The Secret Dog

by Joe Friedman

  From Calum’s puzzled look, Josh realised that he didn’t know what forums were. Or YouTube for that matter. Josh took some time to explain them, and to answer his uncle’s questions. He didn’t want to exclude Calum from anything to do with Reggae, ever again.

  ‘You’ve been very resourceful and very ingenious.’

  Josh blushed.

  ‘. . . The patience I learned from you helped too,’ he said.

  Calum looked at him, surprise written all over his face. It was as though it had never occurred to him that Josh might learn anything from him.

  ‘I’ve tried to be a good . . .’ his voice trailed off.

  ‘You have been!’ Josh protested. ‘I just never . . .’

  Then neither of them said anything for a while.

  Calum broke the silence. ‘You didn’t bring the sheep in using Polo mints . . . Or save the scraps for a wounded animal . . .’

  ‘I hated lying to you. It’s just that I had this plan – I had to keep her secret until she proved herself at the Gathering.’

  He was just making excuses. He owed Calum more than that. ‘I was a coward. I’d understand if you wanted to punish me.’

  Calum looked at Josh a long time. ‘It was wrong to lie to me. But now you’re taking responsibility for what you’ve done.’ He paused. ‘At your age, that’s all I can ask.’

  Josh leant over and hugged his uncle again. ‘I promise I’ll never ever do anything like this again.’

  Josh felt Calum tense. Maybe he didn’t like being hugged. Josh let go. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘It’s not you, Josh. It’s just that my family . . . we weren’t very physical with one another.’

  Josh gazed at Reggae and thought about his mum. How she had hugged him and kissed him at every opportunity. She must have been trying to be different with him from how she was raised . . .

  ‘We have some decisions to make,’ Calum continued. ‘Like where we put the kennel.’

  Josh could hardly believe his ears. ‘Do you mean it?’

  Chapter 30

  The last day of the Gathering was the one crofters dreaded. It started on the cliffs and was the severest test of man and dog. An over-eager dog could cause sheep to panic and go over the edge. And dogs had been lost when the crumbly cliff face dissolved under their feet as they tried to get behind a lamb at the cliff’s edge. Josh had had nightmares about it.

  But it was an opportunity for Reggae to prove herself, and for him to complete the Gathering and make money to help Calum with her keep.

  He’d never spent any time on the cliffs with Reggae because getting to that part of the commons involved them crossing a major road, and then a forest which walkers and tourists used a lot. The cliffs and the rocky land leading up to them were just beyond the forest.

  Josh and Reggae had been promoted to the top of the cliff. Dr James, the old vet, walked with him as they climbed to their starting point. Josh had discovered his first name was Hugh, but he didn’t feel it was right to call him that.

  ‘It’s a compliment to you and your young ’un,’ Dr James was saying. ‘But unless I miss my guess, she isn’t used to cliffs.’

  ‘We’ve never been up here.’

  ‘The cliffs are a wild and beautiful place. But they’re dangerous too. Especially for those who don’t know their ways. Let my experienced dog lead the way today.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Josh said, relieved.

  For some reason, Josh didn’t feel shy with Dr James. He plied him with questions about what a vet would do in different situations.

  But every so often Josh had to interrupt him because Reggae was drifting too close to the cliff’s edge. She was totally without fear, and just didn’t seem able to let another dog – even Hugh’s old Border – gather ‘her’ sheep.

  ‘Come Reggae. Now!’ Josh shouted for the tenth time that day. When Reggae returned, reluctantly, Josh scolded her. ‘If you don’t listen, I’ll have to put you on the lead.’ He removed the lead from his rucksack to show it to her. She brushed against his leg and rolled over on her tummy.

  ‘Don’t try to get around me,’ Josh warned affectionately. ‘Just two more cliffs and then we’ll head down to the pens. Stay with me.’

  Then Josh spotted a ewe and two lambs just up ahead, grazing on a patch of grass near a rocky outcrop.

  Josh headed up the hill, keeping his hand on Reggae’s collar. He could get behind the sheep himself, and walk them down a safe distance. Then his dog could take over. But as Josh was approaching the small group, a rambler dressed in a bright red jacket appeared on the other side of the outcrop. The lambs panicked, and skittered to within feet of the cliff edge. The ewe bleated, and headed after them.

  ‘Steady!’ Dr James shouted from along the cliff. ‘Give them a moment to get used to everyone.’ Josh stopped. So did the rambler, who seemed to realise the delicacy of the situation. Josh kept a tight grip on Reggae’s collar. After a few minutes, the ewe and lambs had relaxed enough to start grazing.

  It was then that Josh saw the sea eagle, dropping out of a cloud above and to their right. It was a large one. And it was swooping towards the sheep. In his mind’s eye, Josh saw what the eagle intended – to pick up a lamb, lift it over the cliff edge, and then drop it, where it could feast on it at leisure. Josh’s brain went into turbo overdrive. If he shouted or let Reggae go, the little group would panic. They all might go over the edge.

