Coming Home (10 page)

‘
It is that. Mother says I can take my bed from Willowburn so if I’ve a table and a chair,’ he grinned, his blue eyes twinkling, ‘
and
a rag rug, I shall be all right. By the sound of things I shall have to muck out the sheds so my first priority must be a horse and cart.’

‘
There’s John just coming round the corner,’ Chrissie said, glancing out of the window. ‘I’ll give him a shout. Oh…he seems to be discussing something with Mr Turner.’

‘
Is he there too? I ought to tell him I’ve been successful,’ Steven said. ‘According to the Land Office the reference he gave me helped a lot.’ He looked back at Megan. ‘I do wish you could have come with me, but you do look pale.’

‘
Aye, this is the first day she’s been downstairs. Better not take any risks lassie,’ her mother advised, seeing the longing in her daughter’s eyes. ‘The soup is nearly ready, Steven. Ask John to come in and you can both have a bowl before you leave.’

Steven
went to join the two men and they could tell by his expression he had good news.

‘
Have you got a tenancy, laddie?’ John Oliphant asked eagerly.

‘
I have.’ Steven grinned. ‘It’s only thirty five acres but it’s big enough to start off. I want to thank you, Mr Turner, for the reference you gave me. I know it helped to get me the interview.’

‘
I’m glad you’ve been successful, Steven.’ Mr Turner shook his hand and beamed. ‘You deserve it. I know you’ll not let me down.’

‘
Not if I can help it,’ Steven promised. ‘I called in to see if Mr Oliphant was free for an hour. I’m going there now to have a look. The last tenant has died. The rent is paid until May but the widow didn’t like staying on her own so I can take possession as soon as everything is agreed and signed up.’

‘
That’s splendid. I’ll not keep the two of you then,’ Mr Turner said.

‘
Mrs Oliphant says we’ve to go in for some soup before we set off,’ Steven said.

They
were almost finished their soup when the telephone rang. Chrissie Oliphant went into the hall to answer it.

‘
That was Mr Turner,’ she said. ‘He would like to join the pair of you. He says he’ll drive you all there in his car. He’ll pick you up in ten minutes. So come on, Steven, eat up some soda scone and cheese and I’ll make you a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie.’

She
didn’t mention that it was Natalie Turner’s idea that her father should accompany them, or that she intended going too, although she was also supposed to be off work after a bad cold.

Eight

John
Oliphant was surprised when he opened the back door of his boss’s car and saw Natalie sitting there.

‘
I’ve left the front seats for you two old men. Steven you can sit in the back with me,’ she ordered imperiously. Steven raised his brows then he frowned. He didn’t care for the knowing look in John Oliphant’s eyes or the half smile twitching the corner of his mouth. Natalie Turner was the last person he had expected to show interest in a neglected smallholding. She didn’t even take an interest in her father’s prosperous acres so why did she want to come with them? He had not even seen the place himself. He felt irritated but he couldn’t afford to offend Natalie when it was her father who had been instrumental in helping him get a start on the farming ladder.

The moment they arrived at Schoirhead, Steven was eager to view the buildings and discover what facilities he would have. He had also intended walking over the land with John Oliphant but he doubted whether that would be possible with Natalie tagging along. The house was the last thing on his mind. He knew his mother would come to look and they could see it then, but it was the only thing which interested Natalie.

‘
I’d need to get the key from next door,’ he frowned.

‘
Well go on and get it then. It’s freezing out here.’

Reluctantly
he went through the garden and the small orchard to the neighbouring holding. Mrs McGuire eyed him warily but she gave him the heavy iron key.

‘
We only have one door each. This used to be the back o’ the hoose. You’ve got the kitchen and the front room o’ the original,’ she informed him abruptly. He smiled and thanked her and promised to return the key before they left.

Natalie
was standing shivering in the tiny porch. Surely she must realise an empty house in January would be cold, he thought impatiently. He handed her the key.

‘
You have a look round while I inspect the loft above the pig sty. It might be suitable for rearing some chickens. I shall need something to bring in an income as soon as possible.’ He turned away, ignoring her pouting lips and the invitation in her eyes. He managed to get John Oliphant on his own up in the small loft.

‘
I can’t see half of the place with Natalie here,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Anyway I need to get out of this suit and get my boots on to walk over the fields. I’m sorry if I dragged you here. I’ll have to come back and have another look tomorrow.’

‘
I understand, lad,’ John Oliphant nodded. ‘But I’m pleased you asked me anyway. Your father and mother will want to look.’ When they climbed down the wooden steps, Natalie was waiting. She almost dragged Steven to the house.

