Free A Question of Love by Gwen Kirkwood

outgrown them by now. In fact I think they will both be away at university. If we walk a bit further along the edge of the wood we shall get a good view.’
    ` There’s a house,’ Euan said a few minutes later. `It doesn’t look like an old farmhouse from here though.’
    ` They did a lot of alterations, building on a double garage with two bedrooms and a bathroom above and a large conservatory to the side. They asked me over to see but I wanted to remember it the way it was when Granny was alive. For me it’s the people who lived there who made it a home.’
    ` It would be a happy home again if it was yours, with your children around you.’
    ` I haven’t got any children.’
    ` Not yet, but I’m seeing a different side to the efficient Miss Fairfax I see at Kershaw’s. I can imagine you being happy with a brood of children now I’ve seen you here. Do you like children Roseanne?’
    ` Oh yes, but even if I had any I couldn’t afford to buy the house back now. I - I’ve invested the money in other things.’
    ` Like half a farm which doesn’t pay as well as it should but makes an elderly man happy?’ He quirked an eyebrow and gave her a whimsical smile but he noticed she didn’t answer his question.
    ` We’ll walk as far as the end of the wood then we’ll sit down and eat our apples, shall we?’
    ` Suits me. Is that an orchard we can see at the side of the house. The trees are coming into blossom.’
    ` Yes. Granny had apples and pears and a couple of plum trees. She made lovely raspberry jam.` Euan found it hard to reconcile the wild and happy child he was picturing with the immaculate and efficient Miss Fairfax who confidently took charge of Kershaw and Co. She really was like two different people in the same skin and he wanted to know all of her. He had never felt so deeply interested in any of the women he had known before.
    ` I’m glad you have happy memories, Roseanne. No wonder you dream of returning to this area one day. I never knew my grandparents.’
    ` That’s a shame. I treasure the memories of the time I spent with mine but I never knew my maternal grandparents.’
    At the edge of the wood they came to a grassy bank where there were still a few late primroses.
    ` Shall we sit here a while?’ Euan asked.
    ` Mmm, this will do fine.’ Roseanne realised he was still holding her hand. She released it and flung herself face down on the cool grass. `It’s beautifully warm for the time of year,’ she said, cradling her head on her arms and turning her face towards him. Euan wondered if she had any idea how tempting the curve of her neat little bottom was in the close fitting jeans. `The bluebells should be out by now but there’s never been any in this wood. I think I’d plant some if it still belonged to me.’
    Euan pulled two apples out of the pockets of his wind cheater and handed her one. She sat up and turned to face him, biting into the crisp flesh with small strong teeth.
    ` I’m glad we brought them,’ Euan said `I’m quite peckish now.’
    ` I thought we might be ready for them,’ Roseanne murmured. `It’s further than you think to walk right round now that the land from both farms is joined. I’ve brought a bar of chocolate in case you were a good boy and deserved a treat.’
    ` I have been very good. I’m sure you agree?’
    ` Mmm.’ she gave him a considering look, her eyes twinkling. `You did get wounded protecting me from the brambles so I suppose that has earned you one square. It’s a pity the ponies didn’t follow us we could have fed them our apple cores,’ she said, throwing hers with considerable force down the field before she pulled out a large bar of chocolate.
    ` Only one square?’ Euan asked with a chuckle, his eyes widening. He was amazed how much Roseanne enjoyed her food. He hated women who picked and grimaced over every mouthful, mentally counting calories, yet Roseanne had a figure many women would die for. `I’ll wrestle you for the rest of the bar,’