by Jenny Frame
Quade walked back in with Princess licking and kissing Quade’s face relentlessly.
Little traitor, Penny thought.
Quade handed the bag over to Penny and she took Princess out of it and let her jump down to the floor. She immediately went over to Quade’s dog, who wagged his tail and made a fuss over her.
“I called the doctor. He’ll be out in ten minutes,” Quade said.
“You did what?” Penny said angrily. “I don’t want a doctor.”
“You could have broken your ankle. It needs to be checked over,” Quade insisted.
Penny had enough of this. Who did this farmer think she was? She carefully took her leg from the footrest and tried to stand, but she cried out at the intense pain that shot from her ankle up her leg.
“What are you doing?” Quade knelt and cradled her ankle gently in her hands. “Don’t be daft. Sit back and rest your leg before you do more injury to yourself.”
Penny had no choice but to sit back. It was so frustrating. Her first day here and she was already relying on someone else because of her clumsiness.
“I’m not daft. I just don’t need people fussing around me. I can take care of myself.”
Quade put her leg back on the footstool and stood up. “Well, you can’t do much about it now. The doctor won’t be long. Are you just passing through the village?”
“No, I’m staying at Northwood Cottage,” Penny said more sharply than she meant to.
Quade stuffed her hands in her pockets and let out a breath. “I’ll go and get us some tea, and some ice for your ankle.”
Penny felt bad but was soon more annoyed when Princess went running after Quade and her dog. “Bloody turncoat.”
* * *
Quade stirred the tea in the pot, then turned her attention to the little dog trying to get her attention by her leg. Dougal, far from being jealous, was sitting happily at her side, seemingly pleased by the dog’s company.
Quade knelt down and ruffled the dog’s curly fur. “Hi, pal. So you’re Princess Baby Bear? A bit fluffy for a dog, isn’t it?” Princess lapped up her attention. “Although going by these silly pink clothes, you are a perfect match for your owner, apart from your personality.”
She lifted one of Princess’s booted paws and said, “What on God’s green earth is this? Shoes on a dog? Bloody hell.”
Quade shook her head and sighed. She never thought her day would go like this. One of the famous Huntingdon-Stewarts in her front room. Aunt Mabel would be so proud.
She got up to get some biscuits for her guest as well as some dog treats for Dougal and Princess, then carried the tea tray through to the front room.
The sight of Penny made Quade catch her breath and stop in the doorway. She focused on the manicured pink fingernails that seemed to sum up the perfect picture of femininity that Penny was.
Quade wished she could have had a wash and brush up before meeting her. Strangely, Penny was holding her phone up and taking a picture of her leg.
She carried over the tray and laid it on the coffee table. “Why are you taking a picture of your leg?”
Penny looked at her as if that was the most stupid question she’d ever been asked.
“So I can post it on my social media, and let my followers know what’s happened to me,” Penny said slowly as if Quade was an idiot for asking.
Quade was not on social media and didn’t pretend to understand it. She’d heard Riley talk about it, and the only time she really used the internet was at the Axedale estate office or for her own business—ordering farm supplies, the cattle market website, things like that.
She gave the dogs their biscuits and sat across from Penny. “Why would you share something so personal on the internet?” Quade asked as she poured out the tea.
Penny rolled her eyes. “Have I stepped back into the eighteenth century or something? Because I run a business on a social media platform, and my followers follow my life events.”
Quade didn’t understand what Penny was talking about but decided to leave it for the moment.
“Milk and sugar?” Quade asked.
“No sugar, and do you have any dairy-free milk?” Penny said.
Quade looked up at her quizzically. “Dairy-free milk? What do you mean?”
“You know, almond, hazelnut, any nut milk?”
“Nut milk,” Quade said as if she was talking a foreign language. She tried the words again. “You want nut milk? How do you milk a nut?”
Penny smacked her hand on her forehead. “Where have you sent me, Olivia? Hicksville? Black tea will be fine.”
