A Puppy and a Christmas Proposal

by Louisa George

  ‘So, whatever it was, he’s eaten the same thing? Is that what you think?’ Spike was chewing Alex’s coat sleeve. ‘Spike! Stop that.’

  ‘He’s bored. Puppies chew when they’re teething too, so it could be that. Put him on the ground and let him have a sniff around.’

  ‘He probably needs to walk. As do I. My feet are getting numb.’ He stamped his feet as Spike pawed at Beth’s leg. ‘And he wants you to come too.’

  A corner of her mouth lifted. ‘I said I’d sit with Mum. It’s her last night with me. She’s going to Bay View tomorrow.’

  Of course. ‘Totally get it. No worries.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll see you in the morning for handover.’

  ‘Sure.’

  She turned and clicked the waist-high gate behind her but stopped. Then she looked back at him. ‘Actually, I do need to talk to you quickly about something.’

  ‘I’m all ears.’ His heart spasmed. Whatever she wanted to say, he’d listen. He’d take on board what she thought, because, even though he still totally believed he’d done the right thing, he could see how badly he’d hurt her in the process.

  ‘About Alfie and Meg and Dennis... I just need to talk things through...you know, theories, ideas...possible causes...’ she clarified.

  Right. Not everything was about him. She’d made that very clear more than once. ‘Sure. Of course. Now? Or tomorrow?’

  ‘I don’t...’ She frowned and gave a little shrug. ‘It’s just a feeling I’ve got. It’s probably nothing.’

  ‘Or...? Maybe it’s something. Can it wait?’

  She pursed her lips, breathed out. ‘You know, no. I want to talk it through with you and morning handovers are always busy, especially tomorrow as I’m going to drop Button with the team at the clinic for the morning and then take Mum to Bay View. So... I’ll just grab my coat and let my mum know I’m walking with my boy for a few minutes.’ She kissed Spike. ‘That is still you. Still not Alex.’

  ‘Hey, I’m getting the message, loud and clear.’

  Within minutes she came running out, a turquoise puffer jacket billowing behind her as she shoved her arms into the sleeves. They headed out on the path up towards Oak’s Top, a little hill of oak trees that gave the village its name.

  And as they trudged she talked. ‘So, I’m thinking that if both dogs have eaten something we need to find out what it is before any other pooch gets hurt. It’s a puzzle. I was sure Meg had ingested some tablets she shouldn’t have got into, but how could Alfie have eaten the same thing?’

  ‘Unless it’s a plant or something they’re attracted to. Or something to do with things they use on the farm, perhaps? Fertiliser or insecticide?’

  ‘Everything’s covered in snow and I’m pretty certain they don’t use those sprays until spring. I’m not sure there’d be anything for them to get at. What else could it be? Not chocolate—you see that in the stuff they bring up. Maybe it’s antifreeze. It’s sweet and dogs like to drink it. Maybe one of Dennis’s trucks is leaking, or he’s being careless with the bottles and leaving them around the farm where the dogs can get into them.’

  ‘Maybe.’

  ‘Could be Dennis’s water supply?’

  ‘He’s okay though.’

  ‘It’s likely not the water. I’m going to have to have another think.’ She sighed. ‘Have you heard anything about Frank?’

  ‘He’s sore but off the critical list. They removed his spleen and his liver was badly bruised along with three broken ribs, but he’ll be okay. Lesson learnt, Beth, keep away from tupped-out rams.’

  ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ She grinned at him. ‘But here’s something else. When I went back through June’s notes I found that she’s been in with a series of weird symptoms too—she saw the previous clinic owner a couple of times and then the locums. Angus has had two different locums. Dennis also brought in a cat that he said had been staggering and acting strangely but on examination they found nothing of any consequence. So, he’s brought in four pets with similar symptoms, seen by four different vets.’

  ‘That’s the problem with having locums. They don’t see patterns of behaviour.’ Something previously fractured and blurred started to take shape in his head. ‘Patterns of owner behaviour. Do you think...’ the notion that someone could hurt their own pet was so troubling he was starting to doubt himself ‘...it’s some sort of attention-seeking thing?’

