A Question of Love (12 page)

`I didn’t know there was a local farm watch scheme round Ashburn but it sounds a good idea.’

`Aye, even Granddad agrees. Apparently they telephone alerts through to mobiles if there is anything suspicious in the area. A lot of quad bikes have gone missing in some places. The police are going to come and tell Mr Lennox more about it next week.’

`That’s excellent, Will
iam,’ Roseanne said with relief.

`Mmm, but they did say they are
always busier at weekends with other trouble so they can’t guarantee as many patrols round our rural area.’

`That’s fair enough and
I'm hoping to be down there myself if all goes to plan. I hope to drive down on Saturday morning if I get all my stuff moved and if I can leave my keys with the estate agent.’

Later
in the day she told Euan about William’s phone call.

`
We’ll both go down to Ashburn,' he said promptly. `I’ll collect you early. We should be there well before lunch.’

`
There’s no need. I'm used to driving down on my own. Anyway your uncle seemed surprised that you wanted to see the farm. I still don't know how you manoeuvred that, by the way,’ she added accusingly.

`
Uncle Simon doesn’t know what interests I have. I used to spend some of my holidays with a school friend who lived on a vast sheep farm in the outback. Anyway I'd rather be there with you. Who knows what trouble there could be while Mr Lennox is away and with the farmhouse empty.’

Roseanne
knew he was right and she couldn’t dispel an uneasy feeling herself about the thieves. It was unlikely they would only target one farm. She was ready and waiting on Saturday morning and they arrived at Ashburn before eleven.

`
I suggest we call in at the post office,’ Roseanne said. `I’ll get some fresh rolls and a newspaper.’

`
And the shop keeper will advertise our presence at Ashburn?’ Euan murmured with a knowing glint in his eye. `See, I'm getting to know about the locals already.’

`
Exactly. If Mrs Strang asks when we’re going back I’ll say you may be staying on shall I?’

`
All right,’ Euan nodded. `I was wondering how you feel about us staying until Monday morning anyway? We could leave at six thirty and be at Kershaw & Company before the office staff arrive.’

`
We’ll see,’ she said. `I suppose if thieves have been snooping around they’ll expect the farmhouse to be deserted on a Sunday evenings. I’m glad Mr and Mrs Lennox will be back before next weekend.’

`I’m not so sure I am,’ Euan grinned. `At least their absence has helped me persuade you to accompany me d
own here for one more week-end,’ Euan said.

***

Euan was surprised at the number of people who came to greet them when they arrived at the village hall for the concert that evening.

`This is where y
ou really belong isn’t it? You’re one of them, Roseanne.’

`
I’ve been coming here all my life, but I see some of the women are wondering what your connection is,` she said with a nod towards three young women who were nudging each other and casting him admiring glances. He wanted to tell her there was only one woman in the room who interested him, even though he had probably blown his chances with her.

`
Will they expect you to stay back stage?’ he whispered.

`
No. I shall only be on for a duet in each half of the concert to add a bit of variety and while some of them change costumes.’

The
audience were obviously familiar with the ballad about the wee bawbee which the young man had left with his sweetheart when he left to seek his fortune years before. They almost raised the roof with claps and cheers when the couple are reunited with a kiss at the end. Euan felt it was a longer kiss than necessary and he was dismayed at the pang of jealousy he felt towards the personable young man who was singing with Roseanne.

`
Who is he?’ he asked Jock Macintyre, who was sitting on his other side.

`
He’s the manager frae Laird Gallaby’s estate. He’s known Roseanne since they went to Sunday school. He was sweet on her until she and her sister played a trick on him. He didn’t forgive either o' them for a long time. He thought they’d made a fool of him.’ The old man chuckled. `Mind you he was making the most o’ yon kiss tonight. He fairly brought the colour to Roseanne’s cheeks. Did ye notice?’

`
Yes, I did. Is he married?’

`
He was. He’s divorced now.’ He eyed Euan speculatively. `You ever been married?’

`
No. I was never tempted to go that far,’ Euan shook his head. He could have added “until now”. Was he seriously so tempted by Roseanne, in spite of his misgivings over his uncle’s accounts? Jock was nodding with satisfaction as Roseanne came back to her seat beside them.

`
You have a good voice,’ Euan said during the interval as they accepted the tea and biscuits which were being passed round. `I like the richness of it. Is that what they call a mezzo soprano?’

`
I wouldn’t know.’ Rosanne laughed. `I’ve never been for singing lessons but I can hardly get out of it here.’

`
They appreciate your talent.’

`I'm glad someone does,’
she said dryly and he knew she was remembering his accusations. He'd had plenty of time to reflect and he couldn't believe he'd blundered in like a blind ox with a loaded wagon, whatever the figures said.

As
they drove home afterwards Roseanne knew Euan was doing his best to make up for their earlier altercation. She understood the reason he had reached the conclusions but she couldn’t forget the hurt she felt at his mistrust.

`I told William I would exercise
the horses in the morning. I want to have a ride around the boundary fences to make sure there are no gaps and no reason for the animals to stray. No excuse for thieves to drive them away.’

`
I’ll come with you, if I may?’ Euan suggested. Roseanne was surprised at him asking with such humility.

`
If you wish. I’m having my breakfast first - about seven o’clock, then it doesn’t matter if I take all morning. Would that suit you or…?’

