is Toby Brown’s fiancée. They’re due to be married soon. It has to have been the quickest love affair on record. I’ve never seen two people make up their minds so quickly.’
‘Really?’
‘I couldn’t believe it,’ said Lana. ‘We were at the opening of the gallery. Suzie took one look at Toby and said that she was going to marry him. She hadn’t even said hello to him.’
‘I just knew, and every day I’m more and more sure I was right.’
Just then Master Tobias scrunched up his red face and burst into tears.
‘His master’s voice,’ smiled Jane. ‘Looks like it’s time for me to go. I’ll ring you both later,’ she said to Lana and Suzie. ‘It’s been nice to meet you Bree.’
‘I’ll come with you Jane,’ said Suzie. ‘I have to go and join the queue at the council.’
Bree and Suzie finished their coffee while watching the retreating backs of Suzie and Jane.
‘What are your plans?’ asked Bree.
‘I have about three works that are waiting to be completed.’
‘My partner is off taking photos of the woods around here. Hoping to catch a blue ringed kestrel or something like that. I’ve been window shopping but it only took ten minutes to see everything in town. What I’d like to do is look at typical country yards around the village to gauge their ecological content.’
‘Well I’m heading home. I have plenty of yard if you want to study it.’ ‘You wouldn’t mind? I don’t want to seem to be throwing myself on you.’
‘Not at all,’ laughed Lana. ‘I’ll work on my paintings while you meander through our hedges.’
‘Wonderful. I can ring Sam to come and pick me up when I’m through.’
It was still dark when Sam parked his car a considerable distance from the laneway. He surveyed the countryside through night vision glasses and selected the best location from which to take his photos.
Crossing the fields in the minutes before dawn, he made his way towards a small hill that overlooked Jade Green’s house.
Clearing his line of sight and removing rocks and twigs from where he intended to lie, he settled in.
He adjusted the camera lens to bring the houses below into stark relief.
There were just two of them. Large and Victorian, they sat at the far end of the lane, completely surrounded by fields.
At this time of the year the fields contained only stubble. The crops had been taken in, and now awaited the farmers’ ploughs. That’s if the farmers were going to return. Development was the new catch-cry in the area. Fields were already being invaded by meandering tarred roads, each waiting for the allotments beside the roads to be sold and houses built.
Sam guessed that the authentic Victorian homes in his viewfinder would soon be surrounded by mass produced Victorian and Tudor copies.
‘Maybe the Save the Country Fund could do something to stop it all,’ thought Sam. ‘I can just see myself hugging trees and nobbling steamrollers. I’d love to be an eco-terrorist.’
After several hours and taking as many pictures as he thought necessary, he decided to move to another location. It would be best to get shots from as many different angles as possible.
Rising to his knees, he noticed a car coming up the lane. As he lowered himself down again, Sam recognised it as Lana’s. He had taken photos of her getting into it and driving off earlier.
It parked and Lana opened the driver’s door. Sam was surprised to see the passenger door open as well. He focused on that door and uttered an oath as he realised who was getting out.
Bree closed the door and stretched. As she surveyed the countryside, she picked out the most likely spot where Sam would have chosen to hide. She grinned as she noted a slight reflection from a piece of glass and, unseen by Lana, raised her middle finger in that direction.
Sam snapped her in mid-gesture. ‘We’ll see what the boss says when he sees that,’ he grinned.
Lana showed her guest around.
Bree loved the house. Being a very modern person, she loved her ultra-modern flat but could appreciate the beauty of the high molded ceilings and the large rooms. She was particularly impressed with Lana’s bedroom, with its enormous four poster bed and the matching wardrobe and dressing table. The glass conservatory Lana used as her studio was also wonderful. The views of the surrounding countryside took her breath away. Bree envied the handsome couple who lived here.
With the tour of the house completed, Lana took Bree on a walk through their yard.
Bree tried to impress Lana with her knowledge of the wildlife to be found there but suspected she was just making a fool of herself and shut up, letting Lana do the talking instead.
‘Would you believe Toby Brown does our gardening, and for Mrs Green next door?’
‘I would have thought it would be too much for him. With the gallery and his carvings and all.’
‘Toby has been doing Mrs Green’s lawn for years and wouldn’t think of letting her down, even when he came into all that money. He’s a very loyal friend and has absolutely no airs and graces about himself.’
‘I thought he was a farmer before he opened the gallery.’
‘He’s only just come into money. It was a compensation matter between himself and the Briscoe Corporation. They bought some land from him. Toby did very well out of it but he hasn’t learnt how to spend it yet.’
‘Since when has anybody had to learn how to spend money?’
‘Toby’s never had any. He still hasn’t gotten over the shock of being wealthy. I don’t think he’s even told Suzie how much he’s worth.’
‘Does he really live with Mrs Green?’
‘He’s lived there ever since his mother was murdered. He couldn’t move back to the farm after she was killed there. Friends of ours bought the farmhouse from him and he’s having the rest turned into a housing estate. When that’s done Toby’s wealth will more than triple.’
‘The tax man must love him.’
‘He’s got my husband Brian’s family of accountants looking after those tricky little matters for him. Toby hasn’t got too many troubles at the moment. He’s had a hard life till now and it’s good to see it all working out for him.’
‘So he looks after your lawn, and Mrs Green’s lawn, and you look after him.’
‘That’s how it works around here. You’d be surprised at the size of the works projects that get done around here as a favour, or in return for a previous favour done.’
