Chapter One
Mandy Hope glanced up as she walked beneath the Running Wild banner. Today was the official opening for the new Outward Bound centre at Upper Welford Hall. Her heart lifted at the sight of the brightly coloured bunting whipped by a gusty wind under the grey November sky. It felt like ages since she’d had a day off.
For the past three months, Mandy’s every waking moment had been consumed by her work. Animal Ark, the veterinary practice she shared with her parents, Adam and Emily Hope, would have taken up enough time on its own. In addition, she had set up a brand-new business in the field behind the clinic. Hope Meadows was the animal rescue centre Mandy had always dreamed of creating, and she still felt a glow of pride every time she entered the handsome glass and stone building. But between her clinical work and the construction project, she’d had almost no time for herself. There was also the distraction of trying to purchase Lamb’s Wood Cottage, the run-down smallholding on the edge of Welford that she dearly wanted to buy.
There had been a queue of cars lining up in the lane leading to the Outward Bound centre that Sunday afternoon so Mandy had parked some way off and walked up the narrow road with her beloved collie, Sky. Joining the crowd that was gathering in the paddock, she squeezed to the edge, with Sky at her heels, and admired the rope course that had been built at the edge of some ancient woodland. The rope constructions looked sturdy and safe, and the soft sandy colour of the materials blended into the trees until they seemed almost part of the growing forest. For today’s ceremony, a rope was strung between two trees on the platform where the course began. A microphone and a pair of speakers stood on the wooden structure.
Mandy crouched to hug Sky, who was behaving remarkably well given the number of people who were here. It was a sign of Sky’s rehabilitation that she could be comfortable among a busy crowd. Mandy let her mind drift back to her crazy, breathless summer, when animals in need of help had seemed to appear from every corner. Back then, the field she was standing in had been filled with rescued animals, thanks to the generosity of Sam Weston, the farmer who owned the land where Running Wild was situated. Mandy smiled as she pictured Bill, the enormous Shire horse, grazing among the sheep and cows she had rescued from Lamb’s Wood when Robbie Grimshaw, its previous owner, had been taken ill.
Now there was a brand-new wooden shelter in the corner where six shiny quad bikes stood in a row. Both the shelter and the rope course had been built by Jimmy Marsh, Running Wild’s owner and manager. Looking at the neatly constructed bike shed, Mandy was reminded of how much help Jimmy had given her over the hectic summer. In her mind’s eye, she could still see him standing at the top of a ladder, carrying out repairs to the barn for her rescue animals. And if she was honest with herself, it wasn’t just his woodwork skills that she admired …
A movement at the front of the crowd caught her eye. There he was, climbing confidently up to the platform in the trees: Jimmy Marsh himself. In his waxed jacket and corduroy trousers, he was almost invisible among the moss-covered branches and brown leaves. Another man climbed up beside him, reaching the top of the ladder with a grin that Mandy instantly recognised from TV. So this is the famous Aira Kirkbryde, she thought.
The attendance of Aira Kirkbryde had been the talk of Welford ever since Jimmy had invited him to the opening ceremony. Mandy had lost count of the clients who had come into the practice gushing about his survival programme on the BBC. Aira too was wearing a waxed jacket and cords. The two men could almost have been bookends, with their broad shoulders and cropped hair. They had been at school together in the Lake District, apparently. Mandy watched as Aira said something to Jimmy that made him laugh, creasing his wind-tanned face until his eyes nearly disappeared.
Jimmy turned to face the crowd and held up his hands for silence. Stepping up to the microphone, he bent his head and spoke. ‘Hello and welcome to Welford Hall,’ he said, then paused for a moment, looking out over the crowd. His eyes seemed to rest on Mandy and she thought she detected the ghost of a smile, but then he was talking again, his magnified voice echoing beneath the iron sky.
