Awakening His Shy Vet

by Shelley Rivers

  Mixed emotions gripped Kern. His aunt’s words were uncomfortable and true. No one had forced him to leave and no one had kept him away. But even yesterday he’d chosen to leave a message on Eloise’s answer machine, asking her to arrange for a vet to come, rather than go and face her in person.

  ‘How could I have stayed when her second husband had a share? A share my mother gave him even when she knew it was a disaster to give anything to someone like him. Fin would have fought me at every turn.’

  ‘So instead you’ve allowed him to destroy the place, panel by panel, nail by broken nail. Everything my parents and my sister gave to this place. The home and land your mother loved, same as your grandparents. All that history. You walked away from it because of a man not good enough to step onto this land, let alone be left with a free hand over it.’

  Kern sighed as he took in his surroundings again. ‘Better that than stay and be guilty of ripping it apart through fights and petty disagreements. Fin was never going to go along with anything I wanted or decided without arguing over it first. Better to start over than give myself a premature heart attack like the one that killed my mother. Besides, I didn’t know it was this bad.’

  ‘You didn’t care, Kern,’ Eloise said sadly.

  Keeping a tight hold of the rope, she hitched the curve of her walking stick to the leather belt around her waist and lifted a tender hand to soothe the mare.

  ‘Well, my darling. We know how that feels, don’t we? When someone stops caring.’

  ‘It wasn’t that I didn’t care—’ Kern began, and the words were bitter on his tongue. He’d been raised to believe that he would inherit the whole property, but when his mother’s will had been read he’d discovered that she hadn’t only married Fin to keep his horses, but had also handed over forty-five per cent of the business. A business the man had no interest in building or growing. ‘It was just—’

  Eloise waved a hand at him, but when she spoke her tone was softer. ‘Your dear mother hoped you’d be strong enough to grasp the challenge. Yet you packed up and left the day after the will was read. Sulked like the child you were. Married that cheap little opportunist—’

  ‘Don’t call my wife that,’ he warned. He was aware that everything his aunt accused Corinne of being was sadly true, but he wouldn’t hear a word against her. She’d had faults, yes, but she hadn’t been completely to blame. ‘She was—’

  Eloise sneered, unhooking her stick from her belt. ‘Just because the woman’s dead, don’t turn her into some saint. She saw ambition and talent in your eyes and she wanted to ride your colours. She was always going to be the ruin of you. All those years of work and she wrecked it all—just to spite you. You silly boy. You chose to be loyal to the wrong person, when this place was where you should have been.’

  Kern opened his mouth to deny the accusation, but his aunt’s words held too much truth. Nothing he said would make her understand his deceased wife’s complex nature. Hell, he had struggled with it for most of their marriage.

  ‘I still know people in the game, Kern. Don’t try and dismiss what she did.’

  Kern lowered his head. His aunt had never liked Corinne and she wasn’t going to change her opinion. But she didn’t know the whole story—no one did. Only he knew what had really caused his wife’s actions that last day. Corinne might have caused the mayhem, but he was the one who’d helped to push her to it. That and the cruel reality that occasionally life denied a person what they truly craved.

  ‘She’s dead, Eloise.’

  ‘I know—and I won’t lie to you and pretend I cried tears over the news. But it doesn’t change the truth that you ran away from your heritage and she made certain you stayed away. Until now.’

  Kern swallowed hard, unable to deny it. He had run and, as Eloise had already pointed out, he was guilty of never picking up a phone or turning up for a visit.

  ‘Well, I’m here now.’

  ‘Yes, you are—though I do wonder how long for. Is this just a quick stop-off, or are you actually going to stay for a while?’

  He didn’t answer. If his aunt knew that he planned to leave as soon as possible, he hated to imagine her reaction. ‘If you’ll excuse me? I’m going to check on my horse.’

  She nodded and remarked dryly, ‘I’m sure some time outside will help clear that hangover you’re carrying.’

