Rufus

By Alan Holmes

A young couple up sticks and move to the Highlands in Scotland because of work commitments. There they settle in a desolate cottage and make it their own.

A small kitten, who they named Rufus, enters their life. This leads to an unlikely friendship between Rufus and a robin due to unforeseen circumstances.

A timid cat becomes a hero and a robin joins forces with him to overcome a deadly foe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398420717

Alan Holmes

Retired proud father of two and grandfather of five, Alan Holmes worked as an apprentice butcher, then a linoleum worker for forty-three years. He took up writing as a hobby in his retirement.

Book preview

Albion Cottage

Twenty-five years ago, a young married couple happened to be driving through a quaint Scottish village. On the outskirts of the village stood a picturesque cottage. The woman in the passenger seat noticed the cottage had a ‘for sale’ sign in the front garden. Stop, the woman cried out. The driver applied his foot to the brake so hard the car came to a sudden halt.

What’s wrong? What’s happened? said the man.

Look! the woman was pointing in the direction of the cottage.

The man turned his head left then right. What am I looking for?

The cottage, she said, it’s for sale.

You mean you made me do an emergency stop to look at a cottage?

Look at it again, it’s beautiful, don’t you like it?

Oh, said the man, yes, it’s nice, can we go now? Before these words had left his mouth, the passenger door opened and out stepped the woman.

Come on, let’s have a closer look! she shouted. There is a plaque above the door, it says Albion Cottage.

The man, who had both his hands on the steering wheel, sunk his head down into his hands. He gave out a sigh, reluctantly he opened his door, got out and walked over to her. She was now looking at the ‘for sale’ sign as she read it out loud to him.

Estate agents Thomson, Thomson and Alexander. We passed their office when we came through that village. She took hold of his arm. Let’s go back and see if we can get someone to give us a viewing.

You really like this cottage, don’t you?

Yes, said the woman. The moment I saw it I felt, well, it’s hard to explain, something said you belong here.

Don’t you like it?

No! replied the man, he shook his head. I know if I don’t let you get it out of your system, you will go on and on about this cottage and you’ll drag me back here again, so! Let’s just go back and see if anyone is available to give us a viewing, they introduced themselves as Mr and Mrs Jones to the receptionist. They were interested in Albion Cottage and would it be possible to view.

OH! said the receptionist. That property has been on our list for two years now, if you would both take a seat, I will see if anyone is available.

Five minutes passed, a man met them at the reception area. Hello, my name is Mr Thomson and you must be Mr and Mrs Jones. Both shook hands with him.

Now, I’m told you would want to view Albion Cottage, well, I would be delighted to show you around the cottage.

Back at the cottage again Mr Thomson opened the front door and they all stepped inside. The first thing Mrs Jones noticed was the wallpaper being a bit outdated, it was nothing she could not put right. The kitchen and toilet needed to be modernised with new domestic appliances, she knew that was to be expected too. After inspecting the bedrooms, they all made their way to the living room which was surprisingly spacious and appealing.

So! What’s the catch? said Mr Jones. This cottage has been on the market for two years now, it should have been snapped up by the first people who viewed it. Is something wrong with the cottage? Subsidence maybe!

No, no, no! Nothing is wrong with the cottage, Mr Jones. I can assure you of that. Mr Thomson lowered his head as if he was thinking, then he raised his head to look Mr Jones in the eye. The reason it hasn’t sold is the garden. Come with me and let me show you. Mr Thomson opened the back door and they both stepped outside.

Wow! It’s massive, how big is this garden? asked Mr Jones.

Fifty yards wide, three hundred yards in length, it stretches all the way down to the start of the meadow, replied Mr Thomson.

This garden has put all the prospective buyers off buying the properly because you can’t build on the land as it’s only to be used as a garden.

Why is that? asked Mr Jones.

"Well! We have to go back in time to the last owners of the cottage who were both keen gardeners; what they produced, they sold to the villagers.

"Then came the war, the local council approached them to ask if they could increase the amount they grew. It was impossible unless the council gave permission to increase the size of their garden. The size it is today.

So, permission was granted with a proviso that the council can reclaim the land back after seven years. As old councillors were voted out, new councillors were elected and the proviso was forgotten about. However, there was a clause in the contract stating, if the council did not re-claim the land after seven years had lapsed, the land would become part of the property and can only be used as a garden. I’m afraid all you can build on the property is a fence, a wall and a tool shed.

Can we walk down to the end of the garden? asked Mr Jones.

I would like to see it all!

Mr Thomson was astounded. To tell you the truth, I’ve never been to the end of the garden, usually the viewer has seen enough and is making excuses to leave.

As they both strolled down the garden, Mr Jones noticed on the both sides of the garden stood strong sturdy wooden fences running parallel with each other all the way down to the bottom of the garden. They were eight foot tall and very well constructed, when they reached the bottom of the garden, there was nothing standing. It was a wide-open space, there was plenty of evidence a fence once stood here, posts and pieces of shattered wood were scattered all over the ground.

What’s happened here? a surprised Mr Thomson said.

I think I know, Mr Jones replied. This end of the garden is facing north, the fence here must have been taking a lot of punishment from the fierce north winds in the winter months, without being maintained the wind finally toppled it.

Have you seen enough? the agent enquired. Mr Jones nodded his head.

Then let’s go back to the cottage.

On the return journey, Mr Thomson asked him, Are you on holiday?

No, replied Mr Jones.

I’m here to supervise the construction of a bridge being built on the lairds land.

Oh yes, I heard a bridge was to be built over the river.

"I designed the bridge, while here waiting on the go ahead, my wife and I were just sightseeing when we passed this cottage, my wife flipped. She fell in love with it,