Page 5 of An Ill Wind in Seabury
‘I wasn’t rude,’ said Jess. ‘I just crossed my arms and glared a bit, and she cleared off pretty sharpish. Mind you, I thought she was going to mow down Hilda, Mavis and Mabel in the process.’ She nodded at the three hens who were still pecking around George’s feet.
‘Well, I’m glad the girls are okay,’ said George, suddenly grateful that he wasn’t wearing open-toed sandals.
‘Me too,’ said Jess with a frown. ‘I’d have had that woman’s guts for garters if she’d so much as ruffled a feather. Hey, do you think Charlie would like me to take the tractor down and nudge her out of the way?’
George shook his head. ‘I already suggested that he call your dad. As much asI’dpay to watch her get her comeuppance, Charlie didn’t seem to be too keen on getting sued this week.’
‘Spoilsport,’ said Jess with a giggle. ‘That said, I bet we’ll be hearing from him if she still hasn’t budged by lunchtime!’
‘That’s pretty much what he said,’ said George. ‘What did this woman look like, anyway? Maybe I’ll spot her while I’m on my rounds. If I do, I can ask her to move it.’
‘I didn’t get a good look at her, to be honest,’ said Jess. ‘I was too busy trying to keep this lot out from under her tyres. All I caught was a glimpse of expensive-looking hair. Oh, and she looked like she was done up, if you know what I mean?’
‘Done up?’ said George with a raised eyebrow.
‘Preened,’ said Jess. ‘Makeup, hairspray… and I bet anything she’s wearing swathes of cashmere and has perfect nails, too.’
George laughed as Jess glanced down at her own short, slightly grubby nails with a look of regret.
‘Well… I guess that narrows it down a little bit,’ he said. ‘I’ll be on the lookout for someone with expensive hair and a cashmere habit!’
‘Yeah. Oh… and she looked a bit like she was chewing on a wasp, too,’ said Jess. ‘Kind of… stroppy and painful all in one package.’
‘She sounds like a peach!’ said George.
‘Put it like this, I’m not sad she disappeared without wanting a chat,’ said Jess. ‘Hey… I don’t suppose you’ll be heading down to the hotel before midday, will you? I’ve got Hattie’s egg order here, but Dad needs my help with some fencing over at Four Acre Field.’
‘Wait… Bill’s doing fencing?’ said George in surprise.
Jess nodded, wide-eyed.
‘Well, that’s a turn up for the books!’ said George.
Jess’s dad’s interest in the farm had seemed to be slipping over the last few years. He’d gradually sold most of their animals, and George knew that Jess was worried that he might end up selling the farm itself before too long.
‘Yeah,’ said Jess. ‘The last thing I want to do is discourage him!’
‘Good point,’ said George. ‘Of course I’ll take the eggs down for you.’
‘I don’t want to be a pain…’
‘You’re not at all,’ said George. He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s no problem. I’ll finish off the deliveries along the top road—that’ll only take another ten or twenty minutes—then I’ll drop down the back road straight to North Beach. That way, I’ll be able to avoid any snarl-ups going on at the allotments.’
‘You’re a hero!’ said Jess, beaming at him gratefully.
‘It’s no bother at all,’ said George. ‘Come on, let’s load them into the passenger footwell. At least then they won’t come to any harm if I have to put the brakes on suddenly. You never know with these visitors around!’
CHAPTER 3
CLAUDIA
Stupid town.
Stupid people.
Stupid car.
Claudia Weatherley-Harcus was tottering back up the hill towards the layby where she’d left the hire car.
