The Secret Dog

by Joe Friedman

  Josh explained about Reggae’s nightmares.

  ‘Poor pup,’ she exclaimed. ‘At least she had you next to her to comfort her . . . What’s on today?’ she asked.

  ‘Revising,’ Josh replied. ‘We’ve got two days to go over all the commands she’s learned and make sure she’s not forgotten anything.’

  ‘And my father?’ Yvonne prompted.

  ‘I’ll talk to him,’ Josh said grimly.

  ‘When?’

  ‘I said, I’ll talk to him,’ Josh snapped. He regretted it immediately. How could he be angry with her after all she’d done for him?

  ‘Keep your shirt on,’ Yvonne said, rolling her eyes. ‘It’s not my fault you’ve left it until absolutely the last minute. One thing that might help: I heard my dad talking on the phone to someone about the fact they don’t have enough trained dogs this year . . .’

  ‘Ta,’ said Josh, still embarrassed by his outburst. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone approaching. Kearney. He shifted his weight from one leg to the other, dreading the conversation ahead.

  There was an odd quality to Kearney’s walk. It was as if he were trying not to move his chest or arms.

  ‘Thanks,’ Kearney said.

  They started towards school, Josh and Kearney flanking Yvonne.

  ‘What happened last night after I went?’ Yvonne asked.

  ‘He went mad when he discovered she’d gone. We chased you in the car, but you’d disappeared. It turns out he’d been planning to pretend she was his at the Gathering.’

  ‘What about you?’

  ‘The usual,’ Kearney said dismissively. ‘I can take it.’ Josh saw him wince as he stepped over a branch on the path. That was why he was holding himself so weirdly. He was in pain.

  He needed to say something. ‘Thank . . .’

  ‘I didn’t do it for you,’ Kearney barked, interrupting him.

  ‘Still . . .’ Josh persisted.

  ‘Shut. Your. Face.’

  Josh felt both disappointed and relieved. Nothing had really changed.

  ‘Kearney!’

  Kearney gave Yvonne a sharp, hurt look. ‘And thank you too!’ he said sarcastically, taking out his mobile. ‘I’m going to wait for my friends.’

  Yvonne gestured for Josh to go on. He did. After a bit, he glanced back and saw her speaking insistently to Kearney. He had his arms folded across his chest and was looking away.

  Josh felt for Kearney. He was proud. Maybe too proud. But, Josh had to agree, he had a right to feel it today – not many people would have stood up to Dunham like he had.

  He started towards school. Yvonne caught up to him a few minutes later. Her face was sad. Josh felt for her. She’d really believed Kearney had changed. That the two of them could become friends. It was a nice dream.

  Chapter 26

  Josh stopped in front of the familiar door. He reminded himself of what he wanted to say, and how he wanted to appear calm and composed, adult. He told himself the vet was an ordinary human being. Then he pushed the bright red button. As he waited, he wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his hoodie.

  Yvonne answered. When she saw Josh she smiled. ‘You didn’t half leave it till the last minute. Come on, then. He’s in his study.’

  She led the way. At the door, she said, ‘Dad, Josh wants to speak to you.’ Then she gave Josh an encouraging smile and retreated.

  ‘Come in.’

  Josh entered. The vet’s study was lined with dark wood bookshelves filled with well-worn books. If possible, this made Josh feel more daunted. His uncle’s house had one small shelf of books, mostly ancient Reader’s Digest Condensed ones.

  The vet was sitting at a large, dark, wooden desk. It had piles of paper covering most of its surface. He was wearing glasses and was poring over a piece of paper with names on it.

  Josh had spent a great deal of time over the past couple of months thinking about this conversation: what he should say, how to respond to the vet’s objections. ‘Mr White, I’d like to put my name down for the Gathering. I’ll be coming with my sheepdog, Reggae.’

  The vet’s eyes smiled. ‘I think that’s the first complete sentence you’ve ever said to me, Josh.’

  That wasn’t in the script he’d rehearsed.

  Involuntarily he looked down at the ground. No! he told himself. You have to look him in the eye. He did.

  ‘I’m serious about the Gathering, Mr White.’

  The vet looked at Josh, then took off his reading glasses, polished them on his shirt and laid them on the desk.

