Chapter 24 #2
As he filled the glass and glugged it down, a thought struck me.
‘I’ve still got your drinks bottle. Sorry. I kept meaning to return it.’
‘It’s fine. You can knock it off the rent.’ His expression was deadpan but there was a twinkle in his eyes and I very much appreciated the humour.
‘I’ll grab some more clothes and then we’ll head out.’
Until he said that, I hadn’t even registered that he was wearing shorts but, as he passed me, I couldn’t help but notice how exceptionally toned his legs were. Scampi jumped up at me and I stroked him until Caleb returned dressed in cargo trousers and a fresh T-shirt.
‘I used to have a cat so we’ll start with her favourite haunts. Scampi, to your bed. Back soon.’
Scampi obediently trotted across the hall and into what I presumed was the lounge.
It was weird to think that I actually owned this cottage but I’d never been inside until now.
On viewing day, Anna had apologised for being unable to show us around, saying she’d forgotten to seek permission from Caleb and couldn’t get hold of him.
Outside, I followed Caleb along a flagstone path between the cottage and the forge and onto a lane running along the back of Peartree Cottage’s garden.
I was conscious I should probably talk to him – perhaps ask him about his cat and what had happened to it – but I was too worried about Clemmie to make small talk.
Caleb didn’t ask me any questions either so we walked at pace in silence across several fields in which there were the remains of stone barns or shelters.
Each time we approached one, I shook the packet of treats and called Clemmie’s name, desperately hoping she’d appear.
My heart sank with every place explored without success.
‘I know it’s hard, but keep the faith,’ Caleb said as we left the fourth shelter. ‘Still plenty more places to look.’
My phone beeped with a message and, seeing Mam’s name on the screen, I hoped it was her telling me Clemmie had found her way home.
From Mam
Can I help? Let me know if there’s anywhere you haven’t been x
To Mam
I spotted Caleb and he’s helping. No luck so far. Thanks but please stay inside as I don’t want to be worried about you out in the dark on your own x
The light was almost gone as Caleb led me over a barred gate and across another field towards a tumbledown wooden shed, which I definitely hadn’t noticed before.
‘Is this the far end of the farm?’ I asked. I’d completely lost my bearings but presumably we were near our boundary. I hadn’t explored this far yet.
‘Yes. It’s the last field but there’s one more barn to try on the neighbour’s farm if Clemmie’s not here. Gouda didn’t care about boundaries.’
‘Gouda? As in the cheese?’
‘Yep. Naming pets after food is not my thing. I didn’t choose either name.’
We slowed our pace as we approached the shed and, like I’d done before, I shook the treats and called Clemmie’s name, my stomach sinking when she didn’t appear.
‘Doesn’t mean she’s not inside,’ Caleb said, his eyes catching mine.
We crept a little closer and he placed a finger to his lips and cocked his head. I listened and my heart leapt as I caught a plaintive mew.
‘Clemmie?’
‘Slowly,’ Caleb whispered.
I tentatively approached the shed, poking my head round the corner. It was dark inside and, although I could make out the shape of a cat curled up in the corner, I couldn’t be sure if it was Clemmie.
‘I’ve got the entrance blocked,’ Caleb whispered. ‘I’m going to give you some light.’
The beam of light moved towards the shape and I felt weak with relief.
‘It’s her! But she’s bleeding.’
I shrugged off my zipped hoodie and wrapped it round Clemmie as I gently picked her up, whispering reassuring words to her.
Out in the open, Caleb shone his torch across her, pausing over her leg where the blood was.
‘I don’t think it’s as bad as it looks but we’ll need to get her cleaned up before we can tell for sure.’
Caleb helped me swaddle Clemmie in my hoodie so that there was no danger of her escaping. He offered to carry her but, now that I’d found her, I couldn’t bear to let her go.
‘That shed needs taking down before it collapses,’ Caleb said as we left the field. ‘It’s a hazard but that’s typical of the neglectful approach of the Garstangs.’
There was an edge to his tone suggesting bad feeling between him and the former owners but I didn’t have the energy to ask about it.
All I wanted was to get Clemmie back to the farmhouse and find the details for the emergency vet.
I was livid with myself because I hadn’t yet registered our pets with a local vet, wanting to ask around for a recommendation rather than assume that the one the Garstangs had used for the farm animals was the best one.
As we approached Peartree Cottage from behind, I thanked Caleb for his help.
‘I’d never have found her without you,’ I said. ‘I’m so grateful.’
‘I’m glad I could help. Let’s get her inside and check out that wound.’
‘It’s okay. I’ll track down the emergency vet.’
‘No need. I’m a vet.’
I frowned, my eyes flicking to the forge. ‘I thought you were a farrier.’
‘I’m both. We’ll get Clemmie cleaned up then I can explain.’