Read Online Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Trisha Ashley
Ads: Link
He seemed to be moving a little easier this morning and I suspected he’d missed a couple of his pills and regular exercise in the last few days.
The closer we got to the red horse hill figure, the harder it was to make out what it was. It had been cut out of the turf and the earth banked on either side to make a raised edge. The natural red sandstone lay revealed, though it didn’t stand out like the white horse ones I’d seen elsewhere and was on a much smaller scale. I wondered if it was ancient, perhaps Celtic? I seemed to recall that Celts were keen on horses. Or perhaps it was a more modern addition to the local scenery?
A track up to the beacon ran right by it and, looking down, I could see that it met the road above Old Place, where there was another farm. It was well trodden, so I expect lots of walkers come here to climb up to the folly. I’d do it myself one day, too, only not this particular one: I had too much to do.
I was just about to go back down when there was a quick spatter of Mozart from my pocket. The ringtone somehow didn’t seem quite right for a windswept Lancashire hillside, but I’m not sure what would. Ride of the Valkyries?
‘Caught you!’ Ellen said triumphantly. ‘I tried the house but there was no reply.’
‘No, I’m up on the hill behind the house. In fact, the only mobile reception is up here, or down near the village, so you’re lucky to have caught me at all.’
‘What are you doing on the hill?’
‘Walking the dog – and he’s old and arthritic so I can’t keep him standing about here very long.’
‘I only wanted to warn you that I found a flood of emails from Jude Martland in my inbox this morning and he isn’t happy about the change of home-sitter, though he should be grateful I could find anyone at such short notice!’
‘Yes, that’s what I told him.’
‘You mean, you’ve spoken to him? He didn’t mention that . . . or maybe I just haven’t got as far as that email yet.’
‘He rang last night and he struck me as a very autocratic and disagreeable person – and totally unreasonable! I told him I was perfectly capable and competent, but I’m not sure he believed me.’
‘ I told him much the same, but he still wanted to see your CV and references, so I faxed them. They’re all glowing so they’ll put his mind at rest.’
‘I doubt it, because he seemed more worried about the horse than anything and you have to agree that I’ve no experience with them at all. But still, the instructions he left were clear enough and I’m sure I can manage. I made her hot mash last night and I’m going to put her in the paddock shortly and have a go at mucking out.’
‘Oh, you’ll be fine,’ she said comfortably, which was easy for her since she wouldn’t be the one coping! ‘Well, I just wanted to warn you in case you got a phone call, but obviously you’ve dealt with him. And once he’s read your CV I expect he will feel much happier. I told him he was lucky that one of my best house-sitters was free to step into the breach.’
‘I hope so, though he may want regular bulletins on the horse and dog. Some pet owners do.’
She agreed and rang off, and Merlin and I went home again. I was dying to have another look around the house, but thought I’d better tackle Lady’s stable first. From what I recalled, it was simply a matter of removing the old straw and replacing it with new: how hard could that be?
I changed into old jeans, a warm fleece and wellies, girded my loins and went to do the Augean stable bit. Merlin heaved himself up out of his basket with a resigned expression, but I gave him one of the rawhide chews out of the cupboard and left him in the kitchen with it: I needed my full attention on what I was doing.
At least by the New Year I would be able to add looking after horses and goats to my CV if I wanted to, though I wasn’t entirely convinced I would ever want to see a goat again.
It was still very cold, though there was a
The closer we got to the red horse hill figure, the harder it was to make out what it was. It had been cut out of the turf and the earth banked on either side to make a raised edge. The natural red sandstone lay revealed, though it didn’t stand out like the white horse ones I’d seen elsewhere and was on a much smaller scale. I wondered if it was ancient, perhaps Celtic? I seemed to recall that Celts were keen on horses. Or perhaps it was a more modern addition to the local scenery?
A track up to the beacon ran right by it and, looking down, I could see that it met the road above Old Place, where there was another farm. It was well trodden, so I expect lots of walkers come here to climb up to the folly. I’d do it myself one day, too, only not this particular one: I had too much to do.
I was just about to go back down when there was a quick spatter of Mozart from my pocket. The ringtone somehow didn’t seem quite right for a windswept Lancashire hillside, but I’m not sure what would. Ride of the Valkyries?
‘Caught you!’ Ellen said triumphantly. ‘I tried the house but there was no reply.’
‘No, I’m up on the hill behind the house. In fact, the only mobile reception is up here, or down near the village, so you’re lucky to have caught me at all.’
‘What are you doing on the hill?’
‘Walking the dog – and he’s old and arthritic so I can’t keep him standing about here very long.’
‘I only wanted to warn you that I found a flood of emails from Jude Martland in my inbox this morning and he isn’t happy about the change of home-sitter, though he should be grateful I could find anyone at such short notice!’
‘Yes, that’s what I told him.’
‘You mean, you’ve spoken to him? He didn’t mention that . . . or maybe I just haven’t got as far as that email yet.’
‘He rang last night and he struck me as a very autocratic and disagreeable person – and totally unreasonable! I told him I was perfectly capable and competent, but I’m not sure he believed me.’
‘ I told him much the same, but he still wanted to see your CV and references, so I faxed them. They’re all glowing so they’ll put his mind at rest.’
‘I doubt it, because he seemed more worried about the horse than anything and you have to agree that I’ve no experience with them at all. But still, the instructions he left were clear enough and I’m sure I can manage. I made her hot mash last night and I’m going to put her in the paddock shortly and have a go at mucking out.’
‘Oh, you’ll be fine,’ she said comfortably, which was easy for her since she wouldn’t be the one coping! ‘Well, I just wanted to warn you in case you got a phone call, but obviously you’ve dealt with him. And once he’s read your CV I expect he will feel much happier. I told him he was lucky that one of my best house-sitters was free to step into the breach.’
‘I hope so, though he may want regular bulletins on the horse and dog. Some pet owners do.’
She agreed and rang off, and Merlin and I went home again. I was dying to have another look around the house, but thought I’d better tackle Lady’s stable first. From what I recalled, it was simply a matter of removing the old straw and replacing it with new: how hard could that be?
I changed into old jeans, a warm fleece and wellies, girded my loins and went to do the Augean stable bit. Merlin heaved himself up out of his basket with a resigned expression, but I gave him one of the rawhide chews out of the cupboard and left him in the kitchen with it: I needed my full attention on what I was doing.
At least by the New Year I would be able to add looking after horses and goats to my CV if I wanted to, though I wasn’t entirely convinced I would ever want to see a goat again.
It was still very cold, though there was a
Similar Books