‘I hope that the rain holds off, for the sake of my good friend Aira here,’ he said. A wave of clapping ran through the crowd, tailing off almost as soon as it began. ‘Not that he isn’t used to a bit of rain.’ A murmur of earnest agreement from the people beside Mandy. ‘Anyway, I don’t think he needs any further introduction. I am delighted he agreed to come along today to our opening ceremony. So here he is … Aira Kirkbryde.’
Now the crowd clapped in earnest. There were a few yells of ‘Aira’ and an ironic wolf-whistle, and then Aira was holding up his arms like a rock star on a very small, high up stage. Gradually, the crowd fell silent.
‘Thank you,’ he said and smiled. Even from this distance, Mandy could sense the magnetism in that grin. ‘It’s my pleasure to be here today,’ he went on, ‘at this opening ceremony for the wonderful new Running Wild Outward Bound Centre. It’s good to see so many people committed to exploring our fabulous British countryside.’ A pause for cheers, with nods to individuals in the crowd. He certainly knew how to work his audience. ‘Much as he’ll hate it, I want to say a few words about my good friend Jimmy Marsh.’ He held out his hand, indicating Jimmy, whose ears were turning red. Mandy felt a stab of sympathy, but was also curious to hear what Aira was going to say. She felt there was still a lot to learn about Running Wild’s owner.
‘Many years ago, Jimmy and I went to school together.’ Mandy saw Jimmy glance down at the wooden platform under his feet. ‘Back then, Jimmy was forever getting into trouble for climbing trees,’ Aira said. ‘It seems he has decided to make a career of it.’ To Mandy’s relief, Jimmy was grinning. ‘Before he came here, he was a park-ranger in the Lake District National Park. It was his job to make sure that the local wildlife and the general public could both enjoy the countryside. I know that here in Welford he wants to do the same thing, especially for people who haven’t been lucky enough to experience an outdoor life the way that we have.’
He stretched out his arm to take in the whole crowd, and Mandy sensed people nodding earnestly around her. There had been a rumble of opposition to the Outward Bound centre because of the fear that ‘city kids’ would run riot across the lovely moors. Aira was making the local community feel as if they were being incredibly generous, and doing a vital public duty.
‘Anyway, I’m not going to talk for long. I know that many of you have come here today to try out the wonderful rope course behind me, so I won’t keep you hanging any longer …’ He paused as a mixture of groans and scattered laughter rose. Then he turned to Jimmy, who handed over a sturdy-looking hunting knife. ‘Without further ado,’ Aira announced, taking hold of the rope that stood in place of the more traditional ribbon, ‘I declare that the new Running Wild Outward Bound Centre is officially open!’ With a flick of the knife, he sliced through the rope.
There were a few cheers, a burst of clapping and then the crowd began to surge forward. Looking down, Mandy could see that despite the chilly wind, Sky had begun to pant. From the tension in her face, Mandy knew that the noise and movement was disturbing the sensitive dog. She reached into her pocket and crouched down beside the collie. ‘Here you go,’ she whispered, slipping Sky a chew. As the crowd continued to mill around them, Mandy stayed with her pet, running her hands through the soft fur on the sides of Sky’s neck. ‘What do you want to do now then?’ she asked. Sky looked at her, her liquid brown eyes filled with trust. ‘Should we head home? I’m guessing Jimmy will be too busy to speak to us today.’
‘Guess again!’ A pair of lightweight climbing boots with wasp-striped laces had come to a standstill in front of her. Mandy’s eyes followed upwards, past the dark trousers and the new-looking Barbour to the familiar face that was grinning down at her. With a last caress of Sky’s ear, Mandy took the hand he was holding out and pulled herself, rather awkwardly, to a standing position. She felt breathless, even as the heat rose in her face. Back in the summer, when they had first met, Jimmy Marsh had always seemed to catch her off-guard and now here she was again, blushing like a sixteen-year-old.
His grin widened. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I didn’t intend to creep up on you.’ Close up, he looked as friendly as ever, his frank green eyes surrounded by laughter lines.
The wind whirled against Mandy’s cheeks and a shiver ran through her as she caught the scent of Jimmy’s aftershave. ‘I thought you’d be on duty all day,’ she said.
