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

by Lucy Daniels

  ‘I’d love to.’ Mandy was telling the truth. But next time, she would come on her own. Roo was delightful, when she wasn’t trying to matchmake. ‘I’ll be in touch in a few days,’ she promised.

  Waving goodbye to Kiran and Herbie, Simon and Mandy walked back to the car. Mandy tossed her paperwork into the back seat and climbed in behind the wheel. Just this visit to Sam Western’s to meet Molly, to see if she could find a place for Bill. The rest of the weekend was her own. Perhaps she could take Simon up on the moors, if the weather held. He wasn’t a fanatical walker, but the view from the tops was stunning. They could take Sky as well. It would be good to get her used to as many men as possible.

  ‘You know,’ Simon’s voice interrupted her thoughts as she drove. ‘I can’t help thinking that Roo had a good point.’

  Mandy frowned. Which point exactly? Something about the cats?

  ‘Maybe we should think about getting married.’

  The road was narrow here and the verges were flashing past close on either side. Mandy’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. Swallowing hard, she glanced at Simon to see if he was joking, but his face was earnest.

  ‘Are you proposing?’ she asked, trying to keep the disbelief out of her voice.

  ‘I do believe I am.’ Simon sounded firm. ‘I can get down on one knee if you like. Just pull over here and I’ll do it.’

  Mandy kept her foot on the accelerator. Is this actually happening?

  The silence stretched.

  ‘Is that a no then?’ It was Simon’s turn to sound incredulous.

  Mandy risked another glance at him. Why would he spring it on her like this? If they had gone away as he had planned: a romantic weekend, a horse-drawn carriage ride, that would have been the perfect setting. Not on the edge of the Walton Road.

  But even if everything had been perfect, she was not sure how she would answer.

  ‘I just didn’t imagine it happening like this.’ She gripped the steering wheel tighter.

  ‘But you did imagine it happening, right?’ Simon still sounded as if he couldn’t believe the way the conversation was going.

  Mandy’s head spun, and she blinked to keep her focus on the road. Had she imagined marrying him? Of course she had. For a whole year, they had been so close. There had been wonderful moments at the beginning when the idea of being swept into his arms had been like a dream. As time went on, they had talked about their clinic. Though there had been no hurry, their discussions had been a suggestion of a stable future, working together, comfortable in their partnership.

  But they hadn’t agreed on anything for weeks – not since Mandy had moved back to Welford. Simon had dismissed her plans for a rescue centre as sentimental nonsense, and had been viewing properties in Leeds with Samantha. And Mandy found herself not minding quite as much as she should, if she was honest with herself.

  Meanwhile, there was Jimmy, with his gentle smile and dedication to Robbie’s animals, and the way he always seemed to be around when Mandy needed him. If she truly loved Simon, would she be able to feel like that about someone else?

  Simon was still looking expectantly at her.

  ‘Thank you for your offer. I will think about it, I promise.’ Mandy winced. That came out wrong.

  When she glanced at Simon again, his expression was petulant.

  ‘I want to marry you,’ he said. ‘I’m not offering you a second-hand car.’

  Mandy couldn’t think of anything else to say. She lifted her hand to touch Simon’s knee, but put it back on the wheel. He wasn’t a spaniel to be comforted with a quick rub on the head.

  ‘We need to talk about the future,’ she said, risking yet another glance at his angry expression. ‘If we could talk about the clinic and the rescue centre …’

  She saw Simon’s head twitch sideways. ‘Why would you bring that up now?’ His voice was repressive, his mouth constricted.

  ‘But we have to discuss it.’ Mandy had to force herself to reply. If he couldn’t see that her work was as important as his, there could be no future, but Simon’s lip curled and he turned away, looking out of the window, his silent anger filling the car.

  Mandy was relieved when they reached Upper Welford Hall. She steered into the car park and pulled on the handbrake. Still in silence, Simon was undoing his seat belt and opening the door. Mandy’s mind was stuck, but what more could she say? There wasn’t time to talk about anything now. Molly Future would be here at any moment to meet Bill. The gentle Shire horse was hanging his head over the gate, watching her approach. He gave a rumbling whicker as she held out her hand to stroke his nose. Bill’s forelock reached halfway down the broad white blaze on his face, and his eyelashes were impossibly long. Mandy stretched up to rub his ears.

