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

by Lucy Daniels

  ‘I can’t catch him,’ Helen confessed. ‘I’ve been chasing him for the last half-hour. I’ve never seen a client beat such a hasty retreat. I didn’t even get her name.’

  ‘Welcome to Hope Meadows, Rudolph,’ James said. ‘Where we hope you don’t get ill from eating the waiting-room decorations.’

  Mandy laughed. ‘He won’t get ill, but if we don’t get him caught, the bamboo might not survive.’ Working together, they formed a line and when Rudolph tried to break through, Mandy grabbed him.

  ‘If you two can put him in one of the kennels,’ James suggested, ‘I’ll go out to the orchard. I should be able to make him a little paddock out of pallets. It shouldn’t take long.’

  ‘Hopefully he isn’t as much of an escape artist as Houdini used to be,’ said Mandy.

  ‘Who’s Houdini?’ Helen asked.

  ‘He was a goat who used to belong to Lydia Fawcett,’ James explained. ‘He could escape from anywhere. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure there are no holes.’ He headed outside.

  Half an hour later, James and Mandy stood beside the makeshift paddock. Rudolph sniffed around inside, examining every corner. ‘He looks happy enough,’ said Mandy. ‘We could go back in now, start looking at the charity stuff and do the application.’

  ‘Okay,’ said James. ‘Can you give me a minute on my own first? I want to sort a couple of things out before I show you.’

  ‘No problem.’

  It was a gorgeous day. Mandy decided it would do no harm to stay here for a few minutes while Rudolph settled in. Things had moved so fast in the past twenty-four hours. This time yesterday, she was just thinking she should phone James. He seemed much more cheerful already. And Simon. Poor Simon. She had never wanted to hurt him. But he’d be okay. He was born to rise to the top.

  Mandy looked around at the field where, very soon, Hope Meadows was going to become a reality. She had the oddest sensation of swooping upwards like a bird. For months, she had been worrying about how she was going to share her plans with Simon. The surging tide that was carrying her forwards didn’t fit with what he wanted. Now she could go wherever the current took her.

  She should go and sort out the application with James, she thought. Pushing herself away from the apple tree she had been leaning on, she turned. But as she walked away, there came a thudding of hooves behind her and then silence. Swivelling, she was amazed to see Rudolph in mid-air, sailing over the fence James had so carefully built. Mandy burst out laughing. They should have known a goat named after Santa’s reindeer would be able to fly.

  As the short-legged creature thundered across the orchard, she gave chase, panting behind him as he headed towards the road. Running headlong, she cringed as Rudolph slipped through a tiny gap in the hedge and she heard the sound of a vehicle in the lane. Thankfully, there was no squealing of brakes. Just the sound of a car coming to a halt, then a door opening and closing.

  Breathless, Mandy reached the hedge and began to squeeze through. She crossed her fingers that it was one of their farm clients, who would understand about escaping animals: not Rudolph’s owner, coming back to see if they were looking after him properly. Arriving on the far side, her spirits lifted. Jimmy Marsh stood on the verge, hanging on to Rudolph as the goat bucked and twisted.

  ‘I think I might have something of yours,’ he said with a grin.

  Mandy leaned forwards, hands on her thighs, catching her breath. ‘Thanks,’ she gasped. After a moment, she straightened up.

  ‘I hear you’re interested in Lamb’s Wood Cottage.’

  Mandy blinked. ‘How on earth do you know that?’

  ‘I was in the post office,’ he said, ‘when Mrs McFarlane came in. Her niece had been talking to her cousin’s next-door neighbour, who was in the estate agent’s when you rang up. Or something like that.’ His eyes creased with amusement.

  ‘You should be careful,’ Mandy shot at him. ‘You’ll be turning into a village gossip next.’

  Jimmy laughed. ‘If that means I’m considered a local,’ he said, ‘I’ll take it gladly.’

  ‘No chance.’ Mandy shook her head as she moved towards him. ‘You have to be here at least thirty years before that happens.’

  Between them, they began to guide Rudolph towards Animal Ark. They would have to put him in a kennel, Mandy realised, until they could double the height of the fence.

