dreams,’ he said softly and let himself out.
***
`You’re looking as fresh as new paint this morning, Roseanne, in spite of your busy weekend,` Euan greeted her. He was coming into the building as she was going across to the packing house to ask Eileen to save her more boxes.
` You scrub up well yourself. It’s surprising what sleep and a shower can do.’
`Mmm, it would have been even better if we could have done that together too,’ he said with a wicked grin as he went on his way.
During the morning Roseanne sent an email to Mr K’s laptop, telling him about the visit to Mr Arnold and the cattle rustlers, reporting on her telephone call to the police and her instructions to William about lights. She was astonished when she received a reply just before she switched off for the day.
` Dear Roseanne, thank you for keeping me informed. You’ve done all you can, especially alerting the police. We’ll pray the thieves leave Ashburn alone. It didn't occur to me that Euan would be interested in visiting the farm. I am pleasantly surprised. It was good of you to take him with you and show him round. I thought you were planning to do your packing at the weekend ready for your move.’
Roseanne sat staring at the screen and reading the email again. He couldn’t have forgotten he had asked her to show Euan around, could he? No, Mr K had an excellent memory. Something didn't quite add up. She had things to do so she switched off the computer and put it out of her mind - for now.
The processing lines were all running at full strength which meant Roseanne and the rest of the office staff were kept busy too. Euan was spending most of his time watching how things were handled and getting to know the staff, assessing which ones would be capable of operating more modern machinery and who could be trained.
It had to be when they were all working flat out that one of the machines broke down. The firm who had installed them was very good with their back up service, not least because the Kershaw Meat Processing Company paid their bills on time in return for prompt attention. The young service engineer arrived soon after lunch on Tuesday. He was alone this time but the last time Roseanne had seen him he had been with the boss and still finishing his training. The workers urged him to get the repair done as fast as he could.
`This is putting us behind with a big order for one of the big London stores,’ the foreman told him anxiously. We can’t afford to lose their trade.’
`I’m doing my best,’ the young man said desperately, `but this spare part I’ve brought doesna seem to fit, yet the boss was certain it would be the right one.` When Euan came striding across the y ard one of the women whispered, `This is Mr K’s nephew coming to see what’s holding us up. He’s a whizz with machines they say.’ Her words only made the young engineer more agitated. Euan’s presence made him feel his fingers were all thumbs.
Euan watched a while but he couldn’t keep silent any longer.
Anyone can see that part is never going to fit in with the cog it is supposed to drive,’ He said abruptly. Roseanne arrived in time to hear his critical tone.
`I’m sure your presence is only making Trevor more nervous, Euan. This is the first time he has been here alone.’
`That may be so but any fool can see that’s not the right part and the longer the machine is stopped the further behind we’re getting with the order. It was supposed to be despatched tonight I believe?’
`It was but that is not Trevor’s fault.’ The young man looked at her gratefully.
`He’s right though Miss Fairfax. It is the wrong part. My boss will be furious because he was so sure it would be the right one. Even worse, the works will be closed by the time I get back to pick up the right one.’ He gave Roseanne a pleading glance. `Could you phone and explain so that my boss gets all his bawling and growling over before I see him? C-could you ask him if
***
`You’re looking as fresh as new paint this morning, Roseanne, in spite of your busy weekend,` Euan greeted her. He was coming into the building as she was going across to the packing house to ask Eileen to save her more boxes.
` You scrub up well yourself. It’s surprising what sleep and a shower can do.’
`Mmm, it would have been even better if we could have done that together too,’ he said with a wicked grin as he went on his way.
During the morning Roseanne sent an email to Mr K’s laptop, telling him about the visit to Mr Arnold and the cattle rustlers, reporting on her telephone call to the police and her instructions to William about lights. She was astonished when she received a reply just before she switched off for the day.
` Dear Roseanne, thank you for keeping me informed. You’ve done all you can, especially alerting the police. We’ll pray the thieves leave Ashburn alone. It didn't occur to me that Euan would be interested in visiting the farm. I am pleasantly surprised. It was good of you to take him with you and show him round. I thought you were planning to do your packing at the weekend ready for your move.’
Roseanne sat staring at the screen and reading the email again. He couldn’t have forgotten he had asked her to show Euan around, could he? No, Mr K had an excellent memory. Something didn't quite add up. She had things to do so she switched off the computer and put it out of her mind - for now.
The processing lines were all running at full strength which meant Roseanne and the rest of the office staff were kept busy too. Euan was spending most of his time watching how things were handled and getting to know the staff, assessing which ones would be capable of operating more modern machinery and who could be trained.
It had to be when they were all working flat out that one of the machines broke down. The firm who had installed them was very good with their back up service, not least because the Kershaw Meat Processing Company paid their bills on time in return for prompt attention. The young service engineer arrived soon after lunch on Tuesday. He was alone this time but the last time Roseanne had seen him he had been with the boss and still finishing his training. The workers urged him to get the repair done as fast as he could.
`This is putting us behind with a big order for one of the big London stores,’ the foreman told him anxiously. We can’t afford to lose their trade.’
`I’m doing my best,’ the young man said desperately, `but this spare part I’ve brought doesna seem to fit, yet the boss was certain it would be the right one.` When Euan came striding across the y ard one of the women whispered, `This is Mr K’s nephew coming to see what’s holding us up. He’s a whizz with machines they say.’ Her words only made the young engineer more agitated. Euan’s presence made him feel his fingers were all thumbs.
Euan watched a while but he couldn’t keep silent any longer.
Anyone can see that part is never going to fit in with the cog it is supposed to drive,’ He said abruptly. Roseanne arrived in time to hear his critical tone.
`I’m sure your presence is only making Trevor more nervous, Euan. This is the first time he has been here alone.’
`That may be so but any fool can see that’s not the right part and the longer the machine is stopped the further behind we’re getting with the order. It was supposed to be despatched tonight I believe?’
`It was but that is not Trevor’s fault.’ The young man looked at her gratefully.
`He’s right though Miss Fairfax. It is the wrong part. My boss will be furious because he was so sure it would be the right one. Even worse, the works will be closed by the time I get back to pick up the right one.’ He gave Roseanne a pleading glance. `Could you phone and explain so that my boss gets all his bawling and growling over before I see him? C-could you ask him if
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