The Beast of Bracksley Woods (5 page)

“Yes my duck. Off to take that young feller for a walk? Just because the sun is out and it feels warm, you still need to wrap up well,” she advised. Warm days usually mean frost at night, you know so you ought to make sure you keep warm. Isn’t that Greg Turners dog? How is he getting on my duck? Emily Fisher was telling me the other day that she saw you and Mr O’Sullivan visiting Greg in the hospital. See, her Hubby is in there with a bad chest infection and she was telling me all about the accident. Poor old Greg, what a shame. Fancy that happening. Will he be out in time for Christmas? He is such a lovely man you know. Ah well now,” she said sighing heavily, you never know what’s going to happen from one day to the next, do you my duck.” Mrs Harrison stopped long enough to draw breath before adding “Have a good day,” she said in a sing songy voice in imitation of an American accent.

Debbie laughed and left the shop feeling more light-hearted than she have for a long time. As they passed the farm Trigger did his utmost to head through the gate but Debbie was firm and kept going towards the field where she knew she could let the dog go off the lead to give him a little playtime. She had his toy in her pocket to throw for him having been warned about the dangers of small balls getting caught in a dog’s throat. She found a nice warm spot where she could sit and browse through her magazine while keeping a good watch on Trigger as he dashed round running off his pent up energy

Debbie was never quite sure in what order events happened a few minutes later. Trigger had brought the toy back to her ready for her to throw it for him again. She gave a good impression of bowling a cricket ball and the toy went spinning away. Off went Trigger scampering after it barking with joy. Debbie took little notice and continued to study the magazine she had just purchased from Mrs Harrison. She suddenly became aware of a deeper throatier barking and the high-pitched yelping of a dog. She looked up alarmed. For a minute she saw nothing. She started to run towards the sounds of barking then with horror she saw what was happening. A large dog had Trigger in its jaws and was shaking him and snarling. Debbie rushed towards the fighting dogs screaming as she ran. Yelling at the attacker Debbie attempted to pull Trigger away from the bigger dog only to receive a bite on her arm. She ignored the pain and aimed another blow at the dog’s face and tried again, this time with more success. Still growling and showing its teeth, the big dog backed off and fled leaving Trigger in a heap on the ground.

Poor Trigger was shaking. Debbie gasped with horror as she looked down at him where he lay. All she could see was blood. Hardly able to believe what she had just witnessed she gathered Trigger in her arms and started towards the road that led back to the village.

She could hardly see where she was going through the tears that streamed down her face. Bravely she stumbled on until she neared the farm gate. She had almost decided to stop there and let herself in with Greg’s key and use Greg’s telephone to call a vet but just as she was making up her mind a van stopped and a familiar voice called to her. “Debbie! Holy Mary! What is it! What’s the matter … are you hurt?

“Kevin … Trigger has been attacked, I … I.. have to get help,” Debbie sobbed through her tears.

In a flash Kevin was beside her. He took charge saying firmly “Here. Give him to me. Get in the van and I’ll run you home.”

“No. I need a vet,” she choked out.” Kevin examined Trigger briefly and turning to Debbie ordered once again, “Get in the van and I’ll take you up to Paul Norton’s place. Sure, It won’t take a minute, his practise is just outside Bedford. You can tell me what happened on the way.”

Gratefully Debbie obeyed. While Kevin made Trigger as comfortable as possible in the back of the van Debbie tried to get a grip of herself and wipe the tears from her eyes. She was still shaking with shock as Kevin got into the driving seat and started moving. “Okay. Let’s have it. Do you think you can tell me what happened?” he said sounding kinder.

Debbie described what had happened adding that during her attempts to rescue Trigger she had got bitten by the crazy animal. I suppose I will have to find a doctor and get a tetanus injection. I haven’t been here very long and I haven’t registered yet.”

“Ah well ’un all, we can soon fix that. Doc Phillip should suit you down to the ground. Sure, he is very popular with the ladies round here you know. He’s young and very good looking by all account. I here he likes a pretty face ’un all so he’s bound to like you,” he grinned.