‘
You come and see it too, Daddy. It’s a mess but I’ve seen some lovely wallpaper in one of the shops in Carlisle.’ Steven’s eyes widened. The house would be lucky if he had time to give one of the rooms a coat of distemper but he had to admit the place did look forlorn and neglected.

‘
Empty houses always look miserable,’ John Oliphant said. ‘It will be fine once you move in.’ There were a few cobwebs and a layer of dust over everything, but he was surprised to find the kitchen had a small Aga stove with two ovens instead of an open range. It was very scruffy and he wondered whether it worked. It had two big hot plates. Maybe it wouldn’t be as cosy as an open fire and it certainly needed a good clean but he could imagine what a benefit it would be to keep the house aired and revive a sickly piglet, or a starved lamb if he decided to keep a few breeding sheep. The previous tenant had left a pine dresser, which took up most of one wall, but it looked solid enough and it would provide useful storage. It had probably been too large to take away. There was a big pine table too, which would suit him fine if it had a good scrub with scouring powder. A door opened into a whitewashed larder.

‘
Of course all this will have to be gutted out,’ Natalie said. ‘It will give more space if we knock down the larder wall too.’

‘
I can’t do that!’ he exclaimed. ‘There’s a list of conditions in the lease. They even have a note of the number of coat pegs and they must be replaced if a tenant removes any of them.’

‘
You must remember Nats, Steven is only renting the place. He can’t knock it to bits, even if he wanted to,’ Mr Turner said. Steven wandered across the small hallway and pushed open the door of a sitting room. It faced south to the garden and he thought it would be pleasant in summer. Natalie followed.

‘
This room might be all right with some thick velvet curtains and some pretty wall paper. The polished floor surround is not so bad but that grate will have to go. You’ll need a three piece suite in here, Steven. I’ve seen lovely uncut moquette suites for thirty nine guineas.’

‘
Thirty nine guineas?’ Steven almost choked.

‘
Yes, and you’ll need a carpet of course. The bathroom is downstairs. That’s not very convenient but there’s a box room upstairs so you could make another one in there. The water has been turned off so we can’t use the toilet. There’s no wash basin either. It’s so tiny.

‘
At least it’s indoors,’ John Oliphant chuckled. ‘When we were married we had to go down the garden and the bath was a zinc tub in front of the fire.’

Natalie
gave him a scathing glance. She had never lived anywhere else but Martinwold with its upstairs bathroom and a downstairs toilet. She was unaware that two of her father’s cottages still had no bathroom and considered themselves lucky to have an indoor water closet.

‘
The stairs are a bit steep,’ she said. ‘The last tenants left the stair carpet but it’s a horrible colour. You’ll need to change that.’ Steven turned away, caught John Oliphant’s bemused glance and rolled his eyes heavenward.

‘
I can’t afford to spend any money on the house,’ he said firmly.

‘
Oh come up stairs and don’t be an old misery,’ Natalie said. They all trooped upstairs to the small square landing. There were two big bedrooms, each with an Adam style fireplace. Someone had left a huge wardrobe in one. Although Natalie referred to the little room as a box room it had a small iron grate and it was big enough for a single bed and a chest of drawers. Again, she started listing the things he would require, including new carpets and a bedroom suite in figured walnut that she had seen for forty-nine guineas. Steven gaped at her.

‘
I’m bringing my bed from home,’ he said brusquely, ‘and there’s linoleum on the floor; that will have to do.’

‘
Don’t be such a meanie. Daddy will loan you the money if you haven’t enough, won’t you, Daddy?

‘
No!’ Steven said emphatically. ‘I don’t want to borrow any money if I can help it. If ever I do it would have to be for something essential for the farm. My first priority will be a horse. I saw an old cart in the shed. I believe I could patch it up to make do for a year or two. The last tenants have left a wheelbarrow as well, and a shovel and some small tools.’

‘
I expect the widow had no one to help her clear out or muck the sheds if she had no family,’ John Oliphant said. ‘I noticed an old chicken brooder. I’m sure Chrissie could fix it up with some felt curtains. You’d only need a new oil heater for it.’

‘
I saw that.’ Steven nodded. ‘I’ll pay for the material if you think Mrs Oliphant would fix it?’

‘
Bring it up in the van the next time you come,’ John Oliphant suggested. ‘It would be easier for her if she has it near at hand.’

‘
But Steven,’ Natalie protested, tugging at his arm and reclaiming his attention, ‘you have to consider the kitchen at least.’

‘
It looks fine to me, except it needs a good clean and a coat of distemper.’

