Read Online Kitty's Countryside Dream by Christie Barlow - Free Book Online Page B

and I was in need of some sort of stodge to soak up the wine before I began to talk gibberish.
    Placing the plates down on the table alongside the cutlery, I asked, ‘Wine? Would you like a glass?’
    â€˜Yes, please!’
    I poured Jeannie a large glass.
    â€˜So,’ Jeannie wound the chicken chow mein around her fork, ‘a little bird tells me you had the market in uproar today.’
    â€˜A little bird?’
    â€˜Robin.’
    â€˜Who’s Robin?’
    â€˜Robin is my brother. Full of it today he was when he arrived home. I had a complete rundown of your impressive rescue of Bluebell Lodge’s birds.’ She was laughing. ‘It’s kept me amused for the last hour.’
    I scrunched my face up. ‘I can’t believe those horrible men were going to cook up my chickens, the absolute cheek of them.’
    Stabbing my fork into the chicken chow mein, I wavered and placed the fork back my plate, making the conscious decision to look into becoming a vegetarian.
    Jeannie grinned at me. ‘Well done you is all I can say. I think it’s a marvellous idea, keeping all the old hens. It’s only been a short time, but I’ve found myself getting attached to my new feathered friends.’
    â€˜Me too,’ I responded, looking down at the diced chicken on my plate and realising those feathered friends may once have been related to my feathered friends and enjoyed a life clucking around a quaint farmyard until their fate was decided by the highest bidder at a poultry market.
    â€˜Are you eating that?’ Jeannie asked, giving me a sidelong glance.
    â€˜I don’t believe I am; I’ve suddenly lost my appetite,’ I confirmed, guiltily remembering every chicken I had ever eaten in my lifetime.
    Jeannie smiled. Picking up my plate, she scraped the contents of meat and noodles her own plate and began tucking in.
    â€˜Waste not want not.’
    â€˜How did Robin know who I was?’ I asked, intrigued.
    â€˜Tom had mentioned to him that there was a new boss at the Lodge. Those pair have known each other since school, and then they met up at the market – that’s how I got the job. Tom mentioned he needed an assistant for the farm and Robin talked him into giving me a shot. I couldn’t believe my luck when I landed the job – with such a handsome boss too, what a bonus!’ She grinned.
    She did like Tom after all; my mood suddenly slumped and now I certainly had no appetite left. What chance did I have if Jeannie was after him?
    â€˜More wine?’ I offered, suddenly realising we’d drunk our way through one bottle already. ‘This is going down too well,’ I murmured, gulping mine down like it was water.
    â€˜Go on then.’
    Retrieving another bottle from the fridge, I poured another two very large glasses.
    Jeannie took a sip, then continued. ‘Saving the chickens aside, you made quite the impression today. All he’s been talking about since he got back was the attractive new boss.’ She winked.
    Wait a minute. I was busy trying to put two and two together. Did this mean that Tom found me attractive? Would it be too much to let out a huge whoop whoop and dance on the table? Yes it would. Keep your cool, Kitty.
    Taking another sip from my glass, there was no denying the fact I was secretly chuffed to bits.
    â€˜Well, I’m actually here to try bribing you with this
    Chinese tonight, fingers crossed.’
    Placing my wine glass down on the table, I looked at Jeannie.
    â€˜Bribe me? With what? Go on, I’m intrigued.’
    â€˜A double date,’ she gleefully responded.
    â€˜Whaaaa?’
    â€˜A double date.’
    â€˜With Tom?’ My voice was now extending to an excited octave higher and sounded all weird and strangled.
    â€˜Of course with Tom, who else?’
    My mind was already wandering, flicking along the rail in my wardrobe, mentally trying to choose a desired outfit. Sod it,