Effie had no idea where they were. She didn’t want to let on to Daphne that they were lost, so she kept on walking in the direction of the bellow. She already knew that most people thought she was an idiot and she didn’t want to give her new friend any reason to believe them. She’d never ventured this far away from the hotel, at least not for many years and certainly not in bad weather. All she could see in every direction was whirling snow. She’d not known Ginger to stray this far from the hotel either.
Ginger was attached to Lochy House because it was where she’d been hand-fed by her, Dolly and Fraser on a twenty-four-hour rota. Ginger’s mother had had a bad birth and immediately rejected the new-born calf. She had quickly got used to life inside with warm fires, blankets and Jock’O to learn from. Being put out to grass had been a nasty shock for Ginger that Effie was pretty sure she still didn’t understand.
Effie looked around. She called Ginger but there was no reply. She was starting to panic. She was worried for Ginger but she was also worried for her and Daphne. Where was Daphne? Effie scanned in all directions. It was hard to see through the snow but she could make out a figure far behind her. She knew Daphne didn’t know which way to go either but she somehow felt safer when they were together. She checked her pockets. She’d forgotten to bring her mobile with her. She thought back to when she’d had it last. She’d been checking her messages while she was getting Dolly’s breakfast. She must have left it in the kitchen at the lodge.
Effie tried to walk a little faster but the snow was getting deeper and she needed to take bigger steps. These were all the things she’d always been told to avoid. She was beginning to panic. What if this was how she died? Would her ghost be forever roaming the hills lost? She thought of her secret boyfriend, John. It was who she’d been texting. Nobody knew about him, so he’d never know what happened to her. Her dad’s voice came into her head and she savoured it, despite what he was saying not being that helpful: ‘Only a fool ventures into a blizzard, Effie. And that’s why they frequently don’t make it back alive.’ She gulped, turned around and upped her pace to shorten the gap between her and Daphne.
*
After walking for what felt like ages Liv’s ankle started to complain. Unlike most of the rest of her it wasn’t numb with the cold. It felt like snow was now coming from every direction, not just above. She had to keep blinking because it was pelting into her face. All around them was white. Effie was heading back towards her, which was a relief.
‘Effie, I’m sorry but I can’t walk any further,’ called Liv over the wind.
‘You’re meant to be resting,’ said Effie her tone quite accusatory.
‘I didn’t realise we’d be going this far. I think I might head back.’
‘Okay. See you later,’ said Effie.
Liv turned around. She had no idea where she was. All she could see was snow and trees, but her footprints were still visible in the snow so she began following those. She trudged on with her head down to avoid getting a face full of snow. She hoped it wasn’t as far back to the hotel as it felt, because her ankle was throbbing. Liv was concentrating hard on following the footprints in the snow, which was getting more difficult the further she went as they were being blurred by the snowfall. Staring at all the white was also making her eyes go funny. Then all of a sudden she stopped because there was something very different in front of her.
She followed hairy ginger legs up until she was nose to very large wet nose. ‘Eurgh, snotty cow,’ said Liv.
The cow let out the same noise they’d heard earlier – sort of a wheezy honk but it was very much louder now she was this close to the beast. Ginger stepped forward and Liv tried to reverse away but stumbled and landed on her bum in the snow.
‘Argh!’ she yelled. She didn’t care what they said about her being small; this was a big fat cow and she feared she was about to be trampled. ‘Effie, help!’
She heard the squeak of wellies on snow before she saw Effie. A bucket came over the top of Liv’s head and the cow immediately stuck her face in it and started to munch away.
‘You found her,’ said Effie. ‘Well done. She’s hard to find when she’s out roaming.’
‘She kind of found me really,’ said Liv.
‘Why are you sitting down?’ asked Effie.
‘Just checking gravity still works,’ said Liv, rolling over and very inelegantly getting to her feet. The bottom of her borrowed dress was now covered in snow and sticking to her legs. ‘I’m going back.’
‘We’re coming too, because it’ll be dark soon,’ said Effie. ‘Come on, Ginger.’ She walked off with the bucket, much to the cow’s disgust.
