Curled comfortably on the throe-rug before the fire place, black nose twitching under a tail of long wisping fur, ears slightly twitching in the emanating heat, Kam slept. The thick white strip of fur running from her nose up to stop between her long lashed eyes. The black fur on the ridge of her back bristled as she snarled in her sleep.
A rocking chair creaked as a large, finely built man shifted. The newspaper sheets in his hands rustled, causing another growl to rumble in Kam's chest.
"Heh! Think she chasin' t'croaws oot o' t'corn pautch. Heheheh." the man chuckled, shacking his head before turning his attention back to his paper. He was a middle aged man, tall, broad shouldered and heavily muscled, do to the hard labour that is required to run a farm. His face, lean and high cheek-boned, was weathered. He had thin lips and a straight nose with a faintly detectable boyish band of freckles across the bridge.
Allowing a ghost of a smile to spread across his lips, blinked his hazel eyes as he read The Daily News, Farm and Stock articles.
The clanking of cups in the kitchen could be heard loudly as the farmer's wife made the afternoon tea. A moment later footsteps were heard as Annie entered the living room. She was a small woman, but nicely covered, her small jovial round face beamed as she took pride in doing even the most menial things, like preparing afternoon tea. Her raven-black hair was pulled back in a loose bun which exposed her beautiful blue-gray eyes.
"Tea! Come on Tom! Up an' oot! That's moi chair. Sit'n yer own!" she admonished playfully. At the sound of her voice, Kam snapped to attention. Tea time was always the best. Annie was a well known woman in the community, one liked by all. Her cooking skills were also known clear over the Yorkshire Dales.
Kam scurried over to Tom; despite being so rough and strong, Tom, deep down, was a softy, and she knew it, however, the only problem was, so did Annie. Sitting in a very upright position, and nudged a big work roughened hand with her wet nose.
Lifting his hand, placed it atop of Kam's head. She was clean soft and smelt like the fire place, and the open wind scourged hills. Rubbing her head, Tom felt her silk soft ears, and lightly tugged them in a playful manner.
Kam loved it. She loved this family, nothing in the world could have persuaded her to leave the warm and loving comforts of her home and owners.
The tea was poured and handed out while the tray that held the freshly baked scones dripping in rivers of thick sticky honey was placed on the old oak coffee table. Annie was nestled in the rocking chair that Tom had evacuated upon her entry. It was always like that. But everything in this house had always been done in a tease. Tom knew Annie hated it when he sat in her chair, she said that he flattened the cushions. While Tom's response would always come in a sheepish but prompt manner, "Jus' ke'pin' et warm fer ye'love." The ambiance in the house was always cheerful, nothing could beat this.
Kam waited, it would only be a matter of seconds till Tom made for the scones. One... two... three... ah! Right on time. The big man had the steaming scone an inch from his mouth as the beautiful little girl turned her large liquid blue eyes upon him and gave him the starving puppy look.
Tom looked down at her, his heart melting. Glancing over at Annie who was perched like a plump little chickadee in it's nest. Her eyes were closed and her hands were clasped against her ample bosom as she rocked back and forth in a slow squeaking pattern. Tom gulped. This was hard.