Page 3 of Christmas Joy at the Cornish Bakery

Leaning back in her chair, Elsie held the phone to her ear as it rung before leaving a message and turning back to Robyn, ‘It went straight to voicemail so hopefully it won’t be too long until they get back to us. I’ll send a quick text too.’

‘Hopefully not. This one must be super confused as to what’s going on.’ As if to contradict her, Dasher flopped on the floor, his head on her feet and his tail wagging. ‘I take that back. He seems completely relaxed.’

‘Aw, he certainly does.’ Putting her mobile back in her apron pocket, Elsie smiled. ‘According to the message on the voicemail, the owner runs the Trestow Cidery so perhaps he’s used to meeting a lot of different people if his owner takes him around with him to meetings and deliveries.’

‘Ah, that would make sense.’ She grinned. ‘I wonder if there’ll be a reward paid in cider?’

Elsie chuckled and shook her head. ‘Now, wouldn’t that be nice?’

‘I’ll see you later, Elsie. We promised to take the girls to the beach.’ Debbie called over to them.

‘Hold on, love. I’ll set you up with a little goodie bag.’ Standing up, Elsie weaved through the few customers queuing for the bakery counter which ran along the lefthand wall.

‘You don’t have to do that.’ Debbie buttoned up her coat.

‘I know, but I will.’ Elsie waved away her protests as she joined Trixie and Ava at the counter.

‘So, you were pretending to be one of Santa’s reindeer then, were you, Dasher?’ Robyn grinned as the dog, still flopped at her feet, tilted his head lazily towards her. ‘Yes, I bet you feel about as tired as I do after that sprint.’

‘See you, Robyn. It was lovely to meet you.’ Debbie waved as she and Richie made their way outside, Trixie and Ava following behind, each holding a bulging paper bag full of baked treats from Elsie.

‘Bye, and thank you again for helping.’ Waving back, Robyn noticed a dark blue van pull up outside the bakery, the wordsTrestow Cidery – Delivering Premium Ciders Across Cornwallemblazoned across the side.

‘No problem. See you around.’ Richie pulled the door closed, shutting out the cold air.

‘It looks as though your owner got Elsie’s message, then. Shall we go and reunite you?’ Gently pulling her foot free from beneath Dasher’s chin, she stood up and patted her side, waiting until he’d jumped up before opening the bakery door. Stepping outside, Robyn grimaced as a man wearing a bright red jumper covered in green and blue baubles and a grey woollen hat came towards them.Biting down on her bottom lip, she tried not to laugh at his choice of attire. He looked cute, though, even in that jumper. Dark curly hair, stubble across his chin. Yes, cute in a naturally cute way.

‘Where did you get to?’ Dropping to his knees in front of Dasher, the man immediately began fussing him behind the ears.

‘I found him running down the hill.’ Stepping to the side, Robyn let the bakery door close behind her. ‘He’s a fast runner, he is!’

‘Yes, he is. Thank you.’ Standing up, the man held his hand out for the lead. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d lost him.’

‘No worries. Glad I could return him to you.’ Robyn grinned. ‘I’m Robyn.’

‘Jasper. And thank you again. Some idiot backfired their car, and it totally freaked him out and he was off running before I knew what had really happened.’

‘Oh.’ Robyn pulled her coat tight around her. Was he referring to the noise her car had made?

‘Andbelieveit or not, just as I’d caught up with him, the idiot only went and did the same thing again. Totally spooked him.’ A flash of anger coursedacrossJasper’s face. ‘At least they got what they deserved, their heap of a car is sitting halfway down the hill,brokendown by the looks of it.’

Robyn took a sharp breath in. Ithadn’tbeen her fault his dog had run off. He shouldhavebeen holding Dasher’s lead tighter. She tapped her foot, unsure of whether to saysomethingor to keep quiet.

‘An old banger like thatshouldn’tbe on the road, if you ask me. A completenightmare waiting to happen.’ He tutted as he shook his head.

That was it. Shecouldn’tjust stand here and say nothing. Cute or not, he was being obnoxious. And that was in addition to his poor choice of clothing. Her car might be an old banger, as he called it, but it was her old bangerandthe only car she had. Just because he drove around in what looked to be a relatively new van, itdidn’tmean her car was any less of a vehicle - it took her from A to B just as his van took him. She scrunched up her nose. She was sick and tired of people looking at the age and condition of her car and thinking nothing of whacking it with their own car doors in the car park or speaking about it like he was. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t on. She took a deep breath before speaking. ‘Well, maybe you just need to keep bettercontrol of your dog. If you were holding his lead tight enough, then hewouldn’thave run off from you. There’re lots of noises about, you can’tblameone car backfiring for your lack of control over your animal.’

Stunned, Jasper blinked before a shadow swept across his face. ‘You’re the driver, aren’t you? It was you who backfired your car and then decided to repeat the same process over again.’

She went to open her mouth and closed it again. That hadn’t been an question, not judging by the tone of his voice and the way he was pointing his finger at her. No, that had been an accusation. ‘Yes, it is my car and, yes, it did backfire, but it doesn’t change the fact that if you’d been holding onto Dasher’s lead properly, none of this would have happened.’

‘I was holding his lead perfectly fine. Your car was so loud it would have startled all the dogs within a hundred mile radius.’ He pulled open the passenger door, letting Dasher jump inside before closing it and turning back to her. ‘You really should be more responsible. Anything could have happened to him.’

‘Me, responsible? You’re his owner!’ She stamped her foot, instantly regretting it as a slow smirk spread across his face. He likely thought she was childish, as well as irresponsible now. Not that she cared. ‘You should stop being so entitled.’

‘Ha! Entitled? You know nothing about me.’ He shoved his hands in his pockets.

‘I can see how you’re acting now and you’re just trying to push the blame for something that was ultimately your fault.’ Was this guy for real?

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