Dorset memory - 15 Standing on the gate, early summer

A light mist sprinkled the downstairs windows & a certain foreboding sat upon the morning like a devil's breath wrapped in a shroud of mystery, grasping the mind of a simple farmer as he stood against the Aga, sipping the last drops of strong brewed coffee.
Inclement weather today would concentrate any efforts or expectations as to silaging the lower field & could even spell disaster. Ben's thoughts rambled through his brain, troublingly annoying, rampant, as the forage harvester had only just been fixed & appeared ready to take on the task at hand. He felt more than a little apprehensive as light rain now persisted vacillating in a breeze through the atmosphere, shading any warmth gleaned from the early summer sun. It shrouded any hope of achieving much needed silaging as he contemplated damp conditions & sodden grass looking out onto raindrop-spattered grass beyond the garden.
Well he thought, I'll give it a little longer. In the meantime I may as well see to some animals. It might clear soon. At least the presently obscured sun would be warm enough to dry things up a little.
He left the kitchen, his two Jack Russell terriers with him - they usually followed anyway unless they had been on a long walk or out chasing rabbits. In which case they would take to their beds in the boot room next to the kitchen.
Emily had finished her breakfast & a few chores. She wanted to attend the already our-of-control vegetable patch, but wondered if Ben was going to need any help today. Occasionally at certain times of the year she would lend a hand with one thing or another, in return for the times Ben had helped her with the intricacies within the Aga or something as complex as changing new washes on the bathroom taps.
Ben had a farm labourer employed on a part time basis. Andy was totally compliant with most things, taking over any milking needed or harvesting, driving the newer tractor & most other farming requirements associated with animals - he was particularly accommodating with them.
But Emily would opt for a less strenuous or demanding job, such as driving the older tractor when the hay was brought back to be stored in the barn. Ben had been very reluctant to allow her free access of his newer tractor, but the older one was often harnessed into action for hauling hay bales & executing other useful duties around the farm.
A good year ago, Emily had proved to Ben she was more than capable in her driving skills managing the older tractor, driving it back over deeply rutted tracks without any unfortunate mishaps. He only had to show her once, going through the gear & pedal motions & she quickly took on board all Ben had showed her. Henceforth, she helped out with some driving, lumping heavy bales up to the loft in the old barn & along with Lizzie's help, they soon accomplished the task.
Lizzie lived not far away & had been married once, but now lived alone. She also had a horse but kept her close to home on a field opposite or, in order to rest the grass, another one on the edge of Ben's farm. Lizzie was also adept at manual jobs as living in the countryside often required resourcefulness, applying oneself to the task which otherwise may prove expensive or time-consuming to call in a tradesperson. She regularly enjoyed chopping up wood from around her property to supply her large open fire place. This kept things tidier & branches fell from trees on a fairly regular basis throughout the year, particularly after strong winds or storms. She considered it good exercise, along with riding her ex show-jumper called Minerva, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom & reason, amongst other things.
Clouds were thinning - the air drying & rain for now relenting as morning sunshine breathed new life into the surrounding hills. Cows grazed, ambling through the sweet juicy grass, giving their rich creamy milk in the evenings.
Emily gave up the best part of her day, knowing it was time to see what may be required to help Ben, her long time friend, with any chores.
She drove down the hill to the farm not far away, pulling into the driveway of the farmhouse. As she got out, tucking the keys safely in her pocket, she immediately looked up the yard as the house looked deserted for now. She heard the dogs barking a little & walked towards their sound. Ben was sure to be around this area more times than not.
Emily stood on the large iron gate craning her neck in the direction of further barking, thinking that Ben could well be in the vicinity of the silage pit.
Calling out to Ben, she raised her voice just a little as the sound of the tractor was now quite close.
'Hellooo, are you there Ben?' I'm sure it must be him driving the tractor she thought, unless it is Andy. She decided to step down from the gate to look for him.
The silage pit was empty & cleaned out, ready for the new season's fodder. Andy waved from the cab of the older tractor & continued with what he was doing. Emily ventured back to the gate, climbed over again as she could never be bothered to open it first, then strolled back down the yard.
Where can Ben have got to, she thought. As she rounded the corner of the stables, there standing by the newer tractor was Ben, hands on hips & looking thoughtful with a slight frown on his face. He hadn't heard her arrive as he later told her, being was under the tractor trying to find where the a problem might be.
'Morning EM' he half muttered, only looking up briefly as his face showed complete disenchantment & not for the first time.
'What seems to be the problem?' Emily asked, frowning a little herself as she approached him.
'Thought the tractor was fixed recently as well as the forage harvester, but there still seems to be something preventing the link box from detaching. I need to do that in order to undertake the silaging.' His mood both contemplative & not a little condescending when it came to mechanics.
 He looked up at Emily, resigning himself to the fact that it may not be possible to continue with a good day's work on the fields.
'Don't suppose there is anything I could do to help is there?' she asked, always positive especially when practical non-working issues seemed utterly unfathomable.
"I doubt it Em, for some odd reason it's not behaving as it should, just when I need it the most to get on & do this bloody silaging.' Ben was still in a thoughtful frame of mind, racking his brains for an answer to what shouldn't really be a problem at all. Phoning for help wasn't at this stage an alternative.