Quade handed her the cup, still somewhat confused. “Biscuit?”
“No, thank you. Listen, could I ask you to drive me home? I’ll be okay tomorrow, I’m sure.”
“No, you have to see a doctor,” Quade repeated. Penny looked really angry. What was wrong with this woman?
“People don’t tell Penelope Huntingdon-Stewart no.”
“Well, I just did, so get comfortable. The doctor won’t be long, and then I’ll take you home,” Quade said.
Penny drank her tea but didn’t look happy. A beautiful face like that shouldn’t be angry, Quade thought.
A silence hung between them, and Quade felt compelled to fill it. “I’m sorry you caught me so underdressed. I was just chopping wood and then was going to have a shower.” Penny looked at her bare arms and then looked away quickly. Penny had no reply, but her dog jumped into Quade’s lap and started to kiss her face. “Hey, at least your dog likes me. She’s very sweet.” That actually got her a ghost of smile from her guest.
“She’s friendly,” Penny said.
Unlike her owner, Quade thought. “Can I ask you something?”
Penny sighed. “If you like.”
“Why does your dog wear shoes?”
Again Penny looked at her like she was crazy to ask the question. “To protect her little paws from the dirt and stones, from anything that could harm her.”
“But that’s what paws are for—dogs are meant to get muddy and run through water, and have fun. You need to let a dog be a dog.”
“Clearly city dogs have different needs to country dogs, but Princess doesn’t like her paws to get dirty,” Penny said sharply.
On cue Dougal went to Penny and laid his head on the armrest of Penny’s chair. She smiled and started to stroke his head. Good old Dougal could make anyone smile.
There was a knock at the door. “That’ll be the doctor.” Thank God.
Chapter Three
The Axedale kitchen was filled with the beautiful smell of Annie’s delicious food. Harry was meant to be getting the wine, but she found herself gazing over at her wife as she dished their dinner into serving bowls. Harry would have laughed if someone had told her five years ago that she’d be a happily married woman with a stepchild, and not only that but blissfully happy.
And that’s what Annie had done for her and Axedale—she had brought bliss and happiness. It was strange. She wasn’t a believer in anything spiritual or supernatural, but she had always felt Axedale had a gloomy cloud of darkness hanging over it as she grew up, but now she would swear the house itself felt different, as if love had chased away the blackness and brought peace.
“What are you gazing at so intently, your ladyship?” Annie said pulling Harry from her thoughts.
She smiled and walked over, taking Annie in her arms. “You and the happiness you have brought to me and Axedale.”
Annie smiled and traced her fingertips down Harry’s cheek. “I’m glad to hear it. Kiss me.”
Harry did and started to deepen the kiss, but Annie pushed her back. “Oh no, we have guests. You know where deep kisses lead.”
Harry grinned and lifted Annie onto the kitchen table. “That was my plan. Let’s cancel dinner and go to bed.”
Annie gave her a mock glare and smacked her lightly on the bottom. “Now, now, your ladyship. We have the vicar upstairs.”
She gave light kisses to Annie’s neck. �
��It’s Finn’s last night before she leaves on tour. I’m sure Bridge would be glad of the excuse to go home and get her whip out.”
Annie laughed. “Come on, the food’s ready to go. I promise you’ll have my full attention later.”
“You promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to get—well, you know the rest. Come on.” She slipped off the table and began to put the serving dishes onto trays. “Can you take this heavy one, sweetheart?”
“Of course.” Harry looked at her watch. “I wonder where Quade’s got to. She’s not usually late.”
Annie took the last dish out of the oven and then looked at the kitchen clock. “Yes, it’s not like her. I hope everything’s all right.”
Harry started to walk up the kitchen stairs. “I’ll give her a call once I get this to the dining room.”
* * *
Quade was flustered as she jogged from her Land Rover up to the doors of Axedale Hall. Being flustered was not a usual state of being for Quade. She was calm, diligent, and usually laid-back, but that had changed this afternoon when Penelope Huntingdon-Stewart came walking up to her farmhouse.
