POPPY, DAD AND Mr Atkins had found it very hard going, trudging their way towards the farm. Poppy felt as though the deep white snow would go on for ever, but just as dusk fell she heard the familiar yapping of the farm dogs. They were nearly there. At last! The knowledge that they were so close to the farmhouse gave Poppy a huge burst of energy, and very soon they were standing at the front door, stamping their feet to keep warm and ringing the bell.
Mrs Meadowsweet came to the door wearing an apron over her dress.
“Hello! Come in, come in, you’ll catch your death out there,” she said as she ushered them into the big, cosy, candle-lit house. “What are you doing out in the dark in weather like this – and with Poppy?”
“You wouldn’t believe what’s happened to us,” said Dad, “and how pleased we are to see you.”
“Well, you can tell me all about it over supper – you’ve timed it perfectly.” Mrs Meadowsweet smiled at them. “I’ve made a stew with dumplings and a rhubarb pie for pudding. There’s far too much for the two of us. Take off those wet things and come and sit down.”
Poppy ran in and flopped down in front of the big open fire, delighted to be warm again.
They enjoyed a hearty and warming meal with Farmer and Mrs Meadowsweet in the cosy farm kitchen. The huge wood-burning stove was surrounded by puppies, kittens, hens and ducks. After the day she’d had, Poppy couldn’t quite believe that she was safe now, but as soon as she’d had supper, she started to worry about Mum. She was desperate to speak to her and tell her that they were all OK. She knew what a worrier Mum was.
Dad tried to cheer her up but he was concerned too – he wanted to see his wife and the twins and to reassure Lavender that everything was all right.
Back at the hotel, the search party returned empty-handed. They shifted from one foot to the other as they worked up the courage to tell Lavender what they had found.
Grandpa was waiting for them in the lobby. “Hello!” he cried. “You’re back.”
“Grandpa – bad news, I’m afraid. The thing is—” began David.
“Well, have you found them?” interrupted Grandpa.
“Not exactly, no. But we did find the digger! It seems they abandoned it – they must have broken down. All of a sudden their tracks just stop and there’s just the digger blocking the road,” said David.
“Where on earth could they be?” wondered Grandpa, searching for a logical explanation.
“We’re pretty sure they’ll be at the farmhouse or in one of the outbuildings on the way there,” said Hector Melody.
Mum appeared at Grandpa’s side. She gathered that Dad, Poppy and Mr Atkins had still not been found and she began to panic. Everyone reassured her that there was nothing to worry about but she wouldn’t listen. Her husband and her eldest daughter were missing. She couldn’t just do nothing!
“I’m sure David’s right and they’ve gone to Barley Farm. They’re probably having a meal with the Meadowsweets as we speak, but let’s call the emergency services, just for peace of mind,” said Grandpa, putting his arm around his daughter.
Ted dialled the number nervously and explained the situation.
“They’re giving it priority because there’s a child missing,” he reported when he’d hung up the phone. “They’re starting the search right away. Don’t worry, Lavender, they’ll find them.”
Poppy’s mum was beside herself with worry. “‘Missing’ – that just makes it sound even more awful and serious,” she said quietly. “Why did I let her go?”
Poppy was thoroughly enjoying herself at the farm and had almost forgotten about everyone back at the hotel. After supper Mrs Meadowsweet had run her a hot bath and now she was sitting by the kitchen fire wearing one of Mrs Meadowsweet’s rather large frilly nighties. While the adults sat around the table chatting, Poppy concentrated on doing a jigsaw. Just as she was slotting the last piece into place, she heard an unfamiliar and rather loud noise coming from outside so she decided to go and investigate . . .
