Page 93 of Christmas at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Ruth and Jill seemed very pleased with their own little treats, including bubble baths and chocolates from Emma’s stall, and there were more gifts that had been wrapped and placed under the tree to open a little later on – much to Maisy’s frustration.

‘Well, I need to get the turkey into the oven right now, or we won’t be eating till midnight at this rate.’ Timings had already been delayed with having to round up the escapee cows. ‘Then we’ll have a bite of breakfast altogether, and after that we can all open our other presents,’ said Jill.

‘Yes, me and Tom need to pop out on the quad, too, and check the cattle are behaving and get the feed out for the animals.’ Farmers didn’t get a day off at Christmas!

‘Oh-h, even longer until main presents.’ Maisy’s bottom lip quivered, but Grandma Jill whispered something to her and suddenly she was pronouncing that that was okay and she was happy to stay with Grandma just now. It was awfully warm and cosy there in the kitchen, after all. Rachel caught Maisy giving Grandma a wide-eyed look that suggested they were in cahoots about something … What was going on?

Tom jumped on the quad behind Rachel, wrapping his arms around her, and Moss joined them, sitting in his usual place on the back. Mabel, though, had opted to stay by the Aga. The wind was bracing as they sped away up the hill, but they were wrapped up warm in jeans and woollen jumpers, coats, gloves and hats. Tom was sadly no longer in his red boiler suit, though Rachel had suggested he put a towel down it as stuffing in the tummy area and wear it all day to entertain the kids.

After checking the sheep, who were fine apart from one ewe who’d got herself stuck upside down and had got a bit panicked, they slowed at the top of the rise. It was lovely to have some time, even a short while, to themselves. From here they could see both their farms down in the valley with a patchwork of snow-dusted fields around them. The hills showed patches of pale winter green where the snow had already begun to melt in the morning sunlight. There was burnt copper bracken springing from the base of the hedgerows, and the odd dark-green patch of prickly gorse. The scene was panoramic before them, with the sprinkling of snow in the valley glinting in the sunshine, and the hills rolling away in the distance to the grey glimmer of the North Sea.

Rachel turned off the quad’s engine. With all the carry-on this morning, they hadn’t had chance to even snatch a Christmas kiss and this seemed like the ideal opportunity. She swivelled around on the quad to face her rather handsome passenger. ‘Merry Christmas, Tom Watson.’

‘Merry Christmas, Rachel Swinton.’ He gave her a gorgeous grin.

With that, Rachel raised an arm, to dangle some make-believe mistletoe in the air above them, and moved in for a very much deserved Christmas kiss. It was toe-tinglingly good and warmed all parts of her body. Moss looked on nonchalantly, more interested in a passing crow than the romantic antics taking place before him.

Rachel reluctantly pulled away with a smile, then she turned to rest her back against Tom. He was solid and warm and he wrapped his arms around her.

‘I love you.’ His words were softly spoken, yet strong at her ear.

‘I love you too.’ Her words were clear and strong and heartfelt.

Tom’s hug became a little tighter. They both looked out across the valley with a sense of peace and calm around them. A brown curlew, distinctive with its long and thin curved beak, cut through the ice-blue sky ahead of them giving its hauntingly beautiful peep. This place made her heart soar, as well as this man beside her.

‘Well, I suppose we’d better head back to the family,’ said Rachel after a minute or two. ‘There’ll be one little girl chomping at the bit to open her gifts back at the farmhouse. I’d better get back before she has a meltdown. And then, of course, Mum’ll be needing a hand to get the Christmas feast ready for our guests.’

‘Hah, yes, of course, and I need to go back and check on my own sheep and cattle. Oh, and there’s something else I need to collect and bring back across with me.’

‘Ooh, sounds interesting.’ Rachel felt a bud of excitement. Was it something for her or a gift for Maisy? That’d be sweet of him?

‘Hah, don’t get too excited, it’s just the starter. I promised your mum I’d bring along a platter of smoked salmon to help out – that was as much as my culinary skills could cope with. But I am bringing a bottle of bubbly and some white wine to go with it, mind.’

‘Oh, that’s kind, thanks. Can I give you a hand over at your farm at all?’

‘No, I’ll not be long, assuming all’s well. It’s just with the farm lads being off today, I’ll feel happier having checked everything and putting some more feed out. You get back to Maisy, though; I’ll be fine and I’ll try to be quick. Oh, and so you know, after lunch, I did promise I’d go and visit my mum and dad.’ Tom’s parents, who’d had the farm before him, now lived in a hamlet a few miles away. He’d explained he was invited to lunch with the Swintons this year, but he was a loyal son and wanted to spend time with them on Christmas Day too.

‘Of course.’

Rachel was soon back home, leaving Tom to nip away. She opened the door to a kitchen full of roasting turkey aromas, but strangely no people.

‘Hellooo,’ she called out, surprised that no one was about.

A minute or so later, Granny Ruth came down from upstairs. ‘Oh, hello lass, I’ve just finished getting myself ready. What with all the cattle malarkey, I’ve been plodding around in my dressing gown up till now. Your mum and Maisy are just – just in the yard, letting the chickens out, and yes, checking if there’re any fresh eggs.’

‘Oh well, the hens haven’t been laying much lately. It’ll be these short winter days and all the cold weather. They’ll be lucky if they find many. Can I get you a cuppa, Granny? I could do with one myself, it’s certainly chilly out there.’

‘Now that sounds grand, pet. Are you back here on your own? Where’s your Tom gone? He is with us for Christmas lunch, isn’t he?’

‘Oh yes, he’s just gone to look in on his own farm. Check that all’s well with the animals, so he can then relax for a while.’

‘I see. Aye, he’s a lovely lad is young Tom. I’m so glad you two have sorted out your differences.’

‘Me too.’ Rachel smiled. To think, she could have let him slip away, getting all jealous and worked up about Caitlin without stopping to let him explain the truth. She vowed never to take their love for granted again.

‘Well, they say the path to love never did run smooth, lass. There’s always a few rucks on the way, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.’

‘You’re right, Granny. And I’m glad we had our heart-to-heart recently, thank you.’