Page 26 of Christmas at the Home Farm Vets (Hartfell Village #2)

The following morning Erin was back at the practice at six a.m. to check on Marnie.

The kitten had spent the night in isolation, and Erin and Oli had taken turns to nip back and make sure she was okay.

Relieved to see that Marnie had made it through the night and was looking brighter since leaving her at midnight, Erin topped up her meds and curled into the only comfy chair in the office to close her eyes, jerking awake again after what felt like five minutes.

‘Morning.’ Oli was leaning against a desk nearby. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you but it’s seven thirty and everyone will be in soon. Here. Made you this.’

‘Thanks. There’s never a time I don’t need tea.

’ She felt sluggish, slow after a nap she wouldn’t usually take, and accepted the mug he offered, tea brewed just the way she liked it.

Oli’s hair was damp after a shower, and she liked the stubble he was letting grow back into a beard after telling her he needed every layer he could get to stay warm here.

‘I’ve just had a look at Marnie. She’s still subdued but I think she’s a bit better than yesterday.’

‘Yeah, I thought that too. The meds and fluids will be helping.’ Erin drank some tea and put the mug down, about to get up. ‘She’s due a feed and…’

‘You stay there and finish your brew, I’ll do it. You’ve had a disturbed night.’

‘So did you.’

‘Yeah, but I wasn’t here at midnight and then back at six.’

Oli disappeared and Erin sat back to enjoy her tea.

Her neck felt stiff and she yawned, thinking of the calls she was making later.

A lame horse, a heifer in calf who was off her food and pregnancy scanning a small flock of rare breed sheep.

A recent storm had given way to a cold, sharp day, and snow closer to Christmas was a possibility.

Much as she loved to see the landscape swathed in white, it would bring problems for everyone and especially the farmers as they battled to keep their livestock fed and safe.

She washed up her mug and went through to the isolation kennel, pausing at the sight of Oli stroking Marnie inside the crate.

Yesterday the kitten had been too weak and poorly to offer any resistance, and even though she still had a long way to go, her feral instincts to defend herself could flare at any moment.

A quick look revealed the litter tray had been used and she watched as he carefully opened Marnie’s mouth to check for ulcers before syringing the prescription food they’d started her on last night.

All good signs, and Erin hoped if she continued to improve then Marnie might be able to come home with her in a couple of days.

‘She was ready for that.’ She was heartened by the sight of Marnie lifting her head and sniffing for more when the syringe was empty.

‘Yeah, we could let her try the next feed on her own.’ Oli settled Marnie back on her bed again, mindful of the catheter still attached to a line providing fluids. If she began to drink on her own, they could remove it later.

‘How’s she doing?’ Gil stuck his head around the door, Lola at his heels.

He kept a hand on her collar so she wouldn’t venture any further.

He’d popped in last night and Erin had explained about Dorothy finding Marnie, and how she’d come to be in the practice, hoping he wouldn’t object to another stray after the piebald pony that morning.

He’d said immediately that she’d done the right thing in giving Marnie a chance and offered to keep an eye on her too.

‘Good, thanks. Improving.’

‘That’s great, Erin. Glad to hear it, and Dorothy will be too.

’ Gil’s eyes narrowed. ‘Speaking of which, I’ve got to the bottom of what that pony’s doing here.

Somebody got in touch with Dorothy to say they’d seen it looking a state and that the owner obviously couldn’t manage to look after it.

She went straight round with the trailer, persuaded them to give Flo up and unbeknownst to me and Pippa, Harriet offered to give her a home and so here she is. ’

‘I wouldn’t have minded seeing Dorothy persuading someone round to her way of thinking.’ Oli grinned and Gil laughed.

‘They didn’t stand a chance.’ His smile was a wry one.

‘Dorothy thinks Flo would make a good driving pony and Harriet’s determined to have a go when Flo’s fit enough.

She likes the name too. They say they didn’t know Flo was in foal, but I’m not convinced, Dorothy’s no mug.

As if I needed another bloody pony, and now I’ve got three for the price of two.

’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Ah well, it could be worse, Posy could be the one in foal. So are you two all set for Saturday? I reckon Elaine’s thinking of fixing Secret Santa so she gets me.

Apparently I’m a Grinch because I said I never wanted to hear “Last Christmas” being played ever again. Seems pretty reasonable to me.’

