So, while Kathy and Ben hurried over to the stables, Sunday and her youngest began to clear the table.

‘I don’t know what gets into our Ben lately,’ Sunday confided glumly as she piled the dirty dishes into the deep, stone sink.

‘I know what you mean.’ Livvy was keen to get the jobs out of the way as she had a date that night with one of the junior partners from her work. She had soon tired of Steven and was now on to her next beau.

Sunday was again hoping something would come of their dating as Harry Townsend was a very personable young man indeed, although she wasn’t holding her breath. Livvy breezed from one young man to another and seemed to be quite happy to be footloose and fancy-free.

‘It’ll all change when she meets the right one,’ Cissie had told Sunday when she’d shared her hopes with her. ‘Some young bloke will come along when you least expect it an’ bowl her off her feet an’ I guarantee she’ll be wed in no time. Meantime, let her enjoy herself. You’re only young once, ain’t yer?’

‘You’re not wrong there,’ Sunday had agreed wryly. The bitterly cold wet weather had suddenly made her feel every year of her age. ‘That’s why I’d like to see both the girls settled. I’ve always imagined them walking down the aisle in a froth of satin and lace on their father’s arm.’ Tears pricked at the back of her eyes because that could never happen now. ‘And I’d like to see Ben meet a nice girl too, but he doesn’t seem interested,’ she added.

‘Hm.’ Cissie had pursed her lips. ‘Ben don’t seem much interested in anythin’ anymore from what I can make of it, ’cept the horses, o’ course. I can’t believe how much he’s changed since his dad passed on.’

‘I know what you mean.’ Sunday had sighed as she wondered what she could do to reach him.

Over in the stables Kathy almost pounced on Ben, and planted a kiss on his lips the second he shut the door behind them. ‘I’ve been wanting to do that all night,’ she admitted with a twinkle in her eye, but Ben gently held her away from him.

‘Hm, well we’ve animals that need seeing to,’ he told her grumpily and she pouted.

‘I never know where I stand with you,’ she complained. ‘We’ve been seeing each other like this for weeks now. When can we tell everyone that we’re a couple? We have nothing to be ashamed of!’

Often she felt that their relationship was very one-sided. Ben had never once told her that he loved her whereas she told him all the time.