‘Our Danny thinks I’m not fit for clipping, so it’s the least I can do. It seems he’s right anyway, because I feel knackered. I’m not as fit as I used to be, and these lads clip fast. A lot faster than I ever did.’ Archie put his head back after a long sip of his tea and looked into the vivid cloud-free blue sky, watching the swallows and swifts as they screeched above his head.

‘It’ll come to us all, so don’t worry. Rosie and I have made your room up. You are welcome to join us any time now. Danny and the children can’t wait for you to arrive.’ Harriet looked at Archie and saw how tired and aged he seemed since the death of Charlotte.

‘I’ll try not to be any bother, lass. I’ll keep out of your way and will help when I can. I know I’m just another responsibility, but I’ll take young Ben fishing and sing to Georgina when she’s twisty. Not that it will stop her gurning,’ laughed Archie.

‘You’ll not be any bother, Father. Now go and have a lie-down, I’ll finish rolling the fleeces. Georgina is asleep, Rosie is baking a cake and, as you can see, Ben is helping his father mark the sheep.’ Harriet put her arm round Archie. He looked shattered, and her heart softened to the old man.

Together, they looked across at Danny and Ben and smiled.

‘Look at Ben: the next owner of Crummock, lass. He’s a right farmer.’ Archie smiled before standing straight. The truth was that the day was telling on him. ‘I might just go and have forty winks. Am I in the end bedroom?’ He looked up at the long, ancient farmhouse and yawned.

‘Aye, I thought you’d be quietest there.’ Harriet watched as her father-in-law stiffly climbed the few steps into the garden and walked up the path. He was old and in need of care; no wonder he wanted to come home to Crummock. She’d have to learn to bite her tongue. She owed a lot to Archie Atkinson, and the least he could expect was a bit of comfort in his dotage. He never took sides and had always been kind to her, she should remember that.