going about their business, Maggie feeding everyone from a makeshift table that comprised of planks of wood resting on stacked wooden crates, and Charlie talking to a man about a dog.
The students often gathered in the courtyard for their lunch break and it was nice to see them. Ronan had already selected a few he wanted to employ full time when their course was over and we already had a couple who had dropped out, education not being for them, to work with us. They learned more hands-on, so they told us, than sitting at a desk.
“Who is on the salmon run?” I asked, as Ronan put away his tools. It was that time of year for fishing for the estates near famous fish.
“Dan and Eddie. Charlie and I will head down there as well,” Ronan said. At the sound of his name, Charlie looked over having finished his conversation about a dog. He shook the man’s hand and while his guest left, he walked over to us.
“Any good?” Ronan asked.
“Aye, he’ll take the bitch and one of the boys,” he replied. I guessed Charlie had been selling some of Bess’s puppies even before they’d arrived. She was a top sheepdog and her babies commanded a lot of money, farmers liked to get in early. “Now, what did I hear about fishing?” He beamed having spoken about his favourite sport.
“You make sure to bring one back for ya tea,” Maggie called out. “Lizzie can help me gut it.” She cackled as she spoke, reminding me, and everyone in the courtyard, including the students, of the time I’d thrown up while trying to gut my first fish.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll leave you to that. There’s only so much a city girl is willing to do.” I gave her a wink as I teased.
I headed for the office and Ronan went off with Charlie and the boys. I loved that one hour of banter when everyone got together for lunch. It was nice to catch up with the students, even if they moaned about putting on weight, all the while stuffing as many sausage rolls in their mouths as they could.
I settled down at my desk and, at first, just mused on life. It hadn’t been that long ago I’d first cleared this office, repainted it so that it was a workable environment. I’d encountered Manuel/Derek and I chuckled at the memory of the fake Spaniard. The last we’d heard, the police were still looking for him in conjunction with a large cannabis farm he’d set up. He’d been arrested, let out on bail, and then had done a runner.
We’d come a long way from those days. I smiled as I opened my computer, ready to input the last week’s sales data into my spreadsheet. I’d become a proper little business owner and a fleeting thought crossed my mind. Harry had thought I was nothing more than a glorified housewife, albeit, a super efficient one. He’d have kittens if he could see me now. Not that I had any intention of bumping into him, of course.
9
For the first time in its history, the estate was making a profit. I’d shown Ronan my spreadsheet and his response was to open a bottle of champagne and celebrate. Over dinner, we toasted ourselves and all the hard work we’d put in over the previous year.
“You know, it’s all down to you,” he said, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles.
“No, it’s down to all of us,” I replied, smiling at my family sitting around the table.
“He’s right, lass. We didnae ken what to do until you came along,” Charlie said, and I was a little surprised he dabbed the corner of his eye with his rotten hankie.
“You’re not crying are you, ya bampot?” Maggie said, swatting at his arm and Charlie laughed.
“I mean it, Mags. This old hoose woulda fallen doon around our ears,” he replied.
“Wow, well, thank you. And long may it continue,” I said, raising my glass. I still thought it a joint effort even if some of us were dragged along; I glanced at Ronan and smiled.
We were eating poached salmon with the most beautiful homemade dill sauce, new potatoes, carrots and peas. I’d spoken to Maggie about batch making her sauces, we were going to bottle them and sell them in the campsite shop. In addition, we’d all agreed we would offer an online shop as well. I’d been researching, we could buy small insulated cases to box the items up and