  Simon had followed and was standing so close, she felt uneasy. She found herself wishing he had stayed in the car.

  ‘I’ll get that.’ He held out his hand for the headcollar she was holding. Unable to give a reason why not, she handed it over and, once he had buckled it over Bill’s enormous head, she let herself into the field to pick out Bill’s hooves. The gelding lifted each foot patiently, waiting for Mandy to find her balance under the weight of the massive hoof.

  As she cleaned out the last hind foot and placed it back on the grass, there was a cheerful shout from behind her.

  ‘Hello!’

  Pushing the hoof-pick into her pocket, Mandy straightened up. Molly Future, smart and perky in a short, padded vest over a bright pink polo shirt, was letting herself into the field.

  ‘So this is Bill.’ She walked over and placed her hand on Bill’s neck. ‘What a magnificent boy. And you are?’ She looked expectantly at Simon.

  ‘I’m Simon. Good to meet you …?’ He held out his hand. How normal his voice sounded. So different from the cold tone he had used only moments before.

  ‘Molly Future. I run the Six Oaks Riding Stables.’ She gave him a brisk handshake and turned back to the horse. ‘Any idea how old Bill is?’

  Mandy stepped out from behind Bill’s rump. ‘Hello, Molly.’ Her voice sounded okay, she thought, though it wasn’t easy to find her smile.

  Molly grinned. ‘Hi, Mandy. I almost didn’t see you there. He’s a giant, isn’t he?’

  ‘But gentle with it,’ Mandy said.

  In a gesture that was appealingly childlike, and quite unexpected, Molly pressed her cheek against Bill’s. ‘Oh yes, I can see that,’ she murmured. ‘What a sweetie.’ She bent down and ran her hand down Bill’s front legs. Lifting his left fore, she considered the massive plate-like foot. ‘Your farrier has done a good job,’ she remarked.

  ‘Yes, he has.’ Shutting out Simon’s presence, Mandy set her mind firmly on the task in hand. Mathew Morris’s work had made all the difference. ‘I’m afraid it’s not possible to give you an exact age for him,’ Mandy admitted. When she had examined his teeth, Galvayne’s groove had disappeared from all but the very end of his corner incisor. That would put him between twenty-five and thirty, but even that wasn’t reliably accurate. ‘I think it would be reasonable to say he’s a very old boy.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ Molly stepped back for a wider look. ‘Is he still lame?’

  ‘Not really,’ Mandy said. ‘He’s a bit stiff, but he seems quite willing to move around. He can’t work any more, obviously, but he is a sweet old thing. So what do you think?’ she urged. ‘Could you find space for him somewhere?’

  ‘I don’t see why not.’ Molly moved back in to lean her head on Bill’s shoulder, wrapping her left hand under his neck. He was a magnetic horse, Mandy thought. It was impossible to resist the urge to touch him. ‘I can’t see that he’ll be any trouble. Obviously, we’ll have to see how he gets on with my lot, but even if he doesn’t get on with them all, we’ll find him space and company somewhere.’

  ‘That’s wonderful.’ Mandy let out a long breath. She had hardly dared hope Molly would find room for Bill. It wasn’t a small request, not like taking on a tiny kitten or even a cow. It was so k
ind of Molly. Not only that, but she could see from the way the stable owner had approached and handled the old Shire that she knew exactly what she was doing.

  ‘Tell you what.’ Mandy’s rush of gratitude nudged her onwards. ‘I’d be happy to pay for his food and veterinary bills. I’m so glad you can find room for him.’ As she said this, she caught sight of Simon, who was holding the lead rope. He rolled his eyes at her and shook his head.

  ‘That’s very generous,’ Molly said. ‘Of course, I could manage without, but it would make everything easier. At his age, I would love to be able to call you without worrying it would end up costing a fortune. I’m not going to be able to get insurance for him, am I?’

  Mandy’s eyes were still on Simon. He hadn’t said a word, but waves of disapproval came from him. It was her money, Mandy thought mutinously. Bill’s future was important. Hope Meadows might need Molly’s help again.

  She pulled her attention back to Molly, who seemed oblivious to the chill that had descended. Mandy wondered what she’d say if she knew that Simon had asked Mandy to marry him ten minutes ago.

