Summer at Hope Meadows: the perfect feel-good summer read (Animal Ark Revisited Book 1)

by Lucy Daniels

  He had stopped on the path, was looking at her with a bewildered expression.

  ‘How do you mean, it’s too late?’ he said. ‘Everything is still in front of us. I’ve been looking at premises in York as you suggested. It’s not going to be as straightforward as Leeds, but I think it should be possible.’

  Mandy clenched her fists. If he had said that two weeks ago, it might have all been very different. And yet she couldn’t go back.

  ‘It’s over.’ She said it as gently as she could. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said again. She was finding it hard to breathe.

  His blue eyes still held confusion. ‘But …’ he began, and stopped, almost imperceptibly shaking his head. ‘We were going to get married,’ he said.

  Mandy turned towards him and grasped his hands. Both of them were shaking. ‘We can’t get married,’ she said. ‘We want different things. I want different things,’ she amended. What did she want to say? That she felt he had been putting his own needs ahead of hers? There was no easy way to say it. ‘It’s seems to me,’ she began, ‘that since I’ve been back in Welford, we’ve been growing apart. I thought we’d agreed, before I went, that we would wait and discuss our future, but then you started looking in Leeds and …’

  ‘Well, you started planning too.’ Simon pulled his hands away and a petulant tone crept into his voice. ‘You were the one who went and got architect’s plans made.’

  Mandy pressed her lips together. There was no way to deny that was true. ‘I did,’ she admitted. ‘When I first moved, I thought, like you, that we would set up in Leeds. I wasn’t sure we could manage it as quickly as you hoped. But I was willing to try, so long as we were working towards what we both wanted.’ Her eyes drifted over to the water. There were tiny waves lapping against the walkway. ‘It worried me,’ she explained, turning her face back, finding his eyes again. ‘You were looking at those expensive buildings and all that equipment. And when I tried to talk about my rescue centre … I just felt it was forgotten.’ She paused for a moment, then went on. ‘I felt like you were expecting me to put aside what I wanted. But that you intended to go ahead with your own dreams.’

  The blue eyes had suddenly become cold. ‘But the rescue centre was never going to make any money.’ Simon shook his head, his mouth tight. ‘It was obvious I was going to have to support your venture. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have done the same for me at the start. It was obvious I was going to be propping up your “business” for the rest of my life.’

  Mandy felt a wave of shock run through her. Was that what he had thought? She had never wanted to make a fortune from her rehabilitation work, but she knew that she was going to work hard to make sure it supported itself.

  He was speaking again. ‘Samantha said it would happen.’ How mean his mouth looked as he pronounced Samantha’s name. ‘She said once you went back to Welford that you wouldn’t want to come back. That you’d be too comfortable with your parents.’

  Mandy had the feeling she had experienced so often with Simon lately: that he was rushing onto a new subject without the last being resolved. And there was Samantha’s name again. Mandy had always trusted Simon. She still trusted that he hadn’t been two-timing her. But there was no way he should have been discussing their business with Samantha.

  ‘Why were you talking about our plans with Samantha?’ Mandy searched Simon’s face, hoping somehow she would find the answer there.

  Simon averted his head slightly. ‘I needed someone to talk to,’ he muttered. ‘You were never available. You were always too busy looking after everyone else.’

  Mandy thought about Emily’s exhaustion. About Paul and about James and Robbie Grimshaw and she almost wanted to laugh. Was Simon jealous of her poor, poor friends?

  ‘Anyway,’ and now Simon was looking straight at her again, ‘Samantha said that if you did back out, she would be very willing to set up in practice with me. She wouldn’t be a drain on me, she said. There would always be plenty of dental work she could do.’

  Mandy felt the breath go out of her. Had Samantha really said that? They had been friends, back when they had worked together. At least, she had thought they were. Had Samantha always had designs on Simon? And were they really only business designs?

  Then she realised that she didn’t really care. If Samantha did have designs on Simon, she, Mandy Hope, would not be standing in her way.

  ‘I think we should go back to the car,’ she said quietly.

