‘Um...’ Dulcie wrinkled her nose. ‘I’ve got to get someone to board the shed out first, and lay a concrete floor.’ Her expression was apologetic. ‘I’ve gone about this all wrong, haven’t I? I should have got the place ready first before Icalled you in, and I also need an electrician and a plumber.’
‘I can give you a quote for the building work as well, if you like, but I can’t do the electrics.’
‘Would you? That would be great. So, if the quote is acceptable, when could you start?’
In his mind Adam ran through the jobs that were already booked in. ‘The week after next?’ He would have to rearrange some things, but it was doable.
Dulcie seemed pleased. ‘In that case, I’ll leave you to your tape measure. Right, I’d better take Princess back to the stables.’ She gave him a grin. ‘Try not to run me over when you go down the lane, eh?’
Adam winced. ‘I had better apologise to your sister before I leave. She must think me a right numpty.’
‘I doubt it. Knowing her, she had her head in the clouds and wasn’t looking where she was going.’
Adam was fairly sure shehadbeen looking, but that was a discussion he had no intention of getting into. Whatever the tension was between the sisters, he didn’t want any part of it.
He made a few more notes, then popped back to his van for a tape measure and his phone. He would give the builder’s merchant in Thornbury a call to price up the battening, the lengths of wood and the other materials he would need if he landed the job, so he would have all the information at his fingertips ready forwhen he came to price up the quote this evening.
As he passed by the barn, he caught sight of Maisie. She was stroking a tiny goat and didn’t see him, and of their own volition his feet slowed as he took a moment to study her.
Her lips were moving and he assumed she was speaking to the goat, who kept nudging her hand with its head; for food, he presumed. The scene was reminiscent of an old painting of a rural idyll, apart from Maisie’s modern clothes.
Adam only realised he was staring, and had been doing so for several seconds, when Maisie glanced up and caught him.
Briefly he thought how pretty she was, now that he could see her face full-on without it being all angry and shouty;then her eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened, and he guessed he was about to be shouted at all over again.
Adam got his apology in first. ‘I’m sorry, I overreacted,’ he began, taking a few steps towards her.
Maisie scrambled to her feet, dusting the straw from her jeans with little swipes of her palms. She tilted her head.
‘You did,’ she agreed, ‘but apology accepted.’ She moved closer, studying him. ‘At least you cared. Some drivers wouldn’t have given a monkey’s butt.’
‘There is that,’ he agreed. ‘Is the goat okay?’
Maisie tutted. ‘Sheis,I’mnot. I’ve never run so fast in my life. Dulcie has taken her home. Are you all done?’
‘Not yet.’ He pointed at the van. ‘I need my tape measure. I’ve got some measuring up to do.’ As he said it, he wanted to kick himself. Why else would he want a tape measure, if not to measure something?
Her lips twitched.
‘I’d better go fetch it,’ he said.
‘And I’d better take this little one to the meadow to join her friends. She doesn’t seem keen to go, though. It was only after I had put the others in the field, that I realised she was missing.’ She sucked in a breath. ‘Please don’t tell Dulcie. Princess running off wasn’t my fault, but losing Cloud would be.’
‘Cloud? Is that what the goat is called? Do they all have names?’
‘Of course they do! Goats are people, too.’ A blush crept into her cheeks. ‘Obviously, they’re notpeople, but...’ She shook her head. ‘Shall we start again? Hi, I’m Maisie, I’m Dulcie’s sister.’
Adam grinned. ‘Hi, Maisie, I’m Adam and I’m not anyone’s brother.’
Eyes twinkling, she said, ‘I’ve got another sister beside Dulcie, and a brother. What’s it like being an only child?’
‘Challenging. What’s it like being one of four?’
‘Annoying.’
She paused and seemed to be waiting for him to say something more, but his mind was blank. He couldn’t think of a single thing, and when she coughed politely, he realised he was loitering.
‘Tape measure,’ he muttered to himself. ‘I, er, hope to see you again, Maisie.’ And with that he hurried to his van, grabbed the tape measure and dashed back to the shed.
