Page 232 of The Moon Sister
‘Cal said Tiggy put her hands on the calf and breathed life back into him,’ Zara commented as Fiona listened to the calf’s heart.
‘Yes, I’ve heard you have healing hands, Tiggy. Do you?’ Fiona asked.
‘Cal says she does, yes,’ Lochie answered his mum.
‘Lochie, why don’t you take Zara out to the barn to see the new kittens? Give this little one a bit of space,’ Fiona suggested.
‘Okay.’
As Lochie led Zara out of the back door, Fiona continued to examine the calf.
‘Fancy coming to work with me? I think I mentioned it when we last met. I’m a great believer in holistic medicine operating in tandem with the traditional.’
‘Oh my God, I’d love to, Fiona, but I don’t have any official training or qualifications.’
‘Well, qualifications can be arranged; it’s having the gift in the first place that matters.’
‘Are you serious?’ I said incredulously.
‘Absolutely,’ she confirmed. ‘Let’s arrange a time to discuss it, preferably over a large glass of wine. There.’ Fiona put her medical equipment away in her bag. ‘He’s in fine fettle. Now, can you hold on to him whilst I stir the soup? Lochie’s dad will be in at any second expecting his supper.’
I decided then that Fiona McDougal was the woman I aspired to be one day: wife, mother, homemaker, full-time vet and lovely, lovely human being.
‘You know, the mythological Pegasus was actually an orphan raised by Athena and the Muses . . .’
‘Then I think we should name him after his father,’ I whispered into his fur, my maternal urges stirring in a way that almost frightened me.
‘Will you stay for supper, Tiggy? Then we can talk about Pegasus’s care,’ Fiona asked, as a man who reminded me of Cal, with his stocky build and weather-beaten face, came through the door.
‘Hello, darling,’ Fiona smiled as he kissed her before taking off his jacket. ‘Can you go and call Lochie and Zara in from the barn? They’re with the kittens.’
‘O’ course, but who is this? And . . .’ he walked over to take a closer look at Pegasus, ‘that?’
‘Hamish, this is Tiggy, who works at Kinnaird as the Laird’s wildlife consultant.’
‘Hello, Tiggy, nice tae meet you.’ Hamish smiled at me and I saw the warmth in his eyes.
‘And “that”,’ Fiona continued, ‘is Pegasus, born this morning. He’s going to be staying up here with us for a while, out of harm’s way. Now, love, could you go and find those kids before the soup goes cold?’ Fiona added as she doled it out into bowls.
Five minutes later, we were all seated around the old oak table in the kitchen, drinking the delicious vegetable soup, mopped up with thick chunks of warm white bread.
‘So you’re another veggie like my wife?’ asked Hamish.
‘Oh, I’m much worse – I’m a vegan,’ I answered with a grin.
A sudden tiny mewling sound came from Zara’s direction, and the table’s attention turned towards her.
‘I couldn’t leave him in the barn.’ Zara had the grace to blush as she opened her jacket and plucked out a ginger kitten, striped like a tiny tiger and looking just as fierce. ‘Mum hates cats, but now Dad’s moving to Kinnaird, we can have one – or even two – at the Lodge. Isn’t he gorgeous?’ she said, stroking his head.
‘He is, Zara, but not at the supper table,’ Fiona said firmly. ‘Now put him down on the floor. He can go and say hello to Pegasus.’
Zara did so and we all watched as the kitten leapt around the kitchen on its tiny legs before venturing towards the range, in front of which Pegasus lay fast asleep on a blanket.
‘That is adorable,’ said Zara, as the kitten sniffed around the calf, then purred as he nestled against the soft white fur. ‘One day, my home will be like this,’ she declared, turning to Lochie, who smiled devotedly at her.
She looks so pretty tonight, I thought,simply because she’s sparkling with happiness.
‘So the Laird’s moving up here permanently?’ Fiona questioned Zara.