Debbie made no answer and shortly after they drew up outside the Vets surgery. Kevin jumped out of the van and carrying Trigger in his arms he told Debbie to go ahead and open the door for him. As soon as they were both inside Kevin went to the surgery door and knocked. There was an answer from inside and Kevin went in.

Debbie sank down into a comfortable armchair in the waiting room. She could hear the murmur of mail voices coming from inside the room where Kevin had taken Trigger. Debbie felt utterly miserable. She didn’t know how she was going to tell Greg that his dog had been badly injured while in her care. What was more – how on earth was she going to pay the vets bill? She had always heard from other people who kept pets that vets charged an arm and a leg for treatment. Well, it was her fault that Trigger got hurt, she should have been watching him more carefully. She was liable so she would have to find the money somehow.

Earlier that morning Debbie had been so fired up with her new business venture she had even forgotten to think about Mike. How soon life kicked you back to reality. She wasn’t the right person to look after dogs, she thought miserably. I did warn Greg I didn’t know anything about keeping dogs. Debbie was so deep in her own misery that she failed to notice the door of the surgery opening. She looked up to find a tall, well-built individual in a white coat standing in front of her with the bluest eyes she had ever seen and a mop of dark curly hair. When he spoke Debbie felt immediately calmed by the silky tone of his voice and drawn towards him like a moth towards a light.

As he began to speak he placed his hands gently on her shoulders. His voice was quiet and full of sympathy as he spoke to her.

“Hello Mrs Richards. My name Is Paul Norton and I am the local vet around here. I hear you’ve been looking after Trigger for Greg Turner. Well, I know Greg quite well. Now, you must stop worrying because that little chap in there,” … he paused and looked at the surgery door, “will be up and running about before you can say Jack Russell.” He chuckled at his own joke. “I have just examined Trigger and apart from a few stitches here and about and a rather nasty gash on the bottom of his leg, we can fix him up pretty well with no scars. The only thing is that he is pretty well traumatised at the moment so we would like to keep him here overnight just to monitor him. I’ll be giving him a sedative so he will be very sleepy for the next few hours.”

Paul stopped speaking and sat down in a chair next to hers. “Let’s have a sit down while you tell me what happened. If you can remember, give me a description and the colour of the dog’s coat. Kevin is going to try to find the dog’s owner because the animal sounds quite nasty and ought to be stopped before he inflicts a serious injury on a child. So … Let’s see if you can help?”

“I can’t give you much help, I only know it was a big dog. I think it may have been one of those labradors. I think Kevin will have his work cut out trying to find that particular giant monster. What worries me is having to tell Greg what has happened to Trigger in my care.”

“If I know Greg he isn’t going to blame you. It wasn’t your fault, that kind of thing can happen all too often. Unfortunately people whose dogs have bad temperaments should learn to keep them on a lead. Sadly, they do not I am afraid.”

“Do you know Greg, then? He is still in the hospital. I suppose you must know that as well.”

“Yes, I am trying to find the time to visit him but this is a busy time of year. Still, I shall endeavour to get there very soon.”

“I shall be going up there this afternoon, visiting is at three o’clock.”

“Well then, there’s a good chance I’ll meet you later,” Paul said letting his eyes linger over Debbie as he retreated towards the surgery door. Debbie stood up waiting for Kevin. In a moment he was by her side and shepherding her through the outside door. Debbie was in a dream as she got into the van and shut the door.

Neither Debbie or Kevin spoke much on the drive home. Debbie was busy with thoughts of having to confess to Greg while Kevin grappled with thoughts of tracking the animal that seemed to be creating mayhem on his patch. He was beginning to get very worried. There had been five previous reports of dogs getting seriously bitten by a stray and Kevin made a mental note to go up to the woods after dark and take a good look round. This afternoon Kevin decided to pay one or two visits to the owners of the dogs that had become victims. You never know, someone might remember something which could possibly give him a lead on finding the culprit. It HAD to be the same one. Kevin felt physically sick as he thought of the recent rumour he had heard whispered and hoped to god that he was wrong. He’d been warned by a gamekeeper that there might be a dog fighting gang in the area and Kevin suspected that this particular animal was probably part of the circus. He hated any form of cruelty but to make dogs or any other animal for that matter, fight to the death, made him so angry. The right place for those sort of people who indulged in that kind of pastime was in prison. He was determined to find the ring leaders and bring them before the bench. These bastards won’t know what’s hit them when I get hold of them, he thought determinedly.