  Simon looked out of the side window all the way back to the clinic. Mandy kept her eyes on the road. He hadn’t had any lunch, she thought, but there was no way she was going to stop. She pulled into the car park, into the same bay as before, and Simon took off his seat belt and looked at her.

  ‘I have to get on,’ he said. He closed the door and Mandy watched him in the rear-view mirror as he walked back into the clinic. The door closed behind him.

  She turned the key in the ignition, reversed out and began the slow trek through the city. She felt numb. Trying to turn left, she found her way blocked by signs. They were mending the road. Swinging the car round, she backtracked, turning right and then right again. It was a dead end. Stopping the car, she switched off the engine. She would have to consult the GPS on her phone. She would do it in a minute, she thought.

  She had stopped in a residential street of terraced Victorian houses. They reminded her of Simon’s. Her hands were shaking. She pressed her knuckles over her mouth, closed her eyes and held her breath until the spasm passed. James’s face drifted into her mind. How could she feel sorry for herself? Simon was not dead. He wasn’t her boyfriend any more, that was all. It had been the right decision, she knew.

  Pulling up the GPS on her phone, Mandy checked the map, turned the car in the narrow roadway and set off for home.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  It was gone three o’clock when Mandy drove back under the Animal Ark sign. James was waiting for her in the kitchen. ‘How did it go?’ he asked as she bent to greet Seamus and Lily.

  ‘As well as could be expected.’ Mandy didn’t want to go into any more detail. She was glad when James didn’t press her.

  ‘Helen was in a couple of minutes ago,’ James said. ‘There’s been a call from Woodbridge Farm Park. A couple of the calves are scouring. They’ve isolated them, but they want them checked out as soon as possible.’

  ‘Are Mum and Dad out?’

  ‘They’ve both been out a couple of hours,’ James said. ‘Your mum’s at a TT test, your dad’s gone to a downer cow at the top of the valley. I told Helen I’d let her know when you came in.’ He pushed the lid of his laptop closed and stood up. ‘Would you mind if I came with you?’ His head was on one side as he looked at her. ‘I know we went out with your mum and dad when we were younger, but I’ve never been out on a call with you.’

  Mandy managed a smile. It would be good to have company. ‘That would be great,’ she said. She thought for a moment. ‘Would it be okay if we took Sky along as well? I’ve wanted to take her out with me for the last couple of weeks, but I’ve never been sure how she would react. If you were there, and she got frightened, you could stay with her … If that’s all right with you, of course.’

  ‘Of course it would be all right,’ James assured her. ‘If I end up staying with her, we can sit in the car and howl together.’

  Mandy shook her head. ‘I hope that won’t be necessary,’ she said. ‘But if it is, I hope you won’t mind if I join in, too.’

  ‘Maybe we could have a sponsored howlathon,’ James suggested. ‘We could do it in aid of Born Free.’

  Mandy sent him a mock glare. ‘If there is any sponsorship on offer,’ she told him, ‘I expect all proceeds to go to Hope Meadows.’ She made her way to the door.

  ‘I’ll just put these two upstairs.’ James called to Seamus and Lily. ‘They’ll be fine for a couple of hours. I’ll get Sky and meet you outside.’

  Mandy waited until he had shut the door and then walked through to the clinic
. She had to search for the nurse, who was in one of the consulting rooms, washing down the inside of the cupboards. Helen looked pleased to see her. She accompanied Mandy through to the waiting-room where the day book was kept. ‘You’re back,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t sure how long you would be.’

  ‘Is it just the one call?’ Mandy asked.

  ‘Yes. Two scouring calves at Woodbridge,’ Helen confirmed.

  ‘James and Sky are coming with me,’ Mandy told her. She looked round as James opened the clinic door and Sky rushed in, pulling on her halter. ‘We’d better go before Sky pulls James off his feet.’

  ‘Bye!’ Helen gave them a wave as they walked out.

  Sky jumped straight into the back seat of the SUV. She sat very still as Mandy strapped her in. So far so good, Mandy thought. Her main concern was how Sky would behave when she was left alone in the car out on the farms. If she could relax and lie still, Mandy could take her on calls. If she became stressed, it would be far more complicated. She stroked the collie’s ear, closed the door and went round to the driver’s seat.

