Country Lovers (14 page)

“Dan, I wonder if you'd care to leave us now? Did you have something to say to me?”

Dan hesitated. “I did. But it can wait. I apologize, Rhodri, I wasn't trying to tell you your job. Sorry.” He closed the door quietly behind him and left to start his calls.

Mungo waited for the sound of his brisk footsteps to die away and then turned to Rhodri. “I've a full morning of appointments, so I can't see you till about one. In my office. I've a few words to say to you.”

He also left, going first to collect his list of appointments and the client files along with them. In reception he saw Bert Featherstonehough waiting patiently. Without warning, Perkins hurtled down the passage from the door of Mungo's flat, straight as an arrow into reception and to where Adolf always preferred to sit. He put on his brakes when he realized Adolf wasn't there, stood for a moment studying Mr. Featherstonehough and then placed a paw on his knee. Mr. Featherstonehough bent forward to stroke his head, and Perkins forgot his manners and licked his face.

“Well, now then, Perkins, young fellow, m'lad, he's not here, is he? No, he isn't, you're right. And I think you know what's the matter. You've been a good mate to my Adolf, haven't you?” Perkins snuffled in his ear. “Well, old lad, you won't be getting Kate's bucket of water over you again, I think, perhaps. Unless there's been a miracle. My Adolf 's going to that doggy heaven where the rabbits all run slowly and the sun always shines. Yes, indeed.”

How Mr. Featherstonehough kept himself from breaking down no one knew, for they were all close to tears. It felt as though a chapter in the life of the practice were ending. Perkins accompanied him into Rhodri's consulting room, which he well knew was not allowed, and was briskly removed by Rhodri, but no one had the heart to stop him sitting outside Rhodri's consulting-room door.

Stephie whispered to Joy, “Do you think Perkins knows?”

“It looks like it. Dogs are very perceptive—some sixth sense, you know.”

“Poor Perkins, no more fights with Adolf. I shall miss him.”

“So shall I.”

Mr. Featherstonehough came out of the consulting room, ramrod straight, and marched to the main door, like the old soldier he was, looking neither to right nor left. One of the waiting clients half rose from his seat, intending to say something consoling to him, but sank back down again when he saw how close to breaking down Mr. Featherstonehough was. As for Perkins, he watched his friend disappear through the main door and then stood up and walked slowly into the back and up the stairs to Miriam for comfort.

When Stephie went to get a clean uniform from the laundry room she happened to glance out of the window and saw that Mr. Featherstonehough's Volkswagen Camper was still parked outside. He was sitting in it, staring out of the front window like a man made of stone.

“Should we go out to him, do you think, Joy?”

“No. He's tough, regular in the military police, worked with army dogs till he was forty. He'll come to terms with it in his own way.”

“He'll be lonely when he goes back in the house and there's no dog there.”

“Of course, but knowing him he'll do something about that before too long.”

Stephie thought about that and then said, “I expect you're right. Can't have been easy for Rhodri.”

“No. It's all he needs at the moment. Putting Adolf down. Poor Rhodri.”

         

M
UNGO
knew the value of Rhodri's experience in the practice and had no intention of asking him to leave, but he did know he had to be firm. There must be no more being tough with clients and no more of this unpleasantness to Dan. He took off his reading glasses when Rhodri came into his office and leaned back in his chair. “Sit down. I've had a long morning and so too have you, and we both need our lunch hour, so let's not beat about the bush. How did Bert take it?”

“Very well. Said his good-byes and marched out like the good soldier he is. Everything well held in, no tears, no breaking down. But underneath…”

“I expect he'll be a while getting used to the idea. If it were Perkins…”

“Exactly. You wanted to see me.”

“Rhodri, you know how much we value your experience. I don't want to lose you, either by your giving notice or my suggesting you find another post, but I really do have to say that I can't tolerate this business of your being at loggerheads with Dan. He's an excellent asset to the practice, and you must agree about that. He's bringing in more equine work than I'd ever hoped possible, so not only his expertise but the money he's earning through equine is improving our finances no end. We can't expect that everyone will get on with everyone else just because they work together, but this vendetta with Dan is becoming childish.”