By the time they got back to the stables Liv was freezing cold, her ankle was pounding and she was getting a bit grumpy. Effie walked into the stall with Ginger close behind. Liv went to follow but Effie pushed the top of the stable door shut, smacking Liv in the face and sending her flying onto her backside for the second time that day. Thankfully the layer of snow was a softer landing than the concrete underneath.
‘Ow! Bloody hell, Effie. I’ll have another lump on me now.’ Liv sat in the snow holding her cheek. The cold of her palm felt quite nice.
Effie closed the bottom half of the door, opened the top and peered out. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘Looking for my bagpipes,’ said Liv.
‘Ooh do you play?’ asked Effie now leaning on the lower section of the door.
‘No!’ said Liv trying not to get cross. ‘You smacked me in the face with the door.’
‘That’s good. Sometimes another knock on the head can bring memory back. We should have done it earlier. Can you remember anything, Daphne?’
‘I remember that I’m definitely not called sodding Daphne.’
‘That’s progress!’ said Effie. ‘Well done me,’ she added turning her attention back to Ginger.
Liv went inside and found Fraser in the kitchen humming ‘Fantasy’ by Mariah Carey but he stopped and did a double take when she walked in. ‘What happened to you?’ he asked failing to hide the smirk on his face.
Liv could imagine she looked like the abominable snowman. ‘I got knocked over by Ginger, again. And then Effie smacked me in the face with the stable door.’
Fraser spluttered a laugh. ‘Sorry, it’s not funny,’ he said although he was grinning.
‘It might be a little funnier from where you’re standing.’ Liv touched her puffy cheek and winced.
‘I promise not to laugh.’
She gave him a look.
‘Well, I promise not to laugh anymore. I think I have something of yours.’ He opened a cupboard and took out a jar. He unscrewed the top and let Liv look inside. Surrounded by rice was her mobile phone.
‘My phone!’ She went to grab it but he pulled the jar out of reach. Why had he done that?
‘It’s drying out,’ he said. ‘It was frozen in a lump of ice that I guess was a puddle when it landed in it. I moved a crate in the yard and there it was.’
‘Does it work?’ she asked feeling worried about whichever answer he gave. If it didn’t work she had no phone and if it did had he been spying on her stuff?
‘It wouldn’t switch on but then if it’s been out there all night; the battery is probably dead.’
‘Let’s charge it then.’
‘Nobody has a new iPhone like that here. So there’s no charger to match it I’m afraid. I think it needs to dry out first anyway.’ He put the lid back on and returned it to the cupboard. Liv watched forlornly as he closed the cupboard door.
‘Have you come to lend a hand?’ he asked.
‘I’ve come to defrost with a hot drink. I’m frozen. And to make one for Effie too.’ She wasn’t completely selfish.
‘Is that my coat?’ he asked peering at it.
‘Effie said I could borrow it. Thank you,’ she said.
Fraser took it from her and muttered to himself as he went to hang it up.
Liv decided that whatever happened she needed to get her charger from the car. She was already cold and wet; a few more steps couldn’t do much harm. She grabbed the soggy coat off the hook, hastily dashed through the hotel and with her cheek stinging she set off down the drive. The wind was biting and the snow harsh. The trees were swaying wildly and the noise of the wind was more than a bit creepy. A picture of Janet the witch popped unhelpfully into her mind.
The light was starting to fade as she trudged on trying to think about anything other than Janet. On the plus side she was feeling okay and Fraser had found her phone, even if it wasn’t currently useable. On the not so plus side she had failed to do what she had come to do but did it really matter? She hadn’t challenged Fraser yet but she could hardly do that if she was going to be stuck there for a couple of days – how awkward would that be? No, she needed to bide her time and once she was able to leave that was when she could read him the riot act – and not before.
At least spending more time there than she’d planned meant she could find a bit more out about Fraser and try to work him out and what game he was playing. So far she’d discovered that he was a bit different to how he’d portrayed himself on the app. He was definitely grumpier although also more thoughtful than she’d imagined. Kind of funny in his own way. But definitely as good-looking as his photograph. And she enjoyed the banter between them.
