Chipping in a bit late, I'm very fond of Rowan, and I think she's got a raw deal in the books. I agree she comes over as very tough, but I think she's just pushed beyond her limits a lot of the time (such as when she has to cope with Kay announcing her engagement when she's just witnessed Mr Tranter's stroke and had to deal with that on top of possible swine fever and all the routine work of the farm, and all that everyone remembers is that she comes out with a tactless (albeit perfectly accurate) remark under the influence of whisky on an empty stomach and shaken nerves.