Escape to the Country Read Online Free PDF Page A

just over a
mile each way by footpath, more than a six mile round trip by car.
Shame the shops hadn't been that far away when she'd quit smoking.
Despite ready access to cigarettes then she'd found the willpower to
stop; she'd find the strength to get through her current difficulties
and make a fresh start.
    Although Tarragon didn't pull, holding his lead was making her tired
arms ache. Even switching from hand to hand didn't help much. Once on
open grassland, Leah unclipped his lead. He bounded off, his grey
speckled ears flapping up and down with each long stride. He
repeatedly came rushing back to her side before setting off somewhere
else. She laughed at his eagerness to go about the important doggy
business of sniffing and exploring combined with his eagerness to
bound back towards her, wanting only an affectionate greeting and rub
of his silky head. Such a change from big business and people only
interested in money.
    She shook her head to dislodge her negative thoughts. Her fresh start
would include Adam. Could it take place in the countryside? They'd be
free of the vicious circle of needing more and more money to pay for
things that didn't make her happy. Clothes for work functions she
didn't want to attend, Blackberries and notebooks to stay in touch
with people she didn't like.
    Leah couldn't see Tarragon. She yelled his name. Moments later, he
was careening down the bank towards her. He managed to slow up just
enough that he didn't quite knock her down as he skidded up against
her borrowed wellington boots.
    "Good boy!" She gave him a meaty chew as a reward for
returning so promptly.
    Leah reached into her pocket to check her phone. There was no point;
if it had rung she'd have heard it. Anyway it wasn't like Adam to
apologise, even when he knew he was in the wrong and this time it
seemed he wanted to put all the blame on her.
    She looked up to see Tarragon hauling himself over a wooden style and
lollop off at speed towards a herd of cows. They were black and
white; great rangy things, not cute Jersey's like Jayne's house cows
Rosemary and her daughter Rosepetal. Leah, worried the dog might
chase them or get chased himself, called to him. He seemed not to
hear.
    Leah clambered over the style and followed, shouting the dog's name.
He stopped, turned and bounded back to her. When he reached her side,
he trotted along quietly, occasionally sniffing her pocket.
Eventually she took the hint and remembered the treats.
    "OK, boy, you can have one."
    He unrolled his tongue and used it to gently take the snack from her
hand.
    "Do anything for those, won't you? Sit!"
    Tarragon obediently sat and received a reward.
    "Lie down."
    He did and was fed again.
    They'd attracted an interested crowd. Huge, hairy black and white
bodies surrounded them. What were they doing out? She was sure most
people kept their cows in over the winter. Several cows had their
heads lowered as though to charge. Others sniffed and slobbered at
Leah and Tarragon. They must have seen her feeding him and wanted the
same.
    "Shoo, go away. I've got nothing to give you." She flapped
her arm. The cows made no move to retreat. "Come on, Tarragon,
we'd better make a run for it!"
    Leah ran as fast as she could, not daring to look back to see whether
the dog or the herd of hungry cows were following.
    Leah's borrowed boots and the uneven ground made progress difficult.
The rowing machine and stepper down the gym were no preparation for
running, terrified, down a steep slope. She'd have to slow down or
she'd fall and the cows would trample her. The sight of Tarragon's
flapping ears cheered her a little, at least he was safe. After a few
more strides she realised the cows, who would be used to moving over
uneven grassy surfaces and so could presumably move at least as fast
as she, had not butted her or knocked her over. Perhaps after all,
they didn't intend any harm.
    She looked back to see the cows milling about near where she'd run
from. Several had moved a short