When Debbie got home she sat quietly by the fire feeling how strange it was without Trigger. In such a short time she had become so fond of him she could hardly believe that she had resisted the idea of keeping a pet for such a long time. She reminded herself that she was only doing Greg a favour by looking after Trigger for him and sooner or later Trigger would be going back home. Even so, it had only been her own impulsiveness that had prompted her to take Trigger on. She thought of how she would cope with Greg when he came out of hospital. There again, had she been too eager to say yes. Only time would tell. And what about these new kennels Greg was having built? How were the kennels going to affect her? She comforted herself with the thought that she had only promised to look after him for the time being. If things didn’t work out she could always resort to her business idea. It was better to have a regular income for the time being and just take orders as they came along.

Debbie felt rested by three O’clock that afternoon and ready to face Greg. She was a little later than she normally was due to the bad luck of getting stuck behind a slow truck which finally broke down and held all the traffic up. The minute she walked into the ward she drew in a gasp of surprise to find that Paul Norton had beaten her to it and got to Greg first. In other circumstances she might have been annoyed to think that Paul had given Greg her news first but the minutes she set eyes on him she felt a rush of excitement. She seemed to tingle all over. It was such a pleasant sensation she forgot all about being annoyed. As she walked towards Greg she took in Paul’s smart grey suit and white shirt. His polished shoes and his smart silk blue tie. as he stood by the bed. He looked so tall and handsome with his dark curly hair, completely different from when she had seen him earlier that morning.

They were deep in conversation obviously discussing plans for the new kennels as Debbie reached the bedside. “Are we any further forward with the Kennels Greg?” Paul asked.

“Oh yes. We have planning permission and the work will be starting just after Christmas. I hope to be ready to open in about March. It isn’t going to take that long to put up a few kennels, will it?”

Paul turned from answering Greg as he saw Debbie joining them. “Hello my dear. So you managed to make it.” He turned to Greg saying “I have already met this charming young lady this morning Greg.”

“You seem to be getting around quite well, my dear,” Greg remarked and gave a little smile and winked at Paul. Debbie felt suddenly hot with embarrassment looking away so that Paul did not see the blush that rose to her face.

“I am afraid my meeting with Paul was not a very happy event. You see, I have a confession to make. I have to tell you that Trigger got badly mauled by a large dog this morning while I had him out running. Mr Norton has patched him up and is keeping him overnight just to make sure he doesn’t suffer any lasting effects.”

“Is this true?” Greg asked immediately alert.

“Now you must not go blaming Debbie for what happened. It could have happened to anybody. Kevin has gone out looking for the dog because this is far from the first animal that has got injured. Something has to be done about it before real damage is done,” Paul looked really angry as he explained what had taken place. “It makes me so angry when I come across this sort of thing. Ignorance! sheer ignorance!”

“If Mr Norton sends me his bill, of course I will pay it,” Debbie said miserably. I really think you ought to look for someone else to look after your dog Greg because I don’t seem to be making a very good job of it.”

“What utter nonsense. Kevin has told me how good you are with him. You just carry on as you were and everything will be fine,” Greg told her patting her hand.

“Don’t you worry about the bill,” Paul said, “Let’s just concentrate on finding the hound of the Baskerville,” Paul chuckled trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“That’s good news. It will help me with any extras I get in,” Paul smiled turning his attention back to Greg from where it had wandered to Debbie as she approached.

“Ah! Here she is at last,” Greg greeted her. We were wondering where you had got to.”

“Well, I’m sorry but there was a breakdown on the way here,” she explained.

“This young man is Paul Norton, our Vet,” Greg told her by way of introduction.

“Yes, I know, I have already met him.”

“Really, You didn’t say Paul. Fancy you getting acquainted so quickly.”