MacDonald’s logo and wondered what they’d bought.
Flora and her family ran a small woollen mill a mile or so the other side of the village, selling traditional clothing and souvenirs from the local area, as well as further afield. Her mill was always popular with tourists, especially because of her name. She was no relation to the Flora MacDonald whom legend says helped Bonnie Prince Charlie but she didn’t stop the tourists from thinking she was.
Arran jumpers were always a popular choice, Lizzie thought, even though they were very expensive, not that price would have deterred any of these guys, she realised.
When Phil had asked how much they owed her for the drink they’d consumed yesterday, he didn’t bat an eyelid when she told him. In fact he asked her if she was sure that really covered it all and when she said yes, he pulled out a massive bundle containing several thousand pounds of fifty pound notes. He paid up and gave her extra despite her protestations – just in case she’d missed anything, he’d said.
Lizzie went back into the kitchen and made coffee. Alastair, who’d been in his basket beside the Aga for most of the afternoon, apart from when Lizzie had taken him for a long walk, got up and stretched, then followed Lizzie and Jane into the sitting room. He trotted up to each of the guys in turn, then over to the fireplace where he curled up on the rug in front of the hearth. He was a male with limited interests.
Lizzie poured coffee whilst Jane offered cakes and scones, trying to avoid the several pairs of hands reaching out for her. Steve in particular seemed determined to get Jane to sit on his lap and there was no way she was doing that.
Lizzie couldn’t help but notice that Jack was making a real effort to pretend she wasn’t there and when she handed him a cup of coffee, he thanked her without even looking up.
He’s had second thoughts already, she thought, feeling a little irritated.
‘Did you have a good day?’ she asked, directing her question to Jack.
He nodded but still avoided her eyes. ‘Yep!’ he said and hiccoughed.
‘Took lots of photos,’ Ross said slowly tipping sideways in his chair.
Phil grabbed him and sat him upright. ‘Bit of a session, I’m afraid. Think they’d all better lie down for an hour or so before we go out tonight.’
‘Will they be okay?’ Jane asked doubtfully.
Phil nodded. ‘Yeah. They’re used to this. Be fine after a kip and a shower.’
Lizzie made a mental note to give extra towels to Phil before they went upstairs.
‘So how come you’re sober and they aren’t?’ Jane asked.
‘One of us had to be. We’d never have found our way back otherwise.’
‘Survival strategy,’ Jane said and smiled. ‘Can you manage to get them all upstairs?’
‘Yeah, they’re like sheep.’
Alastair lifted his head and barked.
‘He’s offering his services,’ Jane said, ‘he thinks he’s a sheepdog.’ She stroked Alastair’s head and avoiding Steve’s hands.
Phil grinned. ‘Might just leave them here.’
Jack, Ross, Pete and Jeff were all struggling to keep their eyes open.
‘There’s a pile of tartan throws in the window-seat. I’ll get them,’ Lizzie said. She lifted the seat and took out six, handing a couple to Jane. Lizzie covered Ross then laid one gently on Jack. She gasped in surprise when he opened his penetratingly blue eyes and grinned up at her, then closed them again. Five seconds later, he was sound asleep. ‘Men,’ she said under her breath.
Jane gave a throw to Phil. ‘That’s for octopus hands,’ she said.
Phil tossed it to Steve. ‘Go to sleep, mate, and leave the lady alone.’
Steve sniggered, then huddled down and closed his eyes.
‘Would you like one,’ Lizzie asked Phil, ‘or are you going upstairs?’
‘Best stay here and keep an eye on them. But I’m fine thanks. I’ll get them upstairs later.’
‘Well, there are two Thermos jugs of coffee and help yourself to cakes and anything
Flora and her family ran a small woollen mill a mile or so the other side of the village, selling traditional clothing and souvenirs from the local area, as well as further afield. Her mill was always popular with tourists, especially because of her name. She was no relation to the Flora MacDonald whom legend says helped Bonnie Prince Charlie but she didn’t stop the tourists from thinking she was.
Arran jumpers were always a popular choice, Lizzie thought, even though they were very expensive, not that price would have deterred any of these guys, she realised.
When Phil had asked how much they owed her for the drink they’d consumed yesterday, he didn’t bat an eyelid when she told him. In fact he asked her if she was sure that really covered it all and when she said yes, he pulled out a massive bundle containing several thousand pounds of fifty pound notes. He paid up and gave her extra despite her protestations – just in case she’d missed anything, he’d said.
Lizzie went back into the kitchen and made coffee. Alastair, who’d been in his basket beside the Aga for most of the afternoon, apart from when Lizzie had taken him for a long walk, got up and stretched, then followed Lizzie and Jane into the sitting room. He trotted up to each of the guys in turn, then over to the fireplace where he curled up on the rug in front of the hearth. He was a male with limited interests.
Lizzie poured coffee whilst Jane offered cakes and scones, trying to avoid the several pairs of hands reaching out for her. Steve in particular seemed determined to get Jane to sit on his lap and there was no way she was doing that.
Lizzie couldn’t help but notice that Jack was making a real effort to pretend she wasn’t there and when she handed him a cup of coffee, he thanked her without even looking up.
He’s had second thoughts already, she thought, feeling a little irritated.
‘Did you have a good day?’ she asked, directing her question to Jack.
He nodded but still avoided her eyes. ‘Yep!’ he said and hiccoughed.
‘Took lots of photos,’ Ross said slowly tipping sideways in his chair.
Phil grabbed him and sat him upright. ‘Bit of a session, I’m afraid. Think they’d all better lie down for an hour or so before we go out tonight.’
‘Will they be okay?’ Jane asked doubtfully.
Phil nodded. ‘Yeah. They’re used to this. Be fine after a kip and a shower.’
Lizzie made a mental note to give extra towels to Phil before they went upstairs.
‘So how come you’re sober and they aren’t?’ Jane asked.
‘One of us had to be. We’d never have found our way back otherwise.’
‘Survival strategy,’ Jane said and smiled. ‘Can you manage to get them all upstairs?’
‘Yeah, they’re like sheep.’
Alastair lifted his head and barked.
‘He’s offering his services,’ Jane said, ‘he thinks he’s a sheepdog.’ She stroked Alastair’s head and avoiding Steve’s hands.
Phil grinned. ‘Might just leave them here.’
Jack, Ross, Pete and Jeff were all struggling to keep their eyes open.
‘There’s a pile of tartan throws in the window-seat. I’ll get them,’ Lizzie said. She lifted the seat and took out six, handing a couple to Jane. Lizzie covered Ross then laid one gently on Jack. She gasped in surprise when he opened his penetratingly blue eyes and grinned up at her, then closed them again. Five seconds later, he was sound asleep. ‘Men,’ she said under her breath.
Jane gave a throw to Phil. ‘That’s for octopus hands,’ she said.
Phil tossed it to Steve. ‘Go to sleep, mate, and leave the lady alone.’
Steve sniggered, then huddled down and closed his eyes.
‘Would you like one,’ Lizzie asked Phil, ‘or are you going upstairs?’
‘Best stay here and keep an eye on them. But I’m fine thanks. I’ll get them upstairs later.’
‘Well, there are two Thermos jugs of coffee and help yourself to cakes and anything
Similar Books