  Her eyebrows rose. ‘He’s been reporting symptoms no one else could see.’

  ‘Until now. Meg was really sick. Alfie too.’ He didn’t want the piece of the jigsaw to fit. ‘Do you think...? No. No.’

  ‘What?’

  He felt sick. ‘That Dennis is doing it? Making them ill and then bringing them in? Escalating the urgency with poisoning?’

  ‘No. Why would he do that? He wouldn’t, would he?’ She shook her head, her eyes widening as she thought more. ‘It must be accidental. It’s more likely he’s forgetting things or misplacing them. You know, like people with early dementia. Unless...unless he’s having some sort of breakdown.’

  ‘In either case he needs help. Urgent help.’ Alex looked at his watch. It was late and this kind of thing needed to be dealt with carefully. Turning up in the thick of night would only put Dennis on the back foot. And it was all just a whole load of supposition and ideas with nothing substantial to tie them together. ‘I’ll go to see him tomorrow.’

  She stopped walking and put her hand on his arm, genuine concern in her eyes. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course. We need to get to the bottom of this.’

  ‘You shouldn’t go on your own. Take someone...the new guy? What’s-his-name? Fraser?’

  ‘He’s got a Well Child clinic all morning, then a training thing in the afternoon. Besides, it’s not exactly the best kind of welcome, is it? Can you come and help me suss out whether a patient is hurting his animals?’ It was an improbable idea.

  They were still climbing the hill and her breath came fast, puffing little whorls of steam into the air. ‘What about Joe? Could he go with you?’

  ‘He’s on leave with his family and I’m not going to bother him with this. I’m booked up all day, but I can scoot up there on my lunch break.’

  She nodded, resolute. ‘I’ll go with you. I should be done with moving Mum by then and she’ll be wanting her afternoon nap.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Absolutely, this is my case, these are my clients. I’ll come with you.’

  He reminded himself she was leaving; that was the only way he could convince himself to keep away. ‘How’s the packing going?’

  Trudging through the snow was hard work, and she had a sheen of moisture on her forehead. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. ‘Finished. In the nick of time. The removals people are coming early and I’m going to drive Mum over and get her settled. She’s at that point where she just wants it to happen.’

  ‘How do you feel about it now?’

  Her nose crinkled as she grimaced. ‘Oh, you know, weird. Happy that she’s found somewhere she likes, but a bit strange that I won’t have a home to come back to any weekend I want to see her.’

  ‘You could stay with me.’ The words blabbed out before he could stop them.

  She blinked and looked at him with a zillion questions in her eyes. And a very definite no.

  He corrected himself. ‘Just offering, as a friend. I have plenty of rooms. Too many.’

  Rooms she’d have filled with kids and animals. Rooms that were now empty spaces.

  They were at the top of the hill now, looking down at the village below. It had been their favourite walk when they were younger, and he wondered whether she was thinking that too. In winter they’d drag toboggans up here, in summer they’d lain in the long grass and whispered promises to each other in between kisses. He wondered if she remembered, if she was thi
nking the same things, and whether she was wanting to revisit those kisses the same way he ached to.

  Because no matter how much he told himself to rewire and stop wanting her, it wasn’t happening. He still wanted her. He tried rewiring again. She was leaving. He’d have to get used to being here without her again. ‘And then...you’ll be going back to Glasgow.’

  ‘Going home, yes. What should we do about Button? No one’s come forward to claim him and he’s getting more and more attached to us.’ She didn’t add that it worked the other way too but Alex had to admit he was likely to miss the little terror once he was gone to his new family...whoever that was. She bent and gave the puppy a stroke. ‘I’m leaving in a few days and there’s no way he can stay at mine. I’m sole charge of the clinic, it’s too busy and I have no home back up.’

  ‘Likewise. I’m not sole charge now, but my life isn’t geared to a dog. I work long hours and he’d get bored at home on his own. It’s just not fair on a lively puppy.’

  ‘What will we do?’

  ‘I’ve put adverts everywhere. Someone’s bound to reply soon. We’ll have to make sure whoever has him knows what they’re doing. I don’t want him going to just anyone.’

