A Chapter that expands the relationship between 8-year-old Sion and the intergendered Dave/Daphne.

The Welsh Mountain Ram 14.

Briony Betrayed wife and mother.
Sion Her eight-year-old son.
Ellairy Her nine-month--old daughter.
Arfon Brionys’ unfaithful husband.
Dave Cadwalloder Welsh bachelor hill-farmer.
Jenny and Lassie Daves’ sheepdog bitches.
Laddie. Daves’ sheepdog.
Jessica and Pansy Daves’ sows.
Angel Daves’ mare.
Gabriella (Gabby) Angels’ foal (Gift to Sion.)
Daphne Daves’ ‘girlfriend’
Cledwyn. Farmer further down the valley (Neighbour.)
Blodwen Cledwyn’s daughter.
Rachel Daphne’s TV friend.
Shirley Rachels’ GG wife.

The following morning, Briony was again pleasantly surprised to find Dave already up and cooking breakfast when she arrived in the kitchen with Ellairy in her arms. He turned and smiled softly.

“Slept well then?”

Briony nodded a little guiltily but Dave set her guilt to rest.

“You’re a nursing mum. You deserve your rest. Your body’s feeding two. Here, eat this.”

He set a bowl of porridge before her and she looked askance. Briony rarely ate porridge but this smelled different.

“What’s in it?” She asked.

“Just the usual, oats, brown sugar and full fat, fresh milk.”

“How do you stay so slender on that?” She asked him flatly.

“Most days I’m out on the hill checking the flocks ... Cledwyns’ and mine. That’s a lot of walking, but there’s a lot of hill up there. This snow knocks everything back, but the flock is safely on the low pastures.

“Don’t you use the Landrover?”

“Not usually; only to feed them. Walking helps you see and hear more. You also get a better feel for stuff, the weather, broken fences, any trouble with the flock. If you’re sat in a Landrover cab it isolates you. I take the dogs and they enjoy the work too. We’re not always herding sheep; the dogs get to trot about.”

“Trot?” Briony wondered.

“Yes, ‘trot’. It’s a word I’ve trained them to obey. They get to accompany me but they can scamper around provided they don’t disturb any sheep yet stay within sight of me and also in earshot. They get their exercise and I get mine.”

“So when does Angel get out?”

“When I’m gathering the flock for anything, they can be spread out over several miles. I really need a horse then.”

“Just like a real cowboy,” Sion piped.

Daves’ eyes widened as he realised the reality.

“Well ... yes ... your right lad, in fact I even use a western saddle. It’s easier on Angel and it’s easier on me cos I can be out all day so I carry my waterproofs and food.”

“Will I be able to come with you when mummy marries you?” Can I ride Gabby?

Briony blushed a deep red and turned away to hide her embarrassment; when she turned again to face the men; she saw Dave smiling at Sion and Brionys’ heart could have melted. ‘Arfon had almost never smiled at Sion ... his own son! Her son’

Still feeling embarrassed but with curiosity satisfied, Briony tested the porridge, found it to her taste then she smiled to see Sion digging in with relish.

‘Fresh air was certainly doing him good’. She concluded as she spooned the hot oatmeal.

With breakfast over it was a foregone conclusion that Sion would join Dave on the tractor and once again, Briony found herself in the kitchen with Ellairy and lunch to prepare. She wasn’t alone for long though and she was pushing the vacuum cleaner with Ellairy sitting akimbo on her hip when she heard the latch click and Blodwens’ call.

“Heloo-oo! Are you there love?”

She switched off the Hoover with relish and turned to meet Blodwen as she came into the kitchen with a bouquet of mostly red flowers in her hand.

“Oh are those for me, that’s nice.”

Blodwen grinned sheepishly.

“Well they were for Daphne actually. She likes flowers and I bought these with me from Birmingham. When I learned about you I thought discretion was the better part ... you know, woman of the house and all that.”

“Of valour,” Briony finished. “Well I’m pleased anyway. They’ll brighten up the kitchen.”

Blodwen smiled again.

“She prefers them in her bedroom. Well, Daves’ bedroom actually. There’s a green vase on the side windowsill that’s his grandmothers’. Memories and all that you understand. Daphne or Dave, they both like to put red flowers in it. She’ll be really pleased and so will he.”

Briony studied Blodwen curiously.

