hang about to make sure all that gas which has accumulated in his rumen does come up, just in case.”
Blossom picked up the object and examined it in the light of Dan’s torch. “Why, good heavens, it’s a kiddie’s ball. Where did he get that from?”
But Phil wasn’t listening to her. His Sunny Boy, the pride of his life, had been saved. Had Dan been able to see Phil’s eyes, he would have seen tears of joy. As it was, they soaked unseen into his balaclava. He came out of the stall, bolted the gate behind him and, taking Dan’s grossly slimy, dripping hand in his, shook it vigorously. “Brilliant. You’ve saved his life. Brilliant! I can’t thank you enough. Blossom, get that kettle on; we’ll have a coffee.” Phil wiped his hand on his jumper.
Dan said, “That sounds good. I’ll wash up first. Where’s the tap?”
Tremulously Blossom breathed, “You were so masterful with him, Dan. ‘That will do,’ you said; and he did just as he was told. It was like a miracle.” She clung to his arm. “Thank you. Thank you. I don’t know what Phil would have done if Sunny Boy had died. Kettle, right. Milk and sugar? No, we’ll have cream today. Yes. Celebrate, that’s what we’ll do.”
Dan washed his arms under the outside tap using the bar of soap he always carried with him. “You’ll have to warn your children about leaving balls near your beasts, Phil.”
“Ain’t got none. It’s them damn kids from the trailer park. There was a load of ’em here yesterday buying milk. It’d be one of them.” He went to lean his arms on the wall of Sunny Boy’s stall and wallow in admiration. Dan joined him. “I have to say this, Phil, he’s a grand beast. Beautiful creature. Where did you get him from?”
“Born right here in this stall. Absolute fluke. His mother was Christabel. I bought her as a heifer and found she was in calf, and it was this great beggar. Few weeks back Scott had to put her to sleep—old age, really. Poor Sunny Boy was right upset when I told him. Off his food he was.”
Dan realized there was a great deal of good, sensitive heart in Phil and that he needed careful handling. Instructing him to clean up the place could be counterproductive. While they both gazed in admiration at Sunny Boy, now cheerfully munching his hay, a cat slipped under the bars of the gate and entered the stall.
“Get out, you daft beggar, I’ve told you before. Come on. Puss, puss, puss.”
“Nice cat. Good-looking.”
“Come on, see what your Phil’s got in his pocket for you. Come on. Puss. Puss.” The cat changed her mind and squeezed out under the gate again. Phil gave her a jelly bean. “Them’s her favorites. Blossom calls her Scott and reckons she’s hers, but she isn’t. She belongs to me. Her and me’s mates. Bit older and she’ll be clearing this place of rats.”
“Problem, is it?”
Phil nodded.
“They’re always a problem on any farm.” Still looking at Sunny Boy, Dan continued to pursue his point: “Secret is to limit the number of places they have to hide in and not leave any animal feed available.” He eyed the sacks leaning haphazardly against the far wall.
Phil nodded, not really listening.
“You know—clearing up rubbish, sealing up holes. While your beasts might flourish, they’d do even better with more light and air.”
Phil nodded again, but this time he was listening.
“Dumpster. Large Dumpster, that’s what’s needed.”
Phil stirred.
“Placed outside in the yard, a couple of hours’ work would make a big difference.”
Blossom came with three mugs on a tray. She rested the tray on top of the wall and handed out the mugs. Dan took his firstsip before he remembered Kate’s warning. Too late now. Blossom joined them, squeezing in next to Dan, resting her arm on the wall. “Isn’t it lovely now he’s breathing all right?”
Dan continued, “Then the next thing would be to sweep down every wall, every window; get rid of all the muck and cobwebs;
Blossom picked up the object and examined it in the light of Dan’s torch. “Why, good heavens, it’s a kiddie’s ball. Where did he get that from?”
But Phil wasn’t listening to her. His Sunny Boy, the pride of his life, had been saved. Had Dan been able to see Phil’s eyes, he would have seen tears of joy. As it was, they soaked unseen into his balaclava. He came out of the stall, bolted the gate behind him and, taking Dan’s grossly slimy, dripping hand in his, shook it vigorously. “Brilliant. You’ve saved his life. Brilliant! I can’t thank you enough. Blossom, get that kettle on; we’ll have a coffee.” Phil wiped his hand on his jumper.
Dan said, “That sounds good. I’ll wash up first. Where’s the tap?”
Tremulously Blossom breathed, “You were so masterful with him, Dan. ‘That will do,’ you said; and he did just as he was told. It was like a miracle.” She clung to his arm. “Thank you. Thank you. I don’t know what Phil would have done if Sunny Boy had died. Kettle, right. Milk and sugar? No, we’ll have cream today. Yes. Celebrate, that’s what we’ll do.”
Dan washed his arms under the outside tap using the bar of soap he always carried with him. “You’ll have to warn your children about leaving balls near your beasts, Phil.”
“Ain’t got none. It’s them damn kids from the trailer park. There was a load of ’em here yesterday buying milk. It’d be one of them.” He went to lean his arms on the wall of Sunny Boy’s stall and wallow in admiration. Dan joined him. “I have to say this, Phil, he’s a grand beast. Beautiful creature. Where did you get him from?”
“Born right here in this stall. Absolute fluke. His mother was Christabel. I bought her as a heifer and found she was in calf, and it was this great beggar. Few weeks back Scott had to put her to sleep—old age, really. Poor Sunny Boy was right upset when I told him. Off his food he was.”
Dan realized there was a great deal of good, sensitive heart in Phil and that he needed careful handling. Instructing him to clean up the place could be counterproductive. While they both gazed in admiration at Sunny Boy, now cheerfully munching his hay, a cat slipped under the bars of the gate and entered the stall.
“Get out, you daft beggar, I’ve told you before. Come on. Puss, puss, puss.”
“Nice cat. Good-looking.”
“Come on, see what your Phil’s got in his pocket for you. Come on. Puss. Puss.” The cat changed her mind and squeezed out under the gate again. Phil gave her a jelly bean. “Them’s her favorites. Blossom calls her Scott and reckons she’s hers, but she isn’t. She belongs to me. Her and me’s mates. Bit older and she’ll be clearing this place of rats.”
“Problem, is it?”
Phil nodded.
“They’re always a problem on any farm.” Still looking at Sunny Boy, Dan continued to pursue his point: “Secret is to limit the number of places they have to hide in and not leave any animal feed available.” He eyed the sacks leaning haphazardly against the far wall.
Phil nodded, not really listening.
“You know—clearing up rubbish, sealing up holes. While your beasts might flourish, they’d do even better with more light and air.”
Phil nodded again, but this time he was listening.
“Dumpster. Large Dumpster, that’s what’s needed.”
Phil stirred.
“Placed outside in the yard, a couple of hours’ work would make a big difference.”
Blossom came with three mugs on a tray. She rested the tray on top of the wall and handed out the mugs. Dan took his firstsip before he remembered Kate’s warning. Too late now. Blossom joined them, squeezing in next to Dan, resting her arm on the wall. “Isn’t it lovely now he’s breathing all right?”
Dan continued, “Then the next thing would be to sweep down every wall, every window; get rid of all the muck and cobwebs;
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