Emmerdale spoilers: Moira ‘plots to kill and cook’ young Isaac’s best mate and we’re horrified

It was the most wholesome and unexpected moment in Emmerdale recently when hard man Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) decided to let his son Isaac (Bobby Dunsmoir) have the pet lamb he so badly wanted.

The little orphaned lamb Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) had gone to see on a neighbouring farm hadn’t been expected to survive.

It was a sad situation, but vet Vanessa and farmer Moira Dingle (Natalie J. Robb) were realistic about the harsh realities of these things. For Isaac, who was with Moira, what he saw was a very cute little creature who needed a friend.

Later Moira was shocked to find that Cain had given in to Isaac’s pleading and they’d gone to get the lamb and brought it back to Butlers. It even had a name – Minty. Yes, it was named after the sauce that’s traditionally served with roast lamb.

It seems that Isaac has taken to his task of looking after the lamb as we saw it in Tuesday (May 21)’s episode looking bigger and healthier than previously. It was also in the house, which Moira didn’t think was ideal as she insisted lambs were supposed to be out in the fields.

Either out in the fields or under a nice covering of mashed potato, as Moira had cooked up a lovely shepherd’s pie for lunch. Even Cain thought that was a bit harsh and Isaac was outraged. ‘You’re eating Minty’s friend!’ he complained.

‘It’s not Minty, though, is it? He’s right there,’ Moira said and tried to get her son to come and eat his lunch. The likely future vegetarian was having none of it. ‘You want to turn Minty into a burger! I hate you,’ he told her.

Moira blamed Cain but he was on Team Minty. ‘I’m not the one serving lamb,’ he pointed out.

Later Cain and Moira found Isaac and Minty hiding out in a barn. Moira had another go at persuading him that lambs are happier out in the fields.

‘Till you kill them,’ Isaac said and wasn’t convinced by Moira’s argument that sheep and cows eventually became part of the food chain because, as he insisted, ‘Minty’s family.’

Again Cain stepped up for Team Minty, telling Isaac that nobody was going to hurt his lamb. ‘You have our word. He’s yours,’ he said, tickling the lamb’s chin (adorable). ‘We respect that.’

Moira had a final go at getting Isaac to come inside and let Minty play with his friends. ‘I don’t trust you,’ he said. ‘You’ll have him for dinner.’

As boy and lamb wandered off, Cain told Moira he thought Isaac would get bored of the lamb soon enough, but she wasn’t so sure and insisted, ‘He’ll have to go.’

Are Minty’s days numbered?