Chapter 17
Frowning, Scarlett pressed the button on the washing machine for the twenty-billionth time before standing back and crossing her arms. Nope, still nothing.
Yawning, she closed her eyes as she waited to see if the machine would eventually start.
She was shattered, and she’d only been working at Pennycress for two days.
Two days and she still had twelve days left until Laura and Jackson would return from their honeymoon.
Not that she was counting down the days.
Well, she was. When Laura had asked her, she’d assumed it would just be a part-time gig, but for the last couple of days, it had taken her until midday just to strip the beds and clean the rooms. Of course it wouldn’t take her as long if she didn’t have to keep running up and down the stairs to make guests coffee, serve cake and check people out.
And then there was the task of making the beds, which was a feat in itself.
Forcing her eyes open again, Scarlett walked out of the utility room and back into the hallway and up to the reception desk before placing her elbows on the wooden counter and lowering her chin to her hands.
‘Is the washing machine playing up again?’ Nicola looked up from the computer screen.
‘Playing up? It just hates me.’ Scarlett sighed. ‘I don’t know how you guys do this full time. I’m absolutely shattered.’
‘You just need to get into the rhythm of inn life. At the moment you’re down here setting the tables before the guests wake up, spend the morning sorting the rooms and then working on your craft stuff before the new guests check in and it starts all over again. No wonder you’re tired.’
‘How does Laura make it look so easy? And Jackson? He still works at the pub some evenings on top of what he does here.’ Lifting her chin from her hands, Scarlett looked expectantly across the desk to Nicola, hoping she was about to divulge some insider secrets.
‘This is her job, remember. You’re running two alongside each other. Laura just has Pennycress to take care of.’
‘I suppose.’ Covering her mouth with her hand, Scarlett yawned. ‘I guess I need to start going to bed earlier instead of staying up until the early hours painting.’
‘Yep.’ Nicola pulled the inn’s diary from the pile of paperwork by the computer and, after flicking through it, she turned it around towards Scarlett.
‘Look, we’ve not got any meetings or get-togethers booked in for the rest of the day, why don’t you get out for a bit?
Or work on getting ready for the Christmas market so you’ve not got to do anything this evening? ’
‘I can’t. I’ve still got to get the washing machine to work, make the beds and finish cleaning Room Four.’ Scarlett shook her head.
‘Go on, I’ll do that. I’ve almost finished up here with the paperwork and then all I’ll be doing is some prep for the wedding we’ve got booked in for January, but I’ve got plenty of time for that. Take some time for yourself.’ Nicola closed the diary as if making a point.
‘I’d feel bad.’ Scarlett glanced towards the door.
The sun was shining, and the sky was the shade of clear, perfect blue which promised the freshest of the winter air and with last night’s light snowfall it was picture perfect.
She’d get the best view of Meadowfield from the top of Little Mead Farm today, which would mean she’d then have time to get a few cards depicting the scene done in time for the Christmas market.
She’d already been working from some sketches and photos she’d taken of the village from there at dusk which were turning out beautifully, but it would be good to have some from during the day too and it would be particularly seasonal now it had snowed last night.
‘I honestly don’t mind. If it helps make up your mind, Laura and Jackson go out during the day too. They’d be shackled to the place otherwise.’ Nicola laughed.
Looking down at her hands, Scarlett picked at a stubborn streak of green paint she’d had ingrained to her cuticle for three days running. Keeping her eyes focused on the green paint, she kept her tone casual. ‘Claudette’s not escaped again, has she?’
Frowning, Nicola shook her head. ‘She was safely in her field when I left the farm this morning. How come?’
‘Oh, I thought I might go up there and make a few sketches of the village from the hill, and I was just worried about Claudette eating my sketchbook or paints or something.’ Scarlett bit down on her bottom lip.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to admit to Nicola that she had a sheep phobia, it was just…
That wasn’t true; she didn’t want to tell Nicola, or Charlie.
They’d taken her in when she’d needed somewhere to stay and she didn’t want to appear ungrateful.
‘That’s a good idea. The road to Little Mead is clear and passable, but there’ll still be snow on the fields.’
‘Okay, great, and you’re sure you don’t mind covering for me?’
‘I’m sure. Go and enjoy the scenery.’ Turning, Nicola plucked Scarlett’s coat from the hooks behind the reception desk and passed it across to her.
‘Thanks.’ Grinning, Scarlett shrugged into her coat before grabbing her bag from behind the desk and heading to the door.
As she stepped outside, she turned her face up towards the sun, letting it heat her skin.
This felt good. She hadn’t stepped foot outside Pennycress since she’d arrived to see Laura and Jackson off on their honeymoon, but it felt a lot longer.
As she walked down the stairs leading from the decking to the garden path, she stepped over the flowerbed lining the path and walked slowly across the lawn, savouring the crunch of the snow.
Nicola had gritted the path before leaving for home last night so that it didn’t pose a slip-risk for their guests, but the lawn was all hers.
‘You look as though you’re enjoying that.’ Rowan’s voice filled the air around her, and she glanced up as he held the wrought-iron gate open for her.
‘Hi. I am. Nothing beats being the first person to walk across the snow, does it?’ Holding the gate open, Rowan stepped back. She glanced back towards Pennycress. ‘Are you heading inside?’
‘Nope. I’m supposed to be heading out to Stratford-upon-Avon for a meeting at a coffee shop.’ He carefully closed the gate behind Scarlett. ‘They own a few shops over in the Cotswolds and I was hoping they might agree to stock my coffee.’
‘You’re supposed to be?’ Scarlett frowned. ‘Why the change of plan if it’s that important?’
Grimacing, Rowan looked across to his car, which was parked somewhat precariously against the side of the road. ‘I’ve broken down and the recovery truck won’t get here for another three hours, believe it or not, so there goes my meeting.’
‘Oh, that’s rubbish. What’s the matter with it? Maybe I can take a look?’ Scarlett began walking across to the car. Since going mobile with her camper, she’d learned a thing or two about engines.
‘Thanks, but I already have. It’s a broken coil spring so I’ll need it recovering and taken to a garage.’ Rowan shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded towards Pennycress. ‘Do you think it’d be okay if I waited in the inn for a bit? Just to warm up?’
Rummaging in her bag, Scarlett pulled out her keys and held them up. ‘I’ve a better idea, why don’t I drive you to your meeting? I’ve got a few hours off and you’ve already said you’ve got three hours until the recovery truck comes.’
Rowan tilted his head and looked at her. ‘I’m sure you’ve got better things to be doing with your time.’
‘What? Better things than chauffeuring you around?’ She grinned.
Yes, she’d planned to go and sketch some wintry scenes for Christmas cards but, although she’d never been, she’d heard Stratford-upon-Avon was supposed to be beautiful itself so she’d find other ideas for cards, as well as helping out someone she now viewed as a friend.
‘I was going to work on a few designs, but I’m sure I’ll find something to keep me busy in Stratford-upon-Avon. ’
Shifting from foot to foot, Rowan glanced between his car and Scarlett before nodding. ‘Okay, that would be absolutely amazing if you really don’t mind.’
‘Great. Let’s do this.’ Scarlett began walking towards her van as Rowan ran to his car to collect some coffee samples.