The fog hung heavy over the hilltops, caressing them like an itchy blanket. Our car spluttered and burped as we drove up the aptly named ‘mountain road.’ You see, it had been a sort of a dare. In fact, we dared each other. We had been given our fair warning and the comeuppance that we encountered was truly down to our own stupid faults.

***

“You’re going where?” said Mr McBride. His face crumpled up like a used piece of paper. He pulled up the collar on his green tartan coat as a cold draft blew into the greengrocers shop that he so proudly managed.

“Ballacregis. Haven’t you heard of it? The village in the valley.”

“Oh I’ve heard of it. Nobody goes there any more. You’d be stupid to.”

“People live there don’t they? They must come and go?” I said.

“Aye. One food truck, and that’s it. It goes in at eight O’clock and comes out at five in the afternoon. No one else, not another cart or bicycle even.”

“We have to see it. We heard about the bakery there.”

“Pfft. You’d be a fool to go there in November. Heed my words.”

Of course we laughed it off and went ahead with our plan. Ballacregis was our destination. And there we were speeding around tight bends in the greenest, foggiest highland countryside. Gerald stopped the car at the edge of the forest lined dirt road.

We both peered ahead. In the immediate distance we were faced with a long muddy lane, sprinkled with leafy Autumn crisp.

“This can’t be it.” I said looking around.

“I can’t take the motor down that lane into the village. We might never get her out. Better to leave it here and go by foot.”

Gerald was sure of himself. His calm demeanour was ever so comforting. I lit up a cigarette and mentally assessed the situation. Okay, seems clear. A change of footwear was in order.

“Okay, hold on. Give me time.”

I rummaged in the boot of our green Ford and pulled out one of my brown boots. Goodness only knew if I’d find the other one. While my green high heels were the height of fashion in London, they just wouldn’t cut it out in the sticks.

“Come on Pat. It’s getting rather gloomy, let’s get moving before the fog comes down.”

“Okay, let’s go.” The confidence in my voice surprised me.