Page 49 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘I’m not sure about that. Everyone wants experience these days, but I’m hoping to take a refresher course in accountancy and then I can start doing that again. For money, I mean.’

‘That’s a good idea. You could even start up your own business.’ Ginny grinned. ‘Be your own boss.’

‘Umm, now I like the sound of that.’

She did. She quite fancied being in control, balancing work and life herself, making her own business decisions.

‘Careful!’

Megan heard Ginny call out just as her foot slipped, and her ankle gave way. Shooting her arms out, she landed in a heap on the ground and winced as the sharp pain shot through her ankle. As she gripped her foot, she looked up and realised she must have dropped the lead because Cindy was trotting on ahead of them.

‘Ginny, quick, look!’

Ginny began to run after Cindy, the two smaller greyhounds following at her heels.

‘Cindy! Cindy, come!’ Pushing herself to standing, Megan held her breath as the pain seared up her leg. ‘Cindy!’

Pausing, Cindy looked around, her ears pinned back as if only just realising that Megan wasn’t still holding her lead.

‘That’s it, Cindy. Good girl, come on.’

Megan breathed a sigh of relief as Cindy jogged back, her lead dragging on the ground behind her. Bending down, Megan gave her some fuss and grabbed her lead again.

‘Wow, what a good girl you are, Cindy,’ Ginny said as she made her way back to them. Holding Petal and Willow’s leads in one hand, she fished in her pocket for treats before giving them one each in turn. ‘Are you okay, Megan? Are you hurt? You took quite a tumble.’

‘I’ll be all right. I just can’t believe I let go of her lead.’

As they began walking again, Megan tried to put the least amount of weight on her injured ankle as possible.

Ginny turned and frowned at her. ‘You’re not okay. You’re hurt. Have you twisted your ankle?’

‘A little I think.’ Megan shrugged. ‘I’ll live.’

‘You might live, but it looks painful. We need to head back, and you need to rest up. Maybe put a cold compress on it.’

Megan nodded. She wasn’t going to argue about heading back – even the thought of making the fifteen or so minute walk back to Wagging Tails worried her. Would she even make it that far?

She forced a smile and began to limp back with Ginny’s help.

‘Hold on, why don’t you go and sit on that bench over there and I’ll go and get my car? I can drive you back.’ Ginny pointed across the lane to a wooden bench flanked by flowerbeds.

‘Nope, I’ll be okay. It’s going to take more than a slightly twisted ankle to stop me.’

She grimaced. It definitely felt more than slightly twisted, but after a few minutes of resting it up, she’d be fine.

Megan hobbled into the courtyard and paused as Ginny closed the gate behind them before jogging up to her and taking her elbow. With every step she took she could feel it swelling.

‘Almost there now.’ Ginny smiled sympathetically.

‘Thanks.’ Megan looked towards the reception area as the door opened and Jay came running across the courtyard towards them.

‘What’s happened? Are you okay?’ He stopped in front of Megan, looking her up and down.

‘I’m fine. Just a bit of a twisted ankle, that’s all.’

‘Here, let me help you.’ Moving next to her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and took her forearm in his hand, supporting her weight.

‘I’ll be okay. It’s not that bad.’ Megan could feel the warmth from his body next to hers. He was wearing the same aftershave as when he’d kissed her. ‘I stupidly fell and let go of the lead, but this one here was amazing and came trotting straight back to me.’

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