Dr Reid looked stricken. “A bonfire. In the middle of the standing stones?”
“Not a huge one, but the ancients believed that the heat of the fire boosted the strength of the sun for the remainder of the growing season and ensured a healthy harvest. And after all the rain last month, the crops need some encouragement.”
“That’s what Theo said. I know he’s worried about low yields this year,” Daisy said, turning to face them.
“There are plenty of fallen branches after that storm last month,” Dora agreed. “I’ve been meaning to come and clear them up.”
In the gap in the conversation, Keya asked, “And what assistance do you want from the police?”
“I’m not sure we do now,” Dr Reid replied. “I was concerned about parking and potential accidents as people loitered on the road, but Daisy has solved that problem for us.”
Daisy inclined her head.
“Talk me through how it works,” said Keya.
“It’s such a spiritual event. You should join us,” enthused Aurora.
“Thanks, but I already have tickets to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Rococo Gardens, in Painswick,” Keya replied.
Her friend, Dotty, had suggested the outdoor theatre event. Constable Ryan Jenkins, her younger colleague at Cirencester Police Station, had enthusiastically agreed that he and his now confirmed girlfriend, Millie, who worked in Keya’s cafe, would love to go. And they’d persuaded Keya to join them.
It wasn’t that Keya didn’t like plays. She just didn’t have time to find out what was on and organise going to see anything. But now Dotty was living back in the area, they’d probably attend more local events.
“Theo’s taking me there on Saturday. It’s supposed to be very good,” Daisy said.
Dr Reid cleared his throat. “People start arriving in the early evening, to see the standing stones and to visit the Whispering Knights tomb on the far side of the field,” he said, bringing the subject back to the summer solstice event.
“And they have picnics, and play music, and create flower wreaths,” added Aurora.
“Any drugs?” Keya asked.
“There is drinking,” Dora replied. “I have to tidy up the bottles and other rubbish after they leave.”
Dr Reid coughed. “The sun is due to set at ten to ten and rise again on the longest day, the 21st June, at ten to five. There are those who spend all night at the stones, and others who turn up just for the sunrise. We get rid of most of them by seven.”
“Don’t be so fractious, Silas,” Aurora remonstrated. “It’s a joyful event steeped in folklore and mythology which spans back centuries. We should be grateful to the people who chose to build the stone circle here.”
“Because it provides you with a healthy income,” retorted the doctor.
“And I’m not the only one. Your wife’s shop doesn’t do too badly from the tourists, even if Daisy’s bakery has drawn away many of the lunchtime passers-by.”
Keya, whose mind had been drifting off to images of scantily clad people dancing around a fire wearing floral garlands, started. “You make bread?” she asked Daisy.
Daisy nodded. “It was Theo’s idea to showcase the heritage grains he uses at the mill. But as well as the bread, we’ve found sandwiches are very popular, particularly in the summer, and we also bake cakes and scones.”
“And you deliver?”
“We’ve just started supplying local pubs and restaurants, who prefer to outsource to us rather than making their own bread.”
“I run a cafe, at Coln Akeman. I’d love to see what you do.”
Daisy smiled invitingly. “Why not follow me back to the village, and I’ll make you a sandwich for your lunch?”
CHAPTER TWO
“Could I trouble you for a lift, Officer?” Aurora asked. “I really should get back to the shop. I’ve left my friend, Viv, in charge. She’s a palm reader, you know. Descended from true Romany gypsies.”
Keya had said goodbye to Dr Reid and Dora, and she was following Daisy back to the road through the coppice of trees as Aurora babbled on beside her.
She wasn’t really supposed to give people lifts in her police vehicle, but she supposed it would be OK to run Aurora down to Lower Rollright. She was going that way to visit Daisy’s bakery, and as Aurora gripped the handle of the passenger door, she didn’t think she’d be able to refuse.
Keya watched Daisy approach a small cream van parked in what she presumed was a second lay-by.
“You’ll need to turn round,” Aurora said, as they both climbed into the police car and Keya turned on the engine.
A few minutes later, Keya was following Daisy’s van downhill and as they entered the village of Lower Rollright, a low stone wall appeared on their right.
“That’s where Sir Anthony lives,” Aurora explained. “He owns the mill, and he ran it with his brother until a few years ago when his nephew, Theo, short for Theodore, arrived and shook things up.”
Keya wondered how he had shaken things up, but she didn’t get a chance to ask.
“And that is Debbie Reid’s Village Stores.”
After several smart properties, partially hidden by high hedges, they passed a row of terraced houses and, occupying two of them, was the Rollright Village Store. Its green canopy shaded two pairs of green chairs, placed either side of small square tables.
Lower Rollright was a typical Cotswold village. The buildings were constructed from distinctive honey-coloured stone and between them were neat gardens, healthy green hedges and mature trees. Several houses were decorated with hanging baskets or window box displays of bright, fresh flowers.
As they approached a stone bridge, beneath which Keya presumed there was a stream or small river, Daisy’s cream van indicated left, and Keya followed it into a street running parallel with the watercourse. The first building on the right was the aptly named Malt Shovel pub.
“Here we are,” Aurora announced.
Keya hesitated as the van continued straight along the narrow street.
“You can drop me here,” Aurora insisted in a louder voice. “Daisy’s bakery is only a few buildings further on.” As Aurora said this, Keya saw the van indicate right and turn off the road.
Keya pulled to the side of the road, just beyond a purple-framed shop front.
“Do pop in after you’ve visited the bakery,” Aurora said as she climbed out of the police car and slammed the door shut.
Charming, thought Keya. Not even a thanks for the lift.
Keya drove slowly forward and parked outside the cream-framed shopfront of the Stone Circle Bakery. The image sprayed on the shop window was a circle with three ears of wheat inside it.
A small bell tinkled as Keya entered the bakery and she heard Daisy call, “I’ll be with you in a minute.”
Keya breathed in the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread. In front of her there was a glass counter with a display of sandwich fillings on one side and sweet treats on the other, including pieces of delicious-looking chocolate brownie, perfectly round fruit scones, and slices of a rich, dark cake topped with a fluffy sand-coloured icing.
