Roses For Katie Read online

  Thinking of Greg, and how happy he would have been to know their daughter was finally getting married, made her miss him. A few stray tears rolled down her cheek. ‘Oh, Greg, why did you leave me? Without you life will never be the same again,’ she murmured.

  The next morning, Katie woke to Thunder’s hot breath on her face. It was barely daylight. ‘I think you want to go out in a hurry.’ She scrambled out of bed and he bounded downstairs ahead of her. He waited eagerly by the back door, with his tail thumping loudly on the cupboard at the side. She let him out, and then looked around for a warm jacket to throw over her shoulders against the chill of the early morning air so that she could supervise him. Seconds later, she followed him outside, but Thunder was gone. She called for him, but there was no response.

  ‘Oh, God, where’s he gone?’ She tried not to panic. Surely he was here somewhere. ‘Thunder!’ She called, repeatedly.

  Despite the fact she was not adequately dressed against the cool morning, she hurried around the gardens, calling, until she realized her slippers were soaked wet with dew. She ran back to the house, dressed quickly, and ran back out again hoping he had come back while she was upstairs.

  How will I tell Pat, and poor Mrs. Maloney, she thought, wiping away hot tears. ‘Come back, Thunder, please,’ she moaned, ‘Come back to me.’

  Thinking he must have cleared the fence and gone in search of his previous home, Katie set off in her car. She drove slowly, scanning the quiet roads, not yet busy with traffic, and praying that if he was out there, he had not been run over. She went as far as Mrs. Maloney’s cottage to look around her garden, but she saw no sign of him there. She turned around and drove home, acutely aware of her nervously thumping heart. Exhausted and stressed, she sat on the garden seat as the weak morning sun gently bathed the roses, and wished for Thunder to suddenly appear.

  She sat, gazing into the middle distance for some time, sniffling and dabbing her eyes and nose. ‘I won’t find him sitting here like this.’

  She decided to take one more look in the gardens before notifying the police and the various animal centres and vets in the area. She called his name continuously and then thought she heard a faint bark in reply. She could not tell from which direction it came, but her heart pounded as her hopes rose. She continued to call his name, making every effort to try and determine from which direction the faint bark was coming. Finally she ran towards the large greenhouse right at the bottom end of the vegetable garden, and the barking became louder.

  Suddenly, she spotted a movement behind the greenhouse door and realized that Thunder must have knocked aside the prop that was holding open the door, and had become trapped inside.

  ‘Oh, thank God I’ve found you.’ She dropped to her knees and hugged him as the tears of joy ran down her face. Thunder licked them away. ‘Don’t you ever frighten me like that again.’ She hung on to his collar and walked him back to the house. Once inside she fussed over him, hugging and patting him and feeding him tasty bits.

  Time had flown by and before she knew it, it was almost time for Pat to be home. Although she had no idea exactly when, she popped a small leg of lamb into the oven and prepared the vegetables. If he were late, she would keep it all warm, and wait to eat with him, whatever the time.

  She relaxed on the comfortable sofa in the sitting room, thinking about what dessert she would make, when the phone rang.

  It was Pat. ‘Hi, Katie, we’re safely landed, and I’ll be leaving here as soon as I’ve located my car; I should be home in about two hours.’

  When Pat’s car pulled up, Thunder raced to the door obviously recognizing the Volvo and whimpering. Katie gave the table a quick glance to check that everything needed was on it, and turned down the heat under the vegetables before going out to greet him. She was so full of relief, not only to have found Thunder, but to see Pat’s happy face again, that she rushed towards him with arms outstretched.

  In response, he picked her up off the ground and swung her around, just as though it were a grand reunion after years apart.

  ‘Oh, Pat, I’m so glad to see you. I missed you so,’ she said, breathlessly.

  ‘Missed you too,’ he said, suddenly leaning back and looking a bit embarrassed at his reaction to her effusive welcome. He put her down and held her at arms’ length to look into her face. ‘Hey. What’s the matter? Your eyes look a bit puffy. Either you didn’t sleep last night, or you’ve been crying. Which?’

