Christmas with her Boss

celebrating, or something dreadful had happened, or sometimes simply because they could. Because they were family.

And this felt the same. It felt… Family?

Except William wasn’t. She knew he wasn’t, so it shouldn’t hurt when he was the first to pull away.

It did. Even though he must.

‘Let’s have a look at that arm,’ William said in a voice that was none too steady, and she knew he was feeling the whole gamut of emotions she was feeling. Only maybe not the family one.

There was a woman called Elinor?

Letty’s knees had given completely. Scott brought cushions and blankets while Meg and William assessed the damage as best they could. Letty’s arm was bound tightly with William’s sleeve, but the crimson bloom was spreading.

‘I don’t think we should disturb it,’ William said. ‘Where’s the nearest hospital.’

‘I’m not going to hospital,’ Letty quavered and for an answer William simply scooped her up, blankets and all.

‘Car keys,’ he snapped at Meg. ‘You sit in the back seat with your grandmother. Scott, are you coming?’

Someone had turned into the drive. Mickey and his Dad, Meg thought, recognising the car, come to play with the Minis.

‘Maybe…maybe I should stay,’ Scott managed and then tried to get his voice down a quaver or two. ‘I…Mickey can help me clean up.’

That Letty hadn’t squeaked a second protest was scary, but William had her in his arms, heading for the car, and Meg could spare a moment to think things through. Scott loathed hospitals, for good reason. She could see he was torn. She needed to give him a reason to stay, and she had one. One pregnant cow.

‘I need you to keep an eye on Millicent,’ she said.

‘Why?’

‘She’s showing the first signs of calving.’

‘My Millicent…’ Letty squeaked over William’s shoulder.

‘Your Millicent,’ Meg retorted. ‘Who’s staying in the care of your grandson, and Mickey and Mickey’s Dad. There’s two for you and three for Millicent. So who’s arguing, Grandma?’

‘No one’s arguing,’ William said. ‘Let’s go.’

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE gash on her arm was deep and jagged. The doctors wanted to keep Letty in overnight, an option she wouldn’t consider.

‘Just pull it together and let me go. I have a turkey to stuff.’

Finally, they conceded that she could go home, but only after they were sure she was okay. ‘She’s lost a lot of blood, she’s elderly and she’s shocked,’ the doctor on duty told them as they wheeled her off to Theatre. ‘We’ll tie her down for a couple of hours to make sure there aren’t complications. Can you wait?’

‘We can wait,’ William said and he and Meg went to sit in the waiting room. Meg picked up a glossy magazine and stared sightlessly at its pages.

He shouldn’t go near her, William decided.

Her hands were still shaking.

How could he not go to her? He moved to the seat next to hers and touched her hand.

She put her magazine down and blinked back tears.

So much for not going near her. He put his arm round her and tugged her close.

Her whole body was shaking.

‘It’s okay. Baby, it’s okay.’

‘I’m not…’ She gulped and tried to pull away. ‘I’m not b…baby.’

‘Miss Jardine, it’s okay,’ he said, and pulled her closer still.

That brought a chuckle, but a watery one. She sniffed and reached for a tissue in her overalls pocket. She blew her nose, hard, and he thought, how could he go back to calling her Miss Jardine? This wasn’t his super-efficient PA. This was someone he no longer knew.

Or maybe… Maybe it was just that he hadn’t known his super-efficient PA, because it was starting to feel as if he did know this woman, and he wanted to know more.

‘If…if the paparazzi could see us now,’ she muttered and he winced. What a thing to think.

They’d come straight from the cow yard. They’d been filthy to begin with and Letty’s blood had added a layer that was truly appalling.

‘I think the chances of me being recognised are about zip,’ he said. ‘We’re safe.’

‘We are,’ she whispered. ‘Thanks to you. How did you ever get up on that roof?’

‘I have skills you can’t even begin to imagine,’ he said, trying to make her smile.

‘Can you fix Santa when we get home?’

‘What?’ He looked at her and discovered she was smiling-she was joking. She was still shaking but there was no way she was sinking into self-pity.

‘I have a better idea,’ he said unsteadily. ‘Let’s toss a grenade into the fireplace and blast him right out of there. All I’ve seen so far have been legs. A life without a head can’t be all that satisfying. Let’s put him out of his misery.’

She choked on something that could be a bubble of laughter or it could be tears, he couldn’t decide which, and he hugged her closer and he simply held.

Eventually, the tremors stopped. He didn’t let her go, though. It felt okay to sit here and hold her-as if he had the right.

Did he want the right?

What sort of dumb thing was that to think? The shock of the morning must be getting to him.

She felt right, he thought. Holding her felt right.

But then a nurse came through the door and said, ‘Miss Jardine?’ and he was no longer holding her. His side felt cold without her there.

‘Yes?’ Meg was still frightened, he thought. She’d risen to face the nurse as if she was bracing for the worst.

She’d seen the worst, he thought. She’d have been here when her mother and stepfather were killed; when Scotty had been so appallingly injured.

She knew what happened when you let people get close.

He rose and stood beside her, and held her as the nurse approached.

But it was okay. ‘Your brother’s on the phone,’ the nurse said. He watched as she took a deep steadying breath and nodded and moved away from the support of his arm and walked across to the nurses’ station to take the call.

He watched her as she spoke. She seemed totally unconscious of how she looked. How many women did he know who could be so unaware of what they were wearing? His comment about her clothes had made her smile but she certainly wasn’t thinking about them.

He watched her talk; he watched her as she replaced the receiver. He watched the quiet dignity as she thanked the nurse. He watched her walk back to him and he thought, she’s a woman in a million. A woman to change your life plans for?

How crazy a thought was that?

‘Our phone’s back on,’ she told him. ‘It came back on just after we left. The line must be mended. Mickey’s mum and dad are both there now and Jenny’s stuffing our turkey and making brandy sauce. Millicent’s calving hasn’t progressed any further-Ian thinks the calf’s a while off. The boys are playing with the cars. Jenny’s called in the neighbours and three men are up on the roof putting tarpaulins over the capping in case there’s rain before we can get a builder in. Oh, and they’ve fixed Santa Claus.’

‘They’ve fixed…’