  Her eyes grew big and she laughed. ‘Someone who has no idea how to look after a puppy would be terrible, right?’

  ‘You talking about me?’

  ‘Of course. But I have to say you’re a fast learner, and not everyone would be willing to house a boisterous puppy.’

  ‘He has his uses.’ Like, an excuse to come walking. Like, a reason for him to meet up with Beth twice a day. Spike had been the best way of breaching the yawning gap...even if it had meant a sad goodbye to his best climbing shoes. ‘He makes for a good hot-water bottle,’ he explained, quickly.

  ‘Do not tell me you still let him sleep with you?’

  ‘There’s no one else there to mind. What’s the harm?’

  ‘Alex Norton, if I was sharing your bed I’d mind a lot if there was a puppy there too. Oh. I didn’t mean...’ Even in the dark he saw the heat in her eyes and the bloom on her cheeks. ‘Oh, you know what I mean. I wasn’t talking about us.’

  ‘I know. Beth, I know.’ But the thought was there. The temptation to pull her to him and kiss her senseless was almost overwhelming. Because this was perfect. This. The three of them, here at the top of the hill, the clear black sky, the promise of snow. The silence filled only by them. It was like it had been years ago and yet, different. Because they were both different now. And he wondered how things might have been before his body had let him down and pulled his dreams down with it.

  Could he reach to her? One more time?

  But she turned away and wrapped her arms around her chest. ‘Come on, let’s get home. I’m freezing to death. And Mum’s going to wonder where I’ve got to.’

  And just like that the moment was gone, along with his chance.

  CHAPTER NINE

  BETH TRIED TO focus on her mum all morning but sometimes—like now, as her mum made the life-affirming decision as to which drawer to put her nightwear in, and then perfected the folding technique they’d seen on TV—her thoughts drifted.

  Could it be possible that Dennis was knowingly giving contaminated food to the dogs?

  No. No, she wouldn’t entertain that thought. But even so, going up to Oaktree Farm to play detective made her a little uneasy. Not physically, not at all, but she wasn’t confident at dealing with confused or defensive patients. She was glad she’d have Alex with her. Safety in numbers would be best.

  Her heart gave a little jump at the thought of him. And she had to admit that last night had been a step in the right direction. Being on Oak’s Top had felt right. Until she’d almost suggested that sharing his bed might happen, or be a good thing or...

  She checked her watch. Twelve fifteen. He should have called her by now. His afternoon clinic started at two, so he was fast running out of time to get up to Dennis’s and back. She called the clinic and, after lengthy ‘How are you?’s back and forth with Maxine, she was put through. ‘Did you forget we were going up to see Dennis?’

  ‘I’m sorry. One of the Archer kids is having a serious asthma attack and I’m waiting for the ambulance. I can’t leave, not yet.’

  ‘No, of course not. Stay there.’ There was no choice. He was the doctor; she was the vet. ‘I have to pick up Button from the clinic. I can’t take advantage of their generosity any longer. I said I’d be there at twelve and it’s now almost twenty past and I haven’t left yet. I’ll get him and then I’ll go see Dennis.’

  ‘No. Absolutely not. I don’t want you going on your own. We’ll go together, later.’

  His voice was firm and commanding, and for a millisecond she thought about agreeing. But she couldn’t wait. Who knew how long Alex was going to be dealing with a sick child? And if Dennis really was hurting his animals, he needed to be stopped.

  It was a slithery, slippery journey up an icy road flanked by oaks and too many times she skidded. But finally up at Oaktree Farm Beth parked in the courtyard, took a big deep breath and climbed out.

  ‘Stay here, Button. I won’t be long.’ She left a window slightly open, a blanket in case he got cold and a bowl of water on the floor of the car, then walked across the courtyard.

  On her right the barn doors had been drawn open and there were fresh tyre tracks in the snow. If he wasn’t here then he was out, somewhere, on his farm. God knew where.

  Maybe he’d been out and returned already. She hammered on the door. No answer. She pushed it open and called again, ‘Dennis! It’s me, Beth, from the vet’s.’