  Katie linked her arm through Pat’s and led him to the house as she told him of how she thought she had lost Thunder. ‘I don’t know who was more excited that he was in the greenhouse, me or him.’ She laughed, pulling on Pt’s arm. ‘Come into my place. There’s a nice roast dinner waiting for you.’

  ‘I can smell it from here, and I’m hungry,’ he said.

  It took Katie only minutes to bring it to the table, and they were soon quietly enjoying the meal. With Thunder sleeping peacefully at their feet.

  ‘My uncle’s a very sick man, Katie,’ Pat said, quietly. ‘He’s a little better now, but they told me at the hospital that they were afraid he would suffer a relapse. There’s nothing I can do about it by staying.’

  ‘It’s serious then?’

  ‘Yes. Liver trouble. Probably too much of the rye.’

  ‘So sorry to hear that,’ Katie said. Then trying to help him avoid the sad topic she asked him to describe the area where his uncle lived.

  ‘Oh, and ‘tis the most beautiful place in the world, that Emerald Isle of mine.’ He leaned across the table to touch the back of her hand. ‘Katie, you should go there. You wouldn’t be sorry.’

  She gave a quick glance at Thunder, and smiled, but Pat guessed immediately what she was thinking.

  ‘He’s no problem. If leaving Thunder behind bothers you, then stop worrying. He can travel to Ireland without restriction.’

  ‘But I’d never be able to do that journey… ‘

  Again he guessed what was in her mind, and spoke before she had finished her sentence. ‘As for getting yourself and Thunder there, I’ll take you both.’ His words tumbled out and his voice lifted with excitement as he spoke. ‘No doubt I’ll have to go to see my uncle again in a couple of weeks. I promised him I would, you see. And next time I’ll take the Volvo and use the ferry. We’ll all go together… Thunder as well.’ His face was animated as he spoke. ‘Will you think about it, Katie? My uncle’s farmhouse is almost as big as this one of yours. There’s an ocean of room there, and you can take your pick about which bedroom you’d like to stay in. I’d take you around, show you all the sights. It would be wonderful.’

  Katie was surprised at his sudden suggestion, but she knew that with Pat, it would be different than if she went somewhere with Rex or Tom. They were potential suitors, and she would always feel a bit worried they’d come on strong to her. Pat was different. He understood her. He was her friend; her best friend now. And he posed no threat like the others.

  Pat continued to talk about his uncle’s large farm, with all the cattle he kept. ‘He has a good manager looking after the place, and plenty of hired help, but he likes to keep his finger on the button. He’s too sick to take an active part now.’ He shook his head. ‘And to be sure, ‘tis sad to see such a strong man come to this.’

  They finished eating and took their coffee into the sitting room.

  ‘So tell me more about the place,’ Katie said. ‘I’m interested.’

  Pat smiled and eased himself back in the comfortable chair. ‘Well, the roads are quiet, the people are very friendly and unhurried. So many of the quaint old inns still retain their original character. The food is superb. The grass is greener than anywhere else I know.’ He sighed, and a far-away look came into his eyes.

  ‘You long to go back there, don’t you, Pat?’

  ‘Well, ‘tis my home, you see, and I suppose that’s why. But it’s hard to describe the place adequately to do it justice. You’d have to see it to appreciate it, and then you’d know why I love it so mu
ch.’

  ‘It does sound wonderful. I’d like to see if it lives up to your praises.’

  Pat leaned forward in his seat. ‘Would you really? If you come, I’ll take you everywhere. I’ll take you to Dingle Bay to see our resident bottle-nosed dolphin, cavorting in the bay; you can swim with him if you wish. We’ve named him Fungi. We could drive along the coastal road towards Slea Head, where they filmed ‘Ryan’s Daughter’, and look out over the Atlantic from the cliff top, and then cut back through the Connor Pass and head for Brandon Bay.’

  His eyes were shining as he recalled the various places. ‘Then we could visit Tipperary, and go on to Tralee… you’ve surely heard of Tralee, because of the song?’ He had become quite excited by now, and waved his arms around like he was showing her the place already. ‘Then we’d go back around to Killarney and the National Park in Kerry. We’d travel The Ring Of Kerry. And that’s only one little corner of The Emerald Isle. There’s so much more, and all every bit as lovely.’

