Ragtag had once again disappeared, only this time he seemed to have learned his name, and came when she called him. But he seemed to want to go again, and Ryan frowned as he began to bark, forgetting self-recrimination for the moment. Something was wrong, Ragtag wanted her to follow him.
She soon discovered why. Lying in the next field was a dead ewe, and by its side the tiniest little lamb Ryan had ever seen, looking no more than a few days old at the most.
The ewe was definitely dead, and she had no idea what to do about the lamb. Should she move it, or should she find Grant and bring him back here? She decided the latter would be the wisest, safest course. After all, what did she know about sheep—only that they were woolly and cute!
She told Ragtag to stay with the lamb, and knew by the way he sat down that he had understood her, knew by the apprehension in the little lamb’s face that he wouldn’t dare move either.
Her lungs felt as if they were bursting by the time she got back to the house, and a frantic search of the yard and stable didn’t reveal Grant. She ran breathlessly into the house, asking a startled Shelley for the whereabouts of Grant’s study.
He told her. ‘But he asked not to be disturbed,’ he called after her as she approached the study door.
She could imagine why, knew that the same recriminations that had been going through her mind were probably going through Grant’s right now. Well, personal tensions didn’t enter into it when an animal’s life was at stake.
Grant looked up with a scowl as she burst into the room, making no pretence of working; his desk was clear. ‘What do you want?’ he rasped.
Ryan allowed herself a moment’s sympathy for the strain about his eyes and mouth, knowing he was finding it even more difficult than she was to reconcile himself to the way they had made love. But then she straightened, telling herself once again that this man didn’t need her sympathy, for anything. ‘There’s a sheep—I mean an ewe, and a lamb, and—’
‘Calm down, Ryan,’ he sighed, his eyes narrowed. ‘There are lots of ewes, and even more lambs.’
‘Yes, but this one’s dead—the ewe, I mean. And the lamb looks—looks sort of lost.’
Grant was already on his feet. ‘Take me to it,’ he ordered curtly, his expression grim.
Ryan hurried back to the spot where she had left Ragtag and the lamb, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw them both still in the same position, the lamb not seeming to realise its mother was dead as it huddled close against her.
Grant was down on his knees beside them, talking soothingly to the startled lamb, all the time inspecting the mother.
‘Why did it die?’ Ryan frowned. She could see no visible injuries, the ewe just looked as if it had lain down and died.
He shrugged. ‘It’s hard to say. Shock, I think.’ He swung the protesting lamb up in his arms. ‘I’m sorry, little feller, but she’s gone,’ he said gently.
Tears flooded Ryan’s eyes. ‘Shock?’ she repeated huskily.
‘Something frightened her, and very badly.’ He looked across the field with narrowed eyes, but the other ewes seemed undisturbed. He turned with a shrug. ‘We sometimes get the village dogs coming up here for sport. She probably—Ryan?’ he frowned, having noticed her tears for the first time. ‘What is it?’ he demanded. ‘What’s wrong?’
She swallowed hard. ‘The lamb and I have something in common,’ she choked. ‘We’re both orphans.’ She looked up at him challengingly.
‘Your parents are both dead?’
‘Years ago,’ she nodded.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said abruptly. ‘But this little feller won’t be an orphan for long, I’ll find him a new mother.’
‘Like adoption,’ she realised dully.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Were you adopted too?’
Her head went back. ‘No, I was too old. Almost three,’ she revealed bitterly. ‘Past the cute stage of babyhood.’
‘You still seem like a baby to me,’ he said harshly. ‘Come on, let’s get this lamb back to the house.’
Once back at the house Grant carried the lamb over to the Land Rover. ‘My manager has the adoption pens near his cottage, so that he can keep an eye on them at all times,’ he explained. ‘And Ryan—’ he turned before getting in behind the wheel.
‘Yes?’ she frowned.
‘Thanks,’ he nodded abruptly.
She didn’t answer, watching as the Land Rover went down the gravel driveway. How could Grant possibly still see her as a baby after making love to her so passionately?