Liv rounded the bend away from the hotel and that was when she saw it. A hunched figure in black was gliding through the trees and she could hear a low moan in the air.
‘Shitting hell!’ said Liv turning around and walking back as fast as her gammy ankle would let her. She got back to the hotel steps a lot quicker and was about to dart straight inside – she was sure the moaning was following her.
‘Wait up!’ called someone behind her as she was closing the door. Liv looked up the darkening driveway. There was Dolly on her scooter almost all covered by a large black mac. The moaning got closer. It was the scooter – not Janet at all. Liv breathed a sigh of relief and held the door as Dolly trundled up the ramp and inside. It looked like Liv would have to wait for another opportunity to sneak back to the car for her phone charger.
Effie came to help Dolly get her mac off. Liv was surprised to see what was underneath it. Not only was it Dolly but there was also a little black dog lying on her lap. She had to look twice to check it wasn’t stuffed.
‘Utter disaster at the lodge,’ said Dolly. ‘The boiler’s packed up.’
‘It does that,’ said Effie joining them. ‘It’ll need a whack with a mallet and it’ll be fine.’
‘It won’t. It’s properly died this time. So there’s no heating and no hot water.’
‘Sorry to hear that,’ said Liv. There was an awkward silence. ‘Who’s this then?’ asked Liv pointing at the dog.
‘Jock’O,’ replied Dolly.
‘What’s the O for?’ asked Liv reaching out a hand to see if he was friend or foe.
Dolly closed her eyes as if in deep thought. That or she’d nodded off. At last she opened her eyes. ‘I’ve absolutely no idea,’ said Dolly looking puzzled. ‘Got him from a chap in Invergarry who called the whole litter that and I thought it was a good name.’
Liv gave him a stroke and he lifted his chin to show off a greying beard. ‘He’s a cutie.’
Fraser appeared with a pot of tea. ‘I thought you were making tea?’ He shook his head at Liv but seeing Dolly he turned his attention to her. ‘What’s up?’ he asked.
‘The boiler at the lodge has finally given up the ghost,’ said Dolly. Effie opened her mouth. ‘Nothing to do with Janet,’ she added and Effie looked a little disappointed.
‘You can stay here until it’s fixed,’ said Fraser. ‘I’ll go over with Effie and bring back whatever things you need.’
‘Ooh can I have Janet’s room?’ asked Effie clapping her hands together.
‘See, some people aren’t scared of paintings,’ he said placing down the tray and unloading the teapot.
Liv pointed at the teapot. ‘Here I am. What are your two other wishes?’
‘Sorry?’ Fraser looked perplexed.
‘You’re like Aladdin,’ said Liv. Fraser frowned at her. ‘With the lamp.’ She pointed again at the silver teapot, but he was still frowning at her. ‘Never mind.’
‘Daphne’s remembered things,’ said Effie happily and all heads spun in her direction. ‘I gave her another bump on the head and it worked.’
‘Not exactly what happened,’ said Liv.
‘Who are you then?’ asked Dolly.
‘Please be someone famous, please be someone famous,’ whispered Effie standing next to her with her fingers crossed.
Liv decided that the best option was to tell the truth. ‘I’ve remembered that I’m called Liv.’
‘Liv’s not a proper name,’ said Effie, shaking her head. ‘Sorry, Daphne, try again.’
‘No, that really is my name. I’m Liv.’
‘Is Liv short for Livid?’ asked Fraser. ‘Because that’s what you are most of the time.’
‘No it’s short for—’
The front door slammed open, interrupting Liv, and in came Robbie wearing his police uniform bringing in an arctic flurry of snow. ‘There’s an emergency!’
‘Goodness me, shut the door!’ called Dolly as the icy gust hit them and they all shivered.
‘Sorry,’ said Robbie, looking a little deflated as he shut the door and joined them. ‘A weather warning has been issued. The road’s blocked in both directions and there’s a car in the ditch. I need all of you to help,’ he said. Everyone rushed out into the blizzard.