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In spite of Harvey's antics it was very peaceful Beth, her back resting against an ancient oak tree, allowed her mind to wander, and it was a fullabout was Travis Black Which was crazy—worse than crazy She didn't knohat had got into her

She sat up straight, annoyed with herself He had been kind, she had to give him that, but the whole episode was now a closed chapter, so as she wasting one second thinking about a virtual stranger? And a er at that Travis was the sort of er to Wo red letters

Harvey decided to come and shake himself at her side in the next s short, but for the rest of the walk she hts It was a battle, but she ed it

A golden twilight was scenting the air when Beth finally pushed open the gate of Herb Cottage much later that day She was exhausted, but pleasantly so Harvey wasit clear he felt his paws had been walked off and that he was ready for his dinner as he plodded after her

She saw the big bunch of flowers lying on the doorstep alarden path The pale pink rosebuds, freesias and baby's breath rapped in cellophane and tied with a pink ribbon The sned simply 'Travis'

She stared at the firht her flowers It was the last thing she'd expected after their so Why had he done that?

She opened the door, clicking the latch down once she was in the cottage so there couldn't be a repeat of last night's per¬for into the tiny kitchen, she lay the flowers on the draining board, continuing to stare at the for his meal

Once the dog was fed, she dug out a vase from the bits and pieces in the cupboard under the sink and placed the flowers in water They were gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous

They didn'tkind She nodded at the thought Which was fine People were allowed to be kind without any ulterior motives, after all These flowers didn't mean he was interested in her She frowned at the sweetly scented bloo roo this was a complication

She plonked the vase down on the old-fashioned dresser and went to fix herself a quick meal of salad and coldroo to attention at her feet as he eyed her last piece of home-cured ham hopefully

The flowers didn't ain, she told herself later as she washed the dishes before getting ready for bed From what he'd told her, he was a busy man and tiain, that suited her perfectly

Nevertheless, in the short time before she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help anticipating the next day and whether there would be a knock at the door And she didn't like the way her pulse quickened at the possibility either

There was no knock at the door, not on the following day or the subsequent ones Travis had obviously returned to Bristol after his weekend at his bolt-hole Beth told herself she was iood note, and she was, in a way She didn't want to see Travis again—she didn't want to get ain—so she couldn't quite understand why she found hi into her mind at odd moments

She washed and ironed the T-shirt and jogging botto hi the parcel in the post box he'd spoken of on SaturdayOnce that was done she felt a little better about everything She had kept the note polite and friendly but faintly dis she didn't expect their paths to cross again

As one peaceful May day after another passed, Beth found herself eating and sleeping better than she had in years This was partly due to the peace and quiet, but also because the days were sunny and warm and she and Harvey could tra ho shadows stretched across the cottage garden

Green valleys and wooded hillsides, little grey fars so different from the clamour and bustle of London that Beth felt she'd been transported to another world rather than a different part of England She seely different al, a brood of baby ducklings swi and chasing each other by the side of a dashing streareen river bank