Roses For Katie Read online

  Katie smiled at the wise words of her enthusiastic daughter. ‘So, that’s the game, is it? It seems to me that you all want to marry me off. I must admit that I had my suspicions, you little demons, but I really appreciate the concern you all have for me. It hasn’t happened yet, but let’s wait and see if one of them ever captures my heart. In the meantime, we’ll concentrate on your good fortune in finding such a gem as Dylan.’

  Margie stood up, ready to leave. ‘So we’ll see you at my place on Saturday evening. Expect to have a good time.’

  After she had gone, Katie thought over what her daughter had said. Yes, she mused, an adoring, constant companion is the ideal. But it all comes back to the same point; I don’t love either enough for that… not enough to spend the rest of my life with one of them.

  The next time she saw Pat was when she went out into the garden to suggest having a coffee together. ‘You look a bit glum. What’s the matter?’ she asked, noting immediately that he didn’t seem to be his usual bright self.

  ‘Aw, ‘tis my old Uncle Ruairi,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘His housekeeper phoned this morning to say he’s not at all well. She thinks I should go to see him. Of course I’ll go. He has no one else.’ He looked deep into Katie’s eyes. ‘I know I’ve fixed extra bolts on the doors as well as a burglar alarm and security lights, but will you be all right on your own while I’m gone? I’ll stay only a short while, but I must go.’

  ‘Of course I’ll be all right. You mustn’t put me before your uncle; he’s family.’

  ‘I’ll worry about you for sure,’ Pat said, quietly, looking down into her eyes. ‘But I’ll ring every day to make sure you have no problems, and before you know it I’ll be back.’

  Katie studied him for a few seconds, already feeling a sense of loss. ‘When will you go, Pat?’

  ‘As soon as I can. I’ll fly to Cork on the first available flight this weekend, and it’s only a short journey to Dingle from there. I’ll hire a car to get there quickly.’ He went back to the garden, but later on he knocked on her back door. ‘I’ve been thinking a lot about an idea that popped into my head last night, so I’d best tell you about it. An elderly lady I’ve been working for is going into a retirement home in a couple of days, and she’s desperate to find a loving home for her German Shepherd. Pets are not allowed there, and she’s broken-hearted that she can’t look after him any longer.’

  Suspecting what he was going to say, Katie lifted her hands to protest at the idea. Pat grasped them both. ‘Don’t get excited. I’ve done nothing about it, so don’t worry; it’s only a suggestion I’m making… that… .’ He waited for Katie’s surprised expression to subside, and then went on. ‘…that you might take him on. The dog is not an energetic youngster. He’s quiet, he’s well trained, and he’ll guard you. You’d love him; he’s beautifully natured.’ He fell silent for a few seconds. ‘I’ve spoken to Mrs. Maloney on the phone, but I’ve made no promises. Let me take you to see him right now… because I’ll have no time tomorrow, as I’ll be leaving for Ireland in the morning. I guarantee you won’t want to leave her cottage without him.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Honestly, I’d feel a lot happier if I knew Thunder was with you.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know that I want a dog to look after, and take for walks,’ Katie said, looking doubtful, but Pat was already guiding her towards his car to go and visit Mrs. Maloney, the dog’s owner.

  It was with mixed feelings that Katie approached the cottage, and she instinctively drew back when she saw the massive creature pacing back and forth, eager to greet Pat when he recognized who it was.

  ‘There he is, and a fine specimen, I’m thinking.’ He ruffled Thunder’s head as the dog bounded excitedly around him. ‘Stroke the top of his head, Katie. He won’t bite.’

  Apprehensively, she put out her hand, and he curled his tongue around it, gently licking her fingers. The dog’s liquid brown eyes held her gaze, and she looked up at Pat. ‘You’re quite right. He really is absolutely gorgeous. And I think he likes me.’

  ‘Of course he does; everyone likes you Katie.’ Pat walked towards the front door as it opened, and a little gray haired woman appeared on the doorstep.

  ‘Top o’ the morning to you, Mrs. Maloney,’ Pat said. ‘This is Mrs. Turner, the lady I told you about on the phone last night. She’s already made friends with Thunder.’