  ‘You’re big for your age, Josh. But you’re in Yvonne’s class at school.’

  ‘I know I’m only twelve,’ Josh blurted out, forgetting his carefully planned speech. ‘But I’m able to do a man’s work and I have a Border collie who is a natural dog and who will do a great job with the sheep, and we want to do the fank too.’

  ‘We’d be pleased to have you help out.’

  Josh shook his head vigorously. ‘I don’t want to “help out!”’

  ‘You’re wanting . . . to do this as an adult?’

  Josh’s forehead was wet with sweat. His whole plan to keep Reggae depended on the vet saying ‘yes’, and getting a share of the money that was earned by the crofters who participated. ‘Yes, sir. Please give me a chance. My dog is special.’

  ‘Yvonne never mentioned a dog. Who trained it?’

  ‘I saved her from the river last year. And I trained her myself. She’s a secret dog.’

  ‘I see,’ the vet said. Like Yvonne, he seemed to understand a great deal more than was said. ‘So you’ve got a lot riding on being part of the Gathering and fank.’

  ‘Yes, Mr White.’

  ‘You don’t have to call me Mr White. Neill will do.’

  ‘I’ll try,’ Josh said.

  Neill stared into the upper right corner of the room. ‘The other men will tease you, Josh. Both as a newcomer and as a boy.’

  ‘I know,’ Josh said. It was the way the crofters got the measure of someone new. He knew they didn’t mean any harm by it. They just wanted to know what people were made of. Their lives were hard and they needed to know who they could count on.

  Josh wasn’t looking forward to it. But he knew he had to go through it – for Reggae’s sake. He’d have to give as good as he got.

  ‘We’ve had boys help out, in the pens and on the field. But never do the full two weeks.’

  ‘I’m not afraid of hard work. And I’ve heard they’re short of dogs this year.’

  The vet looked at Josh suspiciously. As if he was trying to figure out how he knew that . . .

  ‘Yvonne,’ Neill had answered his own question.

  Josh stayed silent. He’d made all his arguments. He prayed they were enough.

  ‘No one knows about your dog?’ the vet asked. ‘Not even Calum?’

  Josh shook his head.

  Neill frowned. ‘Are you sure this is the way you want to do it?’

  He was asking whether Josh really wanted to keep his dog a secret from his uncle until after the Gathering. He nodded.

  Neill grimaced. ‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Josh . . . I’ll put you on the list,’ he said, after a long pause. ‘But it’s not me you have to impress.’

  ‘I’ll take my chances with the crofters.’ Josh said. Most of them knew Calum, and would give him a chance. Except for Dunham, who was definitely now a mortal enemy.

  ‘Thank you, Mr White.’

  The vet rose from his chair. Josh could see it was painful for him to move.

  ‘My daughter talks a lot about you.’

  ‘She’s my best friend,’ Josh replied ‘Thanks again. For giving me a chance. You won’t regret it.’

  Chapter 27

  The early morning sun flooded Josh’s room. No point in trying to get back to sleep. They had to get going, before Calum got up. He roused Reggae and carried her down the ladder. She waited eagerly as he opened a tin of dog food.

&nb
sp; Her familiar gobbling noise filled the room. He sat at the dark kitchen table and started to write.

  ‘Dear Uncle Calum,’ he began. ‘There’s something I should have told you and I’ll do it tonight but I’m going to help with the Gathering today . . .’

  He shook his head, crumpled it up and started again.

  ‘Dear Uncle Calum, I’m really sorry about this but I’ve kept a secret from you . . .’

  He crumpled this one up too, and it followed the first into his pocket. Somehow, writing this note seemed to make what he’d done – keep Reggae a secret from Calum – more real. He remembered the vet’s question, ‘Are you sure you want to do it this way?’

  Now, too late, he wasn’t sure . . .

  Reggae had finished her breakfast and was looking up at him expectantly. If he didn’t hurry, his uncle would wake up before they got away. He didn’t have time for doubts now. He had to follow the plan.

  He scribbled:

  Dear Uncle Calum,

  I’m going to help with the Gathering today. I’ll explain everything tonight.

  Love,

  Josh

  Then he grabbed his rucksack and fled the house, Reggae on his heels.

