Page 38 of The Christmas Catch
A car horn broke her thoughts. Ali jumped, then eased her foot down on the accelerator. However, they only moved for a couple of seconds before they ground to a halt again.
“Whoever’s behind is a bit trigger-happy with their horn.”
Morgan turned in her seat and gave the car a glare.
Ali drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “My cousin lives around here somewhere. I came to visit last year, but I’m not exactly sure where. It all kinda looks the same.”
“Usually green, currently snowy, occasional lake?”
“Exactly that. She moved up here to open a bed-and-breakfast. I forget the name. She’s always full, though. Business is booming.”
The sat nav made a noise Ali had never heard before. “What on earth was that?”
“Sounded like the sat nav just burped.”
Ali stared as the screen reconfigured, and then an alternative route showed up. It was suggesting going down even smaller roads with less traffic. Ali glanced up at the line of cars ahead, then back to the screen.
“What do you think? Should we follow it?” She had flashbacks of a time in Germany when the sat nav had taken her on a tour of a local housing estate for half an hour for no apparent reason.
Morgan was silent for a moment before she spoke. “It’s not as if we’re getting anywhere fast at the moment. Can it be any worse?”
Ali sucked on her teeth, then flicked on her indicator. Nobody else seemed to be doing the same thing, and at least this way, they’d keep on moving. It was the motto Ali lived by.
They drove down the road, which quickly turned into a lane barely wide enough for one car.
“If a tractor comes, we’re toast.”
“I’m well aware,” Morgan replied.
Just then, the car made a loud whirring sound, the dashboard lights flashed on and off super-quick, and then it slowed.
Ali sat up straight and clutched the steering wheel, willing it to be okay. But deep down inside, she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be. It had been that kind of trip so far.
“What just happened?” Morgan almost whispered the words, as if she were afraid of the answer.
“I’m not sure, but the car doesn’t want to go very fast anymore, and that’s steam coming out of the bonnet.” Ali pulled into a nearby layby and cut the engine.
The silence and tranquillity when she did were overwhelming. For the first time in ages, they weren’t surrounded by people, cars or killer cows. All that was visible were snow-covered fields with the occasional farmhouse, a clutch of hills in the distance, and almost-camouflaged sheep. Lots and lots of sheep. Did sheep feel the cold, too? Yes, they had natural woolly jumpers on at all times, but did they get cold feet and noses like humans?
Ali sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. She missed peace and quiet. She missed uncomplicated journeys. But interestingly, she was still glad she was doing it with Morgan. She shook that thought from her brain and grabbed her phone. Maybe she could see where her cousin lived in relation to where they were now?
When she clicked, there was a text from Dave, the Christmas tree man. He had Morgan’s phone and if she sent him her address, he’d put it in the post today.
“Okay, so I have some good news amid every mode of transport we try breaking down.” She cocked her head. “Are we the curse?”
Morgan banged her hands together and blew into them. “Maybe. What’s the good news?”
“Dave has your phone and if we send him your address, he’ll post it today.”
Morgan’s eyes went wide. “Today? Isn’t he bonkers-busy selling trees? Tell him it can wait until after Christmas.”
Ali shrugged. “We clearly made an impression on him.”
“Well, god bless Dave.”
“And all who sail in him.” Ali took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m going to try this again.” She hit the start button on the car, but nothing happened. She checked the car was in drive, then tried again. Still nothing.
“Not happening?”