  Mrs. Maloney smiled, and invited them both inside. Thunder pushed past them, wagging his tail so much that he created quite a draught. ‘Would you really be willing to give my precious a home?’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘It makes me fair sick to think of being without him, but I can’t look after him anymore. What matters now is for him to have a good and loving home. He’s been a wonderful companion to me, and he’s so obedient. I feel like a traitor, giving him up like this, but I have no option.’ She put her hand out to Katie. ‘You look a kind lady. I can tell you’ll be good to him. Will you bring him to see me some times?’

  ‘Of course I will,’ Katie said, hardly realizing that she had inadvertently already agreed to take the dog and make him her own. With an intake of breath, she suddenly realized she had committed herself. She bit on her lip… she had done it now, and couldn’t pull back without upsetting the old lady. More importantly, she knew by now that she didn’t want to. She gave Pat a quick glance and saw how pleased he looked.

  ‘Shall we take him right now, Mrs. Maloney?’ Pat said.

  ‘The sooner the better, or I’ll only sit and brood over it. Off with you now, and go quickly, but remember to take his bedding and his favourite toys with you. Oh, and there’s a stack of his favourite biscuits and tinned food in the cupboard. Take that too.’

  When Katie got back to Priory Farm with the massive dog, she couldn’t believe what she had done. They took Thunder inside the house for him to get used to the place, and put his bedding in a corner of the large kitchen, and his bowl of food alongside. He wolfed down some tinned meat straight away, and then stood back expectantly, wagging his tail, and looking from Pat to Katie and back again.

  ‘He’s telling you he wants a walk now.’ Pat laughed. ‘Let’s get his lead and take him around the gardens. Be sure not to let him outside without his lead control until after he’s accepted this as his new home. You can let him wander in the garden when he gets used to the place.’ He placed his hands on Katie’s shoulders. ‘Now, Katie, I’ll go away feeling a lot happier. But I’ll still worry about how you’re faring and all that.’

  After the two of them walked the dog around the gardens, Pat said goodnight and went to the annex, but Katie walked Thunder just once more around the gardens, and then took him inside. He flopped onto the floor at her feet as though he had always lived there. There was no restlessness or whining, and it was as though the dog knew the reason for his being there. At bedtime, she smiled as he watched her heading for the staircase. He needed no more than, ‘Come on then,’ to bound upstairs close on her heels. Within minutes, the large dog was sound asleep at the foot of her bed, and it really did make her feel so safe.

  The next morning, Pat was all ready to go, but before leaving, he went over the list of instructions about how Katie should protect herself once more. He climbed into his car, and as she walked towards him.

  ‘I’ll ring tonight to see if you’re still making out okay with Thunder.’ He started the car and waved.

  Katie watched him drive away, with a feeling of utter misery.

  With her new pet to spoil and take up her time, the rest of the day flew by. That night, Pat called to let her know he’d arrived safely, and to make sure she was all right. She had no sooner hung up the phone and put her foot on the first step to go upstairs to bed early, when Thunder was at her side. His massive frame quivered and his tail thumped against the banister rail.

  ‘Getting to be a habit is it?’ she laughed. ‘Oh, come on then.’ He needed no more, and bounded past her. He waited at the top, with his huge tongue hanging out as though he were laughing, and wagged his tail vigorous
ly as he watched her climb the stairs. Then he took off with an excited yelp to inspect every bedroom, finally ending up in her room. He flopped heavily onto the floor, with his paws across her slippers. He was asleep before she slipped under the duvet, but every time she stirred, he half-opened his eyes, as though to say: Don’t worry, I’m here for you.

  ***

  Pat had only been away a couple of days, but it already seemed like months to Katie. She missed his genial ‘top o’the morning’, missed him being about in the garden, missed the little chats they had over their coffee. She missed him, period.

  The large, tawny dog sat at her feet, and wagged his tail every time she looked at him. She gazed into his soft brown eyes, and murmured, ‘I love you,’ and he wagged it again as though he understood. He was quite at home, and already a strong bond had developed between them. It’s amazing how quickly we’ve taken to one another, she thought. And it’s thanks to Pat that I have my wonderful new companion.

  Suddenly, Thunder’s ears perked up. He gave a throaty growl as he ran to the window and rested his paws on the window ledge to peer outside. Katie followed, but it was a few seconds before the reason for Thunder’s concern pulled up outside the door. It was Tom’s BMW. She opened the door and the huge animal bounded out, almost bowling Tom over as he stepped out of his car.

