This wasn’t what Lainey wanted to hear. It had come up on the survey, but no house this old was in perfect condition, so she’d kind of ignored it. “I suppose you’re really glad you didn’t buy it now, with all the work that needs doing.”
Jake shook his head. “More than happy to buy it off you whenever you realise it’s a mammoth job.”
“You’ll be six feet under before I give this place up.”
He had the audacity to laugh. “In twelve hours, you’ve wrecked a tyre and locked yourself out. Good luck with the rest of today. And don’t forget your eggs.” He walked off, back through the gate, leaving Lainey standing there with her sister, wondering just how much else she could fuck up today.
“Would you like to meet Tommy?”Lainey’s tone was measured, soft and steady as she spoke to the teenaged girl that had been brought to the farm by her consultant, a psychiatrist whose small caseload warranted only the most complex of patients.
Caroline had PTSD following a traumatic time as a younger child. She was now in a small school, one that specifically catered for girls who needed additional mental health support, and she was living with a foster carer in a single person setting. She was just at the point where therapy was a possibility after two years of pre-therapeutic work.
Mouse-brown hair fell around her jawline as she nodded, the hair recently grown to that length after she’d stopped cutting it herself. “Is he friendly?”
“The friendliest.” Lainey led the way to the field where Tommy was, his head already over the fence, curious about who was coming this way. He’d been Lainey’s horse for the last five years and she’d trained him herself, for pleasure rather than work at first, then she’d realised his temperament was ideal for working with people with trauma. He read her moods, not needing instruction, his instincts were that good. Based on what Lainey had read about Caroline, she knew that Tommy would be the perfect match.
She showed Caroline how to greet him, talking her through their introduction then stepped back, allowing her to get to know the horse.
“This looks like a good set up. Have you thought about how far your developments will go?” Nathan McDermott was too high up to use the title of doctor anymore. He was a consultant, had written textbooks and journals on therapeutic techniques and had been Lainey’s tutor for her doctorate.
This was a big deal. He was a big deal.
And she knew exactly what he was discussing.
“Residential?”
He nodded. “An in-patient facility. You have the space and the land for three or four patients. Severton is a long commute for someone who doesn’t live on its doorstep and although you’re going to get plenty of referrals from people who live in Manchester and Leeds, as well as the Peak District, expanding it to a rehabilitation unit would possibly be a good move, if you can get your infrastructure right.”
She nodded. It was something she’d thought of already. The property she was going to use as a holiday let could be used for just what Nathan was describing, and there was a second cottage, in need of more repair, that could be used for the same thing. “In time. I need to set up properly with the current plans, then look at what investment I’d need for something like that. It would be a big plan.”
“It would.”
Caroline turned back round to them, smiling for the first time since she’d arrived on the farm.
“Will you teach me to ride him?”
Lainey nodded. “And how to look after him. Your first visit’s next week. I’ll show you how to groom him too. Tommy likes that.”
There was another smile. “I can’t wait. I’ve never ridden a horse before. I know I might fall off but,” she shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if I hurt a bit.”
Because Caroline had already hurt so much.
They walked back from the fields towards the farmhouse, the air starting to freeze. “Do you want a cup of tea before you leave?” Lainey wasn’t overly keen on anyone seeing the kitchen yet, given it was still upside down from this morning, but they all needed warming up.
Nathan nodded. “A quick one. Caroline’s being collected from us at three.”
And Lainey had two more horses arriving at four. The day had sped by, which had been a good thing as it meant she’d had no time to think about Jake Maynard.
She opened the door to the kitchen, letting Nathan and Caroline in first, pausing outside to look at the peaks in the distance, clouds surrounding their tops.
Then there was a giggle, girlish and surprised, followed by a louder laugh.
“Lainey! Is this an alpaca?” Nathan asked.
Lainey shot through the door, peaks be damned. Holy fuck, an alpaca stood in the middle of her kitchen, its large eyes gazing at her guests.
“I believe this belongs to my neighbour.” Who she was going to kill. Kill then feed his remains to the pigs, so that no evidence remained. No, she’d torture him first, tie him to a chair and make him watch as she cooked and ate whatever his favourite food was…
“Lainey, is there any food for him?”
