The Little Dale Remedy

The little girl had looked so much like him when she’d questioned Maddie about her taking their house, so fierce and angry. Perhaps tomorrow she should try to talk to her again. If they were going to be living next door for the next three months, then she didn’t like the idea that Meg thought she was mean.

She’d have an early night, she decided, to build up her strength for tomorrow. She was so relieved by how well she seemed to be getting along with everyone at Sky View. Then again, they were all so welcoming and easy to talk to...even Jake Munro, who she’d been a bit in awe of.

The memories of Grand Design, and consequently Alex, were harder to deal with. Mostly, nowadays, she was glad he hadn’t hung around to see her like this, but she couldn’t help but reminisce, back to those amazing days when they were a golden couple in the racing world.

Steeling her mind, she went into the kitchen, forcing herself to concentrate on the basic task of making something to eat. Those times were gone, and reflecting on them would just depress her. At least she had hope in her heart again. That just had to be enough...for now.

CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_4e268f2c-e8c8-541a-b6b7-83d43c3df328)

MADDIE WOKE EARLY, discovering immediately that she’d really overdone it the day before. She could hardly manage to climb out of bed, and her left leg refused to do as she told it. Knowing the cause, she fought off the panic attack that threatened, fixating on breathing deep and slow. It was ages until she needed to get ready for work, and experience had taught her that she just had to stay calm and be patient.

Sitting on the side of the bed, she began her exercises, wincing in pain but determined to be ready to leave for Sky View by eight. Slowly, her muscles eased and her coordination improved enough for her to get dressed and go down the steep, narrow staircase.

As she passed through the hallway, she heard a gentle tapping on the door.

“Hello?” she called as she slowly went to open it. Surely, her unwanted neighbor would have made a lot more noise, but who else would be knocking so early in the morning?

Meg stood outside. “No dog?” Maddie asked, smiling.

Meg shook her head. “He’s gone with Daddy.”

“What!” Maddie frowned. “He left you alone?”

Meg stepped across the threshold. “No, he’s just doing the chickens and letting Red go for a run... Do you have any milk?”

Maddie stifled a smile. “Have you run out?”

“Daddy forgot to buy some yesterday. He says it doesn’t matter, but he loves to have a cup of coffee with his breakfast. I thought you could let us have some, but don’t tell him or he’ll be cross.”

It obviously hadn’t occurred to her that her dad might wonder where the milk came from, but Maddie didn’t point that out. Hopefully, Ross would just let it lie.

“What’s your full name, Meg?” she asked.

“Megan Noble,” Meg said proudly, tossing back her long chestnut curls. “And my dad is called Ross Noble.”

“That’s a lovely name.” Maddie smiled. “I’ve got plenty of milk, you can have as much as you like.”

“And you won’t tell Dad?”

“I won’t tell your dad. Here, we’d better hurry if you want to get back before he does.”

As they walked into the kitchen, Maddie felt Meg’s hand curl around hers, and warmth trickled through her veins. “So we’re friends now, are we?”

She was rewarded by a wide, heartfelt smile. “If you want to be,” said Meg.

“I want to be,” Maddie repeated. “And I won’t tell your dad about the milk.”

By the time Maddie finally set off for Sky View, having taken her medication and eased her objecting limbs into submission, she felt much more ready for the day. Her previous preoccupation about the man in the trailer seemed less important, and she barely gave him a thought as she headed for her car. She wasn’t afraid of him anymore, and as far as she was concerned, his presence at Rose Cottage was just a nuisance she’d have to endure for a while. When he suddenly appeared beside her, however, her heart sped up, pounding in her throat.

“I’d rather you didn’t encourage my daughter if you don’t mind,” he said curtly. “I can’t have her disappearing all the time.”

Rankled, Maddie stopped in her tracks. “Then maybe you should keep a better eye on her. I haven’t ‘encouraged’ her and don’t intend to. If you don’t want her around me, then maybe you should go somewhere else and come back when I’ve moved out.”

“In three months, you mean,” Ross snapped, his dark eyes narrowing.

Maddie nodded, raising her eyebrows. “Ah, so you’ve spoken to the rental agency.”

“I may have...but I still intend to camp here until you leave.”

Maddie set off toward her car again, walking carefully. “Well, that’s your prerogative, but if you think you can frighten me off, I’m afraid you’re wasting your time. I’m a lot tougher than I look.”

Ross paused, and automatically she stopped, too, standing tall and holding his gaze in defiance. A sudden softness in his eyes took her by surprise, but then his mouth set into a grim line. “I don’t doubt it,” he said quietly.

Maddie turned away abruptly, more uncomfortable with the momentary flash of warmth and perhaps admiration than she was with his more familiar display of anger. “Now if you don’t mind,” she insisted, “I’m late for work. Oh, and by the way...”

He frowned. “By the way what?”

She stuck out her chin, looking him straight in the face and hoping he didn’t notice the slight trembling in her limbs. “Meg only came to ask for milk—for you—so maybe you should appreciate her a bit more instead of trying to get at me.”

To her relief, Ross stepped away from her without another word, but the expression in his eyes spoke volumes. He didn’t like her, and she didn’t like him.

“Don’t worry,” she called after him as he strode away. “I’m quite happy to keep my distance...from you, anyway. If Meg chooses to seek me out, though, I’m not going to turn her away.”

* * *

MADDIE DROVE TOWARD Sky View, her mind totally taken away from the spat with her unpleasant neighbor by the sheer beauty of her surroundings. The rugged fells loomed against a pale blue sky shot with gray and silver, and rough fell sheep roamed way up toward the skyline, tiny white dots against the greens and browns of grass and bracken on the lower slopes, tucked in cracks and valleys to seek protection from the wild winds that must surely blow here in the winter months. Today, however, it was calm and balmy, both colorful and gray, a stark contrast that made the landscape seem even brighter.

And way, way below her as she climbed toward Sky View, she could see the lake glittering in the morning sun, a paradise for boats and wildlife.

Determined to forget about Ross Noble, Maddie started to hum, feeling happily hopeful as the roofs of Sky View Stables appeared just ahead.

Maddie pulled up at the end of the yard instead of driving right to the house, needing the fix of horse sights and smells she’d get by walking through the stable yard.

A heavily pregnant gray mare appeared through the front gate, led by Jake.

“Morning,” he called.

“Morning,” she responded. “This must be Carlotta.”

When he stopped for a moment, she placed her hand on the elegant arch of the mare’s neck, drinking in the feel of her and desperately wanting to press her cheek against the silky softness of her coat. “She’s just as beautiful as the painting of her you have in the house,” she said.

Jake smiled proudly. “She’s going to have a beautiful foal, too, I reckon.”

“If it’s to Grand Design, then it sure will be,” Maddie agreed, already biting her tongue as the words spilled out.

Jake looked at her curiously.

“At least...if his photograph is anything to go by,” she managed.