  There was a bowl of fresh dog food on the floor by the front door. She looked closely and it all looked normal but...wait. Was that powder in there? Or snow? Or was it her imagination conjuring things up? Not quite believing she was doing this, she scooped some of the food into a plastic bag and stuffed it into her handbag. She’d send that off for analysis when she got back to the clinic. As she straightened a collie appeared from a room further in the house.

  ‘Are you June?’ The dog looked up at her then whined and came slowly over to sniff Beth’s hand. ‘Are you okay, girl? Where’s Dennis? Dennis? Dennis?’

  But the dog just lay down on the hall floor.

  ‘What’s the matter, old girl?’ She stroked the dog’s head and bent to take a better look at her when she was barrelled from behind, almost toppling over.

  It was Meg, barking and rubbing her nose into Meg’s hip.

  ‘Hey, Meg. Hey, girl. How’re you doing?’

  The dog looked as if she’d recovered from her ordeal. She let Beth fuss her and check she was okay and then ran outside. And back inside again. Beth breathed out. The old mutt had got her energy back at least. Meg ran to the door and stopped, looking back at Beth. Then bounded over and tugged on her coat. Then back to the door.

  ‘Where’s Dennis?’ Beth asked as Meg ran back and forth, barking. ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

  What to do? June looked exhausted and melancholy and there was definitely something not right with her. Thank God I left Button in the car.

  Meg nuzzled against Beth’s leg then sank her teeth into Beth’s coat and tugged. ‘You want me to come with you? Is...is it Dennis? Where is he?’

  Something skittered down her spine. Ice. Fear. Meg was running in circles, frantic...to the door, to Beth, to the door, to Beth.

  It was eerily quiet. Where was Dennis? She looked at her phone. The reception signal bars dipped and then rose and then disappeared altogether. Further down the hall she found an ancient landline and picked up the receiver. No dial tone. Damn. It had been working the other day when she rang him. Maybe the recent heavy snow had brought the lines down?

  She tried to control her panicky heart as she thought. She couldn’t call Alex to discuss what she should do. She was on her own. Did she bundle June into the c
ar and take her to the clinic? Did she go with Meg to find Dennis? And why was Meg so frantic? That was not a good sign. Meg? June? Or Dennis?

  The lethargic collie was at least safe and warm in the house and wasn’t having seizures and there was no sign of vomiting. And Meg was frantic. She made her decision. ‘Okay, girl. Show me.’

  After shoving the bowl of food outside and then closing the door to make sure June couldn’t get to it, Beth followed the collie out to the right of the farm and along tyre tracks that veered off up a hill.

  The dog clearly knew exactly where she was going and kept running ahead and then back checking Beth was following. But Beth wasn’t as fit or as agile as a collie and the uphill hike whipped the breath from her lungs. It was as if ice hung in the air, thick and heavy, making everything slippery. Up and up they went following fresh thick tracks. A tractor or quad?

  They topped the hill and she tracked across the landscape looking for something. She didn’t know what. But as she peered down to her left she spied something that jarred. Something red and metal.

  She started towards it and as she got closer saw it was a quad bike, tyres uppermost.

  ‘Oh, my God, he’s fallen off the quad.’ She started to run but it was too hard to maintain a grip and the next thing she knew she was tumbling over and over down the hill, ricocheting off small stones and rocks, wincing at pain in her shoulder, the small of her back, her left thigh. Eventually she came to a stop face first in the snow and still metres from Dennis. Damn.

  Her heart thumped hard and she tried to suck frigid air into her lungs. She was here, alone. There was a sick dog back at the farm and Dennis underneath a quad bike. She needed to be calm and not put herself in danger too. Wasn’t the first rule of emergency rescue to make sure the rescuer was safe?

  Okay. Big breath. And another.

  Putting all her weight through her arms, she shoved herself upright, put her foot out and pitched forwards on the ice.

  She didn’t have time to care as she stumbled and slid down the hill, placing her feet in the tyre grooves in the snow to give her boot tread something to grip on. She was tired and aching and breathless when she reached the upturned quad.