‘I’ll go ahead and walk the garron up and meet you at the hide,’ Colin offered. ‘Stratton can’t sack me from a distance.’

‘He’s not going to sack either of us, but I’ll test the waters, and meet you at the stables.’

Stratton must have been watching for him, because he emerged from the house on Greg’s approach. Unable to read the man’s expression from a distance, he had to wait until he got closer.

When he did, Greg discovered that Stratton’s furious face of last night was nowhere to be seen. In fact, he looked positively sanguine.

‘Ah, Taylor. Well timed. We’re just about ready for off. Myself, Chalmers and two of the ladies will be coming along as well.’

‘You’ll all need to cover up well, plus cream and face nets,’ Greg warned. ‘It’s very still, even on the hill.’

Stratton waved the advice away as though it was a given. ‘About last night,’ he said.

Greg waited, unsure what would come next.

‘I believe my assailant, Josh Huntly, is likely to be charged with the vandalizing of the hot tub, although he definitely wasn’t alone in that.’ He gave Greg a meaningful look as though he thought he might know of an accomplice.

‘What evidence do the police have that would lead them to that conclusion?’ Greg asked warily.

‘I’m not privy to such information,’ Stratton said with a shrug, ‘although I assume fingerprints or DNA were found on the tools they used.’

Having seemingly satisfied his desire to punish someone for last night, he now returned to today’s event. Two of the women were apparently keen to come – Naomi had shot stag before, Poppy just wanted to watch – plus he and Brian Chalmers would make up the party.

He also said a few not so complimentary remarks regarding ‘your apprentice’, which fortunately Colin wasn’t around to hear.

Relieved at least that both he and Colin still had jobs, Greg didn’t correct him on the ‘apprentice’ title.

‘Where is he anyway?’ Stratton said, looking round as though Colin might pop up to order.

‘He’s at the Bothy getting the pony ready. We’ll walk up and meet him.’

Stratton muttered something under his breath, which Greg suspected was an insult directed at Colin. Choosing to ignore it, he instead greeted the arrival of the remainder of the party with a quiet nod and, marshalling them, set off towards the Bothy.

In fact, the morning went well. A quick glance from Greg on his arrival at the stables had assured Colin he hadn’t yet joined the army of the unemployed, which had been greeted with a delighted smile.

After which Greg had led the walk up the steep zigzagging pony path, followed by the guests, with Colin and the pony bringing up the rear.