New Boss at Birchfields (11 page)

‘
Thanks,
’
Briony said dryly.
‘
It wouldn
’
t surprise me at all if I was purple in the face! That Blane Lennox is one of the most objectionable and rude people I
’
ve ever come across in my life!
’

He turned from the stove.
‘
You mean he ticked you off?
’

‘
I should say so, and in no uncertain terms! Would you believe it, he wants
me
to get rid of Sandra!
’

‘
Well, she is a bit of a nuisance, isn
’
t she?
’
he replied.
‘
I mean, there
’
s no end to the mischief she can get up to when she
’
s in the mood.
’

‘
You sound as if you
’
re siding with him,
’
she said angrily.

‘
Well, Sandra
’
s not getting anywhere,
’
he replied.
‘
And she
’
ll only encourage the other children to get out of hand too, if she can get away with her nonsense. The fact is that
Mr.
Lennox is very fair. Oh, I admit he can be sharpish at times, but he
’
ll never tick you off in front of anyone else and make you feel small. And then he
’
s as straight as a die when it comes to business. I
’
ve never seen the smallest sign of crookedness in him.
’

‘
You
’
re certainly giving him a good character,
’
Briony retorted acidly.

Johnny reached down some mugs and began to butter some buns.
‘
Why shouldn
’
t I? He
’
s always been decent enough to me. And once when a stallion threw me and injured me, he saw I had the best treatment. He used to visit me in hospital and drop in on my mum every time he passed the house.
’

Briony maintained a morose silence as Johnny poured boiling water into the teapot.

He glanced at her over his shoulder, his freckled face split with a grin.
‘
Here, have a bun and a nice strong mug of tea and you
’
ll feel better! In fact, I shouldn
’
t be surprised if you came to like the boss as time rolls by!
’

‘
Like him?
’
she repeated disbelievingly.
‘
I can
’
t stand the man. He
’
s completely unendurable. I simply loathe him,
’
she declared emphatically.

Johnny poured a mug of tea and offered her a plate of iced buns.
‘
Well, all I can say is that you
’
re an exception. Most women fall for him hook, line and sinker. Not that he
’
s particularly handsome,
’
he added with an air of impartiality.

‘
I should say not!
’
Briony returned.
‘
And besides that, he
’
s one of the most unlikeable people I
’
ve ever come across!
’

‘
Well, Senga MacNeil doesn
’
t think that,
’
Johnny told her with a sly look.

‘
You mean she
’
s in love with him?
’
Briony asked doubtfully.

‘
Of course! Everyone knows that.
’
Even Andy, and he
’
s not particularly observant.
’

‘
Who
’
s not particularly observant?
’
Andy enquired as he wandered in and claimed his mug of tea.

‘
You,
’
Johnny told him.
‘
I was telling Briony that even you spotted that Senga
’
s fallen for the boss.
’

‘
So she has,
’
Andy agreed.
‘
Anyone can see that.
’

‘
I can
’
t,
’
Briony protested.

‘
But you haven
’
t been here very long. Watch out and you can
’
t help spotting it.
’

‘
Then she must have rotten taste!
’
Briony exclaimed.

Andy chewed on a bun.
‘
I imagine he
’
s got what
’
s called charm. And the ladies prefer that to good looks any day, if you ask me.
’

‘
Huh!
’
Briony scoffed.
‘
I just can
’
t believe that a wonderful girl like Senga MacNeil could fall for a man like him.
’

‘
Don
’
t let
’
s bother about him any more,
’
Johnny pleaded.
‘
What about coming down to the cafe for a cup of coffee this evening when we knock off? You can forget all about the boss for a while.
’

‘
That
’
s Johnny
’
s usual approach,
’
Andy warned.
“
As soon as he sees a pretty girl he invites her to
coffee and cream cakes and expects her to fall into his arms.
’

‘
I
’
ll settle for coffee and cream cakes,
’
Briony said, laughing.

‘
Good! Give me time to change into my best bib and tucker and I
’
ll meet you outside Amulree Cottage,
’
Johnny told her.

The thought of having some time off that evening made Briony
’
s spirits rise. Often Hettie would wear a faintly disapproving expression, showing Briony that she was resentful that she was working for her arch enemy. Sometimes Briony would go to her room early to avoid her godmother
’
s silent disapproval.