  ‘I’ll get everything sorted out at the yard so I can collect him tomorrow,’ Molly said. She beamed up at Bill, her pixie haircut gleaming in the sun. She was like a little doll, Mandy thought. But she loved horses, that was clear.

  ‘I’m very happy for you to have him,’ Mandy said. ‘I’m sure we can keep the costs down.’

  Simon’s mouth was still turned down at the corners. It wasn’t a good look.

  With a last pat on Bill’s shoulder, Molly let herself out of the field. ‘See you tomorrow!’

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  It should have been a triumphant moment, Mandy thought. Of all the rescued animals, it was Bill who had concerned her most. He could no longer work and was so old he might easily need extra care. There weren’t many people who wanted to take on such a large pet.

  Simon hadn’t said a word, but his silence hung heavy. Why didn’t he say something? At least they might be able to clear the air. Mandy took a breath. Should she begin? But what could she say? He would probably deny he was upset. With a feeling of defiance, she unbuckled Bill’s halter and slung it over her shoulder without looking at Simon.

  As they reached her car, another vehicle appeared. It was Jimmy’s Jeep. Pulling up alongside her RAV4, he opened the door and jumped out.

  ‘Mandy! How’s it going? Are all the cats and kittens well? I know these lot are thriving.’ He nodded to Bill and the sheep and cows in the field. ‘They look better every day.’

  Simon was on the far side of the RAV4. Mandy waited for him to come round and meet Jimmy, but he stood there with a look of exaggerated patience on his face.

  Jimmy walked round the bonnet of the car, holding out his hand. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I should have introduced myself. I’m Jimmy Marsh.’

  With a chilly smile, Simon held out his own hand. ‘Simon Webster. Mandy’s boyfriend.’ Mandy twitched.

  ‘We’ve just had a meeting with one of the local stable owners,’ Mandy put in. ‘She’s agreed to take Bill.’

  ‘That’s great news.’ Jimmy walked back round the car. ‘I know you were worried about him. Who’s taking him?’

  Mandy had been hoping he wouldn’t ask. The memory of Jimmy and Molly side by side and laughing in the Fox and Goose was seared into her brain. If she mentioned Molly now, would he confirm they were seeing each other? On the other hand, why was it any of her business? She was acutely aware of Simon standing near the passenger door of her car.

  ‘Molly Future,’ she said.

  ‘Oh Molly. I know Molly quite well.’ Mandy studied Jimmy’s face, but he didn’t give anything away. ‘She’ll look after Bill as well as anyone could.’ He was smiling, though whether at the thought of Molly or Bill’s rehoming, Mandy couldn’t tell. She glanced across the car at Simon. However angry he was, did he need to be so rude? He was acting as if Jimmy wasn’t there.

  Jimmy seemed to pick up on the atmosphere. ‘I’d better let you go. I’ve just dropped the children off with their mum, and there are a few things I need to catch up on.’

  ‘I’ll see you soon,’ Mandy said, opening her car door. Jimmy sketched a wave as he strode towards the farmyard.

  It was quiet on the short drive back to Animal Ark. Mandy’s mind kept skipping back and forth between Simon’s proposal and the reality of where they were now. How could she agree to marry him when they hadn’t reached an agreement about their clinic? Mandy bit her lip. She knew she had made things far more complicated since coming to Welford. She hadn’t actively planned for Hope Meadows to happen. One tiny idea had snowballed, and with Robbie Grimshaw’s animals, Paul’s funeral, her physical distance from Simon and all the difficulties in communicating, she seemed to have passed the point of no return. She couldn’t back out now, and unless Simon was willing to compromise, she couldn’t see a way forward.

  ‘Is it possible for us to talk more about York?’ she began. ‘I know I should have discussed Hope Meadows more with you, but everything has happened so fast. I really didn’t want you to waste your time looking at clinics in Leeds. I’m sorry if you feel that.’ Her eyes were on the road and she couldn’t look at him, but she was aware of him shifting in his seat, turning to face her.

  ‘Is that why you said no before? To us getting married?’ Simon sounded hopeful.

  Mandy felt a jolt of exasperation. Couldn’t he leave that to one side?