  He opened his mouth to deny it, but she shook her head. ‘Don’t be that liar I mentioned earlier.’

  He moved towards the entrance, needing fresh air for more than just to clear his head. The stables, despite their condition, still held memories in every corner he looked. They stifled and taunted him. Reminding him of everything he had lost both recently and long ago.

  ‘Did the vet come yet?’ his aunt asked.

  Glad for a subject other than raking up the past, he nodded. ‘Yes, but Fin came out of the house and played up, so I sent her away.’

  Eloise smiled mysteriously. ‘She’s arrived in Dorset, then? Good. Here—take this girl,’ she ordered, holding out the rope. ‘I rescued this sweetheart yesterday and I need someone to look after her.’

  Kern sighed and reached for the rope. What did the woman expect him to do with the mare? The stables were hardly decent, clean or accommodating. ‘Why can’t you do it?’

  Eloise patted the mare gently on the neck. ‘I’m too old and all my barns are full.’

  ‘With what?’

  She shoved a hand into her cardigan pocket and turned towards the entrance. ‘Things I doubt you’d be interested in. Look after her. She needs someone to care. She used to be a bit of a star once.’

  So had he, Kern mused silently. One so bright he’d believed he would be star for ever. What a joke.

  ‘This place is falling down and I have no bedding.’

  Eloise raised her eyebrow once more. ‘Then you’d best get busy rectifying those issues. You never used to be afraid of hard work. Please don’t tell me that has changed.’

  ‘Of course not,’ he retorted.

  He’d worked his backside off to achieve his dreams and no one could take that truth from him.

  She chuckled and walked away. ‘Good to see you home, Kern. I truly hope this time you find the gumption to stay.’

  CHAPTER THREE

  RUBY KNOCKED ON the frosted glass door of the 1960s bungalow, trying to decide if she might be better spending the remainder of the afternoon searching for a caravan site.

  When she’d returned to the practice and explained the events at MacKinley farm, and Kern MacKinley’s strange behaviour, her new boss had listened, then handed over half his afternoon appointments to her, stating she should consider them part of a practical interview.

  Thrilled to finally be working, Ruby had enjoyed every moment of the consultations. And despite a nervous start she’d managed to treat the seven animals without any mishaps.

  After her last appointment Anne had handed her a piece of paper with the name of a woman who would be willing to let Ruby park her caravan on her land for a small weekly fee. But then Anne had mentioned it was next door to the MacKinley farm and was owned by Kern MacKinley’s aunt.

  After this morning’s carry-on with the nephew, Ruby dreaded meeting the woman. What if she was as bad as her nephew?

  Ruby knocked again, leaning close to the glass to listen for any sign of movement from inside the building. Perhaps Eloise Blake had fallen asleep?

  Anne had told her the woman rarely answered the phone, and it would be better to drive out and talk to her in person.

  Finally a figure appeared through the glass and the door opened to reveal a dark-haired woman with silver streaks at her temples, leaning heavily on a walking stick.

  ‘Hello. Are you Eloise?’ Ruby asked, suddenly hit by an attack of nerves.

  The woman lifted her chin and gave Ruby a thorough once-over. ‘I am. You must be the new vet
from town.’

  Surprised, Ruby paused for a second. Had Anne contacted the woman and warned her of Ruby’s visit? ‘Yes. How did you know?’

  ‘Psychic, dear. I read it in my daily horoscope. How a young beautiful stranger with a lip ring would soon come to see me.’

  ‘Oh,’ Ruby said, her good mood evaporating. Obviously the MacKinleys and the Blakes were all bonkers. First the unclothed nephew and now the mystic aunt.

  ‘You think I’m batty, don’t you?’ Eloise asked with a smile. ‘Most people do when faced with a subject they don’t understand. Though I’d have thought you might think differently, considering your own special gift.’

  Discomfort moved over Ruby for the second time that day. What did this strange old lady know about her gift? Had Alex Morsi spoken to her about what Professor Handel had apparently told him? Did others know too?