  * * *

  Just ahead was the valley where they’d started their training. Reggae waited patiently for him to catch up.

  Josh stopped and stroked the side of her face. Reggae looked expectantly down into the valley.

  ‘Not today,’ he told her, shaking his head. ‘Today is the real thing.’ He glanced at his watch.

  ‘We need to go.’ He could feel his reluctance to leave the valley: familiar, like a well-worn – and well-loved – pair of trainers.

  Suddenly, Josh knelt down and hugged Reggae tight. ‘This has been the best year of my life. Because of you.’

  Reggae licked his face. Josh’s nerves had passed, like a storm. He was glad they’d stopped here. Away from the meeting point.

  * * *

  ‘That’s where it all starts,’ Josh said, pointing down from the hill to the flat area below. The now empty pens for the sheep were set out loosely in a semi-circle, around where people were beginning to gather. Beyond them was the field where battered Land Rovers and other well-worn 4×4s were parked.

  Josh couldn’t see faces from this distance, but he recognised the vet’s cowboy hat and distinctive hobbling walk. Yvonne was with him, carrying a clipboard.

  Dunham would be there, if not now, soon. Josh hadn’t seen him since he’d rescued Reggae. He’d have to be brave.

  ‘Ready?’ he asked his dog. Reggae wagged her tail.

  Feeling like Luke Skywalker going to the showdown with Darth Vader, Josh started down the hill.

  * * *

  Halfway down, he recognised Mr Sampson, his history teacher. He had a dog with him, a bearded collie. Josh went over to say hello.

  ‘Josh,’ the teacher exclaimed. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’

  ‘I didn’t expect to see you! I didn’t know you had a dog,’ Josh replied.

  ‘Bobby belongs to my brother on the mainland. I always bring him over for the Gathering. It’s a good excuse to spend my day outdoors. And today, for a change, the weather has cooperated,’ he said, looking up at the bright blue sky. ‘And the young border . . . is she yours?’

  Josh glanced down at Reggae, who was anxiously looking from Mr Sampson’s dog to the others around her. With a shock, Josh realised that Reggae had never been around other dogs. He didn’t know how she’d behave.

  Why hadn’t he anticipated this? He’d known there would be other dogs at the Gathering . . . why hadn’t he found a way to give Reggae some experience of being around them?

  ‘Is something wrong?’ Mr Sampson was asking.

  Josh shook his head. Bobby was drifting closer to Reggae, to have a friendly sniff. Josh watched with trepidation. Reggae growled deep in her throat.

  ‘No Reggae,’ he said quickly, bending over to grab her collar. He hurriedly pulled the lead from his rucksack and attached it. Josh looked around him, feeling sick with worry now. More and more men and their dogs were arriving. What if Reggae decided every dog was her enemy? How could he have overlooked this?

  ‘All gather round,’ the vet was shouting. ‘We need to get started. Long day ahead.’

  Josh bent and held Reggae’s collar as the area around the vet become tightly crowded with men and dogs. Kneeling made him feel even smaller, a boy amongst men. Every time Reggae started to growl, he pulled her collar tighter. But he couldn’t do this all day. She had to be free to roam.

  A man Josh didn’t know said, ‘She’s an aggressive little one, isn’t she?’

  Josh’s first impulse was to defend Reggae. He stood up. Even though the man wasn’t taller than him, he felt like a bamboo stem next to a stout oak. He searched for something to say. Then he realised the man was smiling. He’d meant it as a compliment.

  ‘She’s not used to having so many other dogs around,’ Josh replied.

  The man bent over and tickled Reggae under the ear. ‘Borders can be like that. Lovely dog. Young, isn’t she?’

  ‘Just over a year.’ Josh said.

  ‘Calum’s boy?’ the man asked, trying to place Josh.

  From his tone of voice, the man was obviously fond of Calum. Josh remembered the note he’d left for his uncle. He imagined Calum finding it, wondering what it meant . . .

  He nodded. ‘Josh,’ he said, extending his hand.

  The man shook his hand firmly. ‘Hamish.’

  The vet shouted, so that he could be heard over the crowd and the dogs barking and growling. ‘Gather round.’

