Chapter 17

The cool air hit her as she stepped outside, and she shivered in the pub doorway. She could just see Sam under the streetlights down the road. Hurrying after him, she called out to him.

“Are you walking home?” she said, catching up to him.

“Yeah. I need to abandon my van, thanks to you.”

“How is it my fault?”

“Buying me another drink when I was about to leave two hours ago.”

“You didn’t take much persuading!” They fell into an awkward silence for a moment. “Can I walk with you?”

He flashed her his boyish smile. “I suppose so.”

“It’s pretty creepy,” she said, as they walked away from the village. Last time she’d walked home from the pub with him it had been early, and still light. Today, it was dark and eerie. They were still under the streetlights, but the moon hung over them, almost full and casting shadows in the cloudy sky.

“There are streetlights for about half the way and then you need a torch. Although with the full moon, it’s probably bright enough without.”

“You’ve got a torch?”

“On my phone,” he said, slowly, like he might be talking to an idiot. She looked away quickly as she blushed, glad there wasn’t much light.

“I don’t generally take a torch to the pub,” he said. “Do people even have torches that are just torches these days?”

She bit her lip and stayed quiet, the smile making her cheeks ache.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to tease.”

“I think I asked for that,” she said. “Sometimes my brain doesn’t operate quite as quickly as I’d like it to.” 

“I’d just blame the beer,” he said. “Seems like you’re usually pretty switched on. All your plans for the kennels sound very impressive to me.”

“We’re starting to get more bookings,” she said. “And it looks like the summer will be busy. I just want it to do well so I don’t feel like a charity case.”

“Why a charity case?” he asked, confused. “I thought it was the other way around: you being there to make sure Annette is okay?”

“Well, I also didn’t have a job or any money, so it felt like she was doing me the favour.” She’d said too much. Why was she trying to convince him she was a charity case? She could’ve made out she was a brilliant entrepreneur, stepping in to build up the kennel business. Annette’s knight in shining armour. Though she shouldn’t really care what Sam thought.

“It sounds like it benefits you both,” he said.

Josie nodded and he changed the subject, discussing what time they would go over to Hope Cove the following day. Max had already messaged him to say that Josie would be joining too for the barbecue.

Sam was right about the moon: it was so bright they barely even noticed they’d left the streetlights. There was no need for torches.

They reached the gate at Oakbrook Farm in no time. “Need me to walk you to your door?” he asked.

“I’ll manage,” she said, slipping through the gate.

One of the dogs howled in the barn, and the noise sent a shiver through her. It was such a calm and pretty place during daylight hours, but very creepy after dark. She lingered at the end of the drive. “Thanks for walking me home.”

“You’re welcome.” He seemed to be waiting for her to walk away, but her legs stayed rooted to the spot. Her mouth, on the other hand, worked at its usual speedy rate.

“I wasn’t sure what kind of night to expect with Amber but I really enjoyed myself.”

“Fridays in the pub are usually pretty lively,” he said.

“It was busier than I thought. And you’re right – Tara and Amber are good fun.”

Sam leaned on the other side of the gate, a foot resting on the bottom rung. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

Her heart quickened, and there was something about the way he looked at her that made her light-headed. She nodded.

“Are you scared of the dark?”

“What?” She spluttered out a laugh and stood up straighter. Her gaze went to the house, then back to Sam, who had a silly smirk on his face. “You think I’m standing here wittering about nothing just to avoid walking up there on my own?”

“Or you really like my company?”

She shifted her weight and hoped her cheeks weren’t quite as red as they felt. She was fairly certain they could be seen from space.

Without a word, he climbed the gate and they set off up the drive together.

“Just to be clear,” she said, “I’m only scared of the dark in certain circumstances.”

“Really?” he said, amused.

“I sleep in the dark,” she said with mock pride. “In the house, I’m fine. But …” She turned, looking across the field. “When it’s dark here … and the dogs howl. It’s really creepy.”

“I can understand that,” he said. “It is pretty spooky.”

The security light clicked on as they neared the house, and Macy barked twice. “I think you were only being brave because you had me with you,” Josie said. “I’ll bet you’ll run home from here!”

He pulled his phone from his pocket. “That’s why I always carry a torch with me.”

She smiled at him, and there was an awkward moment when he looked at her for just a millisecond too long. He was standing too close too.

Macy barked again, drawing Josie’s attention to the house. When she looked back, Sam was already walking away. 

“See you tomorrow,” he said, throwing up an arm to wave.

“Bye,” she called after him. “Thanks!”

It was strange slipping quietly into the house. The dogs circled around her while she took her shoes and jacket off. She ruffled the fur on their heads before she sent them back to their beds in the utility room.

The house was still, and she half expected Annette to be waiting up for her, as her mum used to do sometimes when she was a teenager. There was no sign, though, and she crept upstairs and slipped in to bed with a smile on her face. For once, she was feeling very hopeful about her future. She had a feeling she was going to enjoy life in Averton.

In fact, moving to the country might just have been the best thing she’d done in a long time.