  ‘I’m not—’

  Eloise huffed and shook her head, giving Ruby the impression she had disappointed the old woman. ‘I’m not crazy. It’s better you understand that from the start or you and I may well fall out. Now, you want to set up home on my land, do you?’

  Ruby wasn’t sure any more—but time was getting on and she needed to find somewhere to park for the night. ‘Is it possible?’ she asked.

  Eloise nodded and stepped out onto the doorstep. ‘It is. I suggest you park your caravan along by the river. It’s beautiful at this time of the year, and the weather forecast for the week says the sun is staying around.’

  ‘I own a dog,’ Ruby said, aware that not everyone liked or allowed animals on their land. She refused to stay anywhere Dog wasn’t welcome.

  Eloise slammed the front door. ‘Not a problem. I like dogs. Better company than humans, in my opinion. Almost as good as horses. Let’s take a drive down, shall we?’

  She didn’t wait for Ruby to reply. Instead, she walked past her and towards the car. With a quick hello to Dog, who’d stuck his head out of the open rear window, she climbed into the front passenger seat and slammed the door.

  Deciding she’d better follow, before the old lady changed her mind, Ruby hurried over to the car.

  Within minutes they were heading down a dirt track in the direction of the river.

  ‘I ran the place as a campsite until my second husband died and left me with a right mess to sort out, thanks to his aversion to paperwork. Still, he’s dead and I survived.’ She glanced towards Ruby. ‘It’s what we do, isn’t it? Survive the trauma and move on with our lives.’

  Ruby swallowed, but kept her eyes on the track. Something about Eloise Blake unsettled her. It was almost as though she knew things about Ruby’s past—which was impossible.

  ‘You’ll be able to hook up to electricity,’ Eloise continued. ‘The old cables still work. Hubby number two had his faults, but he was good at practical stuff.’ She pointed out through the windscreen to the land in front of them. ‘All this belongs to me, on this side of the river. The other side belongs mostly to my nephew. I understand you met him this morning?’

  Ruby nodded and turned through an open gate into a field. ‘Yes, he wanted someone to check his horse over but then he changed his mind once I arrived.’

  ‘He was being cautious, sending you away,’ Eloise explained. ‘Fin, my brother-in-law, is a difficult man when he’s sober and worse when he is drunk. Don’t worry, Kern would never allow a horse to suffer. He loves the creatures far too much to do anything so cruel. If he says its fine, then it’s the truth. But I’m sure you wish you’d seen for yourself.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well, you’ll get the chance soon.’ Eloise smiled mysteriously.

  A shiver waved up Ruby’s spine, increasing her discomfort. Yes, the family was definitely odd.

  ‘I will?’

  Eloise smiled again before pointing to a spot not far from the river’s edge. ‘It’s in the chart, my dear. It’s all written there if you know how to read it.’

  * * *

  Kern threw a stack of crinkled yellowed papers, consisting mainly of old receipts, bills and circulars for long-finished special offers on equine equipment, into the large plastic bin he’d dragged into the stable office from outside.

  Forcing every bit of his attention to the chore, he tried to ignore the complaints coming from Enticing Evie, his four-year-old filly, who was making it clear she wasn’t happy about being inside the old building.

  Giving the dusty room another weary glance, he felt his heart ache at the sight of all the neglect. This room had been the hub of the yard when he was a child. Often better kept and cleaner than the main house. The shelves had been filled with a variety of books on horse care, veterinary and training manuals. Each upright and in their proper place. Now the books were either missing or lying in discarded piles on the filthy floor.

  His eyes rested on a pair of leather gloves abandoned at the corner of the desk. His mother’s old riding gloves. He reached for them, feeling the leather dirty and stiff in his palms. These simple gloves had once been so much a part of his mother, he struggled to imagine her without them.

  Was she riding around heaven wearing a pair? He liked the idea of her jumping over hurdles, encouraging her favourite horse to do better, while his father yelled out praise from the side.

