Page 37 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold
‘I thought they’d be nice with a hot cuppa, dear.’
‘Yes, that’s a good idea.’ Hannah nodded. She knew exactly what Mrs Bertridge was angling for - an invitation into the cottage for a drink. But not today. If Mrs Bertridge had caught her any other day, then she’d have probably relented and invited her in, but today she just needed to be left alone to get back out on the road.
Mrs Bertridge nodded towards the caravan. ‘Off again, are you? I was under the impression you were staying for a while longer?’
‘I... umm...’ Hannah hugged the Tupperware tub to her middle. She didn’t care if Mrs Bertridge knew she was leaving the village again, but what she didn’t want was for the gossip of her departure to be spread around the village before she’d got five miles down the road.
‘Are you okay? You look as though you’ve been crying. Has something upset you?’ Mrs Bertridge rummaged around in her handbag and pulled out a handkerchief. ‘Here, dry your eyes.’
Taking the handkerchief, Hannah patted at her cheeks. ‘It’s this hay fever. It seems to have come back with a vengeance. There must be something flowering in the garden which doesn’t agree with me.’
Glancing around the garden as though the offending flower would be easy to spot, Mrs Bertridge shook her head in dismay when she couldn’t work out which plant was causing Hannah’s problems. ‘Oh, there might be. It’s this warm weather, isn’t it? It brings out all sorts.’
‘That’s right.’ Hannah nodded.
‘I do have something else for you.’ Mrs Bertridge held up her forefinger before she rooted through her bag again, pulling outa small dog biscuit in the shape of a bone. ‘I thought this might help your little dog to warm to me.’
‘Oh, I’m not sure where he’s got to...’ Spinning on the spot, Hannah looked around the garden. Where had he got to?
‘What’s his name again? I’ll give him a call.’ Mrs Bertridge chuckled. ‘At least I’ll know when he’s close because he’ll start to growl at me.’
‘It’s Alfie. He’s called Alfie.’ Hannah chewed on the bottom of her lip as she hurried across to the caravan to peek underneath it. Now Mrs Bertridge had mentioned it, Alfie hadn’t growled at all since she’d let herself into the garden. Not once. Where could he be? He was definitely not in the caravan as she’d shut it up before she’d coupled it to the car.
‘Hannah! Hannah!’ Mrs Bertridge’s voice rose to a high-pitched shout.
‘Yes?’ Walking back towards her, Hannah reapplied Mrs Bertridge was standing by the open garden gate and pointing. The open garden gate. Hannah’s heart sank. She knew exactly what Mrs Bertridge was going to say before the words had even escaped her mouth. Alfie had escaped.
‘Is that him? Down there? Is that your little Alfie?’ The older woman stabbed her finger in the air again.
Yes, it was, and he was heading out of the close and onto the main road out of the village. Hannah began to run. He was normally so good when it came to being off-lead. He’s often be completely off-lead the entire walk if they were heading out into the countryside. Something must have spooked him or something. He was never one to run. Heck, he didn’t normally ever run. He was a dog who ambled.
‘Catch him before he gets knocked down by a car.’
Hannah ignored Mrs Bertridge’s shouts as she hurtled down the close. She’d never forgive herself if anything happened to him. She was supposed to keep him safe. His forever home wassupposed to be with her. He couldn’t get lost, or worse, he just couldn’t. ‘Alfie!’
She watched helplessly as he sped up and turned onto the road leading out of the village. In a few metres, the speed limit would change from thirty to sixty, and he’d not stand a chance if a car hit him.
She could feel her heart hammering in her chest as she followed him out of the village. Drawing breath after breath, she tried to fill her lungs as she ran blindly behind him.
Just as the road curved around the corner, Alfie halted. Just like that, standing slap-bang in the middle of the tarmac road. She could get to him. If he just stayed still, she’d be able to reach him and grab him. She’d be able to take him home safely. With one last ounce of strength, she forced herself to pick up her pace, her eyes fixed on the small dog standing there.
As she reached him, she grabbed him into her arms just as she heard the rumble of tyres against the tarmac, the screech of brakes, the blare of a horn, the flash of red as a car approached. Turning her back to the car, she closed her eyes. This was it. They were going to be hit. Bracing herself, she held her breath and, a split second later, she heard the squeal of the wheels as the car swerved, avoiding them.
Opening her eyes, she stumbled to the grass verge just as another car drove around the corner. Gripping Alfie tightly to her chest, she sank to the grass, her heart beating so fast she could hardly breathe. She didn’t notice the other car stopping, its hard warning lights flashing. She didn’t notice the driver running around, kneeling infant of her. Not until she felt his hands gripping her arms. Looking up, she realised it was Josh, Josh who was kneeling on the floor in front of her. Josh, who was looking her up and down, checking her, making sure she wasn’t hurt.
Slowly her vision focused, and her heartbeat steadied, the drumming in her ears subsiding.
‘Hannah, Hannah, are you hurt? Did that car hit you? Talk to me.’ His voice cracked as he ran the palms of his hands up and down her arms.
She shook her head.
‘Josh, is she okay?’ Another voice. One she recognised to be Sophie’s. ‘Hannah, are you hurt?’
Shaking her head, Hannah tried her best to reply. ‘I’m fine.’
‘Are you sure?’ Reaching out, Josh gently tucked her hair behind her ears, the pads of his forefingers brushing against her skin.
‘I thought I’d lost him.’ She leaned into him, feeling his arms wrapping around her as a fresh wave of tears fell. ‘He escaped, and I thought I’d lost him.’