  But Simon was speaking again. ‘Do we really need to decide right now about the clinic? I can see you’ll have to keep Hope Meadows running for a while, and I’ve progressed so far in Leeds with these properties that it’s difficult to back out, but we can still get engaged, can’t we? If things go well in Leeds, maybe I can open a branch in York further down the line. Or Hope Meadows could be looked after by someone else. You could make a new rescue centre in Leeds.’ He paused and laid his hand on Mandy’s knee. ‘We could get engaged now. Plan later.’

  For a crazy moment, Mandy was tempted to say yes. How easy it would be. No difficult decisions about the future, just a confirmation that everything would be okay because they were together.

  Taking her silence as consent, Simon’s voice rose. ‘What about it, then?’ he said. ‘Shall we tell your parents the good news? We could take them out for a meal to celebrate.’

  Mandy frowned. Could he just let her get a word in? The road ahead was rushing towards them, trees flashing past. She took a deep breath. She couldn’t face confronting Simon with a definite no, but there was no way she could give him the answer he wanted. ‘There’s so much going on right now. Will you give me time to think about it?’ She was glad she could grip the steering wheel. It felt solid and reassuring under her fingers.

  ‘If that’s what you want.’ Simon’s voice was flat.

  Mandy flinched. She could take away that pain. All she had to do was say yes. She pressed her lips together.

  ‘Should I just go back to Leeds?’ Simon went on. ‘Do you need some space?’

  Suddenly it seemed airless in the car. Reaching out, Mandy pressed the switch and lowered the window. The wind rushed in, tugging at her hair, carrying the scent of the moors.

  ‘No, of course not. Stay for the weekend.’ So long as she didn’t have to go into the house and announce their engagement. She put her hand on top of Simon’s. ‘I like having you here,’ she made herself say.

  Simon just grunted.

  When they drew up outside Animal Ark, both the practice cars were outside the clinic. Mandy and Simon jumped out and went round to the kitchen door.

  ‘How did it go?’ Emily looked up from her embroidery as they entered the sitting room.

  ‘Oh, really well.’ Mandy tried to remember what had happened that morning. This day seemed to be going on forever. ‘The Dhanjals are going to be perfect for the tortoiseshell kittens, and Molly Future is taking Bill. Now all we have to do is find someone to take the farm animals and the other cats.’ Mandy couldn’t bring h
erself to mention Sky. Despite all their progress, the little collie would still be difficult to rehome. Mandy was also finding the idea of parting with her harder and harder to think about.

  ‘That’s great news.’ Emily beamed up at her. ‘Well done, you.’

  ‘Is it okay if I go upstairs for a bit?’ Simon asked. Mandy shot a glance at him but his expression was unreadable.

  ‘Of course. I’ll go out to the wildlife unit,’ Mandy said. ‘Check on the cats.’ She had a sudden urge to hug Sky, too.

  Even before Mandy could see Sky, she could hear the thumping of her tail and the frenzied claw-clicking that greeted her every time she came in now. When she opened the door, the little collie was squirming with delight. Opening the kennel door, Mandy laughed as Sky bounded out and threw herself against her legs, begging to be stroked.

  Mandy sat down on the floor where she could see out of the window. Outside, the fells rose against the clear blue sky. Sky curled up beside Mandy, pressing warmly against her hip.

  ‘Why is life so complicated?’ Mandy said out loud. Sky licked her face. ‘Simon’s asked me to marry him.’ Even saying it here, with Sky as her only witness, felt odd. ‘I wish he hadn’t. Paul has died and James needs me. We can’t agree on where to open a clinic, yet Simon still wants to get engaged.’ She sighed. Sky gazed up at her with trusting brown eyes.

  ‘Can I just stay here with you?’ Mandy whispered, pressing her cheek against Sky’s face. ‘Life would be so much easier.’ Sky gave a little whine. ‘You know the strangest thing?’ A cloud crossed the sun and Mandy watched its shadow scud across the landscape, drifting up the steep fellside. ‘If he’d asked me a few weeks ago, I’d have said yes. But since I’ve come back to Welford, everything has changed. I’ve changed.’

  She leaned her head down and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth and softness of Sky’s fur against her face. It was true, she thought. She had changed. The only problem was, Simon hadn’t.