He shrugged, his eyes apologetic. ‘I’ll have to go in a minute,’ he admitted. ‘Aira’s keeping them entertained for now, but the rope course is free today so there’s a bit of a stampede. I’ll need to supervise.’
‘It all looks great.’ Mandy glanced around. ‘I can see how much work you’ve put in.’
Jimmy nodded. ‘You and me both,’ he said. ‘The new buildings at Hope Meadows seemed to spring up overnight. We’ve both had our hands full.’
‘How are Abi and Max?’ Mandy asked. She had met Jimmy’s eight-year-old twins briefly when he had been caring for them during the summer holiday.
Jimmy’s face softened. ‘They’re great, thanks,’ he said. ‘They’ll be over next Saturday.’ He paused for a moment. ‘How about all your charges?’ he asked. ‘Did you ever manage to find a home for Rudolph?’
Mandy smiled. The adorable pygmy goat had been one of Hope Meadows’ first residents. ‘He’s gone to a smallholding on the far side of Walton,’ she replied. ‘They’ve got loads of goats … and very tall fences,’ she added. Jimmy had been driving past when Rudolph had taken a daring leap out of his pen and escaped onto the road. Happily for Mandy, Jimmy had caught the spirited goat – who really did seem to fly like one of Santa’s reindeer – before he had a chance to cause an accident.
‘Do you have many other inmates just now?’ Jimmy asked. ‘Only I know someone who’s looking for a cat.’
‘We’ve lots of lovely cats,’ Mandy was always delighted to hear of any potential new homes. She glanced sideways at Jimmy, teasing him with a smile. ‘How about you?’ she said. ‘Wouldn’t you like one, too?’
‘I’m sure they’re lovely, but I’m more of a dog person. I’d love to come round and see them though – and you, of course,’ he added.
Mandy felt herself going red again. She had been so busy recently that she and Jimmy had barely seen each other. He was very good company and made her laugh, but she had so little time to spare. She’d already cancelled more than one date when work had intervened. Understanding as he was, she wondered whether she was really being fair to him.
‘Mr Marsh?’ A young woman with dark hair and a smart black raincoat appeared behind Jimmy. Mandy recognised the farm secretary from Upper Welford Hall. ‘We’re going to let people onto the rope course now.’
Jimmy flashed Mandy a wry smile. ‘I have to go,’ he said, ‘but I’ll see you soon.’ He reached out a hand and gave Mandy’s fingers a brief squeeze. ‘Bye,’ he said, then turned and strode off towards the large queue that was waiting at the foot of the first net.
Mandy sighed and looked down at Sky. ‘Guess it’s just you and me again,’ she said.
‘Hello.’ Before she had a chance to move off, a cheery voice accosted her. ‘Lovely to see you here, Mandy.’ It was Mrs Jackson, who lived in Rose Cottage, just up from Mandy’s grandparents. Mandy was impressed to see that as well as wearing sturdy boots and a warm hat and coat, the old lady was sporting a hefty pair of binoculars. Was she hoping to birdwatch from the heights of the tree-house that stood at the end of the rope course?
‘Just going to take a wander through the woods.’ Mrs Jackson adjusted the strap on her binoculars. ‘I’m glad that Jimmy Marsh seems to be taking his wildlife protection duties seriously,’ she went on. ‘Though I’m sure if he didn’t, you’d put him straight.’
Mandy smiled to herself. She had lectured Jimmy more than enough about the local environment when they had first met, but she knew now that he was just as invested as she was. ‘I’m sure he’ll be very careful,’ she replied.
Mrs Jackson nodded as if the reply was quite satisfactory.
‘Hi, Mandy!’ Rachel Farmer, the Animal Ark receptionist, came over to join them. Dressed warmly in an eye-catching red scarf and knitted hat, she was arm in arm with her fiancé, Brandon Gill from Greystones Farm. ‘Are you going to have a go on the rope course?’ Rachel asked.
