Country Lovers by Rebecca Shaw Page B

tonight.
    Six extractions, four spays, and a castration later, Rhodri left for home. He’d take Harry Ferret out for a walk first, then have his shower, then call early for Megan.
    The moment he heard Rhodri’s voice, Harry unrolled himself from a deep sleep, and came to the front of his cage, stretching luxuriously. “Oh yes! Here I am slaving away earning money to support you and what are you doing? Sleeping the day away. What a life! Time you went out to work and earned your keep.” Harry appreciated the nuzzling he got from Rhodri when he lifted him out of his cage. He slipped inside Rhodri’s jacket and snuggled down while his red harness was found and the front doormat was checked for mail. Then, holding the lead, Rhodri set off for a walk, out of the garden down the footpath that ran alongside their fence and out into the field behind the house.
    Harry scurried along, keeping pace. No time for dawdling until Rhodri had worked the tensions of the day from his stocky frame and was able to wander carefree. Well, almost carefree, apart from the long, nagging loneliness of not being able to be with Megan all the time. Rhodri shaded his eyes and watched a kestrel hovering, but it didn’t dive and he lost interest. He’d known for certain that Megan was his kind of person when she’d taken so readily to Harry. Seemed a daft criterion for a life partner, but it mattered and she knew it did. She also loved Welsh male voice choirs and adored hearing his wonderful tenor voice singing the old Welsh songs. Megan swore he could have been a soloist on the concert stage had he not wanted to be a vet. He’d give her six more months and then…and then? What? Her dad couldn’t be left to live on his own. Megan wouldn’t do that, anyway. No, whichever way he looked at it, he’d have to live with them on the farm, but the thought of eating every meal with the old man made his spirits drop even lower.
    Without warning, a huge cloud covered the sun and a chill wind began to blow. Rhodri decided to head for home. Lengthening his stride, Rhodri turned back, still with no solution to his love life. He just wished Dan had no reason to say that he was set in his bachelor ways. Dan had everything Rhodri wanted: a home with a beautiful wife in it and a newborn son.

Chapter

• 4 •
    R ose took Jonathan to see everyone at the practice when he was just two weeks old. She went in during their lunch hour and immediately found herself surrounded by admiring faces.
    â€œWhy, he’s beautiful, Rose, absolutely beautiful. Can I hold him?” This was Joy, eager to join Jonathan’s admiration society. “Well, there’s no doubting who his father is. He’s just like Dan, isn’t he? So like him it’s almost comical.”
    â€œI guess he is. There’s no mistaking, is there? Danny’s as proud as punch.”
    â€œOf course he is. He’s a changed man since you came back, you know.”
    â€œIs he?”
    â€œOh yes. He was very difficult to get on with, but he’s soft as butter now.”
    Everyone wanted a turn at holding the baby, including Letty, Colin’s wife, who had come in especially to see him. “Here, give him to me.” She sat herself down on Joy’s chair and held out her arms. Joy handed him over and Letty rather awkwardly took him from her. “Am I getting it right?”
    Rose laughed. “Yes, of course you are. Actually, you’re not looking quite well, Letty.”
    â€œNo, just some bug I’ve picked up.”
    â€œAre you actually sick?”
    â€œNot really, no. You’re very lucky. Maybe I’d better give him back to you or I’ll be tempted to take him home.”
    Before they knew it, Sarah One and Sarah Two with Bunty came in to join Jonathan’s admiration society, followed by Stephie and Kate.
    â€œHe’s gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.” Kate gave Jonathan her finger to