Page 96 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

After what felt like no time at all, there were already a handful of shepherd’s pies, chicken pies and lasagnes all cooking in the oven. Meanwhile, Brad was making his pizza dough for the families to enjoy.

Soon, there were a number of meals of substantial portion sizes to be distributed around the village. Word had obviously got out as a few villagers arrived at the inn as willing volunteers.

Working out each individual family requirements, they distributed the meals inside various insulated bags and headed into the snowy village to deliver them.

Pete followed them with a wheelbarrow full of logs which could be handed out where necessary.

Belle had agreed to meet Pete over at Ned’s cottage. And she had added one more thing to her load – the first quilt that she had made. One evening with scraps of material left over, she had begun to piece together the different patterned cloth until she had a pretty quilt of blues and purples. She thought that perhaps Ned would approve and hopefully use it.

She arrived at Ned’s front path at the same time as Pete. He looked tired from wheeling the laden barrow all around the village but also pleased, his cheeks rosy in the freezing-cold air.

‘I told you I’d come back,’ he said to Ned as soon as the front door was opened.

‘I wasn’t expecting company,’ said Ned, peering around Pete to look at Belle.

‘Well, we’ll forgive you that you’re not in your Sunday best,’ Pete told him, picking up a large armful of logs from the wheelbarrow. ‘Anyway, let’s get these indoors.’

Belle followed him inside and closed the door.

‘I’ve got some meals for you,’ she told Ned.

Ned looked slightly alarmed. ‘Your Aunt Angie didn’t make this food, did she?’ he asked.

Pete shook his head. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said with a smile. ‘We wouldn’t do that to you.’

Ned was still frowning. ‘Don’t need no charity,’ he said gruffly.

‘It’s not charity, it’s a gift,’ Belle told him. ‘Big difference. Our new chef is trying out some recipes and Pete and I can’t eat it all.’

‘Humph,’ he said, before sniffing the contents of the bag that she had given him. ‘Smells good, I’ll grant you.’

‘There’s both a chicken and a shepherd’s pie in there,’ she told him.

‘A real chicken pie? With pastry?’ he asked, with eyes wide.

‘And home-made gravy,’ she replied.

At which point, she was pleased to see Ned’s eyes gleam. ‘Not had proper pastry for a long time,’ he said.

‘There’s a note with each meal telling you how long to warm them up, but it shouldn’t take long,’ she said.

He nodded. ‘Well, I’m grateful,’ he said in a gruff tone.

‘Good,’ she told him. ‘And there’s something else. I made it, so if you don’t want it then I won’t be offended. I just thought it would give a bit of cheer.’

He drew out the quilt, staring at it. ‘Well, isn’t that something,’ he said. ‘I haven’t seen one like this for many years.’

‘But if you don’t want it…’ began Belle.

‘Why wouldn’t I want it?’ snapped Ned, clutching the quilt to his chest. ‘Never said that, did I?’

Belle was still smiling to herself as Pete came into the kitchen.

‘Got a nice fire going,’ he said, leading them into the front room.

Instantly, Belle could see that the fire gave out both warmth and some cheer into the small room.

Ned settled himself down into his armchair, just staring at the flames. He was still clutching his quilt in his hands, but then he carefully unfolded it and lay it over his legs. He gave a small sigh of satisfaction, obviously grateful to be warm and comfortable at last.