Page 26 of Daydreams at the Farm on Muddypuddle Lane
He shrugged, not knowing what to say to that. He wasn’t exactly destitute, so it could wait a few days, but if Dulciewanted to settle the debt now, he wouldn’t say no.
Maisie was leading a bemused goat out of the milking shed as he emerged into the yard.
‘This is a momentous occasion,’ she declared, beaming widely. ‘We should have an opening ceremony.’ The goat bleated, as though in agreement.
‘We should have something,’ Dulcie agreed. ‘But I was thinking more like a goat-petting experience. With the addition of some rabbits and a few chicks, we might encourage visitors to the farm. It’s something I thought about last autumn, but I haven’t had time to organise it.’
‘I’ll do it.’ Maisie’s face was alight. ‘Let me, please.’
Dulcie said, ‘You just want to get your hands on some fluffy chicks.’
‘Yep.’ Maisie was totally unashamed.
‘We can have a chat about it tomorrow,’ Dulcie said. ‘Otto will be around in the morning, and I think Sammy wants to see Kevin, so we can pick Nikki’s brains at the same time.’
Cloud bleated and tugged on the lead rope, reminding Maisie she was there. ‘I’ll take her back to the meadow,’ she said, then turned to Adam. ‘I expect you’ll be gone by the time I get back.’
‘Probably. Are you still up for Sunday?’
‘Absolutely. See ya.’
Adam took a moment to watch her skip across the yard, the goats close behind.Then he realised Dulcie was staring at him and he looked away.
‘Come on.’ She gestured for him to follow as she went into the house. ‘Will a bank transfer do you?’
‘It certainly will. Um, Dulcie, I noticed that the old farmhouse on the top of the hill is up for sale. Have you had much interest?’
‘None at all, unfortunately. I suspect it’s too remote and too much work needs doing, especially since the access road is so poor.’ She pulled a face. ‘You can’t actually call it a road, it’s more like a dirt track. Why? Are you interested?’
‘I might be.’
‘What would you do with it?’
‘Live in it. And put up some outbuildings.’
‘What’s wrong with where you are now?’
‘Too small. Anyway, it was only ever meant to be a stop gap.’
‘Do you want to have a look around?’
‘I’ve been up there already. I agree, it will need a tremendous amount of work. But it’ll be lovely when it’s done.’
Dulcie studied him. ‘You’ll need deep pockets.’
She was right. Plus he would have to sell his place first to raise the necessary funds. Which meant he would be homeless for a while – unless he moved back in with his mum and dad.
The thought filled him with unease. It had taken a lot of effort to escape from his parents’ house and the last thing he wanted was to move back in and have hismum looking over his shoulder every five minutes, telling him what to do and how he should do it. Maybe he could buy a cheap caravan, put it on the site and live there for the duration?
‘The payment has gone through,’ Dulcie said. ‘It should hit your bank account in a few minutes.’ She straightened up. ‘If you’re serious about the old farmhouse, let me know.’
‘I will,’ he promised. ‘But can you keep it just between you and me, for the time being?’
‘Of course.’ She glanced out of the window and Adam guessed she must be thinking that he didn’t want Maisie to know. Which he didn’t, but only because he wanted to get everything straight in his head first, before he mentioned it to her. However, the main reason he didn’twant anyone to know his business was because if his parents got to hear about it, they would do their utmost to talk him out of it, and he could do without the grief.
The following morning Maisie and Dulcie did the milking between them. It took them fifty minutes to milk five goats.
Maisie said, ‘It’ll get easier as the goats get used to it.’
