Chapter 4 #2
Jill lifted her coffee. ‘Was this to butter me up before telling me the new farmer’s too busy to spare anyone to drive the tractors or something?
I’m sure we’ll be able to find someone who’s got tractor driving experience.
Didn’t Neil Parsons from the hardware store used to help out on one of the other farms?
Years ago, I mean, but tractors are still tractors, aren’t they? I bet he’d be able to step in.’
‘It’s worse than that, I’m afraid. He’s not lending us the tractors or the trailers. Any of them.’ She watched as Jill’s face dropped, a deep line creasing across her forehead. ‘I’m sorry. I tried. I really did.’
‘It’s not your fault.’ Bending down, she dropped the secateurs to the grass before reaching out and placing her garden-gloved hand on Nicola’s forearm. ‘I know you would have tried your best.’
Nicola shrugged. ‘He just wasn’t budging at all. He didn’t even want to hear me out.’
‘What’s he like then? I just assumed he’d be as lovely as old Farmer Williams was.’
‘He’s nothing like old Farmer Williams. Not at all.
’ She shook her head, trying to dislodge the image of him in his jeans and white vest showing off his muscles.
He could have been the most gorgeous man on the planet, and his distinct lack of kindness would have put her off.
Anyone off. ‘He just flat refused. Didn’t even want to listen to me. ’
‘Really?’ Jill sighed. ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do then.
The other local farmers have offered us all the tractors and trailers they’ve got.
We’ve really got no one else to ask. And if we don’t find another two trailers and tractors, that means two of Meadowfield’s clubs won’t be able to join in.
How are we ever going to choose who can or can’t join in with the carnival? ’
‘How about we ring and see if any farms from further afield could help us?’ Nicola shifted from foot to foot. There must be someone else. The Cotswolds had farms in abundance.
‘Yes, maybe, but…’ Jill shook her head. ‘It’s just that old Farmer Williams loved the carnival, and it’s so sad that whoever’s taken over his farm isn’t going to carry on his legacy. Especially as he was part of the group who began the tradition in the first place.’
‘I know, but if he’s not going to help, there’s not much else we can do. It’s his nephew, by the way, who’s taken over the farm.’
‘His nephew? I did wonder what had happened because he didn’t have any children of his own, did he? That makes sense though. Little Mead has been in the Williams family for generations.’
Nicola shook her head. ‘Unfortunately, I think the only thing he has in common with his uncle is the surname.’
‘Hmm.’ Jill took another sip of coffee before pursing her lips. ‘I’ll go and speak to him. Although I won’t get over there until the weekend now, what with the kids’ activities.’
‘Okay. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.’ Hopefully Jill would have more luck at Little Mead. After all, Jill had always had the knack of being able to brighten someone’s day. She just hoped the new farmer wouldn’t be immune to her charms.
‘No, don’t be. It’s really not your fault.’ Jill slapped her forehead. ‘Oh no, I can’t go and see him this weekend. I forgot; we’re going down to Gerald’s parents on Friday night and staying until late Sunday.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll go again. See if I can get him to change his mind.’ Nicola bit down on her bottom lip. Why had she just said that? Why had she offered to go back for Round Two with the grumpiest farmer she’d ever had the misfortune to meet?
‘Really?’ Jill beamed, the creases across her forehead disappearing. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’
‘Not at all,’ Nicola lied. If she came face to face with the young Farmer Williams in ten years’ time, it would be too soon, but she couldn’t let her friend down now.
She had to at least try to make him see sense.
‘I’ll pop in after work. See what I can do.
’ She held her hand out for Jill’s empty mug.
‘Thank you. I really, really appreciate it.’ She passed her mug across. ‘I’ll look out some photos of his uncle at the carnivals. Maybe he’ll have a change of heart if he sees how involved he was.’
‘Maybe.’ Nicola nodded. She didn’t want to tell Jill that the man seemed thoroughly incapable of having a change of heart. If indeed he had a heart at all, after the way he’d frightened away poor Claudette the sheep. ‘Anyway, I’ll let you know how I get on.’
‘Thanks, Nic.’ Jill smiled before kneeling back down and continuing with what she’d been doing beforehand.
Nicola gripped the mug as she walked back up the garden.
What had she got herself into? There was no way she could get the answer that Jill was hoping for, but Jill was right.
Yes, they could beg another farmer to loan them the tractors and trailers, but the Meadowfield carnival wouldn’t even exist if it hadn’t been for the original Farmer Williams.
She shook her head. She really did need to start referring to him as something other than Farmer Williams, that was just tarnishing the name of the kind and generous farmer from her childhood.
Farmer Grumpy seemed the obvious choice, but knowing her luck, she’d end up calling him that to his face and then there’d be no backtracking from that.