  It was only a few minutes’ drive to Woodbridge. Mrs Waterstone was waiting.

  ‘Thanks for coming so quickly,’ she said as Mandy and James climbed out of the car. ‘You know how it is. We can’t be too careful with children coming in to see the animals.’ Woodbridge Farm was run as a tourist attraction, open to visitors to see how the animals were kept and where food came from.

  ‘I know,’ Mandy agreed. It was always a concern when lots of visitors came into contact with farm animals. Not only could the children pick up infections, but diseases could also be carried in. She knew how careful the Waterstones were. ‘We’ll have a look at the calves,’ she said, ‘and get some samples to be on the safe side.’

  The calves were not too bad. Although they showed some signs of diarrhoea, there was no blood. Both of them looked bright-eyed and alert. Mandy placed the lid on the second sample pot and removed her gloves. ‘I’ll get these sent off first thing,’ she said. ‘The post will have gone today. In the meantime,’ she rooted in the boot of her car and pulled out a pack of rehydration sachets, ‘give them these twice a day for two days,’ she said. ‘Then if they’re getting better, you can start to reintroduce milk for one meal a day. Give us a call if they get worse or if they don’t improve.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Mrs Waterstone took the sachets. ‘I’ll get the first dosage done shortly.’

  ‘If I haven’t heard from you, I’ll let you know as soon as we get the results,’ Mandy said. ‘Keep them isolated until then, you know the drill.’

  Mrs Waterstone nodded. ‘I should do, after all these years.’

  They went back to the car. Mandy was delighted to see Sky curled up on the seat, her nose tucked under her tail. When they opened the doors, the collie stood up, wagging her tail to greet them. Reaching back, Mandy put out a hand to stroke her and Sky pushed her nose forward to snuffle in Mandy’s ear.

  ‘What do you say to going to visit your old home?’ she asked the collie. Sky put her head on one side and wagged her tail harder. ‘What do you think, James?’ Mandy raised her eyebrows. ‘Should we pop to Lamb’s Wood Cottage for old times’ sake?’

  ‘Why not?’ James agreed. ‘I didn’t get a chance to have a good look round last time. What’s the cottage like inside?’

  ‘Pretty grim,’ Mandy admitted. ‘It wouldn’t do any harm to check the garden and farmyard again. It’s not impossible some of the chickens might have turned up.’ She started the engine. In no time at all, they were pulling up in the long grass beside the track outside the cottage.

  ‘It looks as if nobody has been here in years,’ James commented.

  It was true. When Mandy had been coming here daily, there had been trampled pathways and signs of life. The animals had called out to her as she arrived. Now the only movement came from insects flickering through the tangled foliage. Mandy couldn’t help thinking back to the day years ago when they had first met Robbie Grimshaw. The cottage had been cared for back then. It had been a home. House and outbuildings had been filled with the old man’s much-loved animals.

  ‘What do you think will happen to this old place?’ Mandy said.

  They had pushed their way through the jungle to the front door. The green-stained weatherboarding looked worse than ever. Mandy tried to imagine the cottage in a few years’ time. Would the roof fall in? Perhaps a tree would grow where once the cat had suckled her kittens under the old stove.

  ‘Auctioned off, I expect.’ James, having tried the front door and found it locked, had turned on the doorstep and was looking at the garden. ‘There would be a lovely view into the valley if you cleared away some of those overgrown shrubs. I expect some rich second-homer from the city will come and rip everything out and start again.’ He sounded as gloomy about the prospect as Mandy felt.

  She peered through the vegetation. James was right about the view. The overgrown garden and the avenue of trees covering the roadway obscured the valley at the moment. But with some work, it might be possible to see down to the village.

  James had stepped away and was looking up at the roof. ‘They’ll probably tear the cottage down,’ he said. His shoulders drooped.

  ‘Not if I can help it!’ A wave of emotion surged through Mandy. James stared at her. ‘I can’t live with my parents forever. Sky could come home. It would be perfect.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ James was frowning, half confused, half hopeful. ‘Are you thinking …’

  ‘I want to buy Lamb’s Wood Cottage,’ Mandy declared. ‘I can’t afford to do everything immediately, but with a few repairs and a whole lot of cleaning, it should be habitable. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live up here?’ She threw her arms wide, narrowly missing the waist-high nettles.