‘
Oh don’t tease. You know you will need an electric cooker and you may as well get one of the new electric washing machines. You should get one of those with electric ringers then you don’t have to turn the mangle.’ Steven stared at her. He hadn’t thought about washing. His heart sank. Come to that he didn’t know much about cooking either. His earlier elation was draining away as he listened to Natalie’s critical comments and expensive ideas. It would take him years before he could afford all the things a wife apparently expected. ‘Don’t look like that,’ Natalie shook his arm impatiently. ‘You can get a brand new cooker with four rings for forty pounds and I know Mother paid about that for her new washing machine.’

‘
There’s a copper boiler and a tub in the wash house and I’m hoping that old stove will do any cooking I’ll be doing,’ he said dully. ‘Now I want another quick look outside then we must get back or it will be time for Mr Oliphant to start the milking.’ Steven avoided Natalie’s pouting face, but he caught her father’s eyes on him as they trooped outside.

‘
The place needs a lot of hard work,’ he said thoughtfully, ‘but it’s better than I expected.’

‘
Oh Daddy! Better than you expected? It’s nothing but a dump!’

‘
The buildings are in good structural repair. All they need is cleaning out and a good coat of lime-wash, and a lick of paint on the doors and windows,’ her father said firmly. ‘It will take time but I know you never shied away from hard work, Steven. We’ll talk again when you’ve had a walk over the land. I may be able to let you have one or two implements for the horse now that we’ve moved on to tractors. It would be a big benefit if you had a milking machine. You’ll have everything to do yourself.’

‘
I need to buy some cows to milk first,’ Steven said. ‘I have to crawl before I can walk.’

‘
Well at least you’ve got your head screwed on the right way,’ Mr Turner approved.

‘
Oh Father!’ Natalie exclaimed irritably.

‘
You’d have the poor lad bankrupt before he got started if he listened to you, Nats. You’ll have to learn to budget before you think of getting married,’ he added sternly, but Natalie only pulled a face at him. Steven guessed she’d never gone without anything she fancied, in spite of the rationing and clothing coupons and all the shortages other people had had to suffer, and were still enduring.

Back
at Martinwold, the road forked as they approached the farm with one drive to the Turners’ house and the other to the farm.

‘
You can drop us here,’ John Oliphant said. ‘It will save you turning in the yard.’

‘
Very well,’ Mr Turner nodded. ‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help, Steven, and good luck.’

John
Oliphant and Steven walked together towards his van.

‘
You’ll come in for some tea, laddie, before you leave?’

‘
No thanks.’ Steven said flatly. ‘I’d better be getting home. Mother will be waiting to hear the details.’

‘
You sound a bit down. Were you disappointed? Or is there something else bothering you?’

‘
No, not really,’ he sighed. ‘It’s just that Natalie pointed out all the faults. I don’t care about the house so long as I’ve a place to sleep, but she made me realise it could be years before I can afford to make it a comfortable home. Are all women so demanding?’

‘
They like a bit of comfort, but we’ve never bought any new furniture yet and I reckon we’re happy enough. Never heed what Natalie says. She’s a spoiled brat. She must spend half her time window-shopping in Carlisle when she’s supposed to be at work. She fancies you, Steven. That’s why she’s letting you know what the house will need.’

‘
Natalie Turner fancies
me
?’ Steven laughed in disbelief. The idea was crazy, but he saw John Oliphant was serious. ‘There’s no fear of that,’ he added soberly.

‘
Don’t be so sure. You’re a good looking fellow and you’ve done well in the army. She’s not used to being overlooked. You’ll have to pay her more attention. When she thinks she’s got you where she wants you she’ll probably lose interest. The Natalies of this world crave attention and she has enough of her father in her to relish a challenge.’ John Oliphant grinned.

‘
It will be years before I can afford a wife. Anyway I don’t want to offend Mr Turner and he wouldn’t thank me for flirting with his only daughter, even if I wanted to. I’ll get away home now. Thanks for coming.’

‘
Eh laddie, I was pleased you asked me.’ John Oliphant’s eyes grew shadowed. ‘Sam would have been really pleased for ye,’ he said gruffly. ‘If ever we can help, you’ve only to ask.’

‘
Thanks,’ Steven said simply. He slid into the van and drove away, his mind going over the day’s events.

***

Megan was bitterly disappointed when Steven didn’t come in for afternoon tea with her father. She had washed her face, put on a clean skirt and jumper, and brushed her hair until it shone. It was the first day she had felt like doing anything with her appearance since she’d had the influenza. She listened eagerly to her father describing the little farm that would soon be Steven’s home. She longed to see it but when her father mentioned Natalie Turner had been there her heart sank.