  ‘If you have to be here thirty years before you can become a local,’ Jimmy said as they manoeuvred Rudolph back into the cage, ‘does that mean you’re still an outsider?’

  ‘Not at all.’ Mandy stood up, staring him straight in the eye. ‘This is my home.’ The thought of Lamb’s Wood Cottage suddenly came into her head. ‘I want to buy Lamb’s Wood,’ she said. ‘I know it would be a whole load of work, but if I get the chance, I’m sure I could have it habitable in a couple of months.’

  ‘Wow,’ said Jimmy. ‘That’s quite a project.’ He scuffed the lino floor with the toe of his boot. ‘If you need any help with anything, patching the roof, that kind of thing, I’d be happy to lend a hand.’

  Mandy pictured him up a ladder, confidently hammering boards to keep Robbie’s animals safe until they could be moved. There wasn’t anyone she’d trust more to build her new home.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I hope you don’t regret making the offer!’

  Jimmy reached down and touched Rudolph’s nose through the wire of the cage. ‘No chance,’ he said quietly. He stood up. ‘I’m really glad you’re staying, Mandy,’ he said. He suddenly seemed very close.

  Mandy looked up at him. His green gaze burned into hers. ‘I’m glad, too,’ she said. For a moment, she wondered if he was going to kiss her. He reached out a hand, but only touched her shoulder before stepping back. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I have to go and collect the children.’

  Mandy grinned at his rueful expression. ‘You’re sorry you’re collecting the children?’ she teased. ‘That’s not something I thought I would ever hear you apologising for.’

  He laughed. ‘You know I didn’t mean it like that. But if I wasn’t collecting them, I wouldn’t be rushing away. That’s for sure.’ He reached out again, this time grasping her fingers for a moment. ‘I’ll see you very soon,’ he promised, and with that, he turned, opened the door and disappeared.

  For a breathless moment, Mandy leaned on the wall, the warmth from his hand still coursing through her. Only this morning, she had been with Simon. Over in Leeds, it had felt as if everything was ending. But here she was, back where she belonged in Animal Ark with Emily and Adam, with James and her friends and all the animals. Sky was waiting for her in the clinic. And now there was Jimmy, too.

  It felt as if everything was only just beginning.

  Click here to order Christmas at Mistletoe Cottage, the next book in the Hope Meadows series.

  Christmas at Mistletoe Cottage

  Lucy Daniels

  Christmas has arrived in the little village of Welford. The scent of hot roasted chestnuts is in the air, and a layer of frost sparkles on the ground.

  This year, vet Mandy Hope is looking forward to the holidays. Her animal rescue centre, Hope Meadows, is up and running - and she's finally going on a date with Jimmy Marsh, owner of the local outward bound centre.

  The advent of winter sees all sorts of animals cross Mandy's path, from goats named Rudolph to baby donkeys - and even a pair of reindeer! But when a mysterious local starts causing trouble, Mandy's plans for the centre come under threat. She must call on Jimmy and her fellow villagers to put a stop to the stranger's antics and ensure that Hope Meadows' first Christmas is one to remember.

  One thing's for certain: this Christmas, there'll be animal escapades, kisses under the mistletoe...and plenty of festive cheer for all.

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  Springtime at Wildacre

  Lucy Daniels

  In the little village of Welford flowers are blooming, the lambing season is underway … and love is in the air.

  Mandy Hope is on
cloud nine. Hope Meadows, the animal rescue and rehabilitation centre she founded, is going really well. And she’s growing ever closer to handsome villager Jimmy Marsh. What’s more, James Hunter, her best friend, is slowly learning to re-embrace life after facing tragedy.

  But when an unexpected crisis causes Mandy to lose confidence in her veterinary skills, it’s a huge blow. If she can’t learn to forgive herself, then her relationship with Jimmy, and the future of Hope Meadows, may be in danger. It’ll take friendship, love, community spirit – and one elephant with very bad teeth – to remind Mandy and her fellow villagers that springtime in Yorkshire really is the most glorious time of the year.

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