* * *
‘They’re here!’ I said, grabbing Jude’s arm, my heart leaping as the animal transporter turned onto the farm track shortly before eleven.
‘I’ll let your mum, Maddie and Hunter know,’ she said, heading towards the café where the three of them were baking ready for tomorrow’s visitors.
As well as thestarter packof cows, we’d bought by separate negotiation what the Naylors referred to as their Cowmobile – a custom-made seated trailer with a roof and open sides which they’d used for separate shorter experiences enabling visitors to be towed by a tractor into the fields where they could see and feed the entire herd including the fully-grown ones. As our herd of Highland cows was a much smaller one than theirs, it wouldn’t be something we needed immediately but it made sense to buy the Cowmobile. It was in great condition and it would be a lot cheaper than commissioning our own. And I needed to stop referring to the Highland cows as a herd because they were actually a fold – named after the small stone open shelters in which they historically sheltered during harsh Highland winters. Even though there were some Highland cross-breeds among our cuddle cows, they were collectively a herd.
The transporter had almost reached the top of the track when a 4x4 appeared towing the Cowmobile with colourful drawings of Highland cows on the side between large brushes for the cows to scratch against. I bet that had drawn some curious glances on the journey.
We had two fields ready which were a short walk from the barns we’d refurbished for grooming, feeding and cuddling. The thirteen cuddle cows would go in one field and the twelve Highland cows in the other – six cows aged three to five years old, plus the calves they’d each had in the spring.
I boarded the transporter to direct the driver. Jude had reappeared and she directed the 4x4 along a different track to the barn where our tractor was stored and there was plenty of space to house the Cowmobile.
* * *
‘They’re so fluffy and cute,’ Maddie gushed as we watched our gorgeous new Highland cow fold familiarising themselves with their new home early that afternoon after Paula and Glen had said a tearful goodbye. ‘I think I’ve got the names now. Want to test me?’
I smiled at her. ‘Okay. Let’s start with you pairing the cows and the bull calves.’
‘The mum furthest from us is Mooana and that’s Dougal running round her. The other bull calf is Hamish and he’s the one lying down next to his mum, April. As for the girls…’
Maddie had them all spot on too and it warmed my heart to see her so engaged, her eyes shining with obvious excitement.
‘I wonder how they chose the names,’ Mam said. ‘Dougal and Hamish are traditionally Scottish but the rest aren’t and some are paired like Twinkle and Starr but I can’t work out any connection for the others.’
There was a nature connection with Juniper and Tulip but the other two pairings – Bessie and Pip, Honey and Tammy – didn’t seem to have a logical link, although it was possible those cows had previously calved and the earlier names had been connected but they’d run out of related names for this year’s births.
‘The manual Paula left might cover it,’ I said.
I’d struggled to get information from Anna Garstang but Paula Naylor had been the other extreme and had handed over a thick spiralbound document full of information and photographs. She said she’d email me a copy too but thought I might like a printed version to add in my notes. When I’d flicked through it, I saw she’d even added in boxes at various pointsspecifically for that purpose. It would take some reading but it would be incredibly helpful.
All twelve of the fold were red although, as I’d noticed when we’d visited Fetlock Farm, there were many shade variations from Starr who was a light golden colour through to Honey whose coat was so dark it was almost brown.
‘I’m impressed you’ve learned their names so quickly,’ I told Maddie. ‘What about the cuddle cows?’
‘Not a clue,’ she said, laughing. ‘There’s a Flossie cos I remember cuddling her at Fetlock Farm. I think there’s a Lulu and a Pandora but I haven’t retained any others.’
‘I know someone who will have,’ I said, turning to Jude.
‘That’s a lot of names,’ Jude said, shrugging. ‘It would take a genius with a brilliant mind to remember Angelica, Buttercup, Bryony, Clarabelle, Ferne, Flossie, Hyacinth, Lulu, Maisy-Moo, Minnie, Pandora, Persephone and Sigourney.’
‘Oh, my God!’ I cried, laughing. ‘And in alphabetical order too.’
Jude took a bow as Mam, Maddie, Hunter and I applauded. I could guarantee she knew which one was which too.
‘You have such an impressive memory,’ Mam said. ‘After three weeks, I think I’ve just about managed the horses but I haven’t a clue on the goats. It’ll take me a few months to suss the cows and I don’t think I’m even going to try with the guinea pigs.’
‘You’ll help me name some, though, Nanna?’ Maddie asked.
Mam nodded. ‘Naming I can do. It’s the remembering that’s the hard part. Right, that’s me done with cow admiring for the day. I need to get back to the café and you two young ’uns should head off and enjoy the rest of your day.’
As the three of them set off, Caleb appeared carrying a case, and making my heart leap.
‘And I think I’ll help your mum in the café,’ Jude said, giving me a playful nudge. ‘Leave you with the sexy vet.’
‘Stop it!’ I hissed.
‘Was it something I said?’ Caleb asked when he reached me. ‘Do I need to change my deodorant?’