But that evening when she had changed into a floral
-
patterned dress she found Johnny waiting for her, his face eager and shining from a generous application of soap and water.

He glanced at her in open admiration.
‘
You look even prettier in that dress! Don
’
t ever wear jeans again.
’

She laughed as she accompanied him along the village street.
‘
I can just imagine what I
’
d look like after mucking out a stable!
’

Still, she had to admit to herself that young and immature as Johnny was, there was something very gratifying about his open boyish admiration. It would be hard to imagine Blane Lennox even handing out such compliments. She giggled at the very idea.

‘
Here we are!
’
Johnny remarked as they came to an attractive-looking cottage with
‘
Teas
’
written outside in large letters. They went in through the invitingly open door to find themselves in a large room spotlessly clean and humming with the buzz of holidaymakers.

Johnny ordered importantly.
‘
The cream cakes are really super here,
’
he told her.
‘
I can especially recommend the
éclairs
. By the way, I
’
ve got a secret about the boss!
’
As the cream cakes arrived he leaned over
conspiratorially.
‘
But you must swear not to let him know I told you.
’

Briony opened her eyes wide, anticipating some particularly interesting piece of gossip.

‘
You
’
ll
never guess what he
’
s going to do!
’

She shook her head, mystified.

‘
It seems a local farmer is advertising a donkey for sale and he
’
s sending me along tomorrow to collect it. I wonder what on earth he wants it for. It
’
s not a bit like him, you know. A donkey would be about the last thing in the world I could imagine him keeping at Birchfields. But remember, don
’
t say I told you, because he hates being talked about.
’

‘
I shan
’
t tell him,
’
Briony promised with a thrill of excitement.
‘
Could it be that, after all, he had backed down and actually decided that a donkey could be the answer to Sandra
’
s problems! But when she considered it, she dismissed the idea from her mind. Only that afternoon he had asked her to tell Sandra not to return for further lessons. No, he must be purchasing it for a friend perhaps, who would collect it later. In the meantime he would permit it to graze at Birchfields.

She gave a little sigh. To expect Blane to capitulate was simply wishful thinking. He was not the sort of man to be deflected from a course once he had made up his mind.

‘
Here, have another cake.
’
Johnny proffered the plate.
‘
You
’
re looking down in the dumps again! Why don
’
t you put the boss and his ways out of your mind and enjoy yourself?
’

Johnny
’
s advice was good, Briony told herself. All the same, Blane Lennox was not a man whom it was easy to dismiss from one
’
s thoughts.

Before they parted Johnny told her that the donkey was to be collected within the next few days. The arrangement was that he was to take it to the Riding School in a horse box from the hill farm.

A few mornings later when Senga drove into the yard in the station-wagon she brought with her not only the usual crowd of excited young children, but also Sandra, and as Briony saw her get out her spirits sank. Sandra would have to be told that she was no longer welcome. If only she could put it off, she thought desperately. But Blane had fixed her with a steady gaze which carried the unmistakable message that he was waiting for her to carry out his instructions.

Reluctantly she approached Sandra, who was again showing signs that she intended to spend her lesson time perched on the rails watching the younger children.

Briony moved slowly, dragging her feet, and was near Sandra when Blane overtook her. She turned.
‘
It
’
s all right,
’
she told him coldly.
‘
I
’
m going to tell the kid you don
’
t want her.
’

He led her back a little.
‘
Not so fast, young woman,
’
he said brusquely.
‘
You
’
ll find a donkey in the end stable. And now it
’
s up to you. The kid can make a kirk or a mill of it, just as she pleases.
’

When Briony told Sandra the news, the child followed her excitedly, followed by a chattering group of the younger children. Even the sophisticated Senga joined the procession.

When they reached the stable Briony unbolted the door and a shaft of sunlight lit up the interior. For a moment there was a silence followed by delighted admiration, for standing in the fresh straw was a blue-grey donkey with a thick rich coat and a quaint long-lashed look that was completely irresistible.

‘
Why, he
’
s just like a dear little teddy-bear!
’
exclaimed Sandra excitedly, as she unbolted the lower half of the door and rushing in flung her arms around its neck.
‘
He
’
s so soft, he
’
s just like velvet. How I
’
d love to ride him!
’