Page 40 of Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm

Flora turned around to look at the old stable block. ‘We haven’t done anything to this yet,’ she said, with a sigh. ‘Nico says we should concentrate on the campsite this summer and this could be a longer-term project.’

Libby went over to study the Ducati motorbike, which Flora had just wheeled out of the stable block to place on the back of the trailer connected to the tractor. She was going to take it up to the main farmhouse for safekeeping.

‘What a machine,’ cooed Libby. ‘Sexy bike for a sexy Italian.’

Flora shook her head. ‘We’re just business partners,’ she replied.

‘So take his money and anything else on offer,’ said Libby with a wicked grin, her eyes gleaming as she touched the handlebar. ‘There are worse ways to get through the summer than with a hot Italian stallion.’

Flora rolled her eyes. ‘It would be a disaster.’

‘No,thatis a disaster,’ said Libby, looking over her shoulder with a grimace.

Flora turned around to see Dodgy Del walking towards them and gave a soft groan, which everyone else joined in with.

Dodgy Del was the local coach driver and was a nice guy whose heart was in the right place. Unfortunately, his way of trying to help, and earn himself a bit of extra money at the same time, normally meant disaster for anyone within a one-mile radius. Trouble followed Del everywhere he went, despite his generous nature.

‘Good afternoon, lovely ladies,’ said Del, with a beaming smile.

‘Afternoon, Del,’ said Flora. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘More like, what are you up to now?’ asked Libby, putting her hands on her hips.

‘Ladies!’ said Del, shaking his head. ‘Is that any way to greet an old friend?’

Flora groaned. If Del was putting on the smooth patter, then a favour was definitely about to be requested.

‘Old friend?’ repeated Harriet, with a wry smile.

Each of them had been on the receiving end of a few of Del’s disasters and were now prepared for the worst.

‘Spill it, Del,’ snapped Libby, always straight to the point. ‘We’re busy.’

His grin faded quickly. ‘All right. Keep your hair on.’ He looked at Flora. ‘Got a shipment of sheds, haven’t I? Or, rather, I’m hoping to sell them as those luxury home office things.’ He gave her a wink, which made Flora wonder just how ‘luxurious’ the sheds actually were. ‘Trouble is, the guys that delivered them have just dumped the whole lot in the middle of my yard. Can’t get my coach round there now and I can’t shift ’em by myself. So I was wondering whether I could borrow your tractor and trailer to move them.’

‘Have you ever driven a tractor?’ asked Flora, glancing nervously at the only remaining farm vehicle they had left.

‘Oh, yeah,’ said Del quickly.

A little too quickly as far as Flora was concerned.

Before she could say anything else, he had launched himself at the tractor door and wrenched it open.

‘I’ll prove it!’ he called out.

‘Del,’ said Flora in a warning tone, coming to stand by one of the enormous wheels. ‘Wait a moment! The steering is a bit temperamental and needs gentle care.’

He waved away her concerns with his hand. ‘I’m just getting a feel for it,’ he told her. ‘Now, what does this do?’

Suddenly, the tractor roared into life. Del had obviously turned the ignition key on! Through the driver’s window, Flora could see him pulling on various levers and switches.

‘Del, get out of there,’ warned Flora, stepping forward to drag him out of the cabin.

But before she could get there, the tractor jolted forward and Flora jumped out of the way before it ran her over!

‘Where are you going?’ she shouted, running alongside, but not too near in case her feet were crushed under the huge wheels.

‘I don’t know!’ came Del’s shouted reply. Even he looked nervous now. ‘How do you stop this thing?’