We went into the dark old barn with its creaky door. Patches of pale light were beaming onto the hay from the broken roof. Charlie said, “Blimey, this brings back memories, doesn’t it? You doing your owlet impression, me lying on the ground . . .”

I said, “Charlie, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. . . . Basically, I am not an idiot child anymore.”

Charlie said, “Er . . . can you just remind me of the rap you did as a horse?”

I laughed. He did have a point.

There was no sign of the owlets. But it was cozy and out of the biting wind in the barn. I said, “Ooh, I’m a bit peckish. Shall we have our lovely picnic now?”

Charlie said, “Oh yes, I hope you’re hungry.” And he got out two bags of salt and vinegar crisps.

I laughed and said, “Is that it?”

He said, “Don’t be silly, Lullah. There’s a Kit Kat for afters. I know how to show a girl a good time.”

It was fun sitting together on the hay bale. Not just like sharing a Kit Kat with a girl chum. You don’t generally want your girl chum to kiss you after finishing their Kit Kat.

I wonder if he will kiss me.

Charlie lounged back in the hay. I tried lounging as well. Through the open barn door we could see the stars beginning to appear.

There was light enough to see his face clearly. I peeked a sideways look at him. He really is good-looking and has a lovely mouth. He turned to me a bit seriously. I wonder if he was thinking that I had a nice mouth.

Charlie said, “I know you’re not an idiot child, Lullah, but I have to ask you, just to get it out in the open. . . . Why on earth would you get involved with someone like Cain? He’s such, well . . . an arse. Isn’t he?”

I nodded. “Well, yeah . . . he is.”

Charlie went on. “He’s rude, he’s moody, he’s violent, he’s mean. No one likes him . . . well, apart from, you know . . . some girls.”

I said quickly, “Charlie, I know what he is. He’s awful. He does awful things. He IS awful. I call him the Dark Black Crow of Heckmondwhite. No one in their right mind would have anything to do with Cain. I just made a mistake, but it won’t happen again.”

As I said that, there was the crack of a twig outside and a rustling and I thought I heard the beating of wings. The owlets!

We both went outside and round the side of the barn, but there was nothing there. They must have flown off. Up into the branches.

It was chilly outside. I shivered. Maybe Charlie would notice and put his arm around me.

He said, “Let’s walk a bit.”

I said, “I could show you the sheep.”