa watched as the girls, Rory and Alfie ran back towards the yard with Maud. ‘I’d love to go too, but we’d better not crowd Flo.’
Pippa offered coffee, but Jago couldn’t stay any longer, and he kissed both Pippa and Cassie goodbye, murmuring to Cassie that he hoped he’d see her again at the launch. Raf took the opportunity to leave as well, making his and Allegra’s excuses. If Allegra was disappointed at the abrupt exit, she covered it well, and Cassie finally felt as though she could breathe again.
Lola settled beside Cassie, and her hand drifted down to stroke the Labrador’s head, warm from the sun, and Lola’s tail thumped a lazy reply. Spring days like these made winter seem like a distant memory. The dogs often accompanied Gil on calls or spent time in the practice, and Pippa sometimes took Maud to the gallery, where she had her own cosy bed in the office. Cassie loved her long Galloway walks with her parents-in-law’s two black Labradors, and she always missed the dogs’ cheery and uncomplicated company when she returned home. Somehow their hectic lives in London had never quite seemed equal to having a dog of their own, even though she knew Isla and Rory would adore it too.
‘Any plans for this afternoon?’ Pippa glanced at Cassie. ‘It’s such a lovely day and I wondered if you fancied a wander to Dorothy’s to pick up some eggs. Harriet was going to do it, but I think she’ll want to stay with the ponies.’
‘I’d love to. It would be good not to miss my walk, and catching up with Dorothy is always fun.’
‘Did I tell you she’s gone and got herself a horse?’ Pippa shook her head and Gil chuckled as he stood up, excusing himself to head over to the stables and cast an eye over Flo.
‘You’re not serious? Isla will be thrilled! What’s it like?’
‘It’s a ride-and-drive cob, a very sweet one, apparently. I know Dorothy’s got loads of experience, but she is nearly eighty-four. I did ask what would happen if she came off and did a hip or something, but she wasn’t having any of it. Gave me one of her looks and informed me she hasn’t fallen off for over sixty years and has no plans to start now. Gil reminded her that she also hasn’t ridden for forty of those years, but she ignored that as well. She got Erin to give the horse the once-over, and he was secretly hoping it wouldn’t be fit enough to ride, but apparently it’s in cracking form. Dorothy also said that in the unlikely event of her falling off, Harriet could manage the farm with her eyes closed, so there was nothing for us to worry about.’
‘Gil’s great aunt is certainly one of a kind.’ The two women shared an understanding smile. ‘So is Harriet still set on Cambridge and veterinary medicine?’
‘Totally. She and Alfie have been over to Erin and Oli’s cottage a few times, and now they’ve told her more about studying at Cambridge, she doesn’t want to go anywhere else. I just hope she’s not crushed if she doesn’t get in. But volunteering with Dorothy should help if she gets great results, and she goes out with Erin to see practice whenever she can.’
‘I’m sure Harriet will be fine. She’s so like your dad, and that determination and work ethic will take her a long way.’
‘Thanks, Cassie. I know you’re right. But we never stop worrying about them, do we?’
‘Nope. So is there anything else you need while I’m out?’ Cassie stretched, allowing the sun to do its work. At least her conversation sounded breezy, even if her mind was still full of Raf showing up with Allegra. ‘I can always pop down to the shop, you know how much I love that place. Every time I visit, I feel as though I really am on holiday and can treat myself to all their goodies.’
‘Don’t we all, it’s an absolute treasure trove. I can’t imagine the village without it, or Daphne and Violet at the helm. Edmund’s been helping when he can, but he’s over eighty as well.’
Edmund was a local historian who was fiercely intelligent, loved company and was as active as his knees would allow. Last year he’d helped Pippa unearth a family connection to Hartfell and they’d discovered a long-lost painting by her great-grandmother, for whom the new gallery was named. Since its conversion from a youth hostel, the gallery had also become a busy community space where locals and visitors gathered to chat, share food and enjoy creative courses.
They stood up and set off for the kitchen, Pippa going to the dishwasher to begin loading it while Cassie returned leftovers to the fridge. The phone in her jeans pocket buzzed and she checked it, always alert to notifications. A new meeting invite had dropped into her calendar. She clicked on it to read the details and hadn’t realised how loud she’d sighed until Pippa was beside her.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Oh, it’s just work.’ Cassie frowned. ‘The managing director wants to meet when I’m back in the office on Wednesday.’
‘And that’s a bad thing?’
‘I’m not sure. He hasn’t included an agenda, which is unusual.’ She left the phone on a worktop and resumed helping. ‘Rumours have been circulating for a while, and I have a sneaking suspicion they’re going to make me redundant.’
‘Redundant?’ Pippa spun around, an empty bowl in one hand. ‘Oh, Cass. But why would they do that? You know the hotels better than anyone and you’re brilliant at your job. You go above and beyond, they’d be crazy to let you go.’
‘Thanks, Pippa, that’s so kind of you, and very loyal. But even with Jas helping at home and the hours I do, I’m still not fully available, not like before.’
