Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage Read Online Free Page A

from here. They’re my mother’s pigs – the ones that gave Rafa the heebie-jeebies. Anyway, I’ve had years of experience in hospitality. It fits in well with looking after Ashley – and Mel, of course.’ She pauses, checking the clock on the wall before turning back to me. ‘Are you married, or engaged, or seeing anyone?’
    â€˜Oh no,’ I say, revealing more than I intend in the forceful tone of my voice.
    She smiles wryly. ‘You sound like someone who’s decided to remain single, come hell or high water. What happened? You don’t have to say,’ she adds quickly. ‘I’m sorry, I’m such a gossip.’
    â€˜No, it’s fine. I can talk about it now,’ but before I can go on, Ashley cries out from somewhere upstairs. Louise raises her eyes towards the ceiling as he cries again.
    â€˜I’m afraid you’ll have to tell me another time. I’m going to have to sit with him for a while,’ she sighs. ‘You’re welcome to stay here, or take your drink into the snug or your room. Help yourself to another.’
    I wish her goodnight and head for my room at the front of the house, one of the three en-suites that she uses for her bed-and-breakfast business. I look out of the window where I can just make out Rafa’s grey silhouette in the darkness.
    Louise’s questioning has brought unwelcome memories of Ryan back to the forefront of my brain. A wave of regret washes through me as I recall the good times with my ex, the cuddles, kisses and companionship … And then the infidelity, utter devastation, and legacy of debt that he’s left me with … I take a deep breath, count to ten and close the curtains, determined not to waste any more emotional effort on the waste of space who was once my fiancé. I can do it. I know I can. I’m over him, but I’m not ready to move on. I’m not sure that I ever will be.
    I shower and change into my PJs before retiring to bed, but I can’t sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll be out on the road with an anvil, tools and van in my first job as a qualified member of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. I can’t help wondering if Mel’s clients will be receptive to having a female farrier to shoe their horses, or if I’ll struggle to prove myself. I wonder, too, having demonstrated my complete inability to control my own horse, if I’ll have to work extra hard to win Robbie Salterton over.

Chapter Two
Only the Horses
    I wake to the sun’s rays passing between the heavy brocade curtains and the aroma of sausages and bacon. I feel as if I’m on holiday until three alarms sound from my iPad, alarm clock and watch, bringing me to reality and the realisation that it’s my first day in my new job.
    The adrenaline kicks in. I jump out of bed and throw on a pair of jeans and a baggy sweater. I pad barefoot downstairs, past the snug for the B&B guests that’s complete with a sofa and bookshelves laden with romances and thrillers. The corridor is filled with chicken-themed ephemera, including paintings, ceramic plaques and ornaments.
    When I reach the door that’s open into the kitchen, I pause to listen to the fierce sizzle of frying bacon and Louise’s one-sided conversation with her son. I walk on by, my stomach growling as I put on my wellies and head outside to find Rafa. There’s a black Toyota Hilux parked outside the garage that wasn’t there last night.
    I don’t think Rafa is as pleased to see me as I am to see him. When I reach the far side of the field to catch him, he lifts his head and gives me a look as if to say, ‘Can’t I stay out today?’ I’m tempted to leave him, but his belly is round with the lush spring grass and I don’t want him overdoing it. Usually, I like to have him on full-time turnout by the beginning of April, but there’s too much to eat out here. The pasture is a smorgasbord of grasses