Rhodri strove to interrupt, but Mungo held up his hand to silence him. “I won't have it. Do you understand? It's all over nothing.”

“It isn't all over nothing. He dealt with that crazy dog Bingo and then examined the cat and more or less told me what I needed to do to save it, when it should have been either me or Graham or Valentine who should have done it. He's arrogant, he's always right and…”

“Yes?”

“And he seems to have everything I want.”

“What's that?”

Rhodri shrugged his shoulders; he'd look a fool if he said he wanted a wife and a child, as Dan had. That he wanted some of Dan's “get up and go.” Some of his bluntness. That it was sheer jealousy motivating the vendetta.

“Is there nothing to be done about Megan? Can't you marry her and go live there and sort it that way?”

“And have to tolerate that dreadful old beggar every day of my life?”

“God, man, the house is big enough; you could make him rooms of his own. Surely?”

“He wouldn't have that.”

“Wouldn't he just. Well, if he wants taking care of all the rest of his life, the compromise can't be all one-sided. Megan's a great girl and very attractive; I can see why you want to marry her, but…”

“Yes?”

“I do think that all this business is what is really at the root of your attitude recently. Something has to get sorted. I won't tolerate it much longer.” Mungo placed his fingertips together and looked at him very directly. “You may be envious of Dan, but with some effort you can be in the same position as him, with a lovely wife and a family. However, in the meantime, no more being abrupt with clients and no more fueling this vendetta with Dan. I know he's outspoken, but at heart he's a very fair-minded, kindly man doing a good job, and he's well liked. Just like you.”

Rhodri looked at his hands as they lay on the desk. Well liked? Kindly? Fair-minded? Well yes, he, Rhodri, was all of those. And in his better moments he knew Dan was all of that too. “You're right. I'm starting to become a bit cracked over it all. Yes, you're right.”

“I know I'm right. Get your personal life sorted then, and we'll all feel the benefit. Thank you for dealing so well with old Bert. I need my lunch.” Mungo got to his feet and Rhodri did too. “No hard feelings?”

Rhodri shook his head. “No hard feelings. You'll have no need to speak about it again.” But in his heart he knew he was defeated before he'd even begun. There wouldn't be a solution for him and Megan so long as that selfish old man lived.

         

T
HAT
selfish old man, as Rhodri had called him, was being just that. Demanding and irritable and making Megan feel shredded. She kept her patience as long as she could, hoping that the bad mood would pass, but eventually she snapped.

“Da! That's the tenth time you've called me in all over nothing. I've work to do even if you haven't; please let me get on with it.”

“I think that's the cruelest thing you've ever said to me. How can I work? I want to, but I can't. And don't get in the habit of answering me back. I don't deserve it.”

“You do. This morning, you do. It's only nine o'clock and I'm worn out, and I've a day's work to face. You're not being fair to me.”

“Fair? What's fair about the state I'm in, eh?”

Megan simply looked at him intensely.

“And you can take that sullen look off your face; I don't need that this morning.”

“I'm thinking of getting some help in.”

“I'm not having strangers wandering about this house pretending to flick a duster and costing a fortune. We're all right as we are.”

“We're not. And I wasn't thinking of someone to dust.”

Mr. Jones's face went almost purple with rage. “To do what, then?”

“To put you to bed at night and get you up in the morning and do your ablutions and stuff. A nurse, kind of.”

“A nurse? Absolutely not. That would be the end of me trying hard to be a person instead of an invalid. I try, damned hard too.”

“Don't try to appeal to my better nature; I'm reaching the end of my tether, but I don't suppose that's occurred to you. There's only Mr. Jones in the whole wide world who's allowed to do that. Well, I'm telling you, Da, it's me who's done for, me who's exhausted, me who's—”

“What's got into you, girl? That Rhodri been at you again, trying to get you to marry him? Believe me, marriage isn't all it's cracked up to be, and I should know.”