  Josh couldn’t see a solution that would be safe for the sheep – and for Reggae. So he just held on to her. He could only watch as the eagle swooped down, lifted a lamb by the neck, then dropped it onto the rocks below. Startled, the ewe and the other lamb raced down the hill.

  Josh let Reggae go after them. Dr James joined him and they walked up to the cliff edge together. The lamb was still. Josh felt awful.

  Dr James put his hand gently on Josh’s back. ‘You saw it coming, didn’t you?’

  ‘Yes,’ Josh said, ashamed. ‘I was afraid to let her go.’

  ‘You did exactly the right thing. If you’d released her, we would have lost all three, and maybe the young pup too. The eagles are part of the natural order too. We can spare a lamb or two for those magnificent birds.’

  ‘I’ve always thought of them as my enemy,’ Josh said, surprised. ‘They want to eat the little animals I rescue.’

  ‘They have as much right to dinner as we do.’

  They started down the hill together. ‘You’ve an old head for such a young lad. You’re always watching and learning.’

  ‘That’s because I have a lot to learn! But I do like watching, especially animals. All of them have their different ways.’

  ‘That they do,’ Dr James agreed.

  * * *

  They drove the sheep they’d gathered into the pens.

  ‘Good work, Josh.’

  ‘See you tomorrow, Josh.’

  ‘Tomorrow the hard graft starts, right Josh?’

  The first day, the crofters had all referred to him as Calum’s boy. Now they called him by his name. That felt good. And yet strangely, after the other night, he felt more like Calum’s boy than ever before.

  Josh bent down to give Reggae a rub. Dunham appeared. He hadn’t approached Josh since the first day of the Gathering. The vet had kept them working in different areas.

  ‘You were right to keep quiet to protect me,’ he rasped.

  Josh stood so that he could look Dunham straight in the eye. He felt a confidence he’d never known before. ‘I wasn’t protecting you,’ he replied. ‘Just your dogs. It’s not their fault their owner didn’t train them properly.’

  Dunham stared at Josh, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. Then his face flushed.

  ‘I’ve trained more dogs than you’ve had winters.’

  Josh raised his eyebrows. ‘I hope your other dogs weren’t as vicious as the ones I’ve seen.’

  Dunham’s face turned an even darker red. But Josh had had enough of the sour man’s anger. He called Reggae and started to walk
away.

  ‘Don’t you . . .’ Dunham snarled. Josh glanced back. Dunham had stopped mid-sentence because he’d clocked that a group of crofters were looking at him. A moment of fear crossed the man’s flushed face. Josh guessed he was wondering if they’d overheard the conversation.

  He turned away, pleased he’d won this small victory. He knew this wasn’t the end of the matter. He had an enemy for life. Still, he wasn’t going to let this bully spoil his sense of accomplishment. The Gathering couldn’t have gone better. He and Reggae had set out to prove their worth. They’d accomplished that, and more.

  He had leftover chicken to look forward to. And there was a lot to tell his uncle after dinner.

  Chapter 31

  Josh pulled out the last remaining blanket from the shed.

  ‘You want to keep this smelly old thing?’ he asked Reggae.

  She grabbed it with her teeth and pulled on it.

  ‘I’ll take that for a yes, then,’ Josh said, his voice smiling. He gazed at the old broken-down shed. ‘We’ve had some good times here, haven’t we, pup?’

  But Reggae was too excited to sit and talk. She started towards the house, dragging the blanket with her. She wanted it in her new kennel.

  * * *

  Josh and Yvonne sat in the afternoon sun, with Reggae between them. Josh was rubbing Reggae’s tummy and Yvonne stroking her cheek. Reggae was almost purring.

  Behind them was the new kennel he and Calum had built in the croft’s front garden. It had space for Reggae to lie in the sun while Josh and Calum were away, and a rear compartment which was sheltered from the wind, rain and snow. She loved it.

  Suddenly, Reggae leaped to her feet and started barking. She took her new role as watchdog very seriously. And she liked being able to bark now that she wasn’t a secret dog.

  Josh looked up and was surprised to see the vet at the gate.

  ‘Oh!’ Yvonne exclaimed. ‘He must have finished early!’

  Josh didn’t have time to react, as Yvonne’s father approached, holding out his hand. Josh got up and shook it. ‘Hello, Mr . . . Neill,’ he said awkwardly.

  Neill smiled and admired the kennel. ‘I do prefer the home-made ones . . . Is your uncle home?’

  Josh nodded.

  ‘I’d love a cup of tea.’

  * * *

  The four of them sat around the kitchen table with their mugs. As ever, the kitchen was dark. But unusually, Reggae had been allowed to come in with them. She sat at Josh’s feet, occasionally licking his ankles.

  The vet took a sip of his tea, and nodded to Calum. He leant over and took a white envelope from his briefcase. He handed it to Josh. ‘We’ve just settled the fank accounts.’

  Josh tore open the envelope and found a cheque for £600. He was stunned.

  ‘The prices for the sheep were good this year, and the crofters voted you a full share. It was almost unanimous.’ Josh could guess who had voted against him. ‘But I had to write the cheque to your uncle because, legally, you’re not old enough to work.’

