35. A Steady Burn
Chapter 35
A Steady Burn
‘ S o. How are things this morning?’ Amy asked Mrs Thompson.
‘Slow. I can’t do anything about anything until we’ve got a certificate, but our Peter’s going to sort that. The vicar’s coming up to see me tomorrow, and then I’m going to go down to the funeral place with Peter. Until then, it’s like I’m waiting, but I don’t quite know what I’m waiting for. For him to walk back through the door, I suppose, and tell me it’s all been a mistake. Nearly sixty years we were together, fifty of ‘em living here at the farm. I can’t hardly remember what it was like without him.’ Mrs Thompson dried her eyes on a scrap of tissue she’d pulled from her apron pocket.
‘I know. Sometimes I still expect Stella to walk through the door with some flowers or a picture Oliver painted for me,’ said Diane.
‘It’s hard being the one left behind,’ Mrs Thompson said with a sigh. Her frail hands shook as she held her mug of tea. She looked older than she’d done at the beginning of the week. ‘I remember my old mam, after our dad died. Never the same, she was, never the same. Now I’ll find out for myself. Eh, he was never a one for a show, our Reg, never a one to make a fuss. We weren’t the lovey-dovey type. We never needed any of that. We knew all the time we had a bond. Nothing could break it.’ She shook her head. ‘It wasn’t like a lot of the young ‘uns these days – a blaze of passion and then it all fades away to ashes. For us, it was more of a steady burn. We got closer and stronger with every day that passed, until in the end there was nothing could’ve come between us – nothing. We didn’t have to tell each other, we just knew.’
Amy recognised her relationship with James in the description of the blaze of passion that passed, just as it had been with Matt and Stella. The passions of youth. She didn’t want that any more, she wanted the silent, strong bond which went beyond passion and became a deep, enduring love. A steady burn. That was what she and Matt could have.
‘Your tea must have gone cold by now. I’ll put the kettle on again, shall I?’ Mrs Thompson pulled herself to her feet, every move an effort for her, her steps painfully slow. She went over to the stove, lifted the cover on the smaller ring and moved the heavy kettle onto the heat. ‘How are the puppies, lads?’ she asked, looking down at the boys.
‘They’re funny. Please could we have a puppy, mam?’ Harry scrambled to his feet and came over to stand beside Amy, eyes huge and pleading.
‘No, you know we can’t have a puppy. We’re not allowed to have pets where we live.’
‘It wouldn’t have to live with us. It could go and live at Olly’s house, Olly wouldn’t mind, I know he wouldn’t. We could share it.’
‘Oliver might not mind, but I suspect his daddy will. All those hairs to clean up from those lovely white carpets,’ Diane interjected from the other side of the table.
‘They’re having their dinner now,’ Oliver said, and indeed the puppies were lined up and drinking hungrily. All except one.
‘Mam? I don’t think this puppy can get anything to eat. Look.’ Harry pointed to the darkest of the five puppies which squirmed uncomfortably.
‘Perhaps it’s waiting for the others to finish? Maybe there isn’t room for it,’ Amy said.
‘I think it’s too cold.’ Oliver crouched down beside the cage and peered in.
‘You might be right. Can we do anything to help it?’ Matt looked up at Mrs Thompson, but it was Diane who answered.
‘Let me see. That doesn’t sound right.’ She stood up from the table and came over to the cage. ‘It’s smaller than the others too. I think it needs help.’
‘They need to be warm. I’ve popped puppies – and new-born lambs – into the bottom of the stove afore now, to warm them,’ said Mrs Thompson, but she didn’t make a move to do anything.
‘Matt, pass me that towel from the stove rail. It should be nice and warm,’ Diane said. She felt the towel carefully to make sure it wasn’t too hot, and leant over the edge of the cage to wrap the tiny puppy. ‘Do you have a hot water bottle I can use?’ she asked Mrs Thompson.
‘Ay, there’s a couple in the scullery there we use for the animals.’ Mrs Thompson nodded towards the back kitchen, and Amy went in search of them. The scullery smelled of cold stone and Jeyes’ fluid and was filled with an assortment of farming paraphernalia and cleaning things. Mouse traps and boxes of old-fashioned fly paper, bottles of chemicals with unpronounceable names, an assortment of industrial-looking disinfectants, feeding bottles and coiled tubes, together with household cleaners and a large box of coal.
‘On the top shelf above the box of them disposable gloves.’ Mrs Thompson’s voice floated through from the kitchen, and Amy found the two ancient hot water bottles.
‘Make up a warm bottle – not hot, mind you. Warmer than our body temperature, but not hot enough to hurt the poor little thing,’ Diane instructed her. Amy did as she was told – Diane clearly knew what to do. The first bottle she made up was too hot, and Diane asked her to redo it, but the second was better, and Diane tucked up the tiny pup on top of the hot water bottle.
‘Now, we wait a few minutes.’
‘Then what? Do we have to feed her with a bottle?’ Oliver asked. Harry wouldn’t take his attention off the little puppy.
‘I hope not. It’ll be difficult to get to the vets right now for formula. The next thing – not yet, mind you, Harry, don’t get too impatient – is to see if she tries to suck on a finger. If she does, then we know she’s got the right reflexes, and she’s strong enough to feed. If not, we could try some sugar water.’
‘What’s that?’ Oliver asked.