And she didn’t want his thanks for taking him to the lamb. What had he expected her to do, leave it to its own devices? Fresh tears fell for the lamb’s loss; she was sure that a replacement mother could never be the same.
She had never really regretted not being adopted herself, she and Diana were very close, and Diana was the only family she had ever wanted or needed.
‘You were very good, Ragtag.’ She gave him a congratulatory pet, realising that now he was part of her family too. But a very nice part; even after only two days of his company she couldn’t remember what it was like without him. ‘Let’s go and finish our walk,’ she suggested softly.
Mandy was once again on her own when Ryan came down for dinner, and her heart constricted at the thought of having to face another meal with Valerie Chatham. Yesterday it had been bad enough, but after this afternoon she didn’t think she could bear to see the other woman touching Grant.
She paled as she realised how much she would hate that, hardly daring to probe why she wouldn’t like it.
‘Grant is dining at Valerie’s,’ Mandy interrupted her tortuous thoughts. ‘He shouldn’t be back until late.’
Ryan studiously avoided the other girl’s glance. ‘I see.’ Why did she suddenly feel sick, her palms hot and sweaty?
‘He told me about the lamb,’ Mandy continued softly.
Her interest quickened. ‘Did he manage to find an adoptive mother for it?’
‘Don, that’s the estate manager, will do it if anyone can. He’s very good with the sheep.’ Her tone revealed her admiration of the manager.
Now Ryan was totally confused. She had thought Mandy’s interest lay in Peter Thornby, now it appeared she liked Grant’s manager too.
‘I’m glad,’ she said woodenly.
Dinner was a strained affair. Ryan hardly touched her food. In fact, she was hardly aware of what she ate. What were Grant and Valerie doing now, were they eating dinner too, or were they in each other’s arms? Her sickness returned as she envisaged the other couple making love. She couldn’t be falling in love with Grant herself, she just couldn’t!
‘Ryan?’
She blinked up at Mandy, breathing deeply. ‘Yes?’
The other girl chewed her bottom lip, a gesture of insecurity that was totally unlike her. ‘I—I came down to the stables earlier,’ she said softly.
Ryan stiffened. ‘Yes?’
‘I called out,’ Mandy continued, ‘but no one answered.’ She hesitated again. ‘I know Grant was there because Saladin was out in the yard.’
‘Saladin?’ Ryan echoed sharply.
‘His horse,’ Mandy dismissed. ‘Ryan—’
‘Why are you telling me all this?’ Ryan interrupted abruptly. ‘Maybe Grant had just been called away for a moment,’ she suggested jerkily.
‘No,’ the other girl shook her head. ‘And I’m truly not trying to embarrass you. I know I’ve been a bitch to you since you arrived, but I’m perfectly sincere about this. I know you and Grant were out there, together, but that’s really none of my business. I just wanted you to know how vulnerable Grant is, and that if you’re really serious about Mark to stay away from Grant. He’s already been hurt once, I don’t think he could take it again.’
‘I—How was he hurt?’ Ryan’s mouth felt dry, her heart beating erratically.
‘Ten years ago he was engaged to be married. He loved Rebecca very much, and she died.’
CHAPTER FIVE
WHEN Mandy
told her the cottage was ready to move into the next day Ryan heaved a sigh of relief.
Whether or not Grant had been deliberately ignoring her she didn’t know, but she had been deliberately avoiding him. She had heard him arrive home late the previous evening, but with the clean Ragtag already in her bedroom with her she knew there was no chance of a repeat of the night before. Grant was out on the estate all morning; he did not return for lunch either, and it was from the manager that Mandy learnt the cottage was ready.
Ryan couldn’t have been more relieved, and she gladly accepted Mandy’s offer to drive her to the cottage, the two of them, by tacit agreement, not mentioning Grant.
‘Come and use the studio any time,’ Mandy offered. ‘After all, that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?’
Ryan looked at the other girl sharply, but could see nothing but friendliness in the pretty face. ‘Yes, that’s why I’m here. I love the cottage!’ She looked about her appreciatively.
It was one of the pretty white thatched cottages she had seen on the day she had arrived when she had walked from the station. It was situated about halfway between the village and Montgomery Hall, meaning she wouldn’t have too far to walk to get her groceries.
