Bennibister

"Charles Learmonth lay in bed wide awake. He was thinking of Isobel, her eyes, her hair. He was attracted. Outside the rain rattled against the window. Was he ready for a new relationship? Usually decisive he now felt confused. This was different culture. A lot went unsaid. He had caught her studying him. Was she checking him for character- like a horse? He smiled to himself. How would he appear? "Limbs good and strong, straight legs, a kind eye, good temperament?"
Isobel Shearer was likewise awake thinking of her encounter with Charles, although he was mistaken. Women who work with horses are no different from other women when it comes to choosing men, the heart or the chemistry usually rules the head, so they make mistakes like she had done with Gary"

This is a northern novella, set in modern times in the island archipelago of  Orkney.

"Bennibister" is actually the first in a trilogy; the second is "The Wedding at Bennibister." and third and final story is "The Third Norn," ( at Bennibister), all available as eBooks.