  ‘What the hell! Get down, dog,’ he shouted.

  Katie was taken aback at the tone of his voice.

  ‘What is this great hound doing here?’ He demanded, with an abruptness she had not witnessed before.

  ‘Pat got him to guard me while he’s visiting his sick uncle in Ireland.’

  ‘Ah, just a temporary measure then?’ Tom said, relief evident in his voice. ‘Dogs are all right in their place. And that’s outside. I certainly wouldn’t have a smelly creature of that size in my house. Anyway, I don’t trust this breed.’ He dusted down his jacket where Thunder had deposited dusty paw marks, and walked towards Katie, slowly.

  ‘He’s not smelly. And he’s perfectly trustworthy,’ Katie said, equally as abruptly. ‘And he doesn’t live outside either. He’s a house-dog, and that’s how I’m keeping it. He lives with me. Indoors.’

  Tom had to remember he was not issuing army orders now, she decided, firming her lips. No way was he going to tell her what to do. It was her dog. Her house. And most importantly, her decision.

  ‘That may be so here, but the creature wouldn’t be welcome in my house, I can tell you.’

  Katie tossed her head defiantly, and walked back to her front door. ‘Well, now that’s a crying shame, because where I go, Thunder goes too.’

  Tom stopped in his tracks. ‘I mean it, Katie. I wouldn’t want him in my home.’

  ‘That’s all right, Tom,’ she said. ‘You don’t have to. I understand what you’re saying, so that excludes me from your house as well. Don’t worry, you won’t have to tolerate my smelly old dog. But, I repeat, where I go, he goes. Love me, love my dog.’

  Tom made no further comment, but Katie could tell by the firm set of his mouth and the jerky way that he approached the door, that he was highly annoyed. She made coffee and they sat down, but the whole time he was there, Tom kept throwing sudden glances at the dog, as though he did not trust him.

  ‘Sorry I haven’t phoned, but I’ve been busy at the farmhouse. There seemed to be little point anyway, since it wasn’t ready for your expert touch. I’ve just been to see the solicitor about the extra pasture land I’m buying, so I thought I’d call in on my way back to the hotel.’ Tom’s eyes were still firmly fixed on the dog, and his mouth still tightly drawn. ‘Would you like to go to the theatre with me on Saturday evening?’ There’s a good play on at the Olympia.’

  ‘Sorry, Tom,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘Margie and Dylan got engaged this week, and we’re having a little family celebration at her place on Saturday evening. Another time, maybe.’

  Her refusal seemed to make Tom even more irritable. ‘All right. I’ll be in touch,’ he said abruptly, and although he had been there for less than twenty minutes, he stood up and went out the door.

  Katie held on tightly to Thunder as Tom walked to his car. As she watched him drive away she mentally chalked up a big, black mark for what he had said. This was the problem her girls would not understand: that it was nigh impossible for a man to change his way of thinking, and the habits of a lifetime, in order to fit in with someone else. So, who does all the changing when there are conflicting ideas? She smiled and muttered to herself, ‘Not me.’

  As soon as she got back inside, the phone rang. It was Pat. Katie was excited to hear his lilting voice again, and brought him up to date with the news about how well she and Thunder were getting along together.

  ‘It was a brilliant idea; I would never have thought of it. I’m so thrilled with him, and I haven’t felt one jot lonely since he’s been here. I feel so safe with him at my side too.’

  ‘Oh, so you’ll not be missing me at all then? I should have guessed that dog would knock my nose out of joint. I should have had more sense, so it serves me right. But he can’t plant rose bushes, oh, no, but he might just try digging them up.’ He laughed, but then went on to say that his Uncle Ruairi was a lot better, and that he was looking forward to being back some time on Sunday evening.

  ‘Margie and Dylan are having a small engagement party on Saturday,’ Katie told him, ‘so I’m looking forward to that. Then the next day, you’ll be back, and everything will be normal again.’

  ‘That’s good,’ Pat said. ‘I hope you have a great time at Margie’s do. By the way, is Thunder still being a good boy?’

