She opened her mouth to object but then thought better of it and clamped it shut again. Ben was so temperamental these days she was in constant fear of upsetting him. For some time, she’d been thinking of suggesting she should have a look at the bank statements, but she had been too afraid of upsetting him. Her solicitor, who had also been a close friend of Tom’s, had suggested that she and Ben should have a joint account shortly after Tom’s death, but she had been so deep in grief back then that once it was set up, she had been more than happy to leave everything to Ben. But he had always kept a certain amount of cash in the safe to pay the bills and she couldn’t see why he wouldn’t just give her the money and let her pay them. As she removed the tea cosy and stirred the tea in the pot, she glanced at him to gauge his mood and seeing the frown on his face decided to leave suggesting it until he was in a better mood. If he ever was, she thought!

Before they knew it, Christmas was racing towards them and Cissie said one afternoon, ‘I reckon I’ll ask Ben to go into town an’ pick us up a Christmas tree next market day. It’s only three weeks away now, it’ll come round afore we know it!’

‘Good idea, I might ask him if I can go with him to get some of my Christmas shopping done,’ Sunday agreed. So that evening, as they all sat at dinner, she put it to him.

He shrugged as he bit into one of Cissie’s delicious steak and kidney pies. ‘If that’s what you want,’ he answered sulkily and Cissie and Sunday exchanged a glance.

Cissie left immediately after dinner with a plateful of food for George, after Sunday and the girls assured her they would see to the washing-up. George had been confined to bed back at the cottage with what had started as a heavy cold but had swiftly turned to bronchitis and they were all concerned about him. It meant that for now Ben was running the stables single-handed, apart from when Kathy could help him on her days off, and he looked tired.

‘Why don’t you get yourself an early night?’ Sunday suggested, but he merely glared at her.

Sunday flushed but didn’t push it. She had only been trying to be kind, but she was getting used to having her head bitten off by him. Sometimes she felt as if she couldn’t do right for doing wrong.

‘I’ll come over and help you settle the horses,’ Kathy volunteered.

Livvy was happy to help too and piped up, ‘Yes, you do that and me and Mum can do the dishes.’