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fingers, time and time again, had to be asked twice before he answered. “Mmm. I felt it only right. She is your mother.”
    â€œShe lost all her rights as a mother when she convinced me that Dan was a no-good son-in-law. I shall regret right to my last breath being so influenced by her. You’d no right, Pa.” Tears poured down her face in rivers, unheeded. “I feel awful. So miserable.”
    Lloyd stood up and went to put Jonathan in Rose’s arms. “It’s your hormones. I read about it in a book. Here, hold him. Your mother can’t take him away from you; he’s yours and Dan’s. I won’t let her come between you and him if I have to throttle her to do it.”
    The phone rang. Dan went to answer it. “Dan Brown here.”
    It was Kate from the practice. “Sorry to disturb you when you’re off limits, so to speak,” she said, “but you know Callum Tattersall? Well, he’s rung in to say Sybil is in labor and it’s not going right. He wonders if you’d come out to see her. I told him you were off, but he says he can’t bring her in and you’ll know why. Who’s Sybil?”
    â€œA pygmy goat. Yes, I do know why. I’ll go. OK.”
    â€œThanks ever so much, Dan.”
    Dan picked up his car keys from the hall table, and went back into the sitting room. “Lloyd, you’re not planning going somewhere, are you? Can I leave you to make lunch for Rose and yourself and be generally useful?”
    â€œWhat the hell, you’re not going out on a call?”
    Rose interrupted. “Pa! Don’t interfere. What is it, darling?”
    â€œCallum’s goat having problems delivering. You know who I mean. I’ll be two hours at most.”
    â€œOf course. You go. I shall be fine. I guess Pa and me will cope. There’s one thing for certain—we shan’t starve to death. My love to Nuala.” She pursed her lips ready for him to kiss, so he bent to do as she asked and whispered his thanks.
    When he arrived at Tattersall’s Cop, he found Sybil ensconced on a makeshift bed in the kitchen with Callum seated on a chair keeping an eye on her, a glass of neat whisky in his hand.
    â€œShe’s in a poor way.” There was a very slight slur in his speech, and it occurred to Dan that the bottle on the table had reached its present level that very day.

    â€œN OW, Sybil, what are you making such a fuss about?” After he’d examined her he asked how long she’d been in labor.
    â€œI got up at half past five to see to Nuala and decided to go check on Sybil while I was up. She was very restless then. Jesus! Don’t let her die; it’ll kill Nuala.” Once he’d said that Callum looked as though he wished he hadn’t.
    Dan ignored his mistake and continued to check Sybil. “It’s my opinion she can’t deliver. Her pelvis is too narrow for such a big kid to get through. I’m going to have to operate.”
    Callum shot upright, his face dead white and beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Operate! Oh God! No! I can’t stand it. Not Sybil.” The remains of his whisky went down his gullet in a trice.
    â€œIf I don’t, she and the kid will die a slow death. Pull yourself together, Callum. My Rose had a Caesarean only three days ago, and she’s home and doing well. So stop the blather and give me a hand.”
    â€œI can’t. I can’t stand the sight of blood. Not Sybil’s.” He refilled his glass, his hand trembling, but Dan took it from him before he could drink it.
    â€œWhen we’ve done, you can celebrate with that.”
    â€œBut…”
    â€œNo buts.”
    Dan did a businesslike job of the operation, aided and abetted by Callum, who continually threatened to pass out.
    When the tiny kid was pulled from his mother, Callum was massively impressed. He ran excitedly into the hall, shouting, “It’s