Chapter 7
Saul dried his hands on the towel draped over the radiator in the downstairs loo and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Was that a grey hair? It was .
He tugged at it, wincing, but didn’t pull it out. He supposed grey hairs were to be expected; he wasn’t twenty anymore. Feeling disgruntled, he searched for another, and when he found it, he uttered a snort of disgust. Was this his body’s way of telling him that time was marching on?
In a way, finding physical evidence that he was no longer a youngster gave credence to the feeling that he really did need to consider his future. Until recently, he had been content with his lot. But how much longer could he play the field? Moving back in with his parents hadn’t been ideal either. And with Dad planning on stepping back…
Saul and Murray rarely saw eye-to-eye on anything. Saul thought it best to do something one way, and Murray thought it best to do it another. The only reason they had been able to work together for so long was because Dad had the final say. He made the decisions and the buck stopped with him. It made for a more peaceful life.
That peace was about to be shattered.
Ever since Dad had spoken to him, Saul hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it, wondering whether it was a good idea to strike out on his own, or whether he should stay and make the best of it, even if he and Murray were probably going to be at loggerheads all the time. But with Murray married and no doubt considering starting a family in the not-too-distant future, he had responsibilities that Saul didn’t. If anyone had to walk away from the farm, it should be Saul.
He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of the back door slamming shut and his mother’s voice calling for his father.
‘Geoff, did you put the roasties in? And have you checked the beef?’
Sundays usually meant lunch eaten around the big oak table in the kitchen, and his mouth watered. His mother was a damned fine cook and her roast dinners were second to none. Even when he and Murray had been living in the converted barn down the lane, they had continued to turn up every evening and on Sundays to be fed.
Saul sauntered into the kitchen in time to hear his father say, ‘Yes, and yes. I’ve even peeled the carrots.’
Mum said, ‘You’re a gem. Sorry we’re late. The meeting ended on time, but Leanne went with Stevie’s friend to take a look at the old stationery shop. Leanne tells me that Kazz is going to open a bookshop. Isn’t that right, Lea?’
Leanne was easing off her boots and rubbing her toes. For the life of him, Saul couldn’t work out why women put themselves through the torture of high heels.
‘That’s right. A second-hand one,’ his sister said. ‘Her grandad used to have a bookshop and Kazz found hundreds of books when she was clearing out his house.’
He’d heard Kazz’s name mentioned, but he’d yet to meet her. If he remembered rightly, she was one of Stevie’s bridesmaids, along with Leanne.
‘I don’t like seeing empty shops in Tanglewood,’ his mother was saying. ‘It’s not good for the village.’
‘How was your meeting, love?’ his dad asked. ‘Did Betty hold court, as usual?’
Iris smiled. ‘She did. And so did Lady Tonbridge. Between them, they provided some fine entertainment. Still, we’ve got most of the planning for the festival in place. It should be grand.’
‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Geoff said. ‘The festival marks the start of Christmas, as far as I’m concerned.’
‘When will lunch be ready?’ Saul asked, more interested in his rumbling stomach than talk of bookshops or festivals.
Iris slipped an apron over her head and secured the ties behind her back. ‘I’ll get the veg on. I swear you’ve got hollow legs.’
‘He’s not the only one,’ Geoff said. ‘Clearing out the barn is hungry work.’
‘Is it done?’ Iris asked, peering through the oven window to check on the roast.
‘More or less. Murray is still there, making sure we’ve got enough silage to see us through the winter.’
‘Did you ask him if he and Ashley wanted to join us for lunch?’ she asked.
Geoff replied, ‘He said thanks, but Ashley is cooking lunch at theirs.’
‘I suppose we’ve got to expect more of this, especially when they’ve got children,’ Iris said. ‘They’re not going to want to come here every five minutes.’
There was a knock at the door and Rex walked in, bringing a blast of cold air with him. Leanne hurried over and stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss.
‘How are the beavers?’ she asked.
Rex was one of the rangers in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (it had been renamed, but he still referred to it as the Brecon Beacons National Park because old habits die hard) and he had a keen interest in wildlife, especially in the beavers who had been released at a secret location on the Manor’s land. It was an experiment instigated by Lord Tonbridge’s son Will, in conjunction with Natural Resources Wales, as they tried to slow the run-off of rainwater from the hillsides in an attempt to reduce flooding. So far it was proving to be successful.
‘The lodge is huge,’ Rex said. ‘And they’ve been busy cutting more trees down. I didn’t see them today, but there are plenty of signs of what they’ve been getting up to. Gosh, lunch smells good.’
Saul quietly observed his mother. She was in her element with her family around her, and he knew she would be upset when she learnt of his plans, so he wouldn’t tell her yet. For now, he would put the word out that he was available for odd jobs and say it was because he wanted to save up to buy some new wheels – which was true; the Landy was on its last legs.
When everyone was seated at the table and tucking into a sumptuous Sunday lunch, Saul said, ‘I’m, um, thinking of doing a spot of moonlighting to earn a bit of extra cash.’
‘What kind of moonlighting?’ Leanne asked. ‘Worming another farmer’s sheep?’
‘Ha ha. I was thinking of fixing things for people, or like, putting shelves up and stuff. Anything, really.’
‘That’s a stroke of luck!’ She beamed at him. ‘I’ve got the perfect job for you.’
Saul pulled onto Nick’s drive at eight thirty on Tuesday morning with a degree of reservation. He didn’t fancy driving all the way to London and back, especially with a strange woman in the passenger seat, but needs must.