  Katie could see that he was living it all as he described it to her. Impressed, the more she heard, the more she wanted to see it for herself. ‘Greg and I always intended to go, but we never did. Maybe I will come with you, Pat. I’ll give it some serious thought, I promise.’

  Katie stretched and glanced at the clock. ‘Heavens, it’s almost the witching hour. I’ve had an exhausting day, and it’s time for bed.’

  Pat insisted on helping to clear away the dishes, and then headed for the connecting passageway to the annex. Thunder watched him go, hanging his head and gently wagged his tail as he looked from one to the other. He padded after Pat for a few yards, then stopped, and bounded back to sit at Katie’s side. He looked up at her as though to say: It’s all right. I’m staying with you. You’re the one I want to be with.

  ‘Come on,’ she said, laughing as he bounded up the stairs in front of her and made straight for her bedroom.

  Early next morning, Richard phoned to say that the furniture from Avondale was being delivered around the family later that day. He asked her to let Tom know that his pieces would be arriving as well. Katie knew that this meant a busy time for her if she was to help Tom sort out all his furniture as she had promised, but she determined to keep her word.

  Thunder, she suddenly thought. What about Thunder? Tom’s surly attitude towards the dog had been uncalled for, and she still felt resentful because of what he had said. Pat will surely help me out by looking after Thunder for a few hours. Tom won’t have him there, and I feel obliged to keep my word.

  She phoned and made arrangements to be at Tom’s place shortly after lunch, but declined his invitation to join him for a meal at the local inn. She still felt uncomfortable about their relationship. When she finally arrived at his farm, one furniture van was already being unloaded, and another was pulling in.

  ‘Thank goodness you’ve come in time,’ Tom said. ‘Everything’s arriving together, the pieces from the manor as well as the new stuff. Bad timing. They started to unload a few minutes ago, so let’s check the plan of where it’s to be placed. We must make sure they get it right.’ He gave an expletive. ‘Just look at them — they’re all over the shop.’ His face darkened with displeasure, and it was more than obvious that he was extremely annoyed to have been put to this inconvenience. ‘I certainly don’t want to be shifting furniture around after they’ve gone. That’s what they’re paid to do.’

  Calmly, Katie undertook to supervise the placement of the furniture, and by late afternoon, it was all finished. Tom breathed a sigh of relief, and at last he smiled.

  ‘Thanks ever so much,’ he said, taking her hand. ‘I really appreciate your help.’

  Katie’s instinct was to withdraw her hand, but just then Tom looked around.

  ‘Your dog,’ he said. ‘Where’s your dog?’

  ‘I didn’t bring him. You don’t like him. You said you wouldn’t have him in your house, remember?’

  Tom looked a shade embarrassed. ‘I apologise for what I said, Katie. I didn’t mean to be so… so… forceful. It was thoughtless and unkind of me.’ He hesitated, and seemed to fumble for his words. ‘The truth is, I’m afraid of German Shepherds. I was badly mauled by one as a boy, and the memory of that terrifying experience has stayed with me ever since.’ He rolled up his sleeve and pointed to a huge scar running the length of his forearm. ‘See? It’s as simple as that. Please forgive me.’

  ‘You should have told me the reason at the time, and I would have understood,’ Katie said. ‘I thought you were being dictatorial and, to be frank, I didn’t appreciate it.’

  ‘You’ve been such an angel, and this is not the way you should be repaid. Is there anything that I can do to make up for my thoughtless words?’

  ‘Not really, except to try and accept that Thunder is not going to hurt you; that he’s a gentle creature who only wants love and attention. And that he goes everywhere with me, if I so choose.’

  ‘I promise I’ll try to get to know the dog, but it will be difficult for me. If I manage to, it would probably help cure the phobia I have about big dogs.’

  ‘All right.’ Katie smiled. ‘You’re forgiven.’ All the same, she thought, forgiving is one thing. Forgetting is another. She disliked the way he had so quickly condemned her dog, and worse, his autocratic manner was obviously an in-built part of his nature. Being dictatorial had been his way of life up to now. He was imperious. Would he ever be able to change? Marrying someone like that could bring problems.

