‘Oh, I only do sugar on a Sunday,’ Poppy said, waving a manicured hand. ‘But thank you anyway.’
Rita, mentally noting that she probably only ever skipped sugar on February the twenty-ninth, was already halfway across the courtyard, the wind whipping at her back.
By the time she reached the barn, the storm had turned feral.
Once inside, Rita saw that everyone was already gathered, Teo and Zenya having decided the guests would be much better off inside the barn than out in a yurt, with the wind whipping around them at who-knows-how-many miles an hour.
Odette stood rigid, gazing upwards to check no beams might fall. Davie paced, muttering about insurance and liability. Imogen was busy writing notes on her phone, while Priya stood calmly, eyes scanning the roof and walls, taking everything in.
Cass had already taken the lead with Teo and Zenya, directing them to haul benches away from the walls, asking where the ladder was and whether they had anything to fix a leak, should one appear.
The wind howled with intent. Dust lifted from the floor. The lights flickered. Then came the thunder. Not a rumble, but a colossal crack that split the air clean in two.
Rita looked at Teo and Zenya with a face that said,Holy shit. Maybe they could all make a dash across to the farmhouse… but even that might be too dangerous. Above everything, her guests’ safety was paramount.
Odette gasped. Imogen shrieked. And then the rain forced its way in. Water started to flow through the roof in sudden, angry rivulets.
The doors burst open and Thom and Sennen ran in, soaked through, hair plastered to their faces.
‘What can we do?’ they shouted in unison.
‘I’ll fix it,’ Cass said calmly, already heading back outside with a ladder.
‘I’m coming with you.’ Thom followed.
‘Oh no. No, no, no,’ Davie said, hands flying to his head. ‘We are all going to die.’
‘No, we’re not,’ Rita soothed. This barn’s been here longer than Hilda and seen far worse storms than this.’
Another deafening clap of thunder shook the barn and a fresh stream of water cascaded down near the far wall.
‘Buckets,’ Zenya snapped, already grabbing one. Teo was beside her in seconds. Priya rolled her sleeves up and followed without hesitation.
Zenya puffed. ‘I love extreme weather. Makes me feel so alive!’
Priya’s eyes twinkled. ‘Alive, or terrified?’
‘OK, sometimes a bit of both.’
Zenya glanced at Priya and gave a small, almost shy smile, then quickly looked away.
Priya caught the glance and raised an eyebrow, amused. ‘Don’t tell me you’re enjoying being in this storm as much as I am.’
Zenya reddened and laughed a little breathlessly. ‘Maybe I am.’
Rita raised her voice and lifted her arm. ‘Retreat guests, follow me. It’ll be safer in the Nook.’
Davie, Imogen and Odette didn’t hesitate. Trusting her completely, they spilled out into the storm.
Cass appeared back in the barn after what seemed like an age, rain plastering his dark hair to his forehead, T-shirt clinging to his immaculately toned chest like it had been painted on. Thom was close behind, looking like a drowned rat. Cass took in the buckets and the general mayhem, then grinned as if this were all mildly entertaining… because aside from the odd stray drip, the leak had stopped.
‘Told you I’d fix it, didn’t I?’ he said, flashing a wink at Sennen, then going to her side. ‘You must be Rita’s daughter.’
‘How did you guess?’ Sennen said, unable to stop staring at his pecs.
‘Cos you’re fit. Just like your mum.’
Sennen blinked. ‘I… sorry… what?’