Mandy shook her head. ‘I’ve got Sky with me,’ she said, by way of explanation.
‘We could hold her for you, couldn’t we, Brandon?’ Rachel looked up at the young farmer, who flushed red before giving a single nod.
‘That’s very kind of you,’ Mandy said. ‘But I think we should be heading home.’ She glanced down at Sky, whose fur was lifting like feathers in the wind. She was looking up at Mandy, her eyes expectant. Mandy slid her hand into her pocket and gave her a treat. ‘Bye, Mrs Jackson. See you on Monday, Rachel,’ she called, and then to Sky, ‘Come on, girl.’
They got as far as the gate to the paddock before she was hailed again.
‘Hello! Mandy?’ The voice came from the farmyard next door. It was Graham, the dairyman from Upper Welford Hall. He was wearing his usual faded blue boiler suit and his hair stuck up on end, as if he had rubbed his hands through it. ‘I was just about to take the stitches out of the cow you saw last week. She’s healed beautifully. Want to take a look?’
Even though it was officially her day off, Mandy couldn’t resist following Graham to see the black and white Friesian she had treated ten days earlier. As she passed through the archway into the Welford Hall courtyard, her eye was caught by the twinkling white lights of a huge Christmas tree that stood in the centre of the yard. The row of little shops specialising in crafts and homemade produce were also trimmed with greenery and lights and a mobile stall had been set up to roast chestnuts. For the first time, it crossed Mandy’s mind that Christmas was not too far away. She felt a shiver of excitement. Christmas in Welford had always been magical.
Graham was disappearing into a passageway at the far side of the cobbles. Hurrying after him, Mandy followed him into a shed close to the milking parlour where her patient was being kept. She had carried out an operation to move the abomasum, the fourth chamber of the cow’s stomach. It had become displaced to the left side of the cow’s abdomen. Mandy had shifted it back to its normal position and sutured it in place. The cow had been unable to eat and would have died without surgery.
It was the first time Mandy had performed the op. Now, she was pleased to see the animal tucking into hay as if nothing had happened. The cow turned her head to gaze at them, a few wisps of hay hanging from her mouth.
‘She started eating straight away,’ Graham told Mandy. ‘It’s like a miracle.’ Mandy could see that the cow’s flanks had filled out and her eyes were bright and curious. The wound on her right side was, as Graham had said, impressively healed. ‘Would you mind holding her tail while I take the stitches out, or would you like to do it?’ he asked.
‘I would quite like to do it,’ Mandy said.
‘Be my guest!’ Graham smiled before handing over the small curved blade that would be used to remove the stitches. With a well-practised hand, he took hold of the cow’s tail and leaned on her hind end until she swung round against the wall. Absent-mindedly, he scratched the placid animal’s rump as Mandy approached. The wound site was smooth and clean, to her relief. The hair around the scar was already beginning to regrow. In a few months, there would be only a thin line to mark the operation. With a steady hand, Mandy clipped the thick suture material at the top and bottom of the wound, then unpicked the interlocking stitches in between.
‘We’ve made some adjustments to the feeding routine after calving for the rest of the herd, as you suggested,’ Graham told her. ‘We’ve increased the fibre intake and we’re supplementing with calcium and phosphorus. We don’t want another one getting ill.’
‘That’s great.’ Mandy stood back from the cow as Graham moved up towards the animal’s head, loosening the halter from behind her ears, then dropping it free over her nose. Slipping the rope over his shoulder, he followed Mandy out of the pen and swung the gate shut. For a moment they stood side by side, watching as the cow pulled another mouthful of hay from the rack.
‘We should go,’ Mandy said. She could have stood there all day, breathing in the sweet scent of hay and clean bovine, but there was a lot to do back at Hope Meadows. Untying Sky’s lead from a ring on the wall of the byre, she leaned down and stroked the collie’s soft domed head. She would buy some of the delicious chestnuts she had smelled earlier on her way through the yard, she thought. They would warm her up as she walked back to the car. Pulling open the door, she stepped back outside into the chilly November wind.