Page 24 of A Cosy Christmas with the Village Vet

Even in the darkness, with only the pale moon illuminating the dale, the pin prick lights of the farmsteads peppering the surrounding fields and moorland, it was easy to see that Pond Farm was in a stunning location, set in the sweeping valley of Great Stangdale. Nick had driven carefully along the unfamiliar, icy roads and down the bumpy tractor track that led to the smallholding. He noted the frost had tightened its grip the further into the exposed dale they’d driven, the headlights of his car picking out snow that lined the hedges and dry stone walls. He could appreciate why folk around here were described as hardy.

‘I’m really grateful for this, Nick,’ Brogan said, turning to him when he came to a halt in the farmyard.

‘Like I said, it’s not a problem. How else were you going to get home? It’s a long walk from the village.’ He grinned and his heart leapt at the charge that crackled between them.

She laughed. ‘Yeah, I’ve done it loads of times, but it’s a bit of a trek for this time of night, I suppose.’

‘I guess it would be.’

A few beats passed and an awkward air sprang into the space, quickly filling the car. ‘Um… right, well, thanks again. I’ll see you in the morning,’ she said.

He watched as she unclipped her seat belt and cast a quick glance his way.

‘Yep, see you in the morning.’

She hesitated before she opened the door. ‘As long as you’re sure you don’t mind…’

‘I really don’t mind, Brogan. I’ll be here at quarter-to-eight. Oh, and don’t forget Wilf in the back there.’ He nodded in the direction of the boot. ‘I don’t think he’d be too chuffed at swapping his warm bed for a night at the house of doom,’ he said with a laugh.

The giggle she gave made his pulse quicken. ‘I won’t,’ she said, climbing out of the car. ‘Though judging by the way he spent the day gazing at Maudie like a love-struck teenager, I don’t suppose he’d mind that much.’

‘You could be right,’ he said with a chuckle, recalling how Maudie had been utterly indifferent to Wilf’s adoring looks.

He waited until Brogan unlocked the porch door, giving one last wave before disappearing into the farmhouse. Nick felt the pull of a huge smile spreading across his face. What a day it had been. The word “rollercoaster” sprang to mind. It had felt like he’d been careering perilously around on one today, and he could safely say, the high points had definitely outweighed the low ones. He’d felt optimistic about starting his first day at Danskelfe Vets, as if he’d turned a corner, was moving on – to use the appropriate clichés – but to see Brogan there… Wow! Just wow! He shook his head in disbelief. Knowing he was going to see her again, hoping upon hope that he hadn’t been wrong about the connection they’d had at the wedding flickering back to life – that she’d felt it too – made going back to a freezing cold house, with even colder water, worth the while.

‘Well, Maudie, what do you make of all that then?’ He didn’t have to look at Maudie to know the expression she was wearing and it made him chuckle. ‘I know, I won’t go doing anything hasty.’ He put the car into gear. ‘You like her too, don’t you? And we all know how chilly you can be with people you’ve only just met; even colder than Willow Cottage.’

Back at the house of doom, Nick’s spirits sank down to his chunky boots as soon as he put the key in the door. He flicked the light switch in the hallway, hoping that by some miracle the electricity had come back on, despite common sense telling him he’d have to at least try to turn on the trip switch before that stood a chance of happening. ‘Oh, well, no surprises there,’ he said with a sigh.

It was going to be a long, cold night, but at least he had a little nugget of hope. Brogan’s reappearance into his life would help him through it, of that he was sure, even if he didn’t know exactly how she was going to feature.

20

NICK

The next morning, Nick was awake before the alarm went off, his body stiff from sleeping curled up in a tight ball in a bid to conserve what little precious heat he’d managed to miraculously generate. He’d slept fitfully thanks to the cold that had crept in and burrowed its way under the duvet, sneaking right into his very core. And it hadn’t helped that the window had rattled persistently in its frame as the wind had howled around the cottage. He’d thrown the rule book out as far as having pets sleeping on the bed were concerned and had let Maudie upstairs to cuddle up with him. She’d snored shamelessly, but he hadn’t cared; her presence had been a comfort.

