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Chapter Two

‘I’m struggling to see how he’s going to be any use,’ Angela complained as Jake examined her latest patient.

‘The council thought it was a good idea. Evelyn thought it was a good idea. Maybe you’re being a little harsh?’ Jake, ever the professional, kept his tone calm and soothing while he examined the injured bird. ‘I can understand you not wanting him around, and struggling to trust him — but are you going to tell me you don’t need help?’

‘I’ll manage, I always do.’ She was starting to feel like her friends were ganging up on her.

‘I know you do, but you’re injured.’

‘Mum says you have to look after yourself before you can look after others.’ Summer — one of Angela’s favourite little helpers — peeped over the edge of the table as Jake gently stretched out the bird’s wings to examine them. ‘And you do have a lot of hedgepigs.’

‘Your mum is right,’ Angela grumbled. When even a ten-year-old could see that, she had to pay attention. ‘And it’s normal at this time of year for there to be lots of hedgehogs needing help. I just like your help better.’ She winked, making the little girl laugh. ‘Plus, he turned up in white jeans and suede boots.’

‘That’s silly,’ Summer agreed. ‘Visits to Bill’s means old clothes.’

‘Especially when it’s you.’ Jake put the carry box on his scales, zero-ed them, and popped his latest patient back in. ‘But not everyone insists on climbing in with the donkeys or sitting on the floor with the guinea pigs.’

‘It’s more fun that way.’ She grinned up at him. ‘So, what do you think, Dad?’

‘I think this little hen got lucky. Minor laceration to her left wing, but she got to the right place quickly. Thanks to Ange. Her weight is good, as is her muscle tone and reflexes. So, what do you think we need to do?’

Angela bit her tongue while Summer fiddled with her hair, thinking. She couldn’t help but notice the little girl pursed her lips in a very similar way to Jake — the village vet who she now called “Dad” — as she pondered the question. ‘Cats have lots of bad germs in their mouths. They’re not nice clean animals like dogs, are they Tilly?’ The little Shibu Inu yapped her agreement from her spot under Jake’s desk. ‘So you need saline to wash out her owie, and antibiotics to make sure the cat germs don’t make her sick.’

‘Good girl.’ Jake rested a proud hand on her shoulder before pulling the bottles he needed off the shelves.

‘So your training is going well?’ Angela was well aware of the little girl’s dreams — most of the village were. ‘Still planning to be the youngest vet ever?’

‘Yeah! Do you know Dr James Herriot? He’s the Yorkshire vet who used to be on TV and writes all the books. I found a website that said he was twenty-three when he got his vet award.’

‘Wow, that’s quite a target.’

‘Yeah. And the same website said there was a lady called Elinor something who was probably maybe the first ever lady vet who got hers when she was twenty-two. But all her photos are black and white so that was like really, really long ago, and no one is really sure.’

‘Black and white photos, huh?’

‘Yeah, so like really old history.’

‘Positively ancient times.’ Jake grinned and rolled his eyes over Summer’s head. ‘So, I’ll give the wound a quick clean and irrigation, inject the first round of antibiotics, and pack the rest up for you.’

‘Brilliant, thanks.’

‘Usual care and follow-up regime. Give her another dose of the antibiotics at the same time tomorrow — orally is fine — and the next few days. Keep her dry today and tomorrow. If there’s no sign of infection and she’s mobilising well she can have a paddle on Friday, and you can look to release on the fourth day.’

Jake carefully opened the box again, gently dropping the cloth over the bird so he could scoop her up. Working quickly, he irrigated the wound and injected the meds into the thick muscles over her chest. She was back in the box, fluffed up and complaining in under a minute. ‘Well, she certainly seems lively.’ He handed the box back to Angela. ‘Couple of days’ rest with you, and I’m sure she’ll be fine.’

‘Thanks. What do I owe you?’

‘Cover the drug costs and we’ll call it even.’

‘Are you sure?’ She hated the thought that she was doing Jake out of his usual fee — even if he did usually knock off a fair whack for the sanctuary — but it would be helpful.

‘Yeah. You’re doing all the work. And you can’t be doing much fundraising right now.’ His eyes flicked down to her crutches. ‘How’s the leg? You know Evelyn will want to know.’

‘Yeah, if he doesn’t ask, Mum will tell him off.’ Summer laughed. ‘We saw Mr Davis and his dog Toffee last week, and Dad forgot to ask how his poorly chest was — Mr Davis, not Toffee, who only has a poorly leg — so Mum told him off.’

‘Summer, you’re not supposed to talk about people’s health concerns with other people,’ Jake chided gently. ‘Remember when your mum talked to you about patient confidentiality?’

‘Oh yeah. Sorry.’ She screwed up her nose. ‘But everyone knows Mr Davis has a bad cough.’