Chapter 11
The kettle had just boiled when the kitchen door opened and Clive, Maya and Lennox walked in. They all looked a little awkward, and Bethany hurried to make them feel at home.
‘You’re just in time. Would you like tea or coffee? Clive, there’s a bowl of water down there for Viva.’
She and Clive ended up with mugs of coffee while the two teenagers plumped for tea. She was a little taken aback when Lennox asked for four sugars in his.
‘Wow, that’s—that’s a lot of sugar,’ she managed. ‘Are you sure?’
‘It’s for energy,’ he assured her. ‘My mam swears by it.’
Bethany couldn’t help wondering whether his mother had any of her own teeth left but said nothing as she dutifully heaped four spoonfuls of sugar into Lennox’s cup of tea.
They certainly knew their own minds she thought with some amusement. Lennox had warned her that he could only drink tea so strong you could stand the spoon up in it, while Maya had announced she basically wanted tea flavoured water.
‘Just dip the teabag in it,’ she instructed. ‘Can’t stand tea to be honest.’
‘I can make you coffee?’
‘Oh no, that wouldn’t be right. Got to have a cup of tea for breakfast, right?’
Defeated by that logic, Bethany did as she was asked and placed two mugs of tea in front of the teenagers, who’d settled themselves at the table. She exchanged a wry look with Clive, noting the twinkle in his grey eyes as he sipped his coffee.
‘I just wanted to say hello to you both,’ she told Maya and Lennox. ‘And to thank you both for turning out so early this morning.’ She glanced at her watch and her eyes widened. ‘So very early,’ she amended, noting it was only six thirty. ‘I really do appreciate it, and I want you to know I’ll be here every morning to make you a good breakfast before you start work. You too, Clive, naturally.’
‘That lets me off butty duty then,’ he said, winking at the teenagers.
‘Great,’ Maya said. ‘Thanks very much, Mrs Marshall.’
‘Bethany. Just call me Bethany.’ Bethany crouched down and fondled Viva’s ears, glad to see the little dog again and noting she looked healthy and happy, despite the upheaval she’d had recently. ‘You’re welcome. I really am very grateful for your help. With Summer away for the next three weeks I don’t know how we’d manage without you.’
‘It’s Clive that will be doing most of it,’ Lennox said grudgingly. ‘We’ll be at school all day, although we’ll be dropping in after hours two or three times a week to finish up. But he’ll be here all day, remember.’
‘And he’s had to pay a locum to do his proper job for him,’ Maya said, giving Clive an uncharacteristically adoring look. ‘Summer says he’s a superstar, and I reckon she’s right. Mind you, my dad says he must want his head read, and I think he’s right, an’ all.’
Maya laughed and, despite the guilt she was feeling about how much these three were putting themselves out, Bethany laughed, too.
‘I think both those things might be correct,’ she agreed. ‘Anyway, I shall cover the cost of the locum, naturally.’
Clive put down his mug. ‘Oh, there’s no need for that,’ he assured her.
‘I insist,’ she said. ‘It’s only fair. Why should you be out of pocket?’
‘Because I’m doing this for Joseph,’ he said firmly. ‘He loved these horses, and he loved Summer. I promised him I’d take care of the situation and that’s what I plan to do, so thank you for your generous offer, but it’s my responsibility and I intend to see it through.’
Bethany hesitated, aware that Maya and Lennox were watching them closely, clearly waiting to see what would happen next and who would give in.
She couldn’t deny she felt a bit put out that Clive had rejected her gesture so soundly. She’d been trying to make amends for her earlier prickly attitude, but clearly he wasn’t interested.
‘Very well,’ she said stiffly. ‘If that’s what you want.’
‘It is, aye.’ He picked up his mug again and took a long drink. ‘Good coffee,’ he told her approvingly.
She narrowed her eyes as he watched her, realising at last that it was his way of thanking her and letting her know his decision was nothing personal. She relaxed a little.
‘I’m glad you like it.’
She was rewarded with a grin that had a surprising effect on her. As her heart skipped she wondered what on earth was wrong with her lately. Look how she’d been staring at Ross Lavender, and now bloody Clive—Clive…
She frowned. ‘What’s your surname?’ she enquired, realising with embarrassment that she’d quite forgotten, even though she was certain he’d already told her once.
‘Browning,’ he reminded her. ‘Clive Browning.’
‘Like the poet,’ Maya said.
‘Or gravy browning,’ Lennox added helpfully.
‘Gravy browning!’ Maya said, rolling her eyes. She gulped down her tea. ‘Hurry up, Len, we need to get on with the work. Time’s getting on.’
‘What will you be doing this morning?’ Bethany enquired.
‘Changing their water first,’ Maya explained. ‘Then we’ll turn out the horses who have been stabled overnight, muck out their looseboxes, and I’ll see to Barney.’
‘Barney? Oh, that’s the little pony with sweet itch, right?’ Bethany nodded. ‘Does it take long to sort him out?’
‘Not really, now I’ve got used to it. I’ll get his barrier cream and his rugs done and take him out.’