The inside was fully furnished, if a little old-fashioned, having a tiny but fully equipped kitchen, a slightly bigger living-room, two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.
‘There’s no telephone, I’m afraid,’ Mandy grimaced. ‘But if you need to call anyone you can always use the one up at the house. The fireplace is in full working order if you want to light a fire—’
‘In April?’ Ryan’s eyes widened.
Mandy nodded. ‘You’d be surprised how cold it can get in the evenings here. We have central heating at the Hall, so you might not have noticed it. But there’s an electric fire stored in the kitchen if you don’t feel like lighting the fire.’
‘Good,’ Ryan smiled. ‘I’ve never had a real fire myself, the flat I share has central heating too.’
Mandy laughed. ‘Fires can be very messy. Is there anything else I can do for you?’
She shook her head. ‘You’ve been very kind already. Say—say goodbye to Grant for me.’
‘Hardly goodbye, Ryan. You’ll probably see him up at the house when you use the studio.’
‘Probably,’ Ryan agreed lightly, hoping it didn’t happen too often. She was as wary of Grant as he probably was of her, having no more wish to get hurt than he did.
She had been stunned by learning of the tragic death of his fiancée in a car crash, and she knew how badly he must have been hurt. But he had Valerie now, and she wasn’t stupid enough to think the passionate kisses they had shared had meant anything lasting to him.
Just as they meant nothing to her. She kept telling herself that in the hope that she would eventually believe it. The alternative was too frightening to even think about.
‘I’ll get back, then,’ Mandy said brightly. ‘Don’t hesitate to tell me if you need anything.’
How different the other girl was now from when Ryan had first arrived. And she couldn’t say she wasn’t relieved.
There was only her case to unpack, as she had left the rest of her things in the studio after working in there all morning. She put her things away quickly in the wardrobe and drawers, wanting to get down to the village to buy some groceries before the shop closed. She had been told by Mandy that there was one foodstore, although the food was more expensive than in the supermarkets, but she had expected that.
She must be in better condition than she had been two days ago, for she made the walk in comparative ease, feeling none of the aching leg muscles she had suffered the first day.
After getting her supplies she enquired the way to Peter Thornby’s surgery, mindful of his advice about taking Ragtag to see him if he should turn up again.
‘Hello there,’ Peter greeted her warmly when it was her turn to go in. He looked a little more official today, with his hair neatly combed, and wearing a long white coat. ‘He came back, then.’ He looked down at Ragtag. ‘You’ve cleaned him up nicely.’
‘I think so,’ she nodded. ‘I had a bit of trouble with him out in the waiting-room, though, he kept growling at the man who came in before us.’ She had been surprised by Ragtag’s behaviour, she had thought his growls were for Grant alone. She had been wrong, because he was growling at Peter too now.
‘Maybe he just didn’t like the look of him,’ Peter dismissed. ‘Animals have likes and dislikes too, you know. He doesn’t like me either,’ he mused as he tried to lift the dog up on to the examination table and almost got his hand bitten off for his trouble.
‘Or Grant,’ Ryan frowned, struggling to lift the heavy dog up herself, almost collapsing by the time she had him up on the table.
‘Maybe it’s just men in general,’ Peter shrugged as he quickly carried out his examination. ‘He seems in fine health. Good appetite?’
‘Oh yes,’ she laughed.
‘Don’t overfeed him,’ he warned. ‘Hm, he seems in very good health—he’s about eighteen months old, I’d say. He needs all his injections, and they’re expensive,’ he warned.
‘I thought they might be,’ Ryan nodded. ‘Still, if he needs them.’ She could always starve for a week or two!
‘Someone picking you up?’ Peter chatted as he gave the protesting Ragtag his injections.
She shook her head. ‘I walked.’
‘I’ll give you a lift back if you don’t mind waiting a few minutes,’ he offered. ‘I just have to see Mrs White’s cat and then I’ll be finished.’
Ryan accepted the offer, having bought more shopping than she realised, grateful not to have to carry it back to the cottage. Within ten minutes they were on the road, Ragtag in the back grumbling to himself.
