Someone was pulling up the potatoes, peeling them, and had managed to collect the biggest one.
Molly froze. Her heart pounded. She walked on and saw that the cabbages were missing the largest heads almost half the crop was gone.
Margaret Andrews was thrilled with her purchase. Not just a purchase it was the fulfilment of her dream to buy a cottage in the countryside after she retired.
She had prepared for this for years, picking a quaint little village near the city, small enough to promise peace, quiet and a garden that could be her sanctuary.
Everything fell into place when she found a sturdy cottage on the very edge of the village, with a garden at the back, fields on one side and a wood on the other a panorama that never failed to take her breath away.
It was along this soft lane that Margaret liked to stroll toward the woods. In the evenings the sun set behind the tops of the pines and firs, and the twilight walks became a daily ritual.
Early spring, when the earth was just thawing, Margaret fixed a leaning fence made of wire and wooden slats.
Maybe you should put in a new fence, Margaret, suggested her neighbour Ellen, who lived a few cottages away.
Itll hold for now, Margaret replied, hacking away with her axe as she drove the fallen metal post back into the ground.
Ellen laughed. Youre a true English landlady! Youll get plenty out of this place. Its a pity there arent many men left in the village Some moved away with their families, some grew old, and some simply passed on. Ive been a widow for ten years.
Same here, Margaret said. Im not widowed, Im divorced. My husband and I realised we only stayed together for the sake of our daughter. Once she was grown, educated and married, staying together became unbearable. Thats how it goes.
Thats better than tormenting each other, Ellen added, but Ill still replace that fence in the autumn make it sturdy.
Margaret spent the whole spring and summer tending the garden and wandering the woods.
Ive never spent so much time outdoors in my life, she told Ellen, pointing to the yew bushes opposite the house and the pine woods where she could always find a handful of mushrooms, especially the morels. The summer berries blackberries and strawberries were abundant.
Its wonderful to see you so pleased with the move, Ellen said, and its all becoming second nature to me.
The two women grew close. Autumn arrived, and in Margarets garden the cabbage heads were massive, the potatoes were turning a deep brown and the harvest was splendid.
Margaret began to dig up the potatoes for the kitchen, and she could not get enough of the hearty, aromatic vegetables.
Ellen, Im heading into town for a few days, she told her neighbour, I have a class reunion the old gang get together for our headteachers birthday. Ill be back to collect the harvest afterwards.
Ellen waved and nodded. The evening reunion went well. Molly boasted about her new village, showed photos of the cottage and praised the bumper crop.
This land has rested, she explained to her old classmate Victor, we havent planted anything for two years, but next season Ill order a manure spreader for the tractor and start fertilising.
Dont push yourself too hard, Victor warned, call me if you need a hand.
Im managing on my own, but thanks for the offer, Molly replied with a smile.
She and Victor had once been close in their school days, even a hint of romance, but life took them to different towns and theyd drifted apart, like most of their classmates.
Now, each year they met at Victors birthday, sharing warmth and stories. Victor was a widower who, like Margaret, had no desire to remarry. Their independence was a shared comfort no obligations, just easy conversation as old friends.
That night Victor walked Molly home, and they chatted in the kitchen until nearly two in the morning.
Time flies, doesnt it? Molly glanced at the clock. You should be home soon.
Maybe I could find a place here? Victor asked.
No, she said. Im off to the village at first light, so take a taxi home. Itll be better for both of us.
Molly saw Victor off, then retired to bed, looking forward to the next days chores and the visit from Ellen, for whom she had baked a cake and brought a packet of her favourite marshmallows.
The next morning, Molly arrived in the village on the first bus. She walked through the dewy grass, breathing the familiar country air while the roosters crowed.
She entered the cottage, had a cup of tea, changed into work clothes and inspected the garden to decide where to begin the days work.
The village was quiet; only a few residents were out on their front lawns. Molly waited until it was close to nine oclock before heading to Ellens for tea.
In the garden she immediately noticed the potato rows in disarray loose stalks and piles of tubers scattered about. Someone had been pulling the potatoes, peeling them, and had taken the biggest one.
Mollys heart stopped. She moved on and saw that the largest cabbage heads were missing too almost half the cabbage crop had vanished.
She let out a startled cry and then spotted a broken fence. The flimsy post she had painstakingly driven into the ground in spring now lay on its side, deep footprints from heavy boots marking the earth.
Margaret ran to Ellens window and knocked. Ellen appeared instantly.
Whats happened, Margaret?
Theyve stolen from me, Ellen! Come out, lets have a look What now? tears streamed down Margarets cheeks.