‘It’s water with melted sugar in. That’s what my mother used to do with puppies who didn’t feed. It’s probably not what the vets would tell you to do, and probably not the best thing, but unless we’ve got some proper formula and a bottle?’ She looked towards Mrs Thompson, who shook her head.
‘Our Peter might know, but I can’t think that we have,’ she said. ‘Been a wee while since we’ve had puppies.’
‘Then we’ll have to do our best with what we’ve got, won’t we.’
‘Is she going to die?’ Harry asked. He was rigid, concentrating on the puppy.
‘I hope not, Harry. I can’t promise you, but we’ll do our best to save her,’ Diane said.
Harry nodded importantly. ‘I think she’s not shivering quite so much,’ he said, hopefully.
Diane bent over the cage and nodded. ‘I think you might be right, Harry. Another couple of minutes and we’ll try her with a finger. Perhaps you’d like to wash your hands? You don’t want to put a dirty finger in her mouth now.’
‘Me?’ Harry said.
‘Yes, you. You and Oliver have the smallest fingers. Do you want to try too, Oliver?’
He shook his head. ‘No, thank you. Harry can.’
Amy had never seen Harry wash his hands as thoroughly as he did now, as if he was washing up for an operation. If only he took half this amount of care normally.
‘How do you know all this about puppies?’ Amy asked her.
‘Mother and Father always had dogs. Not sheepdogs, of course, Labradors and Golden Retrievers. I used to like to help Mother when the puppies came.’
‘Have you ever considered getting a dog yourself? It would be company for you.’ Matt stood behind Oliver and looked over his shoulder at the puppies. The four feeding puppies were starting to slow down now; one had already eaten enough and fallen asleep.
‘I did, when the children were young, but Dennis wasn’t keen on the idea. Never much of a dog person, Dennis. He didn’t want an animal in the house – all the mess and noise. He needed peace and quiet. But it would’ve been nice.’ She sighed. ‘Though I think it might be too late now. I’m not sure I’d have the energy for all those walks.’
‘Can I try now?’ Harry held his hands up in the air like a surgeon. ‘My hands are very, very clean, I promise.’
‘See if she’ll take your little finger. There … there …’ Diane guided Harry’s smallest finger towards the puppy’s mouth, and she clamped on.
‘It tickles,’ Harry said, softly. He was so gentle with the puppy, no shrieking or giggling, totally concentrated on the little dog.
‘Right, we’ll see if we can help her to latch on. I think she’s nice and warm now.’
‘Latch on?’
‘That means get hold of the mummy dog’s teat so she can suckle. Now, Harry, I need you to take your finger out of the puppy’s mouth, nice and carefully … good lad. Now, I’ll move her over here. Let’s keep the water bottle but loosen the towel … perfect. Gently … gently …’ She manoeuvred the tiny puppy onto its mother’s teat, and without any more ado, it started to drink.
‘There! She was cold, after all. She’s doing fine now, isn’t she?’ Diane looked down at the puppy and smiled.
‘Yeah, she’s doing fine. Did we save her life?’ Harry glanced up at Diane. If Amy wasn’t deceived, Diane had a tear in her eye.
‘I think you probably did. You and Diane. Well done – both of you,’ Amy said when Diane didn’t answer.
For a short while, everybody watched the last puppy have its lunch, until eventually Oliver spoke.
‘Granny Diane, how do you know it’s a girl?’ he asked.
‘I don’t. It’s just a feeling, that’s all,’ she said. ‘Something about the way she wouldn’t give up.’
‘Now, boys, do you think you’ve seen enough of the puppies for today?’ Matt checked the clock on the wall above the internal door. ‘I think Mrs Thompson’ll appreciate some peace and quiet. The puppies have had their lunch, and I think it’s time for us to have ours.’
‘We ate all the cake for breakfast,’ Harry admitted, ‘because we had to get something quick. There wasn’t time for a healthy alternative, was there, Olly?’
‘There wasn’t. Sometimes it has to be cake, doesn’t it.’
Amy suppressed a grin. ‘I think there’s some tomato soup in the cupboard,’ she suggested, and Harry’s eyes lit up, but then he looked back towards the puppies. A battle was clearly raging in his soul. The soup won.
‘Yeah, let’s have tomato soup. Come on, Olly, let’s see who can put coats on the fastest!’
‘I think I’ll stay a little while longer,’ said Diane. ‘I can help to keep an eye on the puppies, and I did promise Peter to stay until he got back.’
‘Oh, you don’t need to. Get yourself off now,’ Mrs Thompson said. ‘I’ll be all right. And I’ll keep an eye on yon pups. I’ve seen a fair few litters in my time.’
‘Have you had anything to eat today, Pat?’ Diane asked.
‘I’ll eat when I’m ready. Don’t fancy much.’
‘I must confess I’m rather hungry. I don’t suppose you’ve got a tin of soup, and maybe some bread? I could heat that up for us. You’d have a bit if I had some, wouldn’t you? I couldn’t eat a whole tin on my own.’
‘Right. Ready boys? Diane, we’ll see you back at the cottage. Take your time,’ Matt said.
They stepped out of the warmth of the kitchen into the winter sun which, even though it was bright, was still cold.
Matt pushed the door shut. ‘Now, Olly, I need to talk to you. It’s nothing to worry about, but there’s something I need to tell you, because I have to talk to Granny Diane about it too, and I want you to know first.’