It was odd to think this was his first proper job outside of the farm since leaving college. Once upon a time, when they were teenagers, he and Murray used to hire themselves out during sheep-shearing season for a bit of extra cash. That had been when Martin and Stuart were still living at home and were helping on the farm, and Dad had been able to spare him and Murray for a couple of weeks. They used to travel all over, sleeping in the back of the old Landy at night (though it had been newer then) or in a barn if the farmer couldn’t offer them a bed. Three meals and a couple of pints, washing themselves down with ice-cold water from an outside tap… Those were the days! Young, carefree, with the world at their feet.
Then his older brothers had gone their own way, leaving him and Murray to work on the farm. And that had been fun too, as he and Murray had converted the old barn into a house. Despite squabbling over whose turn it was to push the hoover round, arguing over who was leaving tea bags on the side of the sink instead of putting them straight in the bin or who forgot to buy the milk, Saul felt he’d had the best of both worlds. Independence, plus the security of working on the family farm.
Then Murray had fallen in love, and Saul had moved out so that Ashley could move in, and now Saul felt as though he had taken a step back. Living with his parents wasn’t what he had envisaged doing at thirty-three.
Once again, Saul felt a twinge of unease as he wondered how his dad and Murray would cope if he left. But he couldn’t remain on the family farm forever; too many cooks, and all that…
Turning the Land Rover and trailer combo around on Nick and Stevie’s driveway so it faced the right way, he brought it to a stop and got out.
Kazz was already waiting for him. She was petite, yet curvy, with dark glossy hair cascading over her shoulders, an upturned nose, and the most arresting eyes he had seen in a long time. Large and tawny brown, with long curling lashes, they reminded him of a startled deer, and she had the sort of translucent skin that might develop freckles if it saw enough sun.
At the sight of her, something that he hadn’t felt for a long time strummed in his chest, like the lingering echo after a guitar string had been plucked and the sound had almost faded away.
His attraction to her was instant and undeniable; and why wouldn’t it be – she was gorgeous. But there was something else…
He cleared his throat, hoping to clear his head at the same time. His vow of abstinence when it came to the opposite sex appeared to be having a strange effect on him.
‘I take it you must be Kazz,’ he said, his voice gruff. He thrust out a hand for her to shake. ‘I’m Saul, I don’t think we’ve met.’ He would definitely have remembered if they had.
She took his hand and said, ‘Hi, that’s me, Kazz Fernsby.’
A bolt of desire slammed into him and he quickly wrenched his hand from hers. Wondering what the hell had just happened, he rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously.
Thankfully, she seemed oblivious. ‘Thanks for this,’ she said, heading around the Landy to the passenger side and getting in.
This was going to be a very long day, he thought, when he caught a waft of her perfume as he slid into the driver’s seat. She smelled so darned good that it made his head spin.
‘No thanks needed.’ She was paying him, so…
She buckled herself in. ‘How long will it take to get to London?’
‘About four hours, give or take.’ He’d never driven to London before and he wasn’t looking forward to it, especially when towing a ruddy big trailer. A couple of bits of furniture, Leanne had said, and a tonne of books. The trailer might be overkill, but she had insisted on the big one, claiming that they would need it.
Kazz settled back in her seat, and as he started the engine, he sensed her staring at him. Feeling awkward, he said, ‘Do you mind if I put some music on?’
‘Not at all,’ she replied.
He told Alexa to play a smooth tunes playlist, and the Land Rover’s cab was immediately filled with mellow music. Without warning, an image of pulling over and taking her in his arms flashed into his head, and he realised his music request was almost definitely the wrong choice. He should have asked Alexa for thrash metal, not music to make love to.
‘So, a bookshop, eh?’ he said after a while, feeling that he should make an effort at small talk. Not only was she his first client, but she was also his sister’s friend. And he didn’t want her to think he was a grumpy git.
‘It appears so. I’m actually a chef, but…’ She trailed off. ‘It’s a long story.’
His curiosity piqued, he wanted to point out they were on a long journey and that she would have plenty of time to tell it, but she didn’t appear to want to talk about it, so he tried a different tack. ‘What’s it like living in London?’
His passenger immediately brightened. ‘Fun, lively, never a dull moment.’
‘Do you do any of the touristy things, like visit Buckingham Palace?’
‘God, no! Nothing like that. Although the firework display on New Year’s Eve is a sight to behold. I go if I’m not working.’
‘A chef, you said. Any good?’ He glanced at her, smiling to show he was teasing.
‘Not bad. I’ve been known to cook a decent dish or two.’
The way she said it made Saul believe she was being modest, and he vaguely recalled a conversation where Kazz’s name had been mentioned in relation to a posh restaurant. Stevie had worked in an upmarket restaurant before she came to Tanglewood, and he wondered whether it might have been the same one.
‘Are you any good at farming?’ she asked archly, and Saul barked out a laugh.
‘Not bad. I’ve been known to shear a sheep or two.’
‘Do you have a shepherd’s crook?’
‘Like Little Bo Peep?’ he chuckled. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a blush bloom on her cheek. The hint of pink was adorable. If he hadn’t sworn off women, he might be tempted. Oh, who was he kidding! There was no might about it. He would have asked her out in a heartbeat.
He said, ‘I do have a crook, as a matter of fact. It’s handy for hooking sheep who don’t want to be caught.’
‘Don’t you use dogs to round them up?’
‘We do. We’ve got four dogs on the farm.’
‘Do you have any other animals?’
‘Chickens, a couple of cats, about fifteen head of cattle, but mostly sheep.’
‘Did you always want to be a farmer, or did you drift into it because you were born on a farm?’
‘A bit of both, I suppose. What about you? Did you always want to be a chef?’
‘I wanted to have a bookshop like my—’ She stopped abruptly and clapped a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. ‘Oh, my.’
Saul risked another look at her.
She met his gaze, and before he returned his attention to the road, he saw the shock in her eyes.
Clearly, Kazz Fernsby hadn’t been expecting to say that.