‘Everything’s fine. It’s just been three days since we heard from you.’

‘I’m fine. I’ve just been out of reception on and off.’

‘Where are you?’

‘I’m still on Skye. I’ve found a bit of work for a few days,’ she said, then instantly regretted mentioning it when both parents started to shoot questions at her on speaker.

‘Hi, Dad,’ Elle cut in.

‘Work?’

‘Well, of sorts. There’re lots of backpacker-type jobs. Working for food and board kind of thing. I thought it might be fun and it saves on accommodation costs.’

‘What kind of work?’ Caroline asked.

‘Farm work, actually. Today I helped worm sheep,’ Elle said cheerfully, though cringing at her mother’s response as she waited for it.

‘Farm work?’

‘Yes, well, I thought I’d give it a go.’

‘That sounds interesting,’ Alister said, and Elle could almost picture her mother’s disapproving glare.

‘It was.’

‘Are you short of money?’ her mother asked briskly.

‘No,’ Elle assured her quickly, ‘I just thought it couldn’t hurt to save some since the opportunity came up.’

‘I’m not sure I like the fact that people are using you for that kind of labour.’

‘It’s not as bad as it sounds. I liked it.’

‘So, you’re a farmer now?’ Her dad chuckled.

‘I’ve heard all kinds of horror stories about people taking advantage of foreign backpackers overseas, Elspeth. I really don’t like this idea.’

‘It’s okay, Mum, really. This is a nice, normal kind of place and the people are lovely.’

‘It’s a family?’ Caroline pressed.

Elle didn’t think it would help her cause to mention she was working for a good-looking Scotsman with whom she happened to be sleeping. So, she opted for an abridged version of the truth. ‘It’s just a small family farm.’

‘Make sure you allow plenty of time to get back to Edinburgh for your flight,’ Alister warned. ‘In case something goes wrong. Don’t cut it too close.’

‘I won’t, Dad.’ She paused, then figured that now was as good a time as any to bring it up with them. ‘But I was thinking I might extend my stay a bit.’

‘Extend?’ Caroline repeated.

‘Well, yeah. I can work—get a job for a while and explore some more. I don’t have anything to get back to.’

‘Certainly not a job,’ her mother snapped.

‘Exactly,’ Elle said, forcing herself to stay calm. ‘So, I may as well make the most of the time I have.’

‘It could be a good experience,’ her father said, surprising her, and her mother too, judging by the unusual silence on the other end of the line.

‘I think so,’ Elle agreed. ‘It’s such a long flight over here, it’s not practical to come back another time to do it, so I may as well do it while I’m here.’