Megan knew just where this was leading: into a tirade about her mother. But Megan had witnessed her mother weeping in the kitchen when her father was out in the fields. She knew about the physical revulsion her mother felt, the hatred when he'd raised his hand to her, never striking her but leaving her with the threat of it. The compassion Megan felt for his predicament flew out of the window on days like this.

“Da, for heaven's sake, don't start down that line. I'm sick of it. Now, I'm getting on with my work; you'll have to read the paper while I do.” She turned to leave the room, knowing he'd think of one more thing as she left.

“Don't forget my morning coffee, I—”

“When I'm good and ready, Da.” As she crossed the passage into the kitchen, she heard him shuffling about on his table for his glasses and the rustle of the paper as he picked it up. For two pins she'd escape this very day. Leave him to rot. She looked around the kitchen and thought, there's nothing here that can't wait until tomorrow. She'd do it, just for the day. She put out on the worktop all the things for lunch, put the kettle on to boil for the coffee, and then raced upstairs to get changed.

“Here we are then, Da, coffee with a piece of your favorite shortbread. I've left everything out for lunch; I'll have a word with Gab before I go.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don't know yet, but somewhere, because if I don't I shall go mad.”

“But what about me?”

“I've told you—I'll ask Gab to keep an eye.”

“But I don't want Gab to keep an eye. I—”

“Just for today. Be seeing you.”

As she opened the door to go find Gab before she left, she heard him say, “When will you be back?” but she didn't answer.

Gab was taking a break in the old tack room, and his eyes lit up when he saw her in the doorway. “Hello, Meggie, my love, what can I do for you? Dressed up and off somewhere to see that feeble Welsh lover of yours, I've no doubt.”

“Right first time, but he's not feeble, not feeble at all. I'm leaving Da. Everything's out for lunch; could you see to him for me, Gab?”

Gab stood up and moved closer. “Of course.” He put a hand on the door frame, just above her head, which placed him only a foot away from her. Looking into her eyes, he said, “Wish I was coming with you. Need a chauffeur? Eh? Though we'd have to go in your car—couldn't ask a lovely girl like you to ride in my old ramshackle thing. My, but you're beautiful. This morning there's a light of rebellion in your eyes, and well do I like it.”

Megan pushed his hand off the door frame. “Much more from you and I shall tell your mother about you and your fast ways.”

A slight blush had come on her cheeks, and Gab reveled in it. “Ooh! You wouldn't! She's fiercesome, she is.”

“So am I. Now make sure the lad does some work today. I caught him in the hay loft yesterday, in the middle of the morning, reading an obscene publication.”

“It's what boys do at his age.”

“Well, not on my time, not when I'm paying him to work. See!” She prodded his chest to emphasize her point and found her hand being taken to his mouth and kissed. “Stop that, Gab! You need the money and I need you for the work and that's it. Full stop.”

Megan turned on her heel and marched to her car. The drive into Barleybridge cooled her temper. It was a wonderful morning, and here and there shades of autumn were on all the trees, just enough to let you know winter wasn't far away. First she went to find Rhodri, an unprecedented move on her part. In the car park she met a neighbor. “Hi there, Megan, come to see Rhodri, have you? He's busy, but I expect he'll find time for you!”

She met a receptionist from the medical practice just coming out of the main door; she put down her dog and said, “Hello, Megan. How's your da at the moment? Keeping well?”

“Very well, thanks.”

“He's a lovely vet that Rhodri of yours—treated my Duke something lovely he has.” She twinkled her fingers teasingly at Megan and went around to the car park.

Honestly, thought Megan, your life isn't your own. They know everything. After a talk with Joy, who didn't seem to be her usual happy self, and a natter with Mungo, she began to feel like a person again, and seeing Rhodri lifted her heart to such an extent that she kissed him in full view of the waiting clients and embarrassed him to death. But she didn't care and neither did he when he thought about it. They lunched at the Askew Arms and thought about going away for a weekend together, so they collected brochures from the travel agents. They were standing outside discussing where to go when Rhodri looked at his watch and said with horror, “My God! I should have been back a quarter of an hour ago!” They fled hand in hand for the car park, zoomed down the slope to the exit with more speed than sense, and then raced off down the road to the practice.