Ellen slipped on her coat and rushed out.
Bloody thieves, she muttered, they knew there was no one else around, no dog, just you alone.
Together they examined the scene. It was clear the culprits had arrived on bicycles, slipped quietly over the fence, bent the wire, slipped into the garden and pilfered what they could. They tossed the small potatoes aside, but took the biggest cabbage heads in sacks and rode off.
Honestly, I didnt have much left anyway, Margaret sighed, but at least its something.
True, Ellen agreed, and you cant prove whose vegetables they were. Everyones garden is the same. I suspect they came from the nearby town, some idle lads whove just lost their jobs. Hard to prove, though.
What now? Molly sat on the porch, feeling foolish for having trusted everyone.
Its not our kind of place, Margaret, Ellen replied, there are many neighbouring villages where people scrape by with little money. But God sees everything. Dont lose hope. Ill ask Mr. John Smith to fix the fence. Then well decide what to do.
John, a seventyyearold handyman, arrived before lunch and repaired the fence, replacing the broken post with a sturdy timber one and plugging the gap with reclaimed boards.
Here you go, madam, he said, and dont be upset. In these parts it happens all the time, so you shouldnt leave the house unattended.
What about the second thing? Molly asked, halfsmiling.
Youll need a new latch on the front door, something more secure. From a distance its obvious no ones home if the lock is flimsy.
A dog would help too, Ellen added, even a small one that barks. Living on the edge without a dog isnt wise.
John counted off his suggestions, Thats three. A solid fence is four. And a strong man to look after things is five.
They all laughed, and Molly wiped her eyes.
Im more upset about the loss of my work than the potatoes or cabbages, she said. I put so much love into them.
Dont worry, Ellen embraced her, Ill give you as much cabbage as you need. My gardens full, well have plenty for winter. Did we ever try growing seedlings together?
Later they all went to lunch at Margarets. She relaxed, recounted her city reunion and promised that once the harvest was in shed follow through on the selfdefence measures theyd discussed.
A week later Margaret called Victor for help. He bought a new latch for the door and checked the price of materials for a stronger fence.
Ill help you, and dont refuse, Victor said. Well measure on site and Ill come out with you. Ill stay a few days, look over the farm and plan the work.
Might you really be helping? she began.
Dont even mention payment, Victor replied, Im on holiday and have nothing else to do. This is perfect timing. He gave her a quick kiss and they walked together back to the village, much to the villagers surprise.
The handyman showed up just as we caught the thieves, the locals whispered.
Victor and his friend installed a new fence within a week, bringing in metal posts and timber from the town.
Margaret prepared a hearty meal for the helpers and rejoiced that her garden and orchard were now safely enclosed.
Nothing can stop a thief, Victor joked, but the real treasure here is you, Margaret.
John brought Margaret a small puppy from his own dog, a fluffy little spaniel they named Baron.
The pup scurried around the yard, more a plush toy than a guard, but Margaret quickly grew attached. They built a small, insulated doghouse beside the garden so Baron could keep watch.
One afternoon, at tea with Ellen and John, Margaret smiled, Looks like everything we set out to do is falling into place.
Hows the fence? Strong enough? John asked. Will Victor stay here permanently?
Exactly, Ellen answered, we see the affection between you two. Hes a good fellow, and youre both free spirits.
Victor doesnt charge for his work, and I wont limit his freedom, Margaret replied, Hell do as he wishes.
When Victor returned from his city job, he knocked at Margarets door, joking, Can I stay as a permanent helper? Ill bring stews, puddings and the occasional pie. The garden will keep us fed.
Sure, just lend a hand and keep Baron safe until the pup grows, Margaret laughed.
Victors city job kept him away most of the time, but he would come back with bags of groceries, paying the council tax and settling the utilities.
Margaret let out her city flat to tenants and waited for Victors visits, which always came with a sack of fresh produce.
They enjoyed each others company, missing the warmth of a larger household, but loving the cosy atmosphere of their cottage.
A year slipped by. Their reputation in the village grew, though they still visited the coastal spa town each spring. John stayed on as caretaker, feeding Baron and the cat, and updating them by phone.
Relax at the spa and dont worry, he would say, the house, the cat, and the dog are all looked after.
Molly would reply, The best spa now is right here in our village. I cant wait to come back home.
Thus Victor and Margaret settled together, rarely feeling the pull of faroff places, because the sunsets over their fields were simply unbeatable.
They loved wandering the edge of the woods, watching the sun dip peacefully. Ahead, loyal Baron would sprint, delighted by the stroll, chasing the magpies that perched by the roadside.
