Page 78 of Christmas at Hollybush Farm
‘An accident?’
‘Is it Owen?’ Evie looks like she’s seen a ghost.
He shakes his head.
The words catch in my throat but I manage to say, ‘What’s happened?’
‘It’s Jess.’
33
We pile into the police car and Llew’s, leave the lively hubbub of the market and head into the snowy lane towards the farm. No one is speaking. All we can hear is the swish of the windscreen wipers batting away the snowflakes that are falling heavily now.
We pull off the road and up the track and see a figure in the field of ewes. It’s Owen. He’s hunched over. Llew pulls up beside him and we jump out. Evie is by his side in a flash, through the gate and running across the snowy grass. Owen is hunched over Jess and he’s cradling her in his arms, tears rolling down his face. He’s taken off his jacket to put over her. He looks up at Evie, and then at me following close behind her. ‘She was protecting the flock, like she’s always done. Following her instincts,’ he chokes out, through the tears pouring down his face.
Llew takes off his coat, places it around Owen and puts a hand on his shoulder. Evie is crouched beside Owen, sliding her hand into his.
Another car pulls up and it’s Mae, with Josh. I watch them get out and walk slowly towards us.
‘Is she okay?’ asks Mae.
I give a little shake of the head. ‘We should get her to the vet. I’ll ring the emergency number,’ I say.
‘I’ve rung them already,’ says Bryn. ‘They’re waiting for you, Owen. You just have to get her there.’
Owen shakes his head. ‘There were dogs, loose in the field. More than two. A group of holidaymakers, I think, with dogs off the leads. It was chaos. There was one dog, kept chasing the sheep, wouldn’t leave them alone. I tried to shoo him away. The owner had no control whatsoever! Jess jumped out of the truck and’ – a big sob – ‘that dog went for her instead!’
‘Like I say, I’ve let the vet know, and I’m on my way to see the owners now. Get her to the vet, lad,’ says Bryn.
Owen shakes his head again. ‘I … can’t …’
‘Owen, the quicker we get her there, the better.’
‘I can’t. I don’t have the money. Cancelled my insurance.’ He lays his head on Jess’s coat.
I look at Mae, who nods. ‘We’ve got that covered,’ I say. ‘There’s plenty in the buckets from the fundraising this evening.’
He looks up at me, eyes red and swollen. ‘You can take the truck,’ he says. ‘It’s all I’ve got, but it’s yours.’
‘Owen, I don’t want your truck! It would probably cost me more to keep it on the road. I just want Jess to get to the vet. Go now!’
He gives a little sniff. ‘You’re right. Yes. Thank you.’ He gets to his feet, Jess in his arms. Llew steps in to help. Evie tucks the coat around the dog and Owen’s shoulders, keeping her arm around them all the way to the truck.
‘Text us as soon as you know anything,’ I call after them.
Evie turns back to me, tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘We will. Thank you.’
We watch them as the truck heads towards the main road and the veterinary surgery, tyres leaving tracks on the snowy drive.
‘I’ll be going,’ says Bryn, as upset as the rest of us. ‘Good job one of the tractor boys called me. And I had a call from the walkers, about a farmer antagonizing their dog,’ he says.
‘What? They rang the police to complain about Owen?’
‘Yup!’
‘Unbelievable,’ says Mae.
‘Out-of-control dogs harming livestock! A farm isn’t some playground!’ I’m enraged. ‘People’s livelihoods are at risk. And the animals’ wellbeing!Oooffff!’ I say and cover my face with my hands. ‘And now Jess. Owen loves that dog.’
