Dream Valley (23 page)
Authors: Paddy Cummins
The blue sky was fading into grey, the birds were singing
their final chorus, the trees were casting long shadows, the orange sun was setting. It was evening in late August. Jenny saw that the long hot days of summer were over for another year.
As she strolled around the pathway at the rear of the house, she was re-living the past year, one more time. It didn't hurt as much now. The heartbreak and anguish of it had eased a little with each re-living. The perspective of it all had broadened a bit too. She could see it a little
clearer now, understand it, accept it, survive it.
It was Ken who made that possible. If she lived to be a hundred, she would never be able to repay him. He had been a real savour, her
Guardian Angel.
That sad evening in the little graveyard in Glengriffen, when they laid Garry to rest, he showed his true colours. Having poured out her anguished soul and could cry no more, he took her in his arms.
'Come home now, Love ... I'll look after you.'
She knew from the previous week - he knew too. He also knew that the little heartbeat inside her wasn't of his creation. It was as if he
expected it to happen, conditioned himself to accept it when it did.
Four months on, he seems happy and contented, admiring her grow and develop into motherhood. Soon he will be a dad. He is looking forward eagerly to that, doesn't want to talk about how it came about.
She strolled up the field towards the little stable complex, which she had designed, and he had insisted on getting built, shortly after the sad events in April. It blended in nicely with the surroundings, just as she
thought it would.
'Harmonica' was grazing peacefully in the lush pasture. They touched, lovingly acknowledging each other's presence. Next spring hopefully, she will be pregnant too. Jenny could envisage her dream coming true. She
longed for the day when she could lean over the rustic fence, introduce her baby to 'Harmonica's little foal, helping to form that deep, intangible bond that would enrich a young soul and remain for a lifetime.
Jenny was glad that Garry's mother had now recovered sufficiently to write to her, inviting Ken and herself down to Glengriffen. It was nice to hear from her and get a little news.
'The stable had been sold - an English couple starting a
riding school. Some of the horses had gone home to their owners, some to other trainers. Emily was kept on by the new owners, little Johnny had to find another job. There was much more to tell - when she comes down, she can have it
all.'
Another reason why Garry's mother invited her down was to thank her from her heart for sending down that picture. It was so big and beautiful. It now has pride of place in the bar, hanging opposite the other big
one of Garry. Jenny couldn't wait to see it.
She was glad Ken had agreed to come too. It would close that chapter on a segment of her life that was weird and wonderful. Not a minute of it did she regret. Garry wouldn't want that. He had thought her the real
meaning of the word 'positive.'
She was now about to fulfil the appointment which Garry had made with his mother that night after their big win in Gowran, when he promised to visit home and bring the jockey with him.
He, sadly, wouldn't be with her now, but he would know, and be happy, that part of him would.
A thought she cherished too.
* * *
Copyright 2013 Paddy Cummins
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher. It may not be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent
purchaser.
All characters in this publication are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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The equine bloodlines developed by Janet Johnson at Green
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