Page 50 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

Shaking herself, Nicola joined in the pursuit before slowing down as Charlie held his hand up. They crept up slowly behind Claudette, sure the element of surprise was on their side as they inched their way forward, but just as they both dived towards her, Claudette sprinted off again, darting from between their arms and causing both Nicola and Charlie to fall in a heap in the mud.

Looking across at Charlie, looking as stunned as she was feeling, Nicola threw her head back and laughed.

‘She’s done it again! I’m quickly learning that one is the best escape artist I’ve ever heard of.’ Charlie chuckled as he stood up and held his hand out towards Nicola.

‘Oh, she really is.’ Gripping his hand, she let herself be pulled up before wiping her palms down the front of her jeans. ‘She must have been on the loose for months now.’

‘Wow, really? She’s doing well then. I wouldn’t have thought a sheep could survive that long in the wild.’

Nicola shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I guess there’s enough grass in the village, plus all the flowers from people’s gardens she destroys.’

‘Yes, and I suppose my uncle’s farm is a one-stop shop for her.’ He ran his fingers through his hair and chuckled.

‘Absolutely. I can see why she has taken a liking to hanging out here.’ She shook her head. ‘Should we try and find her? See where she’s got to?’

‘No, I think we’ve done enough chasing for tonight. I’ll have a look for her tomorrow.’ Charlie nodded towards the farmhouse. ‘Now though, do you fancy a hot chocolate after all that drama?’

‘Yes, one of your special hot chocolates sounds perfect.’

Slipping her hand into his, they made their way into the farmhouse.

He held the door open for her and Nicola stepped inside. ‘Thanks.’

‘How long shall we give the lovely Claudette until she sneaks back through again?’ Charlie poured milk into a saucepan and turned the hob on. ‘I think I’ve caught a glimpse of her or had a run-in with her every day this week.’

‘Ah, I can imagine the villagers are pretty happy having her occupied for a bit.’ She laughed. She could just picture Miss Cooke congratulating Officer Duffey – who had been heading up the manhunt for Claudette ever since she’d turned up in Meadowfield – for a job well done in the next village meeting, unaware that the sheep had in fact just strayed a little further afield than been caught, reprimanded and sent away to the farm animal rescue they had lined up for her.

Charlie chuckled. ‘Maybe I should invite them all up here with their pitchforks?’

‘Haha, maybe. Although I do wonder if they secretly love having something juicy to gossip about during the village meetings rather than rant about how the number of cyclists using the High Street as a through-run has increased by two in the last six months.’

‘Is that true?’ He raised his eyebrow as he set down two mugs.

‘I doubt it. I’m not really sure Meadowfield can be accused of being a through-run to anywhere but farmland.’ She shrugged. ‘Still, I don’t know what Miss Cooke will find to talk about when Claudette finally sits still long enough to be captured.’

‘Maybe I should try to lure her into the barn myself, pop her in the back of my truck and return her to the stomping ground she so loves.’ After mixing heaped spoonfuls of cocoa powder into the saucepan, he poured the hot chocolate into two mugs.

‘Umm, and how’s it going catching her? So far, I mean?’ Nicola looked pointedly at the shirt that was hanging over the back of the pine kitchen table, certain it was the one he’d ripped when trying to catch Claudette before.

‘You’ve got me there. Not so well as it happens.’ He grinned at her before pulling open the fridge door.

She watched as he topped the hot drink with squirty cream before stepping forward and taking the can. ‘I’ll pop that back for you.’

‘Thanks.’ Brushing his lips against hers, he turned to pick up the chocolate flakes to sprinkle on top. ‘I’ve no marshmallows today, so chocolate flakes will have to do.’

Just as she pulled the fridge door open, she caught sight of a letter stuck to the fridge with a magnet. A letter headed with the local estate agent’s logo – Country & Farm Estate Agents of Meadowfield. Forcing herself to shut the door again, Nicola cleared her throat. ‘Sounds nice.’

‘Hopefully.’ Picking up a mug, he handed it across to her. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Umm, I noticed you’ve got a letter from the estate agents on the fridge…’

‘That’s right.’ Turning, he leaned against the counter, his mug in his hands. ‘They’ve been brilliant and even think they might have a potential buyer on the books.’

‘Oh, really?’ She forced a smile, although all she wanted to do was to cry or to tell him to stay.

Placing his mug back on the counter, he stepped towards her, taking her mug and sitting it next to his. Taking her hands in his, he looked her in the eye. ‘I?—’

They both looked to the open back door as another noise sounded. This time a series of clatters which continued. Looking back at each other, they spoke at the same time, ‘Claudette!’

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