  James grinned. ‘You’re mad,’ he said, shaking his head, ‘and completely brilliant. There’s just one thing …’

  ‘What? Out with it.’

  James looked as if he was choosing his words carefully. He gazed up at the sky for a moment, then back at her. ‘When you choose the colour schemes,’ he said, ‘please let me help you. I’ve seen the decor you chose for your bedroom at Animal Ark. Even with the tasteful pictures you bought from me … well …’ He made a face and then laughed, reaching out his arms too, and Mandy fell into them and they hugged, standing there amongst the weeds and the tangled grass. Stumbling apart, they picked their way back to the car.

  ‘Could you look up the number of the estate agent in Walton?’ Mandy pushed her phone into James’s hand as they drove down the track. ‘I should call them as soon as possible. They’re the most likely to know what’s happening.’

  ‘Here.’ Within moments, James had found the details and handed the mobile back to her. Putting her foot on the brake, Mandy stopped halfway down the lane. Setting the phone on loudspeaker, she dialled the number.

  The call rang twice before the voice came. ‘Simpson and Forager Estate Agents.’

  Mandy could hardly breathe. ‘It’s Mandy … Amanda Hope here from Welford,’ she said. ‘I was wondering if you had Lamb’s Wood Cottage on your books?’ Now she had started to imagine living there, it was almost unbearable to think it might not be possible. At the other end, she could hear the woman typing in the information. Mandy closed her eyes, willing her to get a move on.

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Her eyes snapped open as the voice came over the airwaves. ‘We do have details for that one here. Lamb’s Wood Cottage and outbuildings, Welford, is that right?’

  ‘Yes.’ There was another long pause.

  ‘It’s due up for auction a week on Friday,’ the woman continued. ‘Guide price £235,000. Would you like the details of the auction house?’

  Mandy’s free hand gripped the handbrake. She wasn’t sure she could wait that long. Taking a deep breath, she asked, ‘Is it possible I could call in to discuss it, please? Preferably tomorrow?’

  ‘Yes, of course. I’ll set you up an appointment with Mr Forager at ten o’clock. Would
that do?’

  ‘That would be perfect,’ Mandy said. ‘Thank you.’ She looked at James, who grinned at her.

  ‘Can I come with you?’ he said.

  Mandy nodded. ‘I’d be glad to have you.’ Shoving her phone into the pocket of her jeans, she released the handbrake.

  When they opened the door to the clinic, Helen greeted them with a red face and wild eyes.

  ‘Close the door quickly,’ she shouted.

  Mandy was astonished. Helen never looked flustered, but she did as the nurse asked. To her surprise, Helen got down on her hands and knees and started crawling behind the reception desk. There was a scuffling sound and a high-pitched ‘Baaaaaa,’ and a sturdy little goat came racing out from the other side of the desk. With his shaggy brown coat and the white tuft on his tail, he looked as if he had come to life from a cartoon.

  He tossed his head as he passed Mandy and James, short legs pounding the tiled floor. He skidded to a standstill beside the line of potted bamboo that Mandy had introduced to separate dogs and cats in the waiting-room. The goat stared at the three of them with disapproving eyes, then as if overwhelmed with temptation, turned his back to nibble on one of the leaves.

  ‘Where on earth did he come from?’ James got the question out before Mandy had time to pull herself together. ‘And what is he? He looks like a goat, only smaller.’

  Helen, who had reappeared from behind the desk, put her hands on her hips. ‘He’s a pygmy goat,’ she said. ‘This woman appeared about ten minutes ago, muttering something about an unwanted present. She’d heard we had a rescue centre so “you can help right?”’ Her impression of a simpering woman was so out of character, Mandy almost choked. ‘He’s called Rudolph, apparently. I think they thought he was a reindeer.’

  ‘Well he does look a bit reindeer-like with his colouring,’ Mandy said. There was something very cheeky about the goat’s face. His jaunty horns waggled as he pulled another leaf from the plant. ‘Why’s he running around in here?’