‘Right. And you want to know if the arrangement can continue?’

Olav nodded. ‘Yes, I do. We depend on the grass as winter fodder for our cows and sheep, and for the donkey, of course.’

Jack wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. Olav looked serious. It surprised him that Olav didn’t ask about why Agnar had left him the farm. He wouldn’t volunteer any information. If people wanted to know, they could bloody well ask directly.

‘I see. Whatever you and Agnar did, you are welcome to keep doing it until I decide what to do with … everything.’

‘Oh, so you are selling the place?’ Olav looked surprised again.

‘I’m not sure what I will do with the farm, to be honest.’

‘Not a farmer, then.’ Olav’s face suddenly lit up in a wide grin.

Jack grinned back at him. ‘Not even the slightest. I have absolutely no knowledge of farming, Olav. This is the first time I’m on anything resembling a farm. And this place is nothing like I expected.’

Olav looked puzzled. ‘Oh. What do you do, then? For a living, I mean?’

‘Actually I’m a chef, so I know all about produce and how to cook it,’ Jack said with a grin as Olav’s eyes widened. ‘But that doesn’t mean I want to run a farm. I wouldn’t know where to begin.’

Olav looked around. ‘I hope you don’t sell it to developers. They’ll ruin the beach and the fields, and all the hard work Agnar put into running this farm will be lost. It would be such a shame. There are so few smallholdings left in this country, and even fewer who farm organically. There’s a lot of commitment, hard work and love of the land in this farm.’

‘Like I said, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ve only been here for two days,’ Jack said.

‘Of course, of course. I’m sorry to be nosy, but you know, we are all curious about you. And even more now that we know you’re the new owner.’

I bet, Jack thought. ‘I understand that.’

Olav looked like he wanted to say something else, but hesitated.

‘What?’ Jack smiled.

‘Well, if you decide to sell, perhaps you could consider another option. You could sell the house as a holiday house, then the fields to the rest of us. I’m sure some of the others would be interested.’

‘There’s a thought. I’ll certainly consider that,’ Jack said.

It didn’t matter to him who bought it. He wanted the highest price he could get. He had plans for that money, depending on how much he could get for the place.

‘Thank you, that’s awfully nice.’ Olav stood up, apparently finished with the visit. ‘Oh, and please come and visit our farm, if you like.’

Jack nodded. ‘I would love to. Thank you.’

Olav pointed south. ‘We’re at the other end of the island.’

He disappeared and Jack leaned back. He put another biscuit in his mouth. It was delicious, he thought, wondering if he could get the recipe. And then the phone buzzed.