Dr. McTavish had arrived and confirmed that Penny had a sprained ankle, not a broken bone. Penny had made everything such a fuss. Despite her bad attitude, Quade had offered to take her home and sleep on the couch to make sure she could get around, and help with anything she needed, but of course she refused. She had at least taken her aunt’s old walking stick, when offered. That would help her move around.
Quade stopped inside to catch her breath. “Bloody stubborn woman.”
She heard the thunder of running footsteps coming down the huge staircase. Quade looked up and smiled when she saw Riley, her best friend Sophie, and the gigantic puppy, Caesar.
Dougal ran off excitedly to meet them at the bottom of the stairs. “Hi, Quade,” both kids said, and then began to make a fuss over Dougal.
“Hello, Riley, Sophie,” Quade replied and stroked Caesar’s large head after he came to greet her. “Hey, pal. You get bigger every time I see you.”
Riley came over and gave her a hug. “Sophie is staying for a sleepover.”
Quade smiled. “That’s great.”
It was lovely to see Riley happy and settled. When she had arrived in Axedale with Annie, she had found it hard to fit in to the small village school, but the pretty Sophie arrived in the village with her parents a few months later and the pair had been inseparable since.
“Can we take Dougal with us, Quade?” Sophie asked.
Riley added, “Yeah, we’re going to look for treasure on the grounds with my metal detector.”
“Sure, but aren’t you coming for dinner first?” Quade asked.
Riley shook her head. “We had pizza earlier. Come on, Dougal.”
The two dogs and two kids went running off out the front door. Quade looked up at the ceiling and let out a long breath.
Fantastic. Two couples and just me.
Usually Riley would eat with them and it wasn’t quite as awkward. Tonight would be awkward and remind her how alone she was.
She hurried along the corridor and walked into the dining room to find what she feared. The two couples sitting across from one another, and intimately close.
“Quade. We thought you’d never get here.” Harry stood and took her jacket.
“Sorry, I got held up.” Quade sat down at the end of the table and said hello to Bridge and Finn.
This was Finn’s last night in Axedale before going on a national tour for two weeks. With Bridge’s encouragement, Finn had gone back to magic and her touring shows, although Finn only booked dates for a few weeks at a time so she wasn’t away from her lover for long, especially now they were engaged. Bridge and Finn’s wedding was due to take place at Axedale when Finn got back from her tour.
Quade envied the bond both couples had, and her loneliness felt worse when she was in their company.
Annie placed her hand over hers and smiled. “Well, you’re here now. That’s the main thing. Let me get you some dinner.”
“Is there anything wrong, Quade?” Finn asked.
“Nothing wrong. I just had an unexpected afternoon,” Quade said.
Bridge said with a smile, “Oh, do tell.”
Harry handed Quade a beer. “Thanks, mate.” She poured her beer into her glass and took a drink. “This woman—”
“Woman, a good start,” Bridge joked.
Annie raised an eyebrow to her friend. “Carry on, Quade.”
Harry sat down and suddenly there were four pairs of eyes staring at her, making her feel a little uncomfortable. Quade didn’t like being the centre of attention.
She stared at her glass and cleared her throat. “It’s nothing very exciting.”
Quade explained how the woman had asked for directions and gave her a tip.
“I bet that went down like a lead balloon,” Harry said.
“I know, like I was some hotel porter. Anyway, I bought her chocolates with the money and left them at her door. Then this afternoon she comes marching up to my cottage, up the muddy driveway in heels higher than Bridge’s, with a little dog.”
“I like her already,” Finn joked, and got a swat on the arm from Bridge.
“Is she staying in the village?” Annie asked.
Quade nodded. “She looks like she’s walked out of a fashion magazine. Anyway, I look up to talk to her and she fell on her ar—backside.”
“What’s her name?” Bridge asked. “She sounds quite the dish.”
“Penelope Huntingdon-Stewart,” Quade said.
“Pen’s here already? I wasn’t expecting her for a few days,” Harry said.