Emily thought for a moment, suggesting they both have a look together. 'That may, just may she considered, by putting two heads together being better than one, be of help.' Ben reasoned for a moment & with a sigh, shrugged his shoulders, relenting in order to allow Emily's idea take its course.
Together they crawled under the contraption, tight though it was, getting very dirty knees as they continued working their way under, until they were both lying side by side on the somewhat damp earth. They suddenly faced each other, realizing how peculiar this may appear to anyone looking on & promptly burst out laughing.
At that moment they heard footsteps approaching on the gravel path nearby. They paused & listened, ceasing their outburst for the moment.
'Well well, if it isn't the two lovebirds & under a tractor too!' Lizzie had walked up to the tractor hearing voices & a certain amount of merriment going on from what appeared to be underneath.
'My, you DO choose the strangest places for that sort of thing don't you?'
'What sort of thing?' Ben retorted, although being perfectly aware of what Lizzie was suggesting.
'You know jolly well what I mean Ben!' Unable now to hold herself under control. Lizzie began chuckling to herself & added, 'oh never mind, you can pretend all you want, but I still think it is one of the most original places I've ever seen.
Bending down now with a grin on her face, she looked at what Ben was trying to adjust. Emily was holding something for him at the same time as Lizzie peered at them, altering her expression & asked, 'what seems to be the trouble?'
'That's what I asked,' Emily added.
'The link box is stuck & I can't detach it for some odd reason. Thought I had this part here sorted out,' said Ben, tapping something with one of his tools. 'But it's still not behaving,' Ben continued trying to adjust a few parts.
'Em, will you hold this for me please?' indicating to her what was required. 'Think I know what the problem might be & I just need you to take this for a moment, then I will be free to make the necessary adjustments.'
Emily took the grease covered tool reluctantly from Ben & tried to pull a folded paper towel from her pocket to clean it off a bit.
'What on earth is so sharp under me?' she cried. 'Feels a bit like a bed of nails,' she continued. 'Oh, I am such a dope, it must be the car keys!' she laughed. 'Must remember to put them somewhere more sensible next time, when contemplating crawling under tractors!'
Lizzie, still crouching down offered, 'anything I can do to help? Better late than never' she added.
'No thanks Lizzie' Ben replied half heartedly, concentrating on what he needed to do, both hands busy & mind stretched to the limit in undertaking something he is not often expected to do. 'Ah, that's done it I think!' clanking away with a tool still lying on his back with Emily beside him frowning.
'What's done it?' enquired an inquisitive Lizzie.
'It's not worth explaining at this stage' said Ben, gesturing to Emily to pass the tool back to use once more.
'I think he's got it, I really HOPE he's got it' laughed Emily next to Ben.
Lizzie stood up stretching her back, waiting until they both decided to crawl out from lying on the wet ground. 'I came to tell you something & now I've completely forgotten what it was. I must be getting old & befuddled or something,' she half muttered to herself.
Ben & Emily were now standing in front of her wiping off their hands, when Emily said with a laugh, 'hope it's not catching Lizzie, I'm hopeless at remembering the simplest things anyway & don't fancy it getting any worse. I believe this can happen to some people as they get on in life. I wonder what else gets worse?'
'We are a little young yet for those problems I hope,' Ben remarked, not wishing to elaborate on the matter.
'Speak for yourself!' Lizzie added. 'Some days I can be quite forgetful, like today. Fancy forgetting why I called in today. What the devil will it be like in say ten years from now? Pretty hopeless case I would think. Oh dear, it must be awful getting older, but it happens to us all I suppose. No avoiding it.'
Ben started walking up the yard towards a workshop near the milking parlour. Emily & Lizzie followed becoming quite animated about the loss of one's memory. Emily followed Ben, then changed her mind, walking over to stand on the gate again, the large iron one she often stood on near the milking shed, as Ben was nearby putting a few tools away in a draw. Lizzie stood in front of her & together they started discussing the price of a round of shoes for the horses.
Sunshine was now flooding all in its path with renewed warmth, the air feeling drier, releasing summer across the countryside, abandoning the moisture-held morning to its stillness. The air smelt sweet, a light breeze blowing across the nearby hills. A sense of peace dominated the atmosphere as birds flitted around the old barn, venturing on their individual 'sorties' catching insects.
Emily took a long breath still standing on the gate, pausing now, drinking in the late morning sun on her face.
Lizzie leaned on the gate beside her & she too felt sunrays drenching her with warmth, absorbing the sunshine, like drinking a perfect wine.
Ben approached them now, satisfied that he had fixed the tractor problem but exasperated he had lost a morning's work & the chance of getting the silaging well underway.
The morning was fast drawing to a close & he needed a good run at it, as all that was involved getting organized was perhaps best left until tomorrow. He sighed a little, resigned to the fact as he strolled over to the two friends.
'Think I'll give it a miss for today, but tomorrow is looking promising,' he said glancing at them both. 'Thanks Em for showing up today - fixing tractors will never be the same again,' he added with a grin.
Emily smiled back at him, 'You are welcome, but I wasn't really much help, & besides fixing tractors isn't really my forte.  Just glad it is fixed now.'
Lizzie glanced at them both, poked a strange face, then she too smiled at the thought of them both under the tractor.
Emily hopped down from the gate & together all three walked down the sun-drenched path towards the farmhouse.