‘I’ll be poo picking mostly,’ Lennox said gloomily. ‘Making sure the fields are clear of manure. Lovely job.’
‘I’ll check all thirteen of them over,’ Clive said. ‘Make sure there are no lumps or bumps or cuts. Actually, a couple of them are due to be wormed so I’ll do that later, too.’
‘Is there anything I can help with?’ Bethany asked, more because she felt she should rather than because she wanted to. It had been a long time since she’d had anything to do with horses and she wasn’t sure she’d even know where to begin these days.
‘You could take Viva for a walk,’ Clive suggested, sounding doubtful. ‘It would save me a job. Mind, only if you want to.’
‘I’m sure I could manage that,’ she said at once, feeling she’d got off lightly.
‘Well, I’m ready, Len. How about you?’ Maya jumped up and scraped back her chair, the sound of its wooden legs on the stone floor making Bethany wince.
Lennox sighed. ‘Yep. Let’s get on with it.’
They thanked Bethany again for the tea, and also thanked Clive for some bacon sandwiches he’d evidently made for them, then headed out into the yard.
‘They’re good kids,’ he said fondly.
‘They seem it. Not many teenagers who’d be willing to turn out at this hour of the morning,’ she said. ‘I’m impressed. They’re very nice.’
‘Well,’ Clive said, sounding suddenly awkward, ‘thanks for the coffee. I’d better get out there and start work.’
‘Clive, I don’t suppose…’ Bethany hesitated, wishing that she’d never started this conversation now. She glanced down at Viva. ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter. Forget it.’
Clive frowned. ‘What was it? Is something wrong?’
‘No, no. Nothing like that. Well, apart from the state of these accounts,’ she added, giving a rueful nod to the pile of papers she’d dumped on the table. ‘I’ve certainly got my work cut out for me there. No, it’s just…’ She took a deep breath. She might as well just say it now. ‘I don’t suppose Joseph ever mentioned Poppins and Pepper, did he?’
Clive cleared his throat. ‘Poppins and—Pepper? Not sure, to be honest. Should he have done?’
‘I suppose not.’ She shrugged wistfully. ‘It’s just, Poppins was our dog—mine and Joseph’s. Gorgeous little cocker spaniel. And Pepper was my pony. I—I had to leave them behind when I left, and I always wondered…’
Always wondered? The guilt had eaten her alive. Of all the regrets Bethany had about the past, leaving Pepper and Poppins behind at Whispering Willows had been the biggest. She wasn’t sure she’d ever forgiven herself.
Clive was staring at the floor.
‘It’s okay,’ she said. ‘If he didn’t mention them…’
‘Neither of them were here when I first came to Whispering Willows,’ Clive said slowly.
Bethany swallowed. ‘I see. Thank you.’
Clive watched her closely. Too closely. She didn’t want him to see the tears pricking her eyes. To her relief, Viva trotted up beside her and she scooped her up, grateful to be able to hide her face in the little dog’s soft, white fur.
‘Poppins…’ Clive murmured. ‘You know, I think I do remember Joseph telling me the wee thing had passed away in her sleep, aye. He was very fond of her. Black cocker spaniel, yes?’
‘That’s right. She was eleven when I left so I suppose she wouldn’t have lived much longer.’
‘Yes. I saw a photo of her. And Pepper… little bay pony, right?’
Bethany’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. ‘Yes! You met him?’
‘No, no. I’m afraid not. But Joseph did talk about him. About all the horses you used to have. He, er, sold them. Found them good homes.’
Bethany stared at him, her heart thudding. ‘Sold them? All of them?’ Her mind raced. As well as Pepper, her own beloved pony, there’d been her father’s horse, Jet, and Joseph’s own horse, Magnus. Why would Joseph sell them? ‘When?’
Clive cleared his throat. ‘I believe he sold them just after you left home,’ he admitted. ‘But they went to very good homes. He was very thorough.’
‘And Father let him?’ Bethany said disbelievingly.
‘I think your father was struggling to ride, with his arthritis,’ Clive said hastily. ‘And Joseph was so busy caring for him and working at the brewery that he didn’t get much time to spend with them himself. He thought it would be kinder to let them go to good homes where they’d get more care and attention.’
‘I see.’ She didn’t though. Not really. He’d sold their beloved horses, yet just a few years later he’d started taking in waifs and strays. Her eyes narrowed. This was punishment, no doubt about it. He knew how much she loved those horses—how much she loved Pepper. He’d sold them to spite her. Because he hated her.
‘I’d better get to work,’ Clive said awkwardly. ‘You’re sure you don’t mind me leaving Viva here with you?’
‘Not at all,’ she told him. ‘I’ve got to get on with these accounts, so I’ll be here all day anyway, but I’ll take her for a walk in a couple of hours, don’t worry.’
He nodded and left the house, seeming quite relieved to get out of there. She could see in his face that he knew more than he was letting on and she’d bet anything that Joseph had admitted to him that he’d sold Pepper especially because he’d known how much she loved him. She really couldn’t believe her father had agreed to part with them, though, especially Jet. How had Joseph managed that?
She kissed Viva’s nose and sighed. It was just another question that she’d never know the answer to.