Courtney Lufu

Romance is Adversity Courtney Lufu

Gabriella and Carl Pickstaff are hill farmers in the harsh and rugged conditions of North Yorkshire until Carl is killed in an accident. Gabriella is left to fend for herself and to tend the flock of more than 100 ewes in the snow and dark of a February winter during lambing season. Eric Winterton is a junior school teacher running away from false allegations involving one of the parents and her daughter and is looking for a safe haven to hide from his recent past. In his flight, he stumbles upon Gabriella's barn and when he is discovered, an uneasy alliance forms between the two of them as they help each other through difficult times. Eric becomes the hired-help working for room and board only and he becomes invaluable to Gabriella as she struggles to 'make ends meet' and to pay the bills whilst tending her expanding flock of sheep. In his absence, Eric is exonerated of any wrongdoing and is awarded compensation by the Governors of the school for the poor treatment that he received at the hands of the Headteacher. He has to work hard to convince Gabriella that he should be allowed to buy into her farm and pay-off her debt, becoming her equal partner in the business. An accident leads to the two of them coming closer together as the business partnership blossoms into romance and love.