Page 75 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

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Jo and Hattie were still chittering about the events of the day when suddenly Bunty began to bark. They turned to look at the dog, who’d woken from a deep sleep and now lumbered across the room to the open window. She placed her paws on the sill and nudged her head through the curtains, thumping her tail as she looked out, and barked again. Teddy, also awake, clawed at the curtain.

‘What is it?’ Hattie whispered. She put her drink down and, eyes wide, sat very still.

‘I don’t know,’ Jo replied, easing herself out of bed. She moved over to the window, scooped Teddy up, and gave the older dog a nudge. ‘Shush, Bunty, what’s the matter, what can you see?’

Jo twitched the curtain and peeped out.

‘Is someone there?’ Hattie leapt from her bed and turned the main light on.

‘I can’t tell, it’s so dark in the garden, but Bunty must have heard something, she never wakes up in the night. I ought to go and have a look.’

‘You’re not going on your own,’ Hattie said. ‘I’ll come with you and we’ll take the dogs.’

Jo put Teddy down and grabbed a dressing gown as Hattie opened the bedroom door.

‘Are you going like that?’ Jo asked.

Hattie was wearing her pyjama shorts suit. The vest-like top did little to support her chest and the shorts had risen high. She rummaged about in a pile of discarded clothes and found a sweatshirt. Tugging it over her head, she pulled it on.

‘That barely covers your bottom,’ Jo frowned as she tied a silk cord, securing her gown tightly around her body.

‘I don’t think an intruder would be remotely interested in my backside; come on.’

Together with the dogs, they hurried along the hallway and down the stairs.

‘We’ll go through the kitchen.’

Jo reached into her pocket for a set of keys and unbolted the kitchen door and together, they crept out. Floodlight fell across the lawn as the dogs raced ahead. Bunty had her nose to the ground as she examined the damp grass, while Teddy, excited to be awake in the middle of the night, pounced and circled.

‘Probably a squirrel,’ Hattie said as she stood on the patio, hands on her hips.

‘I wish I’d put my slippers on.’ Barefoot, Jo hopped up and down.

‘Aye, well, there’s nothing to see, let’s go in,’ Hattie turned back to the kitchen, but as she reached the door, Bunty began to woof again. The bark was loud and now, Teddy joined in.

‘Bugger, they’ll wake everyone up,’ Jo said. ‘I’ll have to go and fetch them.’

‘Well, put something on your feet.’ Hattie reached into the kitchen doorway, where several pairs of kitchen clogs were lined up, ‘Connor won’t mind,’ she said and thrust her toes into soft rubber. ‘They’re too big, but will have to do.’

Bunty’s barking became louder as they got closer to the lake and Jo began to slow down. ‘Bloody hell, Hattie,’ she said, ‘I think there’s someone there.’ She stopped, her arms folded tight as she stared into the dark and tried to make out a motionless shape.

‘Well, whoever or whatever it is, it isn’t moving.’ Hattie said. ‘Hush up, Bunty, Teddy!’ she called out but as she ran across the damp grass, her foot slipped in the oversized clog, and she slid along the ground, almost careering into a body.

‘Move the dogs!’ Hattie screamed to Jo. ‘Thereissomeone here.’ She scrambled to her knees and with her heart pounding, peered at the shape on the ground. As her eyes adjusted to the shadowy surroundings, Hattie gasped. ‘Oh, Lord, it’s Bill,’ she whispered, ‘and he’s hurt.’

‘What’s happened?’ Jo was breathless as she gripped Bunty and Teddy by their collars.

‘Get help, anyone, Alf, Harry…’

‘I think they’re already here.’ Jo looked up.

Two figures were pounding towards them.

‘We saw the lights and heard the dogs, what’s happened? Is someone hurt?’

Hattie was relieved to hear Harry’s voice.

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