Tutting, Poppy wagged a reproving finger. ‘Spotty little oik? That’s not like you Cadi! Besides, he must be getting on for six foot, so I’d hardly describe him as little.’

‘He brings out the worst in me,’ pouted Cadi, ‘it’s the way he struts around like he’s the cock of the walk!’

Laughing, Poppy shook her head. ‘Honestly Cadi, how your father ever hopes to marry off to that boy, I’ll never know.’

Cadi’s eyes widened. ‘Me neither! Dad’s convinced Aled’s keen on me. All I can say is, he’s a damned funny way of showing it.’ She cast her mind back to the day the incident with the tractor and the manure had taken place.

Cadi had been standing in the porch to their terraced house, gingerly removing her clothing. ‘I’m sure it was an accident, it’s as plain as the nose on your face how much that boy likes you,’ said Dewi, ‘and you should count yourself a very lucky girl to have someone of his standing taking an interest in you, it’s not like he hasn’t got his pick of the crop.’

‘If that’s how he shows his interest, then he can sodding well pick someone else!’ Cadi said as she gathered her manure ridden clothes into a bundle.

‘I’m sure he didn’t mean it love,’ said her mother. ‘Your father’s right, accidents do happen.’

‘But why do they always happen to me?’ whined Cadi as she half skipped, half hopped across the earthen floor to the small stove, where her mother stood, wooden tongs in hand, waiting to place Cadi’s filthy clothes into a large pan of boiling water.

Arching his brow, Cadi’s father turned to Arwel, the eldest of his three sons. ‘Tell your sister, if a boy picks on a girl it’s only for one reason.’

‘So you admit he’s picking on me!’ said Cadi, her teeth chattering with the cold, ‘Well if he wants my attention, he can find a better way than covering me in—’

‘Cadi!’ squeaked her mother. ‘Mind what you say …’ She scowled at her husband and son who were both laughing raucously. ‘Stop encouraging her!’

‘She’s right though,’ chuckled Arwel, ‘I can smell her from here!’

Coughing into his hand, Dewi composed himself. ‘I’ve told you before, I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you’re all stood waiting for the bus.’ He placed a blanket around his daughter’s shoulders. ‘He can’t keep his eyes off of you. Quite frankly that bus could pass him by and he wouldn’t notice.’

‘Probably hatching his next plan,’ muttered Cadi, adding sulkily, ‘I don’t see why he bothers going to school, considering he reckons he knows it all already.’

Her mother gave a derisive laugh. ‘For goodness sake Cadi, the boy offered to help you with your homework because he wanted an excuse to spend time with you!’

‘Well he needn’t have bothered!’ Snapped Cadi. ‘I don’t need the help of any man, never have, never will.’