  His eyes stung as he stared down at the gloves. They’d been a Christmas gift from his father before he’d passed away. He’d been twenty-five years older than Kern’s mother, but the age gap had never bothered them or caused any issues in their marriage. They’d loved each other so much they’d seen only each other’s hearts and love.

  How he envied them that easy, natural love. So very different from the one he’d shared with Corinne.

  Was Eloise right? Had his mother truly believed he had enough grit and determination to deal with Fin—the man she’d married out of desperation when he’d threatened to remove his best horses from the yard and take them to her nearest competitor unless she did so?

  Evie’s objections increased, forcing Kern to move to the open doorway. The thoroughbred’s head was up, and she was stamping the ground like an equine Irish dancer having a tantrum. She tugged against the rope attaching her to the metal ring fixed into the wall and her eyes rolled as her body trembled and flinched.

  ‘Hey, pretty girl...’ he soothed, moving closer until he stood by her side.

  She didn’t want to be inside the building and she intended to make sure he knew it. She was desperate to return outside to the paddock, where she considered it safer. But a storm was forecast for the middle of the night, and he refused to leave her out in the elements.

  ‘I know you hate it in here. I do too, sweetheart. But you can’t stay outside in the paddock. It’s not safe, and you’re too precious to me.’

  He’d hoped having his aunt’s mare in one of the recently cleaned stalls he’d spent the afternoon repairing would help calm his girl, but she’d refused even to acknowledge the other horse.

  Kern glanced towards the open end of the stable. In the distance he could see the shape of a caravan. His aunt had texted him earlier to let him know the vet would be staying on her land.

  Great. Just what he needed. Miss Ruby Day was a distraction he could do without. He’d lost count of the amount of times her image had drifted through his thoughts since she’d left the farm earlier. Those serious brown eyes, her sweet pink mouth and her shocked expression at his undressed state...

  He smiled. It was a long time since he’d shocked a woman. Thank goodness she hadn’t figured out that the real reason he’d struggled to get his jeans on was due to his trying to hide the evidence of his body’s inopportune attraction to her.

  He’d considered marching over to Eloise’s to demand she send the woman on her way—but he doubted his aunt would listen, and he had no right to dictate who stayed on her side of the river anyway.

  He’d lost any rights by leaving and
staying silent for nineteen years. Today, when he tried to justify his reasons for doing so, he couldn’t. He had sulked like the schoolboy his aunt had accused him of being.

  First anger and grief had kept him away from Dorset. But as the years had turned into five, and then ten, and more, it had been embarrassment, shame and guilt which had kept his feet in another part of the country.

  The trouble was, not once in that time had he imagined Eloise getting old.

  What had happened to her second husband, Ralph? Had he left her too?

  Evie snorted in another display of irritation. Kern understood and didn’t blame her. After the bloodshed she’d experienced, the last thing she deserved was more stress. The drive to Dorset in the horsebox had been just about all the confinement she could stand.

  He patted her neck and made his way to the opening. The coming rain scented the air with a damp fresh chill.

  With a final glance back at his distressed horse, Kern stepped out into the night. For Evie he would face anyone and do whatever was needed. He owed her. And for her alone he would eat humble horse crap pie.

  * * *

  Ruby climbed onto the bed, balancing a large glass bowl filled with cheese and onion crisps in one hand. On the bedside table sat a can of ice-cold cola, recently purchased from the town’s mini supermarket.

  For the first time in years, she felt hope warm her heart. Today had almost been her definition of perfect. She had a job she wanted, where the staff treated her normally, and a beautiful place to stay. How long it would last, she didn’t want to contemplate, but tonight she was happy, and she intended to enjoy the rare feeling.

  When the time to leave came, she would pack and do what she always did. Move on without acknowledging any regrets. Start over again the same way she had since the day she’d left home at sixteen.

  Only once had she stupidly risked trusting someone with the truth of her past, and they’d repaid her by selling a story to the kind of shoddy newspaper only interested in a sordid headline and lies. She’d stopped trusting people after that.