‘So the cottage is ready now,’ Peter nodded as she told him where she was staying.
‘Today,’ she smiled. ‘I think Mandy was disappointed you didn’t come in on Saturday.’ She watched him closely.
‘Really?’ He suddenly seemed distant.
Ryan sensed his withdrawal. So Mandy’s interest was returned. Then why hadn’t the two of them got together?
‘I’m sure she’d like it if you called,’ Ryan persisted, trying to gauge his reaction. He certainly wasn’t as unmoved by this mention of Mandy as he wanted to appear; his jaw was suddenly tight, his smile forced.
‘I’m kept pretty busy—’
‘Not that busy, surely?’
‘Just lately, yes,’ he insisted, tightly. ‘It’s been the lambing season, I’m always in demand then.’
‘Of course,’ she nodded, wisely deciding not to pursue the subject of Mandy for now. Something had gone sadly wrong between the couple, that much was obvious, and neither of them were willing to talk about it yet. Maybe Grant knew—When did she think she was going to talk to Grant so personally? She hadn’t even seen him since that painfully embarrassing time in the stable. ‘Come in for coffee or tea?’ she invited Peter as they stopped outside the cottage.
‘Thanks, I’d like to.’ He got out to open the back door for Ragtag, and the dog instantly ran off. ‘Will he come back?’ he asked with amusement, helping her carry in the heavy shopping.
‘Oh yes,’ Ryan smiled, confident that he would. Ragtag often wandered off on his own, but he always came back. She had a feeling he was here to stay!
As it was dinner time and she had to cook for herself she offered Peter a meal. After a hesitant refusal she persuaded him to stay, making him relax in the living-room while she went through to the kitchen.
As it was a warm evening she prepared a salad with the lovely roast ham she had bought, putting out fruit and cream for dessert. Not exactly a gastronomic delight, but Peter seemed to enjoy it.
‘To tell you the truth,’ he confided as he helped her with the washing-up, ‘I get sick of cooking for myself.’
Ryan felt very lighthearted, very relaxed. The sun still shone brightly, the back door of the cottage was open so that she
could hear the happy chirping of the birds outside, enjoying Peter’s company too. All felt good with the world, and as long as she continued not to think of Grant it would stay that way—she hoped.
‘No parents?’ she enquired softly.
‘They’ve moved down south now that my father’s retired.’
‘You need a wife,’ she teased.
‘Don’t you start—Sorry,’ he muttered. ‘Marriage isn’t for me,’ he amended lightly.
Could Mandy possibly be the other person to tell him he needed a wife, that she should be that wife? Mandy had a forthright way of saying exactly what she thought, so it was highly likely that she was the one to say it.
‘I believe Grant was going to get married once,’ said Ryan with forced casualness, curious about the woman he had been going to marry, although when Mandy had told her about it yesterday she had feigned uninterest.
‘Yes,’ Peter answered abruptly.
‘Ryan looked round at him curiously, frowning as she saw how pale he had gone. ‘Peter…? Did you know Rebecca?’
‘Yes.’ He was even more abrupt now.
Another touchy subject. The air seemed fraught with them since she had been in Sleaton. So much for a simple country life—London had nothing on the intrigue she was finding in Sleaton!
‘Will Ragtag have any ill-effects from his injections?’ She changed the subject once again. She seemed to do little else lately!
With all that had been happening since she had come here she had hardly given Alan a thought, in fact, she could barely remember what he looked like, and a month ago she had been heartbroken at their break-up. Once again it was mesmerising green eyes that blocked him from her mind. Who would block Grant from her mind?
‘He shouldn’t have,’ Peter answered briskly, once again the controlled vet. ‘Just keep an eye on him. I hardly recognised him as the same dog, by the way.’
Ryan laughed up at him. ‘I knew there was an Old English Sheepdog under there somewhere!’
‘What a cosy scene of domesticity!’ Grant walked in through the open doorway, his mouth twisting mockingly as he dwarfed them. ‘Peter,’ he nodded curtly to the other man.
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