Someone pulls up the potatoes, skins them, and gathers the biggest one. Emily freezes. Her heart pounds. She walks on and sees that the biggest heads of cabbage are missing toopractically half the cabbage crop has vanished.
Margaret Hartley smiles at her purchase. It isnt just a purchase; its the fulfilment of her dream to own a cottage in the countryside after she retires.
She has prepared for this move carefully, choosing a picturesque village near a small townquiet, peaceful, close to nature, with a garden and a modest plot for a hobby farm.
Everything falls into place when she finds a sturdy cottage with a garden on the very edge of the settlement, bordering a field and then a wood. The view is so sweeping that she cant stop staring.
Margaret begins strolling down the soft lane toward the forest each evening. The sun sinks behind the tops of pines and firs, and the twilight walks become especially beautiful.
Early spring, as the soil thaws, Margaret herself adjusts a slightly leaning fence made of wire and boards.
Maybe you should put in a new fence, Margaret, suggests her neighbour Susan, who lives next door.
No, Ill let this one stand a while longer. When it finally collapses Ill replace it with something sturdier, Margaret replies, swinging an axe as she drives a fallen metal post back into the ground.
Susan laughs.
Youre a true English housewife! Youll do great. Its just a pity there arent many men left in the village some have moved away with their families, others are old, and a few have simply passed on. Ive been a widow for ten years now.
Margaret nods. Im in a similar spot, though Im not widowed. My husband and I split up after we realised the only thing keeping us together was our responsibility for our daughter. Once she was grown, educated, and married, staying together became unbearable. That happens.
Better that we dont torment each other, and theres some upside to that, Susan concludes, but Id still put a solid fence up this autumn.
All spring and summer Margaret spends time in her garden and the woods.
Ive never been out in the fresh air as much as I am this season. I practically live outside, she says, pointing to the juniper bushes opposite her cottage and the pine forest where she can always find mushrooms, especially chanterelles. The summer berries and strawberries are abundant.
Good to see people happy with their move, Susan replies, and for me its just the way things are.
The women become friends. Autumn arrives. In Margarets garden large cabbage heads sit in the rows, the potatoes have sprouted and gone to seed, and the harvest looks excellent.
She starts digging up the potatoes for dinner and cant get enough of the tender, fragrant vegetables.
Susan, Im heading into town for a few days, she tells her neighbour. We have a reunion with my school classmates, as usual at this time. Were celebrating our former headteacher, Evelyn, the soul of our class. Ill be back and then Ill gather my harvest.
Susan waves and nods.
The evening gathering goes wonderfully. Emily boasts about her village, shows pictures of her cottage, and talks about the bountiful crop.
This land has rested, she explains to her old classmate Victor, we havent planted anything for two years, but next year Ill order a compost spreader for our tractor and start fertilising the beds.
Dont overdo it, be careful, Victor advises. Let me know if you need a hand, Ill come over, dont be shy.
Thanks, Im figuring it out on my own for now, but I appreciate the offer, Emily smiles.
Back in school they were close, even had a crush, but then they went off to different colleges in different towns. Life pulled them apart, like it did with the rest of the class.
Now, every year they meet at Evelyns place with a special warmth.
Victor is a widower who doesnt want to remarry, just like Margaret, and theyre open about it. Their independence feels attractive to bothno one owes anyone anything, and they can talk as old friends.
That evening Victor walks Emily home, and they chat in the kitchen until almost two in the morning.
Look at the time, Emily glances at her watch, you should be home by now.
Maybe I could find a place here? Victor asks.
No, Im leaving for the village early tomorrow, take a cab home, thatll be better for both of us.
Emily sees him off, then goes to bed, savoring the next days chores and the meeting with Susan, for whom she has prepared a cake and her favourite marshmallow treat.
Emily arrives in the village on the first bus. She walks through dewwet grass, breathing the familiar countryside air while the cocks crow.
She steps into the cottage, has a cup of tea, changes into work clothes, and heads out to the garden to decide what to tackle first.
The village is quiet; residents are just stepping out into their yards. Emily waits until about nine oclock before heading to Susans for tea.
In the garden she immediately spots the tangled potato plants: stalks lie strewn everywhere. Someone has been pulling the potatoes, skinning them, and has collected the biggest one.
Emily freezes. Her heart races. She walks further and sees that the largest cabbage heads are gone tooalmost half the cabbage crop has vanished.
She screams, then notices the broken fence. The weak post she hammered into the ground in spring has fallen, and large boot prints mark the soil.
Margaret runs to Susan, knocks on her window, and Susan quickly looks out.
Whats happened, Margaret?