‘Totally, I’m looking forward to it.’ Erin was hoping to get Jess; she already had a gift in mind. Anyone would be fine really, except Oli.

It was time for the daily staff briefing, so she and Oli disposed of their gloves and masks, and made their way to the office with Gil and Lola.

By Thursday evening Marnie was making progress and Erin was in love.

She’d known by the first morning that rehoming her was no longer a possibility; she simply couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Without a microchip or the unlikely prospect of someone coming forward to claim her, Marnie needed a home, and Erin had decided that hers was going to be it.

Marnie was still wary whenever she and Oli approached but the catheter was out, she was eating and drinking on her own, and would tolerate brief touches.

She’d already put on a little weight as the hunching in her tummy eased, and she had melted the hearts of everyone at the practice.

They gradually reduced her meds as her temperature returned to normal and even the way she sneezed was adorable. She was beginning to take an interest in her surroundings and although she wasn’t well enough to have her vaccinations, Erin planned to do that just as soon as she could.

Tonight she was planning to bake for the mince pie tasting tomorrow.

She hadn’t done much baking since she’d moved into the cottage, preoccupied instead with settling in and her new job, and she’d missed it.

For Erin her nan set the standard, her scones and mince pies were legendary.

Joyce made good use of the produce Bill grew, and Erin always thought the house smelled like Christmas once the fruit for the cake Joyce baked had been left to steep in brandy for several days.

Earlier Oli had mentioned that he’d sort out dinner and she’d come home before him to find a chilli gently simmering in the slow cooker, loaded with peppers, beans and spices.

She was so tired and grateful, she’d have hugged him if he’d been there.

She put a couple of potatoes in the oven to bake as she’d be using it for the mince pies anyway, and headed to the shower, thankful he was checking on Marnie after early evening consultations.

When he arrived he shrugged out of his coat and wasted no time in joining her in the kitchen, sniffing appreciatively.

‘Smells amazing.’ He found a teaspoon and stuck it in the jar of Joyce’s homemade mincemeat Erin had got her mum to post. Her nan wouldn’t entertain ready-made and used molasses sugar to give the mincemeat a thick, dark sweetness. ‘Mmm, it is amazing. What!’

‘Get off,’ Erin told him, trying to be stern and failing when he laughed. She shoved his hand, about to dive in for a second time, away. ‘There’s not that much and you are not allowed to eat it.’

‘What, ever?’

‘Maybe I’ll save you a bit as a thank you for sorting dinner.

It too smells amazing.’ There was nothing like coming home on a cold winter’s night to a meal made.

It was one of the joys of growing up with her grandparents; that there was often something delicious on the go. ‘How was Marnie, did she eat again?’

‘She did, every scrap. I think she’s turned a corner, maybe you can bring her home at the weekend?’

‘I’d love that.’ Erin grinned at Oli, leaning against the stairs. ‘I’ll run down and check on her again in a couple of hours.’

‘So can I help?’ He pointed to the muffin tins on the worktop, already lined with butter. ‘What would it take to persuade you to turn your entry into a joint one?’

‘Are you kidding me?’ she retorted. ‘You think I want to share my mince pies with you? And don’t you dare eat one because then you’ll know which are mine when you try them at work. Don’t look at me like that either, this is a serious business and I’m not going to be swayed.’

‘So you think I could sway you?’ Oli had lowered his voice and Erin’s pulse jumped. She turned back to the pastry she’d been rolling out, more distracted by him than she’d like to be.

‘Definitely not.’ Hair was escaping from her ponytail, getting in her way. Hands covered in flour, she shook her head, trying impatiently to flick it from her face.

‘May I?’

She nodded slowly as he took two steps to stand behind her. Throat suddenly dry, she swallowed, barely breathing as his fingers brushed her neck. He drew her curls together before re-fastening her ponytail.

‘Thanks.’ Her voice was a croak, and she was aware he hadn’t moved away, other than to withdraw his hands.

‘You’re welcome.’ He dropped the words into her ear, and her eyes slid closed as his breath skimmed her neck. ‘It’ll cost you a mince pie.’

‘Oh well, if you’d said that I would’ve refused your help.

No can do, they’re strictly off limits until tomorrow.

’ This was turning into dangerous territory that felt very much like flirting.

Erin was wishing he’d move and also trying to subdue a burning desire that he wouldn’t.

‘So, er, did you say you were going to shower before we eat?’

‘I didn’t, but it’s probably a good idea.’