  Josh had dreamt of this moment, of having his own money, of the things he could buy. But, much to his surprise, he found himself saying, ‘I owe Calum much more than that.’

  Calum looked down at the table and blinked rapidly. Then, after a pause, he said, in a gruff, thick voice. ‘Don’t be daft, boy. We’ll open a bank account for you. You’ve earned it.’

  Neill continued. ‘The men were full of your praises. They said you were strong and not afraid of hard work. And that you were a natural stockman.’

  Josh blushed. He knew that was the crofter’s highest compliment. ‘It’s not me,’ he blurted. ‘Reggae’s just a natural dog.’

  ‘And that got me to thinking,’ the vet continued, as if Josh hadn’t said anything. ‘I’m not able to get around like I used to. I’ve got arthritis in my knees and hips.’

  Josh had noticed that the vet moved with difficulty, wincing often.

  ‘Yvonne tells me saving animals is your passion. And Hugh told me how impressed he was with you and that you were interested in what it was like being a vet.’

  Why were Yvonne and Calum smiling at him? Did they know something he didn’t? Some secret?

  ‘What I’m getting at, in my long-winded way, is that there’s a lot of heavy physical work involved in being a vet. I just can’t do it any more. I need someone to help me.’

  Josh still didn’t get what Neill was driving at.

  Neill looked Josh in the eye. ‘I was wondering if you’d be willing to help on some of my rounds. Maybe after school a few days a week and some time at the weekends. Of course, we’d have to work out a way for you to get paid until you’re officially old enough to have a job, and you’d also have the chance to learn more about helping animals.’

  ‘Me?’ Josh asked, his mouth open. ‘You want me to help you?’ He looked at Yvonne. ‘Yvonne already does that. And I’m sure she’s better at it than I would be.’

  Neill smiled. ‘Of course, Yvonne’s invaluable. But she’s five foot nothing, and the cows I need to manhandle into place weigh over 1000 pounds.’

  ‘I couldn’t,’ Josh said. ‘I’ve got to help Calum on the farm. And besides, I’m not smart enough.’

  ‘We could do it together,’ Yvonne urged.

  Josh’s head was reeling.

  Calum said, ‘It’s a great opportunity, son.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Josh asked his uncle. ‘You can’t do everything around the croft yourself . . .’

  ‘I’m not planning to,’ Calum said. ‘You’ll still have to do your homework, and help around the croft.’

  Josh looked around the table. He gradually realised that Calum had known that the vet was going to ask him to help. And so had Yvonne. All of them had known! Except him.

  Everyone was smiling at him encouragingly. Like they were a family. The one he’d never had.

  He stood up, unable to contain himself. ‘Did you hear that Reggae?’ Reggae rose to her feet, her tail wagging.

  ‘I’ll take that as a “yes”,’ Yvonne’s father said, in a deadpan voice.

  ‘Definitely. Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you, sir!’ He looked at Yvonne. And without thinking gave her a quick hug. She blushed.

  Not wanting to be left out of all the excitement, Reggae leapt up and licked Josh’s face. Josh held her against him, as Reggae licked his face again.

  ‘This is all down to you,’ Josh told her. ‘My super, secret dog!’

  Acknowledgements

  Some years ago, my family visited the Isle of Skye for the first time. We stayed with Yvonne White and Joe Curran, who run a small croft and B&B outside Portree. Their place became the inspiration for Uncle Calum’s croft. And the idea for The Secret Dog came out of a late night conversation between Joe and the now retired Skye vet, Neal Stephenson.

  I have a golden retriever who will occasionally sit when I command, but no one would say I was a great dog trainer. To make the dog training in the book accurate, I needed help from real dog trainers, and I was lucky to find Julie Hill and Nij Vyas. Julie showed me how a master works with a well-trained dog, and Nij gave me my first experience of working with border collies. Julie also read all the bits of the book about dog training to correct any mistakes I made.

  Neal Stephenson was the inspiration for the vet in the book (though he wouldn’t recognise himself or his van!), and he answered some of my many questions. But I felt I needed to see a vet in action. Dr Iain Muir generously agreed that I could spend a day with him. I watched him doing operations and saw what happened when he did rounds.

  My writer’s group – Candy Gourlay, Helen Peters and Christina Vinali – read many early drafts of The Secret Dog and their suggestions improved it enormously. Cliff McNish, who joined the group after I’d finished the book, read it as a whole and offered many helpful suggestions.

  Others who read the book at various points and who offered valuable comments include Sarah and Hannah Beskine, my daughter, Susie, and my wife, Julie. I owe a spec
ial thanks to Susie, without whom I would never have written a single children’s book, and to Julie, who is my rock in days when writing and life are not going well.

  I don’t really believe you can send a children’s book out into the world without reading it aloud to a real child first. Ana Rock was a great audience, and I could tell from the moments when her attention wandered which bits needed rewriting.

  Finally, my wonderful agent, Lindsey Fraser, not only found my publisher, Birlinn, but also made valuable suggestions that improved a later draft.

  Joe Friedman

  March 2015