Posh Frocks & Peacocks - Tracie Podger Page 0,34

of relief that it was an instruction to not send the birds packing.

Finding shiny things wasn’t as easy as I imagined it to be. We didn’t have any CDs or DVDs since we streamed most things. I had found some old costume jewellery in one of the attic rooms. At least, I hoped they were costume. Ronan had just shrugged his shoulders, not recognising the items when I’d shown him. I kept them to one side. Maggie added some old cutlery to the pile. We thought we could drill holes in spoons and hang them from trees.

Ronan came into the kitchen to collect the shiny things. “Didn’t you say peacocks get aggressive if they see their reflection?” He held up a serving spoon, looking at his own image.

“Well, yes. That’s what they told me. Maybe we won’t put that out. He’s stealing small things,” I said, referring to the fact Clyde seemed to have a liking for anything he could carry rather than anything he could see himself in.

Ronan placed the large spoon to one side. In the box of items he rifled through he found some silver coloured necklaces, brooches, and Maggie had cut some rings from tin foil containers that we thought might be useful as they resembled bracelets, and a handful of old Christmas baubles.

“This should do it,” Ronan said, picking up the box. I followed with string and scissors intending to help.

We decorated the woods around the site where the birds had nested and were sure to place some items, as well as food, on the wooden platforms Ronan had erected between branches. Peafowl can fly and although their only predator was the fox, we wanted them to be as safe as possible up off the ground. Each day we’d only leave food on the platforms as an enticement.

“I wonder if they’ll breed?” I mused, as I continued to hang baubles from branches.

“Just what we need. It’ll be like Peaky Blinders out here,” Ronan replied, laughing at his own joke. “We’ll have to be careful they don’t start a war with the rest of the misfits.”

“Oh, don’t call them that. Look at the joy, and money, they bring in,” I said, nodding my head and winking at him. I’d scanned the latest reviews and the majority mentioned Colleen or Gerald, not so much Piggy, and I’d started to feel sorry for him.

“I think Piggy might need a friend,” I said.

“Nope.”

“But—” I started.

“Nope. He’s fine, solitary. Doesn’t need friends, he’s a loner. All pigs are,” Ronan lied. I knew it to be a lie because he couldn’t quite contain the grin and the skin around his eyes crinkled.

“Don’t tell porkies,” I said, laughing. “Anyway, I just feel sorry for him.”

“Feel sorry all you like. For now, Lizzie—and I really do mean it—no more.” Ronan turned back to his hammering and I continued to hang pretty things from branches.

“This reminds me. Carly wants to do a Winter Wonderland. What do you think about Rein—?”

“No!” Ronan said, not even looking at me.

“Let me finish. What do you think about reindeer just for the duration of the event? I’m not talking about keeping them.”

I wasn’t thinking of keeping them, I didn’t think it prudent to have reindeer and wild deer in the same environment. Not that I had any knowledge of the carnal desires of either species, but I was sure Ronan wouldn’t want them mating.

He didn’t answer but that didn’t necessarily mean a flat out no. We had some bookings over the Christmas period, not for Christmas Day or Boxing Day as we were closed then, but the lead up to and over the New Year. That was all weather dependent, of course. If the snow was bad, there was no telling if anyone would get in towing a caravan. We had tried to limit the bookings to the log cabins only but they had filled up quickly. I think it was the prospect of a basket of sweet goodies on arrival that had been the temptation.

“I think we need to develop the shop a little more. And offer online sales. Add some venison to the produce list as well,” I said, randomly.

“I was thinking that. I’ll have a chat with the butcher about packaging and things. Maybe you could come up with our brand and logo?” Ronan hammered in the last of the nails and three wooden platforms were ready for occupation.

We gathered up the mess and walked back to the courtyard. It was bustling with agricultural students