Cowgirl Read Online Free

job.
    “Night, Gemma.”
    “Night, Mam.”
    The shadow closed the door.

S EVEN
    “C’mon, c’mon.”
    I paced up and down outside the school entrance. Then I saw her strolling along like there was no rush. “This way,” I said.
    Cowgirl had a dead-slow walk. Plod, plod, plod. I was happy to lead the way as I didn’t want to be seen with her. It was about ten minutes’ walk from school to Gran’s – two streets and a short cut across the Common – but we didn’t have much time.
    “You don’t want to be doing this, do you?” she asked.
    “Whatever.”
    “We can drop the whole thing if you prefer.”
    “Look,” I said, turning on her. “My gran’s dog died, right? I told her about you and your cows cos I thought she might be interested. She asked me to invite you to lunch. You said yes, so here we are. My gran’s food’s lovely, far better than the stodge at school, so, say, you coming or not? Because we haven’t got all day and––”
    “All right! All right! Let’s go then.”
    After a bit she said, “What d’you tell her about me?”
    “Said you were in my class, you got cows and you live on a farm – ’appy?”
    We walked on in silence.
     
    “You must be Gemma’s friend Kate?” Gran said, putting her foot straight in it. I didn’t say anything, just went through to the lounge. Gran had a lovely spread on the table and the fire was blazing, so to be honest, I didn’t care any more. I sat down and started to stuff my face.
    It turned out that Gran did know Cowgirl’s granddad, so they talked and talked. Cowgirl was different – smiley and bright. Gran was going on about being a land girl, the early starts and milking by hand and everything.
    “How many cows have you got?” Gran asked her.
    “Twelve,” said Cowgirl. “We used to have more before the foot-an’-mouth came along.”
    She suddenly looked sad.
    “Oh, that was awful,” said Gran. “Killing all those cows and burning them. Such a waste.”
    “What?” I said. “Killing and burning?”
    They both looked at me. “Oh Gemma, don’t you remember? Cows piled up like wood on a bonfire. You could see the smoke from here, and the smell – terrible, it was.”
    “Oh yeah,” I said, lying.
    “The farmers got compensation though, didn’t they?” Gran asked.
    Cowgirl stared at her plate. “Yes,” she said. “But it wasn’t the same. While we waited for the compensation Mam got herself a part-time job in town. Then when the money did come, Dad bought a smaller herd and set himself up as a landscape gardener, which is what he’s always wanted. As he got more and more work I took over the milking.”
    “You do it all?” Gran asked.
    Cowgirl shrugged. “I like it.”
    Gran was smiling at her. “Well, I think you’ve got it just about right, Kate. How many girls up and down the country could say they were doing as much? Ithink you’re a star.”
    Cowgirl took a bite out of her sandwich, as if she hadn’t heard. “Glad I don’t have to milk them all by hand though – take me hours.”
    “I used to talk to them while I milked them,” said Gran. “Even sing them a song sometimes. They’re such lovely, gentle creatures. Can’t understand why anyone would be frightened of them.” They both glanced at me, just as I pushed the last part of a fruit bun into my mouth.
    “Reckon you could still remember how to milk a cow, Mrs Matthews?” Cowgirl asked.
    “I don’t see why not. Yes, yes, I think I could.”
    “Well, why not come up to the farm and give it a go?”
    Gran’s face lit up. “Really?”
    Cowgirl nodded.
    “I’d love to.”
    I panicked. “You can’t,” I said with my mouth full.
    “Why ever not?” asked Gran.
    “How would you get up there?”
    “Oh, my own granddaughter,” she said. “If you had your way I’d be locked up in a care home. Roger or Mr Banerjee could give me a lift.” She turned to Cowgirl. “They’re neighbours of mine. Would youmind an extra person?”
    “No,