Page 13 of A New Family at Puddleduck Farm (Puddleduck Farm #6)

Fortunately, the weather app was wrong. When Phoebe woke up on the morning of Halloween it was to the lightest of blue skies.

She stood at the window of their bedroom and looked out at the mist rolling in drifts across the surrounding fields.

It looked very spooky out there and a pale white, almost round moon with just the tiniest slice missing was still sailing high in the sky.

From the look of it there would be a full moon tonight and she imagined the inky black silhouette of a witch on her broomstick flying across it later.

And kids turning up for trick or treat. Not that kids often ventured out here on Halloween. It was too far out in the sticks.

Fleetingly, she thought about the two kids next door, Archie and Francesca Holt.

She’d never met Francesca, who’d been born in October last year, so she’d now be one. Where had the last twelve months gone? Oh, yes, she’d been pregnant for a lot of it.

She sighed, fleetingly sad that she hadn’t heard from Archie since he’d sent her a brief thank you after his work experience, either. He’d always stayed in touch via WhatsApp messages. He’d never been one for long spiels of text but he’d always sent her pictures of his animals.

Last year he’d rehomed two dogs from Puddleduck Pets.

Chloe and Spot. He hadn’t even sent pictures of them lately either.

Phoebe guessed he was immersed in his own life.

He was growing up fast. Perhaps it was inevitable he wouldn’t have kept in touch with her so much, even if she had still been seeing his father.

Rufus Holt – Lord Rufus Holt now – seemed like part of another life.

He was part of another life. Phoebe gave herself a little shake.

Everything moved on. Everything changed.

Even the sky had changed since she’d been standing at the window.

It was pale blue and pink now with tiny wisps of cloud.

She should get going. Sam had got up hours ago.

She’d been aware of him rolling over in bed and kissing her.

‘Have a lie-in, love. I’ll sort out Lily. Big day, today.’

By nine forty-five, there still wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and a small crowd had gathered in the yard outside the doors of Puddleduck Pets ready to walk down to the dog field.

As well as Sam, Phoebe and Lily, the crowd was made up of Maggie and Eddie, Natasha and Marcus, Phoebe’s parents and Tori, Harrison and Vanessa-Rose.

Vanessa-Rose’s face was painted up with black whiskers and Tori had a spider’s web on her cheek.

‘I couldn’t resist,’ she told Phoebe. ‘And we’re going to a lunchtime party at one of the neighbour’s, so it won’t be wasted.’

Maggie had entered into the spirit of things too, and she was wearing a black pointy witch’s hat and carrying a besom. ‘I’d have brought Snowball with me,’ she joked to Phoebe, ‘but I thought there might be too many dogs around for that cat’s liking.’

‘There’ll definitely be at least two. I can’t wait to see Romi and Lunar charging about off the lead. Dougie said they don’t come off the lead very often. I’m going to take a video of that for posterity.’

A few minutes later they were all at the gate of the dog field where Dougie, Sarah and their two dogs were waiting for them.

Phoebe saw Maggie bend and offer her hand to one of the black and tan hounds palm side up, and he stretched out his nose for a sniff.

They were big dogs and looked a bit like Doberman crosses but leaner.

Phoebe smiled at Dougie and Sarah before busying herself tying the blue and yellow ribbon across the gate, ready for cutting, while Tori got out her camera and adjusted the lens.

In view of the fact that everyone had been told Romi and Lunar could be reactive around other dogs, there were no other canine guests at the opening. Phoebe was relieved they’d made that decision. Romi and Lunar both looked a little overwhelmed.

She looked around for Natasha and beckoned her over.

‘Right then, are you ready?’ She handed Natasha a pair of scissors.

‘Yep.’ Natasha grinned and stood by the ribbon with her scissors poised while Tori lined up her camera.

‘I think we need Dougie and Sarah and the dogs in it too,’ she announced, beckoning them across.

‘So if you two could just stand here. Great. OK, I’ll take a couple of stills first and then I’ll do the video. ’

Tori snapped away happily, although they had a couple of false starts with the video because both Lily and Vanessa-Rose began to grizzle when they realised their mums had gone out of sight. Then, on the third attempt, Romi decided to cock his leg on the gatepost halfway through Natasha’s speech.

‘Never work with children or animals,’ Tori said, resetting her video and repositioning everyone yet again. ‘Right then. Third time lucky.’

‘I now declare The Puddleduck Pooch and Mooch officially open,’ Natasha said for the third time when everyone was quiet again, and she snipped the ribbon with a flourish.

Everyone clapped and cheered, and they all trooped into the dog field, where Tori and Phoebe took more photos of the dogs by the pumpkins and the Halloween-themed shed.

Then finally, Sarah and Dougie unclipped their dogs’ leads in unison. ‘You’re free, guys,’ Sarah said with a slight catch in her voice. ‘A whole field of your own to play in whenever you like.’

Lunar, who was the smaller of the two dogs, stared around her, saucer eyed, and then celebrated her new-found freedom by running across to the fence, humping her back and having a poo.

‘Typical,’ Sarah said as everyone cheered again. ‘You can always rely on a dog to let you down, can’t you!’

‘Too right!’ Dougie headed over with a poo bag, wrinkling his nose, and everyone cheered again.

But after her slightly inauspicious start, Lunar pricked her ears, her attention caught by something on the far side of the field, and then scented the air, before putting her head down and racing towards it.

Romi followed her, and before long the two hounds were running flat out around the field, zigzagging backwards and forwards on the short yellow grass and doing zoomies around each other while the small crowd standing and sitting at the picnic table watched them.

‘Look at them go.’ Dougie’s voice was overawed. ‘I’ve never seen them run like that before.’