Theyve robbed me, Susan! Come out, lets see what to do, Margaret cries, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Susan darts out, pulling on her coat.
What a scoundrel and they knew I was alone, no dog, house on the edge, she mutters. The thieves came on bicycles, silent, from the far side of the fence, broke the post, bent the wire, slipped into the garden, and took whatever they could. They tossed the small potatoes aside, but rolled the biggest cabbage heads into sacks and rode off.
It wasnt much of my crop anyway, sighs Emily, but still
Exactly, Susan agrees, and theres no tag on the vegetables to prove ownership. Everyone has gardens. I suspect the thieves are local lads whove just lost their jobs, not drinking but you cant prove it, and theres no point chasing them.
What now? Emily sits on the porch, I was so happy, naively, thinking everyone was kind.
This isnt our kind of place, Margaret. Neighboring villages have people struggling without money, needing a drink. God sees everything. Dont lose heart. Ill ask Mr. John to fix the fence, then well think of the next steps, Susan says.
John, a seventyyearold handyman, repairs the fence before lunch, putting in a solid wooden post and closing the gap with sturdy boards.
Here you go, madam, take the work in hand and dont be upset. In villages these things happen often, so its best not to leave a house unattended, John advises seriously.
What about a second fix? Emily asks, halfjoking.
Two we need a new latch for the front door, something sturdy. From the outside its obvious the owners arent home, John replies.
A dog would help too, Susan adds, even a small one that barks loudly. Living on the edge without a dog isnt safe.
Thats three, Margaret mutters.
The new fence is four, Susan reminds her.
And a strong man for you John finishes, that makes five.
They all laugh; Emily wipes her eyes.
Im more upset about losing my work than the potatoes and cabbage, she admits.
Dont worry, Susan embraces her, Ill give you as much cabbage as you need. My garden is full, well have plenty for winter. We even saved some seedlings together, didnt we?
They all head to Emilys for lunch. Calmed, she tells them about her city meeting and how she plans to finish the harvest before taking up selfdefence steps they discussed.
A week later Margaret is back in town, calling Victor for help. He assists her in buying a new door latch and checks the price of materials for a new fence.
Ill help you, and you must not refuse, Victor says, well measure on site and travel together to the village. Ill stay a few days, look over your farm, and plan the work.
You really intend to help? Emily starts to offer payment.
Dont even think about that. Im on holiday with nothing else to do, and this came up, Victor says, hugging and kissing her.
The villagers are astonished.
Just as the handyman appeared for Margaret, the craftsmen showed up in the yard, neighbours comment.
Victor invites a friend, and together they install a new, sturdy fence within a week, bringing in metal posts and timber from the city.
Margaret prepares lunch for the helpers, thrilled that her garden and orchard are now surrounded by a strong fence.
Of course a thief cant be stopped, but the harvest is safe. The greatest treasure here is you, Margaret, Victor says.
John brings Margaret a puppy from his own dog, a little spaniel they call Baron.
The pup darts around the yard, more like a soft toy than a guard, but Margaret grows attached. A small shelter is built for Baron beside the garden so he can see and hear everything.
Looks like weve achieved what we set out to do, Margaret smiles during a tea gathering with Susan and John.
Hows everything? Is the man strong enough? John asks, Will Victor stay here permanently?
Exactly, exactly, Susan replies, were not blind; we see the affection between you two. Hes a good worker, and why would he want more?
Its his choice, I wont limit his freedom. Hell do what he wants, Margaret dodges the question.
After his holiday, Victor returns with supplies.
Can I stay on as a permanent farmhand? he jokes at the door. I only ask for a bit of stew, porridge, and the occasional pie. The garden will keep us fed.
Right, just put some elbow grease into it, Margaret laughs, and youll also watch over the house while Baron grows.
Victor still works in the city, only rarely staying in his flat to settle bills and pay utilities.
Emily rents out her city flat, waiting for Victors deliveries of groceries on his way to the village.
Both enjoy each others company, missing the warmth of a family home, the joy of conversation, and the cosy atmosphere of their cottage.
A year passes. The couple is respected in the village, yet they still visit their city for occasional trips to a favourite spa. While theyre away, John looks after the house, feeds Baron and the cat, and reports back by phone.
Relax at the spa, dont worry about anything. The house, the cat, the dog are all fine, he tells Emily.
She replies, I keep convincing myself that the best holiday is right here in our village. I cant wait to be back home.
And so Victor and Emily live together, rarely travelling far because the fields around them offer spectacular sunsets.
They love walking beyond the village edge into the woods, seeing the sun set peacefully. Baron runs ahead, delighted by the stroll, chasing the magpies that perch on the roadside.
