Page 41 of A Scottish Love Story
Beth arrived every morning, always bright and cheerful and armed with great trays of filled rolls and buttered scones. The rolls were generously filled with ham, cheese, beef or fish. In addition, Beth provided dishes of chutney and bowls of fresh salad for anyone who wanted to help themselves. Maggie seemed to enjoy breaking off from her own work in the house to help Beth serve, and to greet the people she knew personally. She had lived in the village all her life.
Roxie felt they had been luckier than she had dared to hope when so many of their neighbours had come to help with the washing and grooming of the cattle, especially on the final two days before the sale. She wondered if some of them had come for her father’s sake, although all but two older men were her own age, men she and Tommy had known from when they’d been in the Young Farmers’ Club. None of them dallied over their refreshments, although everyone ate heartily. Tommy and Roxie ate along with their helpers at midday, both knowing there was still a lot more work to do.
Maggie stayed all day, every day, and she prepared a hot dinner ready for Roxie and Tommy to eat for their evening meal. Roxie appreciated her thoughtfulness immensely because she was working hard. Every evening she was glad to flop exhausted into an armchair. The high point of her day was Ciaran’s phone calls. He had made a point of telephoning every night to hear how things were progressing. He liked to discuss some of the pedigrees in the catalogue with her, asking her if they looked as good in reality as they did on paper. He had selected six so far that he said were the best in his opinion. She agreed with four of his choices, but said she would not have chosen the other two.
‘It is different for me. I suppose I’m prejudiced because I know them and I can see them. You only have the catalogue to look at,’ she said.
‘Tell me which numbers you would prefer so that I can study them. Maybe we can enjoy a little debate about them,’ he said, chuckling.
One evening she was extra pleased when he said, ‘Roxie, I could love you for your syrup sponges alone.’ He sounded half serious, half joking, but every evening he told her everyone was missing her. Then, on the second last night before the sale, he said he would not be able to phone again but he hoped everything would go well on sale day. Roxie was shaken at how disappointed she felt at missing their evening chat, even though they had never been in the habit of speaking to each other in the evenings when she was at Oaklands. She told herself she was being ridiculous.
Chapter 14
Everyone, volunteers as well as employees, had worked tremendously hard all week to get the Caldbrook herd ready for a good sale and Roxie was proud of them, and honoured to have been her father’s daughter. She hoped she would be able to keep her tears in check when she saw some of her favourite cows being sold to strangers. She didn’t blame Tommy for selling them when they were not his interest, but she wished she had been born a boy, then her father would have left the dairy herd to her.
On the eve of the sale, Roxie told Harry he need not come in early for milking the next day; she would be starting before four in the morning to get the cows milked and settled down again before buyers started to come looking round. ‘Serious buyers always come early before a sale begins, so they can have a good look and take time to examine some of the animals they fancy from the catalogue.
‘It will be your job, Harry, to keep going round them to pull away any dirty bedding and giving an extra brush or wipe down if any get in a mess.’
‘Isn’t four in the morning a bit early to start milking?’ he asked, puzzled.
‘They wouldn’t look so good if they were newly milked and with floppy, empty udders, but we couldn’t leave them until after the sale or they would start streaming milk in the sale ring if their udders were too full. We need to relieve them to prevent that, but if we do it early enough, they will have begun to fill up again by mid-morning when the sale begins. We want them to show themselves at their very best. I know some people don’t milk them at all before a sale, but experienced dairymen can tell if they have been deliberately hefted and for high yielders it is rather cruel. It might cause mastitis too.’
‘I see. I never thought of all that.’
* * *
Harry wanted to be there for the last milking and made sure he arrived early the next morning, as Tommy was bringing in the cows and Roxie was starting to milk.
‘I’ve brought a pair of clean overalls in case these get in a mess, he said.’
‘My word, Harry, you’re very conscientious. Dad would have approved of you,’ Roxie told him. ‘You may have to milk some of the cows this afternoon before they are loaded, if their new owners live a long way away. I think some of them will have travelled a fair distance because my father was fairly well known in various parts of the country. It is better for the cows if they are milked before they leave here to start a long journey. It prevents their udders getting too full before they reach their destination. I doubt if I shall be free to help you at that time of day. I know several of the buyers will be grateful for your help, and your consideration for the animals, so most of them will reward you, a few of them quite generously. My father always did. Accept whatever they offer and thank them. You will have deserved it by the time this day is over.’
As soon as the milking was finished, Roxie sent Harry for a big breakfast.
‘We don’t know when we shall get another decent meal, but Beth will have rolls and tea going all day today. Grab what you can when the opportunity arises. Don’t wait for Tommy or me to tell you.’ Harry had seen Beth’s van arriving earlier. ‘While you’re eating, I will check through the animals in all the different groups, then you can come and take my place, constantly checking to keep them clean and bedded. I will go for my breakfast and shower, and change when you come back from yours.’ Harry nodded and grinned. He liked the way Roxiegave clear instructions. He had learned a lot from her in the past week.
After his breakfast, Harry was returning to the cattle sheds to take over from Roxie when he met a man he hadn’t seen around before.
‘Can you tell me where I can find Roxanne Carr, please?’
‘I will get her for you,’ Harry said. ‘She is in one of the sheds. She will be needing her breakfast, though. She has been milking since before four o’clock. You’re early for the sale.’
‘Yes, I had a better journey than I expected.’
‘Someone to see you, Roxie,’ Harry called when he glimpsed her about to disappear into another shed. She turned and came towards them. Her eyes widened in astonishment.
‘Ciaran!’
* * *
Ciaran smiled as she ran the last few yards towards him, her arms wide.
‘Can it really be you? Here?’ She hugged him tightly. Ciaran was delighted and relieved by her greeting. It was spontaneous and warm. He lowered his head and kissed her parted lips longingly, returning her hug. She laughed happily.
‘It’s good to see you, Roxie,’ he said honestly.
‘Anyone would think I’d been away for a month.’ She chuckled warmly.