‘They’re having a wonderful time,’ Sarah said. She turned towards Phoebe. ‘I’ve always wanted to see them do that, but we could never risk letting them off the lead Thank you so much for setting all this up, Phoebe. It’s just brilliant.’

Phoebe saw she had tears in her eyes and she felt a warmth deep in her heart. She touched her arm. ‘No. Thank you . We couldn’t have done it without your Dougie.’

* * *

It wasn’t just Romi and Lunar and their owners who loved the dog field. Everyone else who tried it out in the first few days loved it too. A few of them left five-star reviews on TripAdvisor and some left lovely reviews on The Puddleduck Pooch and Mooch website too.

Most of the people who’d booked slots were people Phoebe already knew. Either because they were clients of Puddleduck Vets or they’d rehomed dogs from Puddleduck Pets. She knew this because several had either phoned or called in personally to tell her.

‘I guess the acid test will be when it’s people using it who we don’t know,’ she said to Sam one evening when they’d just finished clearing up supper and were now relaxing in the front room with the wood burner lit. They’d taken to using it more as the weather had cooled.

‘There’s no reason they shouldn’t love it too. Stop fretting.’

‘I am, aren’t I. Sorry.’ She frowned. ‘I seem to stress out about things a lot more these days than I did before I had Lily. Do you think giving birth makes you more sensitive about everything?’

‘Well, don’t ask me. I’m not in a position to comment.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘That’s another one for Tori, isn’t it?’

Their conversation was interrupted by a rapping at the front door, and Roxie, who was very laid back except when it came to visitors, charged out into the hall, barking loudly.

‘I’ll go,’ Sam said, getting up. ‘Are we expecting anyone?’

‘Not unless it’s someone else to tell me how great the field is – or they could be calling to complain, I suppose.

I’m pretty sure someone booked it tonight.

Oh, gosh. Maybe I forgot to put the floodlights on.

’ She clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry, there I go again, second-guessing everything.’

Sam shook his head in mock reproof and disappeared in sock-clad feet to answer the door.

A few moments later, Phoebe heard voices in the hall, Sam’s low and friendly and then the slightly higher voice of a younger person. It sounded like Archie; surely it couldn’t be. Phoebe had just got up to go and see when the door opened and Sam was back with a very excited Roxie.

Behind Sam was someone wearing a dark coat and scarf and woolly hat. It was Archie. But a taller Archie than Phoebe remembered. He’d shot up in the last couple of months. ‘Trick or treat,’ he yelled, bounding into the room.

‘I’ve already told him that was last week.’ Sam was clearly as delighted to see Archie as Roxie and Phoebe were. ‘But he insisted on coming in anyway.’

Archie and Phoebe grinned at each other.

‘How did you get here?’ She stepped forward to greet him. ‘Did you walk round?’

‘No, Jack’s dad dropped me. I stayed over at Jack’s for half term. He’s getting on great with Casey’s Girl.’

‘That’s good to hear,’ Phoebe said, pleased. Casey’s Girl was a horse Jack’s family had rehomed from the sanctuary last year.

‘We’ve been having dressage lessons with Jack’s cousin, Caroline.’ Archie flicked a glance at Sam. ‘She’s not as good a teacher as you. She gets cross when we don’t do what she says.’

‘Is that right?’ Sam laughed.

‘Yeah, she can be a right meanie. We wanted you, but Marjorie at Brook said you’re not doing lessons any more.’

‘I’m having a break,’ Sam said evenly. Phoebe thought she saw a flash of disappointment in his eyes, but it was gone almost immediately.

‘Please can you let us know when you’re starting up again? Jack and I are going to fall out with Caroline soon, I know we are. And Dad says you shouldn’t fall out with your family.’

He sounded so grown up, Phoebe thought, and then he spoiled it by saying, ‘Jack says he doesn’t really mind as he’s got loads of cousins. He’s lucky. I haven’t got any. I wish I had some cousins.’

‘But you’ve got a sister. How’s Francesca doing? And how’s your dad? Are you stopping for a drink?’

‘Chesska’s growing up fast. She knows who I am. She always gives me a smile when I go in her room. Thank you for asking… Dad and Emilia are fine too. They send their regards. I’d love a mango and apple J20 if you’ve got one?’ Archie looked at Sam hopefully and he nodded.

‘I’ll go and see what I can find, young man. And I’ll make a pot of tea for us.’

When Sam had disappeared, Phoebe held out her arms. ‘Do I get a hug? It’s ages since I’ve seen you.’

Archie gave her a tentative hug, and she thought, That’s probably my last hug . He’ll be back to shaking hands again soon. All stiff and formal now he’s thirteen. He’s growing up, becoming a proper teenager.

‘It’s not that long,’ Archie said, grinning. ‘Although you are a bit thinner than last time I saw you. Congratulations on the birth. I’ve forgotten…’ He clapped his hand over his mouth. ‘Was it a girl or a boy?’

‘A little girl. We’ve called her Lily. Please say thanks again to your father for the flowers. They were gorgeous.’

‘I will. Cool name.’ Archie lost interest in babies and he wandered over to pet Roxie, who wagged her tail and sniffed his hand. ‘She can smell my dogs. They send woofs and wags.’

‘Come and sit by me.’ Phoebe gestured to the sofa, and then sat back by the arm where she’d been sitting, and Archie joined her.

‘So did you come round to nag Sam about riding lessons? Or is this a general social visit? Or was there something else I can help with, my darling?’

‘It is a social visit. And I did want to nag Sam about riding lessons.’ Archie’s face grew serious. ‘But there’s something I wanted to ask you about too.’ He put his hands behind his head, leaned back on the sofa and let out a sigh. ‘We’ve got a bit of a cat problem.’