Page 6 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
‘Round the back?’ Scarlett repeated. She couldn’t see much in that direction except sand dunes and darkness.
‘Follow the boardwalk,’ said Brian. ‘It’s easy enough to find.’
Scarlett nodded and quickly gathered her overnight bag. Sliding open the heavy bus door, she stepped out into the cool night air. She could smell the sea—the distinctive mix of salt and seaweed sending a tingle down her spine.
‘Thanks for the lift,’ she said.
‘No problem,’ said Brian. ‘I’ll probably see you tomorrow when I bring the others over in time for the swim. Now… give that door a good slam for me!’
Scarlett did as he asked, cringing as the loudclangechoed around the dunes. Then she stepped out of the way and watched as Brian disappeared back up the sandy track, leaving her standing alone outside the darkened giftshop.
‘Great,’ she muttered to herself. ‘Just great.’
With a sigh, Scarlett hitched her bag higher on her shoulder and stared around. Brian had said to follow a boardwalk…?
‘Ah ha!’ she said, spotting a set of shallow wooden steps at the side of the gift shop. The handrail was wrapped with a string of tiny golden fairy lights.
Hurrying up the steps, Scarlett gasped. Sure enough, a wooden walkway stretched ahead of her, snaking through the sand – its path marked by tiny, twinkling beacons that swayed gently in the sea breeze.
Scarlett followed the lights, her footsteps creaking on the weathered wooden boards. The path curved and dipped between the dunes, and just as she was beginning to think it would never end, she rounded a corner and stopped dead in her tracks.
‘Oh my goodness…’
There, nestled in a hollow between the dunes, was the cutest hut she’d ever seen. It was like something out of a fairy tale. It had a curved roof, and its wooden walls were painted in a soft sage green with cream trim. Its little porch was strung with even more fairy lights, and warm light spilled from the windows.
Scarlett’s fears promptly vanished. This was no rough shed in the middle of nowhere. This was a magical hideaway… and it was all hers! She could hear the sea more clearly now, and the rhythmic shush of waves on sand told her she must be really close to the beach. If it wasn’t so dark, she’d be tempted to explore… but right now, she wasmoretempted by the idea of a cuppa and a hot shower!
With a squirm in her stomach that was excitement instead of nerves, Scarlett climbed onto the porch and tried the door. It opened easily.
Okay, wow!
If she’d thought the outside was lovely, theinsidewas something else!
Scarlett quickly closed the door behind her and dropped her bag onto the smooth floorboards as she stared around, trying to take everything in.
There was a lovely, navy blue enamelled wood burner crackling away merrily in one corner, and the hut was gorgeously warm. The walls were decorated with vintage postcards framed by a lattice of gnarled driftwood. A long, narrow shelf held a row of bottles and jars full to the brim with sea glass of every colour. Blues, greens and ambers gleamed in the flickering light from the wood burner.
‘I’m in heaven!’ murmured Scarlett.
She turned to stare longingly at the huge bed. It looked cosy and incredibly inviting after the long journey. She hadn’t realised how tired she was, and for a moment, the temptation to climb underneath the striped duvet and curl up was almost overwhelming.
‘Nope – first things first – I need a cuppa and a shower!’
Scarlett wandered into the kitchenette at the back of the hut. There, on a little fold-down table, was a vase of fresh wildflowers with a note propped up against it.
Hi Scarlett,
Welcome to the Shepherd’s Hut! We hope you’ll be comfortable. There’s tea and coffee in the cupboard above the sink and fresh milk in the mini fridge. The shower is small but mighty, and there are extra blankets in the box under the bed if you get cold.
If you have any problems, Pete is staying in the camper van around the corner. Just follow the boardwalk and knock on his door any time. He’ll be happy to help.
Enjoy your stay!
Sally and David Trant
Scarlett lowered the note with a contented sigh. ‘Maybe this weekend won’t be so bad after all!’
CHAPTER3
