She walked quickly around the sheep fanks by the head dyke and up towards the bull’s house. There was no sign of Sholto that she could discern from here, but she could see Tiny running up and down his enclosure, snorting heavily as the wind buffeted his back. Storms always unsettled him and she would need to shut him in the pen tonight once she’d changed the hay.

‘Hey big lad,’ she called over as she drew closer. She always talked to him; he seemed to listen, if not understand. She reached over the wall and pulled the gate across, dividing the spaces and allowing her safely into the house while he prowled outside. ‘Did you hear the news? There’s been some big excitement today.’ She poured the soaked oats into his feeding trough. ‘We’re leaving here. All o’ us . . . It’s big news . . . Some are happy ’bout it. Others not so much. Father’s sad.’ She looked around as she talked and worked, remembering how she’d felt as Sholto’s fingertips had touched hers, as he’d asked to make a plan . . . But where was he now?

‘Of course, it’s going to mean changes for you too. You can’t stay here on your own,’ she said, grabbing the pitchfork from its hook on the wall and beginning to toss out the dirty hay. She was faced towards the back of the building but she could sense Tiny behind her. She wasn’t watching him, but she could feel his presence at her back, the sound of breathing.

The sound of breathing . . . Sholto?

She whirled around, her heart beating wildly.

Tiny blinked back at her, his head over the gate, trying and failing to reach the feeding trough.

She gave a relieved laugh as he snorted and moved off again. ‘Look at me, so jumpy,’ she said out loud. ‘I guess I’m a bag of nerves too.’

She shook her head and finished changing over the hay, replacing the pitchfork on its hook. She could only stay for a few more minutes. She had to get back; she couldn’t put her father through any more worry. But where was Sholto? Had he been and gone? Had he waited for her here and thought she wasn’t coming? Two hours had passed since Lorna had broken the news. Perhaps he’d had to get back to dine with the minister before he left? Or to pack?

She looked out. Tiny was at the bottom of the enclosure again and she quickly slid the gate back and climbed onto the wall. At the sound, he turned and charged back up the field, knowing he could get to his dinner at last. Effie waited for him to trot into the house before sliding the gate back, safely penning him in for the night.