Page 112 of The Village of Lost and Found

She began to run in pursuit of the Keith. She had thought her heart was already broken, but if anything happened to Keith she would never forgive herself.

Tom had just parked his car next to Lucy’s when he saw Keith sprint off into the distance with Lucy in hot pursuit after him.

‘Come back!’ he shouted.

But neither Lucy nor the dog heard him as the wind howled around them.

So he set off after them.

62

Lucy finally managed to catch up to Keith in one of the large barns, which was thankfully empty of any kind of animal. But Keith was cowering in the corner and wouldn’t come to her.

‘Come on,’ she told him, trying to keep the despair out of her voice as she held out her hand to him. ‘I’m sorry. I’m just as afraid as you are, you know.’

‘Then it sounds as if it’s a good job that I’m here,’ said a voice.

Lucy jumped and spun round to see Tom standing at the doorway to the barn. His hair was soaking wet and his T-shirt was plastered to his torso, showing off his newly toned body. She would jump at the chance to be in his arms now. If only Andrea hadn’t got there before her, she reminded herself with a scowl.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, angry with her own reaction and at him.

‘Saving you,’ he said with a heavy sigh, coming over to stand in front of her.

‘I don’t need saving,’ she told him, crossing her arms. ‘Unless you have some kind of tranquilliser gun on you.’

He laughed. ‘Is that for me or for the stray animals? Anyway, I have something even better.’

Out of his pocket, he brought out a slightly sodden-looking paper bag, which she recognised as being from The Cranbridge Stores.

‘What is it?’ she couldn’t stop herself from asking.

‘A sausage roll. Keith’s favourite.’

They both looked over at the dog, who was thumping his tail at the thought of his favourite snack. Slowly he began to inch his way over to where they stood.

‘What if the smell of food attracts the other animals,’ said Lucy, glancing at the open end of the barn nervously.

‘It will be too late,’ said Tom, with a small smile as Keith reached up to wolf down the sausage roll in one gulp.

‘Oh, Keith!’ said Lucy, crouching down to give him a hug. ‘You almost gave me heart failure racing off like that.’

Keith gave her a decidedly sausage-roll-flavoured lick as she cuddled him.

‘It sounds as if you’re a doggy lover now,’ said Tom.

‘So what if I am?’ she snapped, as she stood up to face him.

Tom held up his hands. ‘That’s not a criticism. Just pointing out how far you’ve come.’

It was true. But she wasn’t in the mood for his compliments.

‘By the way, I see your boyfriend has excelled himself this time with his escaped animals,’ said Tom.

‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ said Lucy with a sigh to herself.

Tom was looking at her, his forehead creased into a frown.

‘He’s not!’ she told him. ‘Not that it would be any of your business. You don’t get to think about playing the ex card with me!’ she added, hotly. ‘I haven’t kissed mine lately. What about you?’