‘Hm, let’s just hope you’re right.’ Sunday pursed her lips and stared across the lawn, trying to think of something else because the thought of losing Kathy was just too much to bear.

Early that evening, Livvy ventured across to the stables again. Now that Kathy was so huge, she had taken over the care of her horse too and she wanted to get them fed and settled as she had a date that evening with a young man she had met from the village. As she approached, she was surprised to see the vet’s car parked outside and quickening her pace she entered the stable block and stood for a moment as her eyes adjusted to the light. After being out in the brilliant sunshine it seemed very gloomy in there.

‘All you can do is watch her carefully and if nothing has happened by the morning ring me again and I’ll come back out,’ she heard the vet say.

Curiosity drew her towards the stall where he was talking to Giles.

‘I’ll do that, thank you.’

She saw that Giles looked worried as he tried to calm one of the mares who was due to have her foal any time.

‘Is there a problem?’ she asked as the vet nodded to her and strode past her.

Giles glanced up. ‘There is actually, this one is having trouble I reckon, that’s why I called the vet out.’

‘Oh.’ Livvy didn’t quite know how to respond. Grudgingly she admitted that Giles did seem to be very fond of the horses. ‘So … is there anything I can do to help?’

He looked mildly surprised. It was the first time she had ever spoken to him civilly. Usually she snapped his head off as soon as he opened his mouth so now he only spoke to her when it was strictly necessary. ‘Thanks, but I don’t think there is. I’m going to stay over here with her now till she’s had the foal.’

‘But that might mean spending the night here,’ she pointed out.

‘It wouldn’t be the first time.’

Liberty, the horse in question, was one that her father had bred, and she had been one of his favourites. Livvy knew that had her dad been there he would have done exactly the same. ‘Right, in that case I’ll see to our horses and leave you to it.’

He nodded and she hurried away to see to Willow and Bramble.

When she entered the stables the following evening after work she peeped into Liberty’s stall and was delighted to see a pure black baby suckling from his mother.

‘He’s a little beauty, isn’t he?’

Livvy swung about to find Giles standing right behind her. He looked desperately tired but pleased as punch.