The Yorkshire Farm Girl by Diane Allen

Author:Diane Allen [Allen, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2023-05-11T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The season was starting to warm; daisies and celandines filled the pastures around the farm and the blossom in the orchard was starting to come into bud. Spring was here, and life on the farm would get easier with the warmth of the sun’s rays and the growth of grass. It was Sunday morning, and Sally walked beside her father as they made their way over to visit the Harpers to look at the calf that was in need of a home.

‘It’ll not be worth owt – that’s why he’ll be wanting to sell it to me. But then again, there’s nowt spoilt if I go and look at it. Our old cow’s making enough milk to feed a calf, and after next week I’ll be at home more, to see to feeding it. An extra milk cow would be welcome; once it’s grown, we could make butter and perhaps some cheese and sell it at the lane end,’ Bob said as he walked quickly through the fields with his walking stick in his hand.

‘I can feed the calf. I’ll enjoy it – it’s not much work and, before you know it, it will be out grazing anyway.’ Sally was having all on to keep up with her father as he strode out.

‘Nay, you are working two days a week for Annie. I can’t count on you on them days, but happen the others. I’ve ordered two piglets that’ll need feeding from Tom Dixon, so that’s more work. But they’ll be gone by the back-end; we will be butchering them as usual,’ Bob replied as he opened the gate into the farmyard, making the dogs bark their usual warning and causing Brian Harper to open the door to see who was visiting.

‘Now then, Bob, she’s told you about the calf then? I thought you might be interested. It’ll save me taking it down to the auction mart in Sedbergh; calves are not making a good price anyway,’ Brian said, coming across the yard to meet them both.

‘Aye, well, I’ll have a look at it. I’m not promising, but we could do with a bit more stock, now that Ben is getting up, and Sally’s a good help,’ Bob replied rather grudgingly and looked at his daughter.

‘You are lucky – at least you’ve one of each. I’ve just my Marjorie and she’s no farmer. Talking about Marjorie, do you want to pop in and see her? She’s in a right mood for some reason,’ Brian said to Sally in a way that she could not refuse, although she would rather have inspected the calf than have to talk to Marjorie. Her father was right: Marjorie was in a mood, and Sally had hoped not to see her until she came round, as invariably she did when she realized she needed Sally’s friendship. ‘She’s not in the house, she’s down by the beck, sitting on her tree swing, and she’s been there most of the morning, whatever she’s up to,’ Brian explained.

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