Gwyneth gave a deep sigh tinged with both relief and sadness. ‘I’ve brought Hugh’s brother home,’ she said wearily. ‘I hope he gets back soon, because he’ll want to say goodbye to him.’

She saw Jane glance through the screens to the tethered ponies and the truck where Sal was now sitting next to the shrouded figure that was still being guarded by the red setter. ‘He was already gone before I could get to him,’ she said. ‘All we can do now is give him a decent funeral.’

‘I’m so sorry, Gwyneth,’ said Jane. ‘You’ve been through too much these past hours. Come in and I’ll find you a bed so you can rest. Rebecca and I will lay him out.’

Gwyneth shook off her hand. ‘I’ll sleep when I know Hugh is safe,’ she muttered. ‘As for Max, I’ll prepare him. I’m his mother, and it’s the last thing I will ever be able to do for him.’

Terence gave a sigh of impatience. ‘Gran, you’re exhausted. I’m sure we can—’

She glared at him furiously. ‘You will respect my wishes, Terence. Take Max to my house and put him on my bed. I’ll come over when I’ve had a cup of tea and something to eat.’

As Terence went in search of a stretcher to carry Max, Gwyneth tucked her hand in the crook of Jane’s arm and nudged her towards the kitchen. ‘Make me a cuppa, dear, and while I’m drinking it you can tell me what’s been happening since I’ve been away.’

*

Brandy trotted alongside them as Sal and Sandra helped Terence carry the stretcher across the street and into Gwyneth’s bedroom. It was gloomy and cluttered like the rest of the house, with large old-fashioned dark furniture that made the room seem very small. They laid Max gently on the thick eiderdown that covered the ornately carved four-poster bed and Sal had to restrain the dog as it tried to climb up beside him.

‘We’ll leave you to have a few minutes with him before Gran comes over,’ Terence said gently. ‘And don’t worry about the ponies. I’ll put them in the field behind the forge and see that they’re fed and watered.’

Sal gave him a wan smile as she nodded her thanks and, as they left the house, she let her breath out in a long trembling sigh. She felt as if she hadn’t drawn breath since discovering that Max was dead and, as she sat in the bedside chair and looked down at him, the tears began to flow again.

Brandy whined and pawed at her knee. His eyes – as tawny as Max’s – were liquid with sorrow.