  ‘Absolutely. But Tom called today, and he was most upset to find a huge dog in my house. He doesn’t like them, and said that Thunder won’t be welcome at his place.’ She made a small expletive. ‘I told him that Thunder goes wherever I go. If he doesn’t like it that way, that’s too bad… for him.’

  ‘Take no notice. You do exactly what you want, when, and how,’ Pat said, chortling away the other end of the phone. ‘It won’t be long before I’ll be back, so take care.’

  For the get-together at Margie’s, Katie decided to wear the green dress she had bought for Richard’s dinner party. She made a sherry trifle and some sausage rolls, and packed them carefully to take with her. She looked at Thunder, wishing he could come as well, but sensibly realized that it was not the done thing to take a large dog to a party. It would only be for a few hours, and Thunder would probably sleep those away. She gave him a big feed, and then walked him around the garden. Once inside again, she patted his velvet muzzle, pointed to his bed.

  ‘Now be a good boy and I’ll see if I can’t bring you back a few leftovers.’ He seemed to know what she meant, and obediently settled down in the corner of the kitchen.

  When she arrived at Margie’s, everyone else expected was there. As soon as she came through the door, Dylan made a quick move towards his future mother-in-law, and greeted her with a hug, and a friendly kiss on the cheek

  ‘I’ve lots to tell you about Rose Cottage. If it hadn’t been for your kindness, I might have missed out on it, and our wedding would have had to be postponed.’ He had obviously had a couple of drinks by now, because he seemed to be totally at ease, and very talkative. ‘I’ve managed to get my solicitor to move fast. It’ll cost a few pounds more, but that’s no worry, and it looks as though I’ll have the keys within the week.’

  The Champagne flowed as the evening went on, but even without the alcohol, everyone would have been pleased for the happy couple.

  ‘Meet my father and mother,’ Dylan said, introducing Miranda and Jeremy Maine to Katie. ‘And this is my baby sister, Josie May.’ For several minutes, they exchanged bits of news, and discussed the date of the wedding, which had now been set for three months hence. The whole room was abuzz with excited conversation, so Katie excused herself, and walked into the kitchen to take a breather. Margie was there, sorting out some more food for the guests, and asked Katie how she had like her
future in-laws.

  She reached out and to her oldest daughter, and gently touched Margie on the arm. ‘I can see you’re on proverbial Cloud 9 tonight. I love it that you are so happy. ‘Look, Margie, I need to go soon. I’m concerned about leaving Thunder for too long; he’s ever so good, but he is in a strange place. Perhaps he needs to pay another visit to the garden, so you’ll understand if I don’t stay late, Margie?’

  ‘Thunder? Who’s Thunder?’ Margie said, laughing and getting to her knees beside her mother.

  Katie quickly told her the story of how Pat found Thunder to keep her company while he was away. ‘I love him to bits already,’ she said, ‘but Tom upset me by saying Thunder would definitely not be welcome in his home.’

  ‘No problem,’ Margie said, rising to her feet and picking up the tray of food. ‘All you have to say, is… no dog, no Katie.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I did say,’ she replied.

  Margie made a face. ‘It would serve that man right if you cut him out of your life altogether, Mumsy, The last thing you need is to have marching orders from the colonel.’ She laughed and patted her mother on the shoulder. ‘You do exactly what you want to do, Mumsy, not what some autocratic soldier man tells you to.’

  ‘That I will,’ Katie said, still smarting inside as she remembered how Tom had behaved. She turned to speak to Dylan. ‘I’m going home now, because I have a lonely dog waiting for me. It was good to see you again, and I wish you every happiness in your new house.’ Margie and Dylan saw her to the door, and when Margie kissed her goodnight, Dylan did so too. Katie hurried to her car and drove home, anxious about Thunder, but also excited at the thought of her new companion.

  Gone was the nervous feeling about going home to an empty house. With Thunder there, she would never have that uncomfortable feeling again. He greeted her excitedly when she opened the door. She hugged him as though she had not seen him for days, then she fed him some more, and took him outside on the lead for a final walk around the lawns before going to bed. The moon was high, the stars twinkled brilliantly as though they were suspended in the sky, and the hot air of the day had cooled to a comfortable, balmy temperature. Although it was late, instead of hurrying back, she sat on the garden seat where she had spent so many hours with Greg.