  Josh watched as Yvonne handed her father the clipboard and pointed to a place on the paper.

  The vet continued. ‘Three dogs for each hill, top, middle and bottom. We’ll start at the Hay’s End and drive them to the pens here at Romesdal. I’ve got the assignments here. Pay attention. I’m not going to read these out again.’

  Josh’s name was the first on the list. Without thinking, he shouted out, ‘Present.’ A number of the men chuckled. He’d answered as if he were at school! Everyone was looking at him. He wished he could disappear

  The vet had put him on the Old Road. He listened to see who he’d be working with. Mr Sampson! The two of them would be responsible for driving the sheep who’d come off the hill down the road towards the pen.

  Who would be on the hills around them, driving the sheep down to the road? His heart sank as he heard the vet announce Dunham’s name.

  Why did he have to put him together with Dunham? Then Josh realised Yvonne wouldn’t have told her father what had happened, because she would have had to admit her part in the rescue.

  * * *

  ‘We’ll start here,’ Dunham said, taking charge of the group of eight. He stared at Josh. ‘Mr White may think it’s a joke to have a boy pretending to be a man. I don’t.’ Reggae growled at Dunham. Josh held her collar tight.

  A second man agreed. ‘The vet’s taking the piss, giving us a toddler and his pet. And on the road too!’

  Encouraged, Dunham went further. ‘I don’t want to see any of the ewes I’ve driven down to the road wandering off. Otherwise, your Gathering will end today.’

  Josh knew no one could help him now. He’d betrayed how young he was once. He couldn’t afford to again. He forced himself to look Dunham in the eye. He took a deep breath and drew himself up to his full height. ‘I know I, and my dog, are young,’ he said. ‘But I’ve always heard crofters judge people by the weight they carry.’

  Dunham flushed. He didn’t like Josh talking back to him. An older man, who seemed familiar to Josh somehow, didn’t say anything, but smiled encouragingly at Josh.

  ‘I like his spirit,’ one of the other crofters said approvingly.

  And another echoed. ‘He’s a big lad. Let’s see if he can do a man’s work before we judge him.’

  Dunham’s dark eyes glowered. He muttered, ‘We’ll see what weight the toddler carries . . .’r />
  Chapter 28

  They had just arrived at the beginning of the Old Road. Mr Sampson’s phone rang. He took the call, and then moved away from Josh to talk privately. Josh scanned the area around. All the men were climbing up the hills, to get into position.

  He had a moment to himself. He knelt, and took Reggae’s head gently in his hands. He looked into her soft, eager eyes. ‘It’s pretty amazing we’re here at all. Just show them what you can do.’ She licked his face, her tail wagging furiously.

  Josh unhooked the lead from her collar. Reggae looked off to their right. The first group of sheep was coming down the hill.

  ‘This is it,’ Josh thought.

  ‘Away!’ Reggae raced off to his left to get behind the sheep, just as he’d trained her.

  * * *

  The men on the hills were taking a lunch break. They’d all brought sandwiches and thermos flasks with tea. In the rush to get out, Josh had completely forgotten about food, though he’d remembered water and biscuits for Reggae. It was no different from a normal school ‘lunch’, he consoled himself.

  But he soon realised that while it was easy enough for the men on the hills to take a break, it was different for him and Mr Sampson. There were already more than a hundred sheep on the Old Road. It was their job to keep them there, and not let them disperse. This was even more difficult now that they’d stopped moving the sheep forward while the other men had lunch.

  When Josh had stopped for a moment to fill up Reggae’s water dish, ten sheep had made a dash for freedom, heading back up the hill. He’d had to send Reggae racing to bring them back. He could see that Mr Sampson’s hands, and Bobby’s feet, were similarly full.

  Eventually, Josh managed to get some water, and a couple of treats, into Reggae. But she was definitely beginning to flag. She was used to a long nap in the middle of the day while he was at school. No chance of that today.

  In a rare quiet moment, he wondered why the vet had put them on the road. It must be the most testing of all the positions. Maybe that was it. He was giving Josh a chance to prove himself to the crofters. He looked at Reggae, who was still gamely bringing sheep down the hill and keeping them together on the road. He hoped it wasn’t too much for her.