`
Sounds fine to me.’ He held her elbow as they negotiated the rough path from the car to the house. He would have liked to kiss her good night but she had erected an invisible barrier since their quarrel and he had no idea how to breach it. At least she hadn’t objected to him riding with her in the morning. He would have to be content to go back to square one and take one step at a time. He wondered why it mattered so much. He still didn’t understand the entries he had queried in his uncle’s business accounts, and she had not made any effort to explain, or even to excuse them, yet still every instinct told him Roseanne was not the type of woman who would cheat a man she regarded almost like a father. There was no doubt she worked hard on behalf of the company too.

It
was a bright breezy morning, the sort of day Roseanne loved for riding. She made up her mind to forget Euan’s opinion of her. What did it matter anyway, he would soon be going to Australia and probably returning to America once he had visited his mother. She would probably never see him again. She would take a leaf out of Robinia’s book. Her sister enjoyed each moment and moved on to the next – or so she had always said.

`
All the fences are in excellent order,’ she said as they came to the last stretch which would bring them back to the farm yard. `I expected they would be. Mr Lennox is very conscientious about such things. William told me the police discovered the thieves had cut the fence wires at Mr Arnold’s so they could herd his sheep into a small enclosure near the loading pens.`

`
Perhaps they’ve taken enough risks in this area and moved on somewhere else?’ Euan suggested.

`
I hope you’re right, but if they know this area at all they’re bound to know Ashburn has some of the best quality beef cattle. They would get a higher price for them.’

After
they had groomed the horses and turned them out into the paddock Euan suggested they should change and go to the village pub for their Sunday lunch. He was delighted when she agreed. They received several cheery greetings. Euan realised most of the locals seemed to know now that he was Simon Fairfax’s nephew and therefore welcome in their small community. Much later Roseanne was astonished when she looked at her watch and realised half the afternoon had flown away in friendly chatter.

`
They’re all so pleased to see you,’ Euan said. `It was hard to get away when they all wanted to chat.’

`
I suspect most of them were more curious to find out about you. They all know me well enough.’

They
walked in companionable silence as they made their way back to Ashburn, both of them enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, but not yet so at ease that Euan felt he could take her hand, or draw her closer as he longed to do.

`
I’m going to get the records up to date and pay any bills which are due,’ Roseanne said as they reached the house.

`
I’d like to see your farm computer programmes sometime,’ Euan said. He saw Roseanne’s quick frown. He stopped and turned to face her. `I wish I’d never seen those bloody bank statements for Kershaw & Co. and I wish I didn’t have such a nose for sifting things out. You have my word I shall not try to interfere with anything else, even if I knew anything about animal records – which I don’t. I’m simply interested in all things to do with computers. I’ve learned more since I set up in business than I ever did at university.’

`Yes, I suppose I could say the same, but grandfather always said it was a day wasted when you didn’t learn something new, so I expect we all go on learning.
I’ll show you the farm computers if we’re both down here together again. I’m for an early night tonight though if we’re to get away at the crack of dawn and be back before anyone arrives at the offices. I have a lot of sorting out of my own to do at the flat this week too.’ Euan wondered if she was giving him a hint to keep his distance but her expression showed no anger or resentment now.

***

Roseanne didn’t know what had wakened her. She lay on her back in the dark, listening intently. Her part of the house had been modernised to her own taste and her bedroom was the largest and the only one with windows looking to both back and front. A beam of light swept briefly across her ceiling. It came from the yard side. The green light from her digital alarm clock was sufficient to let her grope her way to the window. She caught her breath when she glimpsed what seemed to be the rear lights of a vehicle. She hadn’t seriously believed thieves would risk striking again so close to Mr Arnold’s but as she watched she realised there was a vehicle and a trailer and it was turning into the old part of the farm steading where the pigs were housed. Whoever it was must have managed to open the bottom gates into the farm as well as negotiating the narrow entrance into the old farm steading. Maybe that was what had wakened her, the sweep of lights through her bedroom window. There were gates to the old steading too but they were rarely needed these days? They were very long, made of iron, and very heavy. She and Euan had considered closing them as an extra precaution before they went to bed then changed their minds when they saw the stiff, rusty hinges. Swiftly she pulled on her jeans and a sweater, thrusting her feet into sandals as she ran to Euan’s room. She didn’t wait for an answer to her knock before she opened the door.

`
Don’t put on your light!’ she hissed softly. `We’ve got intruders. They’re heading into the old farm steading. They must have managed to open the bottom gates without disturbing the McIntyres. I’m going to shut the top gates to delay their escape.’

`
No! Wait for me. There may be several of them. They could be dangerous.’

`
There’s no time to wait!’

`
Then you shut the bottom gates below the milking parlour. I’ll deal with the top ones. That will make doubly sure of holding them back. Jock McInyre was convinced they'd make a try.’

`
All right.’ Roseanne agreed, hastily backing out of the room, aware of his muscular torso and the long bare legs already kicking off the duvet. `I’ll phone the McIntyres from my mobile. They’ll alert the police,’ she called back softly as she ran down the stairs.

They
both moved swiftly and silently but it was some distance to the lower gates leading onto the road beside the McIntyres' cottage. Roseanne had the McIntyres’ number in her memory list. She phoned as she ran. Mrs McInyre answered on the second ring.

`It's m
e, Roseanne. We've got trouble.’

`I’ll phone the police.’

`We’re shutting the gates,’ Roseanne panted, glad Mrs McInyre was not a woman who panicked or asked questions. Roseanne knew she could rely on her. The McIntyres had obviously been prepared and half expecting the thieves would try for Ashburn stock.

She
had just swung the gates shut and was fixing the bolts when William came running, still pulling on his sweater.