Further around the track, the Peppermint fir field looks pretty much unscathed, and as I turn away from the gate and start traipsing towards the bridge, I hear a shout.

‘Leah!’

Bollocks. Bollocks bollocks bollocks. Noel’s through the hedge and dashing between the Peppermint firs before I have a chance to turn and run. I should have known he’d be out checking things on his farm too and been more careful to avoid him. I’ve seen him in the distance a few times since Friday and managed to sneak away before he’s caught sight of me, but there’s nowhere to hide this time. I’m going to have to face him.

My heart is hammering in my chest at the thought of seeing him again, and not in the same way it was last week.

He puts a foot on the gate and vaults over it rather than pushing it open, landing with a thud in the deep snow. At least he’s dressed for the weather in snow boots up to his knees and a thick padded coat down to his thighs, a red scarf is wrapped across his face, under the hood of the dark coat which is curled around his face like an Eskimo.

He pulls the scarf down so he can speak. ‘At the end of this, we’re going to wake up in Oz with a witch’s legs sticking out from under the house.’

‘I’m sure we are.’ I give him a tight smile.

I see the hurt cross his face. He’s not stupid. He knows I’m not pleased to see him and it makes something ache inside of me. ‘What are you doing out in this?’

‘Making sure everything’s battened down. Did you see half the shed roof go flying off just now? Have you got any damage?’

I wave my hand vaguely towards the Nordmann firs. ‘A few trees down. Nothing I can’t handle.’ The cold air bites my fingers and they’re tingling within seconds. I quickly pull my hand back inside my sleeve as he turns around to survey the area.

‘I did a circle of my land this morning to check for damage, I couldn’t help noticing you’ve lost a few in the lower fields too, and that was only the parts I could see. There’ll probably be more before this blizzard ends.’

I shrug and look down. ‘Oh well, these things happen.’

When I look up, he’s turned back and is watching me with a raised eyebrow. He knows there’s something wrong, and I try to hold his gaze, to challenge him, because he has no right to act like I’m the one who’s done something wrong here.