‘Good idea. Wonder what Catherine’s got in store for us next? I’m not so keen on reading out my own efforts but I do love listening to what other people have written – you get such surprises.’

They got up and walked together back round the side of the house towards the Old Steading, chatting easily about their fellow participants and their possible future plans. Christopher told Louisa about Catherine’s favourable reaction to his book, and she told him how much she wanted to travel and see more of the world. Neither of them noticed Marnie standing at the bottom of the front steps, watching them.

Chapter Thirteen

After collecting the marmalade-glazed whole ham on the bone, which was one of the specialities of the excellent butcher in Blairalder, Isobel drove into the yard at the back of Mains-of-Drochatt, Giles’s farm manager’s house, to collect Rory. She knocked on the half-open back door and called out: ‘Anyone there?’

‘Hello there, Isobel. Come along through.’ Mrs MacDonald, a stocky, fresh-faced woman with short grey hair which still showed traces of its original auburn, was in the kitchen sitting at the old-fashioned scrubbed table in the middle of the room, which was piled, not with the plates of home baking that might have been on display a generation ago in the days of her mother-in-law, but with papers. Janet MacDonald was a well-respected judge and breeder of working Border collies.

‘You look busy as usual,’ said Isobel. ‘It’s so kind of you to have had Rory when you have so much to do yourself.’

‘It suited me just fine,’ said Janet. ‘It’s kept Robbie happy all morning too – and out from under my feet! They’ve been playing with Jessie’s latest litter of puppies and Alick took them off up the field in the trailer which was obviously a thrill for Rory – so apart from giving him a bite of lunch, which I had to do for everyone else anyway, it’s left me free to start to tackle some of this paperwork. We’ve got a trial coming up in May for novice handlers and dogs. Giles has agreed that we can have it in the park as usual, which will be great. Rory’s a grand wee lad, Isobel. He’s been no trouble at all.’

‘How much longer have you got Robbie with you?’

‘For another week I think – but he comes over for the day often enough anyway. They only live the other side of Pitlochry but you’ll have heard that he’s got a new baby sister, so it helps a bit if I have him to stay occasionally. What with the twins as well, our Jeanie’s got her work cut out with four children under six.’