“Pen?” Bridge said. “You didn’t tell me she was coming.”
Quade was quite confused. “You all know her?”
“Her parents are friends with my mother,” Harry explained. “She’s younger than Bridge and I, but we saw her and the family often as we grew up.”
Annie frowned. “You said she fell. Is she okay?”
“As far as I could tell,” Quade said.
“What are you not saying?” Annie said.
Quade couldn’t say what she really thought of her. “I can’t. You know her.”
“Spit it out, Quade,” Harry said.
“She’s a bloody stubborn woman who complained the whole time I tried to help her,” Quade said quickly, getting her frustrations off her chest.
Both Harry and Bridge laughed.
“What?” Quade asked.
Bridge replied, “Stubborn is Little Pen’s middle name. She’s well known for it.”
“So what happened?” Annie said.
Quade explained everything, how her help was rebuffed at every turn, how she insisted on the doctor examining her, how her offer to stay on the couch this evening was rebuffed.
“Her little dog was friendly, but Penny…I mean, she asked me if I had nut milk. Can you believe that?”
They all chuckled, and Harry said, “Oh capital offence in the countryside.”
Bridge leaned across the table and patted Quade’s hand. “I know she seems prickly, Quade, but she has her share of problems that make her self-sufficient and stubborn.”
“Really? What?” Quade asked.
Bridge looked over at Harry, and Harry said, “Her brother Hugo was a colleague and friend at Cambridge, so I know she had a difficult time growing up. Pen suffers from epilepsy, and it’s been quite severe over the years.”
“Poor thing,” Annie said, “we’ll need to make sure she’s well looked after.”
“She’s a lesbian and just your type too,” Bridge said.
“She is?” Quade almost squeaked as she said that. She just never expected Penny to be gay.
“We’ll need to set you up, Quade,” Bridget said with a grin.
“Bridge, she’s a city girl and a Huntingdon-Stewart. I’m a farmer.”
“Oh, don’t talk such nonsense.” Bridge snorted. “Annie fell in love with a countess, a
nd I fell in love with a magician, a bloody dishy one at that. Don’t create barriers where there are none.”
Quade nodded but inside she knew that she just didn’t have that kind of luck. She pictured Penny with someone in a suit, suave and sophisticated. Quade didn’t think herself sophisticated in the slightest.
The evening ended after a good meal, and Quade drove back to the farmhouse. She sat in her car for a few minutes, thinking about Penny. She had been too hard on her, especially with the challenges she faced, and guilt twisted inside her.
She knew how debilitating epilepsy could be. Her aunt had suffered with it her whole life.
Harry said she’d had the cottage checked and set up for Penny, but it was a big change for someone coming from city life, and her little dog wouldn’t get a walk either with Penny’s ankle the way it was. She resolved to go around to the cottage tomorrow with some firewood and offer to take her dog out with Dougal. Hopefully she wouldn’t get rebuffed this time.
* * *
The next morning Quade put some firewood in the back of her Land Rover and drove to Northwood Cottage. She stopped outside and sat for a few moments, looking for any signs of life. Quade turned to Dougal who was sitting in the passenger seat and said, “Everything looks quiet. Maybe she’s not up yet.”
She looked at the time, and then tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. “Half past nine. Maybe I should just leave the wood by the door with a note.”
Dougal just looked at her quizzically. Quade was looking for excuses. She could feel a nervousness creep into her stomach as she drove over there. She didn’t know why. Penny had been rude, ungrateful, and standoffish, but yet she held herself with such grace, elegance, and femininity that Quade couldn’t help but admire her beauty, and feel somewhat in awe of her. Not to mention the fact that she was a Huntingdon-Stewart.
Quade let out a breath and looked into the driver’s mirror. She tried to smooth down her choppy sandy-blond hair, but really she was never going to look smart after spending the morning feeding cattle and mucking out.
“Okay, Dougal. Ms. Independence will just have to take us as we are. Come on.”