“How do you see her mostly, Dave or Daphne?”

“Well in truth, geographically I see her as Daphne mostly. When she comes up to Brum’ she’s permanently in Daphne mode, and when I come home and visit her, she’s Daphne most of the time unless working outside or we go into Machynlleth. In my head, I'm not sure how I see them.”

Briony wondered.

“D’you think I’m cramping her style, Daphnes’ that is? D’you think she would be Daphne right now If I wasn’t here?”

Blodwen stood holding the kettle as she considered the thought.

“I can’t say. He’s out on the hill at the moment. Sion knows about Daphne so there are no issues there. I suspect Dave really likes you and Daphne’s recognised that. She’s probably encouraging Dave to make a play for you because you make Dave happy. I say go for it girl. You’re the right girl for Dave and you know about Daphne so you give him hope. I can tell you this, Dave loves kids and he’d want some if you married him.”

“Well that I know, you only have to look at him and Sion.”

Blodwen glanced out of the window and grinned.

“They’re on their way back, look at the sheep chasing the tractor. The snow’s made them hungry.”

Briony followed Blodwens’ gaze across the valley to see the tractor resembling a big yellow beetle being followed by the flock of sheep like a slow moving cloud. She smiled as she recognised a small figure shovelling out high concentrate nuts from the trailer and scattering them behind.

“Ooh look, he’s got Sion working. I’d never have believed it. He hated doing anything with his father.”

Blodwen looked out and nodded.

“Yep, both Dave and I used to do that when we were Sions’ age. We used to stand in the trailer as his dad or mine drove the tractor, and we threw out either protein nuts or mangles. The sheep love them and in this weather it’s a lifeline. Don’t forget, all those ewes are pregnant and this time of year there’s not much grass under the snow. They need the food.”

Briony watched for several minutes and a warm feeling of pure pride filled her heart as she watched her son furiously spooning out food from the bags and flinging it as far as his little arms could throw. Blodwen sensed Briony’s pride and smiled as she sipped her coffee.

“It’s bitterly cold out there. Sion’ll eat like an elephant when he gets back.”

Briony turned and smiled as yet another tiny tear forced its’ way to her eye. Blodwen hugged her and whispered.

“This is exactly why I want a child now; if it was Daves’ the bonus would be double. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No. No; not at all. He’ll make a wonderful dad to boot.”

Once again Blodwen pecked Briony on the cheek then turned purposefully.

“Well, that lunch isn’t going to cook itself. I’ll do the veg.”

“Thanks Blod. Are you driving back to Birmingham immediately after?”

“Not quite, I’ll drop a meal off for Dad, then immediately after that.”

“Can’t he cook for himself?”

“Yes, some, but Dave often drops a meal in for him. He’s like a son to my dad, that’s why I’m so fond of him. Truly, we had a wonderful shared childhood. If it wasn’t for Dave or more correctly, Daphne, I’d have had to stay at home and see to dad. I owe him or her a lot. When we discovered each others’ foibles in later life, it was serendipity.”

“Would you like me to check in on your dad, now it seems we’ll be staying here?”

“I was secretly hoping you’d offer. Yes, that would be fantastic ... and don’t worry about other days. Dick the labourers’ wife sometimes pitches in but dad’s not a complete invalid, he still cooks and does work around both the farms when needed.”

They carried on chatting until the rumble of the tractor announced the return of ‘the men’ and Briony waited for yet another excited epistle of the mornings’ events. She shouted from the kitchen as she heard the door latch.

“Lunch will be about ten minutes but Blod’s got the coffee on.”

After a brief delay as they removed several outer layers and boots, Sion appeared with rosy cheeks and shaking his hands to get warm as he made a bee-line for the AGA. Dave followed and did exactly the same.

“Smells good,” he grinned, “what’s in it?”

“Never you mind,” Blodwen cautioned the boys, “and no peeping until you’ve warmed your hands and washed them.” She turned to Briony and added. “You’ll have to keep these guys in line. You’ll be the boss of the kitchen if you two do get wed.”

“What; even when Daphne’s here?” Sion piped up.

“The adults grinned and Blodwen was ecstatic to realise that Sion really was assimilated to Daphnes’ existence. She declared with a chuckle.

“Especially when Daphne’s here!”

“Why?” Asked Sion.

“Because you can’t have two mistresses in the same house young man! You’ll learn that as you get older. Now wash your hands, then sit to the table.”

