Roz trotted to catch up with Bernie who was striding across the yard. ‘I’ve never actually delivered the milk before, but I always thought it looked fun.’

‘It is, or at least I enjoy it,’ he confessed. ‘You get to meet people and catch up on the gossip. Old Goliath here always gets a treat or two from some of the housewives, and I enjoy the peace and quiet of the journey there and back.’

Roz stopped short. ‘Are you sure you want me to come? I wouldn’t want to ruin your quiet time.’

He shook his head hastily. ‘I’d like the company. I only meant I enjoyed the peace and quiet of getting away from Mam and Dad.’ He chuckled. ‘Mam’s always banging on about me giving her grandkids, and Dad’s always asking when I’m going to let him retire.’

Roz wrinkled her brow. ‘I didn’t think you were in a relationship?’

He collected Goliath’s harness and handed it to her. ‘I’m not, which is why Mam keeps nagging me to get a move on, but like I tell her, I’ll wed when the right girl comes along.’

Roz smiled. ‘I’ve not met your parents yet.’

‘It’ll happen tomorrow,’ he said. ‘Dad’s got work in the city today, and Mam’s gone to keep him company – they won’t be back ’til late.’

Roz took the harness over to Goliath who stood patiently in his stable. ‘Does he need his hooves picking out?’

Bernie shook his head. ‘Already done. He’s just waiting for his harness and the cart, and after that we have to load him up, then we can be off.’

Roz found Goliath’s harness was different to Zeus’s, but the principle was the same. Once they’d set the traces and attached him to the cart, they led him round to the milking shed and heaved the churns onto the wagon.

Bernie smiled as he took a seat on the driver’s bench next to Roz. She looked at him. ‘What?’

He shook his head. ‘Most girls want a hand getting on the cart, but you were on here before I had a chance to offer my services.’

Roz raised her brow in a superior fashion; she still hadn’t quite forgiven him for causing her to doubt her relationship with Felix. ‘I’m not most girls.’

Clicking his tongue, he cast an approving eye over her. ‘I’ve noticed.’

Roz banished the grin that was threatening to break out. He was flirting, which was outrageous considering he had already tried to sabotage her relationship with Felix. On the other hand, knowing that she was the only girl that Bernie had taken an interest in was extremely flattering.