Northern Spirit Read Online Free Page A

losing either of them.
    *       
*        *
    When the vet’s Mercedes pulled into the yard, David was waiting in the
kitchen and he felt uneasy. He should have been pleased that Barry Fitzgerald
had come quickly, but David was unsure of how to greet him, because he was
sickened and ashamed of some of the things his father had done, and he hadn’t
spoken to Barry Fitzgerald since. David had also ignored Barry at the funeral
as he’d done the rest of the mourners.
    David had once read in the paper about a young man whose father had
killed two children, and how the fear of turning out the same, had haunted him;
David had felt pity for the young man and thought he too was branded for life
and tattooed with an unrepeatable word; a description of his father that people
had struggled to say, because they couldn’t think of a word evil enough, as no
word yet existed.
    But David should have trusted Barry Fitzgerald. He was a warm, kind man
and well respected and, at the age of forty-nine had matured into a competent
vet. He was also a local man, born from a long line of men in the medical
profession. His father was a doctor, but Barry preferred to look after sick
animals and lead an outdoor life. He was one of the few men that George Keldas
had tolerated, and David guessed Barry would be as concerned with his family’s
welfare today, as much as the cattle.
    David could discern through the lamplight Barry’s dark and greying
head; his familiar face radiated feeling and his eyebrows frowned against the
sharpness of the electric light in the yard. As David watched from his vantage
point at the kitchen window he felt reluctant to move. If not for the sake of
Silver, he would have made some excuse and sent his mother.
    The passenger door opened on the estate car and David saw a young woman
clamber out. He was now even more reluctant to leave and hesitated. He
continued to watch them unpack the car and dress in some green overalls, when
Tom came from the loosebox to meet them. David knew he was being irrational in
allowing the moods of his father to enter into him again, and could no longer
resist. Inwardly moaning, he pulled on his boots and left the house.
    Barry Fitzgerald came forward to meet him and shook his hand and, in a
sympathetic gesture, warmly pressed his other hand on top of David’s.
    Feeling reassured by this kindness David found the confidence to turn
to the girl, but Barry spoke up first. ‘Davey, this is Hannah Robson. She’s
from County Durham.’ Barry put his arm across David’s shoulder. ‘She’s training
with us for six months; I hope you didn’t mind me bringing her?’
    David was stunned as he looked into the eyes of the young woman, and
was instantly attracted to her and couldn’t speak.
    She held out her hand to his but driven by a desire to keep his promise,
David ignored her gesture and pulled his hand back. He muttered a brief “hello”
and headed for the loosebox. As he walked away, he knew he’d been bad mannered
and justified his actions by wondering what possible use she could be. He
thought she was far too small to be a vet; boyish in appearance, yet she had
striking brown eyes and short strands of auburn hair that curled around the
nape of her neck. David’s actions wouldn’t have hurt him so much if Hannah
weren’t so beautiful.
    They followed David to the loosebox and Barry saw straight away what
the problem was. Silver was standing in a corner grunting and pushing; she was
becoming drowsy and swaying from side to side. The black nose and one hoof of
the calf were protruding from the cow’s rear end.
    ‘Should have called me sooner, Davey. Looks like we’ve got a leg back.
It’ll take a bit of manoeuvring to get this one out.’
    David held his head low, disappointed and embarrassed with his
judgment, which did nothing to change the mood he was sinking deeper into. He
was pleased when Barry sent Hannah back to the car for some ropes.
    As Barry started to examine the