Having got an answer delivered in such a ‘matter-of-fact’ tone, Sion decided to let it drop but he was left wondering if Daphne would cease to matter and therefore cease to be. He had one last question as he sought reassurance.

“Mummy, when you marry Dave, will Daphne have to go away?”

Briony let out a squawk of embarrassed laughter as she replied.

“Darling, it’ll be quite some time before anything like marriage will even be discussed. I have to divorce your dad yet. Now get into the dining room and stop cluttering up the kitchen.”

Dave and Sion reluctantly moved to the dining room and stood by the warm air heating near the window. They were still recovering from the cold.

“I wish mum’d hurry up and leave him,” Sion mumbled sub-vocce, hoping to avoid showing his feelings and incurring displeasure.

“I heard that,” Dave replied softly but with a barely suppressed smile. Then he whispered softly.“Would you really want me to marry your mum?”

Sion nodded wistfully before whispering ‘Yes’.

“And what about Daphne?”

“I like Daphne. I wish I could have Daphne as well as you.”

Dave made puzzled expression.

“How d’you mean?”

“Well, I wish Daphne could be here when you are here but she can’t can she?”

“You mean both of us together?”

“Yes.” Sion affirmed.

Dave chuckled.

“Well, we are in a way Sion. It’s just that we can’t be here and wear two sets of clothes at the same time. Who do you prefer?”

Sions’ lip trembled with uncertainty. He was frightened to cause offence.

“I, I’m not sure. Daphne I think. You won’t be angry will you?”

Dave gave Sion a hug and grinned.

“Not at all darling. I think I prefer Daphne as well.”

Sions’ eyes widened hopefully as he asked.

“Can Daphne come down for dinner tonight?”

“Yes, after Dave has finished around the farm.”

Once again Sion made a pertinent comment.

“That’s where I like to be with Dave, outside on the tractor and around the animals, in the fields.”

Dave looked thoughtful and turned to explain his feelings to both Sion and Briony as she entered with plates and cutlery.

“Sion’s been telling me he likes Daphne around the house and Dave outside in the fields but I feel that I have to tell you both. Daphne has an equal right to go out working in the fields, and Daphne likes to ride Angel as well.”

“Does she go alone?” Briony asked.

“Well, Blodwen comes sometimes, when she’s home visiting. We used to ride all the time together while we were growing up. Can you ride?”

Briony confessed that she couldn’t. Dave reassured her.

“Well we can always teach you, besides; Blodwens’ horse needs the exercise.”

Briony turned to Blodwen who nodded agreeably as she started ladling out the cowl.

“Any time you like girl. I know you and my horse will be in safe hands if you ride with Daph’ or Dave.”

A silence fell as four hungry mouths demolished the cowl then Briony declared she had to go and feed Ellairy. Blodwen had to depart after clearing the dishes so she gave Dave and Sion a hug then slipped upstairs to join Briony with Ellairy. Dave was left with Sion to fill the dish-washer and as they switched it on, Dave grinned.

“Daphne usually does this bit, the kitchen bit. I’ll go and see to the animals d’you want to come?”

“Yes please. Sion replied eagerly.”

“You’ll only need a jersey and wellies. We’re only going to the barn.”

As Sion dashed off to dress for the outside, Dave called up the stairs to advise Briony then the pair crossed the yard. The barn was a place Sion was beginning to think of as his own and he made his usual bee-line for the loosebox. Once again, the foal stepped forward to greet the boy and Dave explained that Sion was building up a good rapport. They fed the rest of the animals and returned to the house as Blodwen was leaving. Briony was mildly surprised that there wasn’t more emotion between Dave and Blodwen until she remembered that Dave would be taking her and Sion to Birmingham in a couple of days. She gave Blodwen a hug and Blodwen looked wistfully at Ellairy who now lay snug and changed in Brionys’ arms. For the two women it was an emotional farewell but Briony was mildly surprised yet pleased to see that Dave had no obvious sexual attraction to Blodwen ... or at least, he did not show any.

After the briefest of ‘pecks’ on the cheek, Blodwen picked her way up the lane to the road. Dave turned to Briony and smiled. Briony was pleased to see that ‘extra something’ that told of Daves’ sexual attraction.

‘A girl just knew when a man was interested’, she told herself, and the feeling felt good.