  But then, he had asked for her advice about his farmhouse; had given her carte blanche… her choice of furniture and decor. It seemed out of character at the time, but now she thought it had probably been that way to make sure everything would be to her liking, so that it would add strength to the reason why she should marry him. Had he truly meant what she overheard him tell Rex? He still had not made any such proposal to her directly, which was just as well.

  ‘The least I can do is to take you out to dinner this evening,’ he said.

  ‘Thank you, Tom, but not this evening, I’m afraid. You forget I left my dog at home.’ She gave him a long look as she mentioned Thunder. ‘Pat’s looking after him, and I would never take advantage of his kindness, so I must go home now.’

  ‘Oh, that so?’ Tom retorted. He raised his brows and gave Katie a decidedly supercilious stare. ‘So is it the dog you’re eager to get home to, or… is it that Irish gardener of yours?’

  Chapter Twelve

  Katie left without making any comment in response to Tom’s snide remark. It annoyed her so much that she smarted inwardly all the way home. It wasn’t until she arrived at Priory Farm to Pat’s welcoming smile and Thunder’s excitement that she forgot about it.

  ‘Did you get the job done?’ Pat asked cheerfully.

  ‘Yes, and now perhaps I can have a rest from Colonel Tom and his haughty ways for a while.’ Katie sighed deeply.

  ‘He’s upset you?’

  ‘Oh, yes. He does it all the time, but he’s not aware that he’s doing it.’ Then she related what had been said.

  ‘He’s an impertinent man to make such a suggestion. A real gentleman wouldn’t behave that way.’ He smiled at her, and his blue eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘You seem to pick ‘em, I’m thinking, Katie Turner.’

  ‘Yes, well let’s forget the problems. I can think of something much more pleasant.’ She swung around to face him. ‘Pat O’Reilley, I would like to go out and enjoy dinner tonight with a real gentleman. Will you take me?’

  ‘Thank you for those kind words,’ Pat replied, smiling, but colouring deeply. ‘It’ll be my pleasure. Where would you like to go?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. Anywhere. Somewhere I haven’t been before. I’ll leave it to you.’

  Pat thought for a minute, and then lifted his finger. ‘I know the very place. It’s a little way off, but tucked out of sight and not well known. As you can imagine, the landlord is Irish, one Mike O’Flaherty, so you can bank on good food.’

  ‘How long
have I got to get ready?’

  ‘As long as it takes me to shower and change.’

  Feeling quite excited, Katie rushed off to get ready. It didn’t matter where they went; she’d be happy with anything tonight, as long as she had Pat’s good humour and cheery face to look at. They set off in the Volvo and drove for three quarters of an hour. The sun was peeping through the leafy trees that lined the country roads, and the sweet odour of mowed grass filtered into the car. Everything looked greener than usual, and Katie was happy.

  ‘Here we are. Only locals who know of its existence would find this place.’ Pat turned into the small parking space at the side of a diminutive and ancient looking inn, set back so far off the road that it was barely visible.

  Katie looked up at the tattered old sign hanging over the door. ‘Oh, ‘The Last Jug’. What a strange name for an inn.’

  Pat ushered her inside. The landlord looked up and his face broke into a broad smile. ‘Well, and if it isn’t my old friend Pat O’Reilley an’ all.’ He wiped his hands dry on a rag as he came around from the back of the bar to shake Pat’s hand vigorously. ‘So to what do I owe this honor?’ Then he glanced at Katie. ‘Ah, I shouldn’t have asked. I see that you’re taking this beautiful lady out for the evening. I presume you’ll be wanting something to eat?’ He fumbled through a pile of cards and flourished a menu before them. ‘All the wife’s home cooking, for sure. None of your frozen, made-to-keep-for-years, stuff here.’ He bustled about, rearranging the chairs so that no one else would sit at their table and force unwanted conversation on them.

  While they studied the menu, Mike drew a pint of Guinness for Pat, and placed a schooner of Croft Original in front of Katie. ‘On the house,’ he said, with another beam.