Zara Stoneley - Summer with the Country Village Vet

She did mind him saying. But it seemed rude to say so, and there really wasn’t any harm in sorting it out here and now. That would be something to tick of the list, even if it was a minor accomplishment. ‘We can discuss it properly when I’ve moved in, but, well we, I, well I understand the practice sends somebody in to the school to chat to the children at this time of year.’

‘And?’ He was looking at her blankly.

‘Well, if we could arrange a day?’

He frowned.

‘Early next term? For you to come…’

‘Oh, no.’ He held a hand up, a barrier between them, and if she hadn’t been so aware of him she wouldn’t have noticed the slight tremble. He shoved the hand back in his pocket. ‘Sorry, that’s Eric’s domain, I’m afraid I—’

‘Oh well fine, we can wait…’

‘They look forward to it.’ Jim rubbed his beard and gave the vet his ‘governor’s look’.

‘I’m sure as soon as Eric returns to work…’

‘Aye, I’m sure he will, he’s a generous man is Eric.’ He gave the vet a pointed look. ‘But Spring’s the time we like to do it, and,’ his eyes narrowed, ‘after Easter, I’m sure your old man would expect you to do the right thing.’

Charlie’s lips tightened, along with his jaw and Lucy was pretty sure he was gritting his teeth to stop himself saying anything. He folded his arms. Showdown in the car park, maybe this wasn’t going to be such a minor accomplishment after all.

She would have quite liked to have told Jim to be quiet. ‘Maybe if you leave us to chat?’

‘Ah, yes.’ He grinned and winked. ‘Whatever you say, I’ll leave you two youngsters to it then.’

The heat rushed to Lucy’s face, and she was just about to launch into an explanation when the vet held up a hand.

‘Look I am sorry, but before you start, the answer is no.’ He glanced at his watch pointedly. ‘I’ve got an emergency call to tend to.’

‘We could walk and talk?’ She was curious as much as anything, he’d recovered now but his reaction had been weird to say the least.

‘I’m driving.’ Obviously. He threw his bag into the back of the car and closed the door firmly. ‘Nothing personal. Nice to meet you, I hope you enjoy it at the school, Miss er.’

‘It’s just that Jim, well the school, well I, well we just wanted you to spare an hour to talk to a group of kids?’ He was opening the driver’s door, any minute now he’d be driving off. ‘Please, could we at least have a chat about it?’ She wasn’t quite sure why it was so important to the school, or why it was such a problem to the vet, but she at least had to try. Failing at the first task she’d been given wasn’t a good start. And he’d looked shocked, mildly horrified, at the thought of going into school, which seemed off when he appeared so level-headed and adrenaline-free. Bolting horses seemed to be a daily hazard, so why would a group of kids pose such a threat?

‘This really is a matter of life and death.’ His tone was firm, she could quite imagine him using it when a dog was misbehaving. Before she could say another word he’d started up the car engine, and was easing the door shut so that she had to skip out of the way, or get squashed. For a second his gaze met hers through the glass, and she sensed a genuine regret, then he put the car into gear and looked away.

Jim sidled up as the vet’s car, and her opportunity to fulfil her first task, slipped away.

‘Ah well, I told you he was a tricky one, slippery as an eel, but I’m sure you’ll sort it.’ He winked. ‘A woman with your resources.’

‘But he really doesn’t seem to—’

‘You’ll talk him round.’

She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk him round, his response had been so genuine it almost seemed wrong to ask. ‘Isn’t there anybody else? Another vet?’ If the man didn’t want to do it then surely there was somebody else who could do it?

‘Only the one in the next village, and we won’t be asking him now, will we?’

‘We won’t?’ Oh God, even Jim was showing a steely side, another stubborn male.

‘Over my dead body, and those of most of the other governor’s.’ He rubbed his hands together as though that settled the matter. ‘We’re relying on you my dear. Right, I better not keep you, got a fair drive haven’t you?’

Lucy nodded. Hoping the journey home would be less eventful than the one here. At least she was heading back knowing she had a job, even if it was only for a few weeks.

‘I’m sure you’ll love it here, fit right in you will.’ He smiled and just as she was putting her hand out to shake, he clapped both hands on her upper arms which she guessed was one step down from a hug.

She watched him stride off down the lane, then gazed back at the cottage that was going to be her temporary home.

It would be a long drive back. In fact her home seemed on a different planet to this little village.

***

She deserved a celebratory glass of wine. Even if it was a temporary, very unsuitable, job. Lucy closed her front door, kicked her shoes off and headed straight for the kitchen and the chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio that was calling her name.

Sitting down at the kitchen table, she pulled her laptop from her bag.

It only took a couple of minutes to write an email to the agency, confirming that she had been offered the position, that it was for a half term only, and that she’d be looking for something more local (and ideally a permanent position) if possible when she completed the contract. The out-of-office reply, stating the hours the agency were open pinged straight back into her inbox.

Then she sent a text to Sarah telling her she’d got the job, that there were no phwoar farmers, just a very grumpy vet that was more Doc Martin than James Herriot (Sarah didn’t need to know about the nearly-kiss or the mesmerising eyes), a headmaster who actually seemed to like children, and chickens.

Lucy headed upstairs. She’d have a nice shower first, then pour herself that drink. The job might not be her dream position, but it did mean that she had money to pay the mortgage. With the low rent that Annie was asking for, and the higher salary as it was a short-term contract, with luck she’d even be able to put some money aside in her savings account. And it might actually be quite pleasant spending a few weeks in the lovely little village – quite a change from the hustle and bustle she was used to in the much larger school.

The children had all seemed bright and inquisitive, and the classes were small so she wouldn’t miss having a dedicated classroom assistant. It was going to be so much fun. A little shiver ran down her spine as the excitement she’d been fighting kicked in. She couldn’t wait. Even the goose would be an interesting challenge, she just had a horrible feeling that her immaculate clothes would need throwing away when she got back to civilisation. Cat hairs were notoriously difficult to remove, and she just knew the animal smell would linger on.

She switched off the shower and wrapped her hair up in a towel.

There was just one more thing she had to do though before she started to plan her move. And now she had at least got work lined up she could put a positive spin on this.

Wine glass in hand she picked up her mobile.

‘Mum, I’ve got a new job.’

‘Oh how lovely.’ There was a pause. ‘But I thought you loved the one you had, darling?’

‘There’s been a re-organisation, but this one’s in a gorgeous village school.’

‘Village?’

‘It’s sweet.’

‘And it’s not too far to drive each day? You work such long hours as it is, without a long journey on top of it.’

‘Well no, I mean yes, it is too far to drive. I’m going to rent a place there for now. It’s only for a while, and I’ve found a lovely cottage where the owner has pets she needs looking after so the rent is really reasonable.’