He rubbed his eyes and Maudie stirred beside him before quickly snuggling back down, apparently as reluctant as he was to move and let even a tiny scrap of warmth escape. It was still dark outside but for the light from street lamp that filtered in through the thin curtains, casting shadows around the room. Nick lay staring at the shapes on the ceiling as thoughts started filtering into his mind. The first one being Brogan and her welcome arrival back into his life. Wow! That chased any residue of sleep away. That she’d turned up at Danskelfe Vets – and her first day being the same as his –was more than just a coincidence, he was sure of it. He couldn’t help but smile as he pictured her face, animated as she chatted away to her friends the previous evening, her eyes expressive. A happy glow spread through him, his heart giving a gentle squeeze. In the next moment, he bumped unceremoniously back down to earth as Loretta and the shoes elbowed their way into his thoughts, quickly followed by the lack of electricity and hot water at the house of doom. Adding salt to the wound, he remembered what he’d been told about the gas fire being condemned. Nick groaned and clamped his hand over his forehead, unsure of which problem to tackle first, never mind how he was going to fit it all into his day.

After seeing a slew of text messages and missed calls from Loretta when he’d got home last night, he’d turned his phone off, not wanting to take the happy edge off the time he’d spent with Brogan and her friends. He was dreading listening to what she had to say today. Reluctant to dwell on that, he pushed back the duvet that was heavy thanks to the clothes he’d piled on top for extra warmth. He grabbed his dressing gown – which was conveniently on top – and braved the chilly air of the bedroom, a feeling of doom descending on him. He went to peer out of the window to see a thin layer of ice had formed over the glass; confirmation of just how cold the night had been – as if he needed any.

Since there was no way to make a cup of tea, nor make any toast, Nick had a quick shave and got dressed, telling himself he’d grab something at the surgery. He’d take Maudie for a walk once they were there too. In the meantime, he needed to get a move on; get to Brogan’s to scoop her up for work. Determined not to have his usual last minute panic before he left the house that morning, he’d made a concerted effort before he’d gone to bed by putting his keys and his phone in the pockets of his waxed jacket. That would, at least, eliminate the risk of not being able to find them in the semi-dark. Plus, the cottage being so bone-numbingly cold meant he wasn’t keen to hang around; the sooner he got to the warmth of the surgery and thawed out, the better. He couldn’t remember ever being this cold in a house in his life.

Nick opened the front door, the crisp air filling his lungs and spreading across his chest as he breathed in. There’d been a covering of snow overnight, and a lone set of tyre tracks ran down the middle of the road, illuminated by the streetlight.

Up above, dawn was breaking, and thick, pewter clouds hung low in the sky, threatening the moors with a fresh assault of wintry weather. Nick couldn’t imagine it getting properly light all day. The lack of electricity at the cottage jumped into his mind again and he groaned inwardly. He really needed to get onto the Trotters about that as a priority. He pulled up his collar and headed to his car, letting Maudie in the large boot area. Then he set the engine away, the vents on full, heat turned up to the max, as he made a start on scraping the snow from the windscreen, all the while, the cruel wind slicing at his face and ears.

The journey to Brogan’s hadn’t been as dicey as Nick had expected thanks to the roads being ploughed – the previous evening Nick had learnt that Camm had the contract for ploughing around the Great Stangdale area stretching to Danskelfe, Arkleby and leading up to the main moor road. Local farmers had also helped by spreading grit from the bins dotted about along the roadside.

Before long, Nick pulled up in the yard of Pond Farm, lights glowing from the downstairs windows. He saw Brogan peer out from one. A moment later she was locking the front door while Wilf trotted over to the car, leaving a trail of paw prints in the snow, his tail swishing happily.

Nick got out and let the Labrador in beside Maudie who gave him one of her indifferent looks. Wilf was oblivious and looked absolutely thrilled to be in her company again as he nudged at her face.

‘Hi, Nick. Thanks for this,’ said Brogan, the wind whipping the words from her mouth as she headed over to him, her wellies crunching over the snow.

‘It’s not a problem at all,’ he said, his heart lifting at the sight of her all snuggled up in her padded jacket, tendrils of hair from her ponytail blowing around.

Once in the car, she said, ‘Jeez, it’s bloomin’ freezing this morning, but it’s nice and toasty in here. My car never warms up in winter. Anyway, how was it at the house of doom? Not too cold, I hope. And is the electric back on?’ She rubbed her hands together vigorously.

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