Page 51 of Rescuing Rosie
She passed it to Ashley, a huge smile on her face. ‘I’m wondering if I can make it to Hill and Dale on my crutches.’
Ashley read the card, and his smile mirrored hers. ‘I took a big risk, leaving that lad alone with you in your room this morning, but I had a feeling it’d do the trick.’
‘Trick?’
‘Wait …’ he said, and typed something into his phone.
Rosie buried her nose in the roses, breathing in their beautiful scent, thinking she would press every single one and keep them for ever.
Ashley received a reply to whatever he’d sent, raised his eyes to the ceiling and threw up his hands. ‘Never was my job this hard! Idiot Ant’s gone fishing!’
‘Your job?’ said Rosie, her heart sinking at this news.
Ashley checked himself. ‘Living in a small village, you become far too invested in the lives of the folk you get to know. Those boys have rescued a few of our guests.’
‘I see,’ said Rosie.
‘Wait …’ It seemed another text had arrived. Ashley smiled. ‘Go get your coat on – Dale’s driving you over to Coniston.’
The weather was like yesterday morning’s – brilliant sunshine in a clear blue sky. So of course, Rosie didn’t trust it. In her backpack was the waterproof poncho.
Dale arrived in a green car withHill and Daleon the side, and a line drawing of a steep, craggy mountain and a valley. They drove to Coniston Water via the ‘scenic route’, along narrow lanes, past beautiful fells, woodlands, pretty farmhouses.
‘Who’s looking after the shop?’ asked Rosie.
‘Sadie; she’s part-time,’ said Dale.
‘What’s her surname? Field? River? Um …’
‘More,’ said Dale, smiling.
‘No!’
They reached the lake, its blue waters twinkling in the sunlight. ‘It’s too lovely here,’ Rosie said with a sigh.
‘When it’s behaving,’ said Dale.
‘It was pretty awesome, even in the storm,’ she said. ‘In the proper sense of the word. I’ll never forget the sound of the thunder echoing around the mountains.’
He looked across at her, his expression serious. ‘He’d never leave the Lakes, Rosie. It’s in his blood. You should know that.’ He pulled into a car park not far from the water. ‘That’s his car,’ he said, pointing to an old Land Rover. ‘I’ll go fetch.’
‘I’ll come, if he’s not too far away.’
Dale fiddled with his phone. ‘Locator. Hang on … rubbish reception … Okay, he’s five minutes away. Shall we see how you go?’
Rosie moved slowly along the lakeside on her crutches, Dale by her side. Rounding a small headland, they spotted him in the shallows, wearing waders, casting a line which caught the sun as he whipped his fishing rod back and forth before letting the lure drop onto the surface, sending ripples out onto the calm waters of the lake.
Dale put two fingers into his mouth and whistled. Ant looked over and raised a hand. Wainwright, who’d been sitting on the pebble beach, bounded over … to Rosie.
‘Wainwright likes you,’ said Dale. ‘You’resoin there.’ He bent to pat the dog, then said, ‘It’s time for me to bow out.’ He smiled at Rosie. ‘One last piece of advice. Ant won’t make the first move, so you’ll need to.’
‘Understood.’
His face broke into a grin. ‘So … my best mate’s about to get a new girlfriend. Just as well you’re cool and I like you.’
‘You’re ridiculously cool and I like you very much.’
He looked her in the eye. ‘Don’t hurt him, Rosie.’
