Authors: Cressida McLaughlin

Wellies and Westies (13 page)

From the park, Cat could see Captain and his perky-eared Papillion, Paris, on the veranda of the Pavilion café, talking to the owner George. And she could see Joe through the glass, helping to clear up after the Pooches and Puppies Picnic. Cat really had to thank him for all he’d done. She’d found herself doing that quite a bit lately, and was starting to think she would have to change her opinion of him as a grumpy sod. She let Chips go ahead of her, but a dog started barking behind them and, intrigued, Chips changed course.

‘Chips,’ Cat called, ‘Come on, let’s go inside.’ But the Border Collie was intent on following the barking.

A small, sandy-haired dog was haring across the grass towards Chips, running as fast as its tiny legs could carry it. At the last minute it jumped, its floppy ears flying, and came to an untidy halt next to the Collie.

It continued to make a high, squeaking noise like a broken bicycle horn, and turned around and around in small circles.

Cat approached the puppy, cautiously at first and then, when it seemed intent on making itself dizzy, she pulled it into her arms, lifted it up and stroked its head, calming it. It was a Cocker Spaniel, and Cat thought it could only be about six months old. She turned its red collar around and found a heart-shaped name tag.
Olaf
, it said, followed by a phone number.

Cat scanned the park. It was busy, the grass dotted with groups kicking footballs and having picnics, but Cat could see none that looked frantic, as if they’d lost someone important. Olaf. That name was familiar, and not just because it belonged to a snowman she’d heard about non-stop at the nursery. The nursery – that was it! She remembered Alison telling little Emma to say goodbye to her dog; the little girl fighting back tears.

‘Where’s Emma?’ she asked Olaf, who was shivering, depleted of exertion and confidence. ‘Where’s your family?’

‘I think you might be looking for these two?’ It was Joe, ushering a couple of young girls towards her.

‘Olaf!’ the older one squealed. They were both crying loud, unstoppable tears, and looked ragged despite their bright sundresses and sandals.

‘Is he yours?’ Cat held the puppy out to the older girl. She recognized four-year-old Emma, and there was something familiar about her sister too, despite her being too old to attend nursery. ‘Hey,’ she said gently, ‘there’s no need to cry. He’s had an adventure and now he’s tired, but he’s fine.’

‘And you did well to keep up with him,’ Joe added. ‘I saw how fast he was going. Maybe you two need to think about careers in athletics.’

The older girl started to sniff loudly, restraining her tears, reaching out to stroke her pet. Cat thought she was probably about ten or eleven, skinny, with long, flyaway mousy hair and freckles. Emma was still sobbing, one hand gripped around her older sister’s wrist.

‘You’re Emma, aren’t you?’ Cat asked.

The little girl nodded through her tears.

‘I’m Cat, from the nursery. Do you remember me?’

Again she nodded, then gulped and wiped her eyes with her hands. ‘Alison made you leave because you were too funny.’

Cat tried to hide her grin, which wasn’t easy when Joe was rolling his eyes.

‘Alison and I weren’t always best friends, Emma, but I loved all of you, and I miss you.’

‘We miss you too,’ Emma said. ‘And your puppy.’

‘But you’ve got one of your own. Olaf. Is this your sister?’

The older girl gave her a small smile. ‘I’m Lizzie. I’m ten.’

‘Nice to meet you Lizzie. I’m Cat, and this is Joe. Were you bringing Olaf to the park?’

They both nodded, Lizzie’s eyes cast down to the ground. ‘Mum said could we take him out, because she’s busy with Henry. That’s our brother.’

‘He’s only ten months,’ Emma added, ‘and a handful.’

‘Ssshhh,’ hissed Lizzie. ‘Mum said not to say.’

‘Your mum told you not to say anything?’

‘About how stressed she is,’ Lizzie blurted, then clapped both hands over her mouth. Cat could see her eyes fill up with tears again.

’That’s OK,’ Cat said reassuringly. ‘I won’t say anything. Do you want me to come with you and explain about Olaf to your mum?’

Lizzie shook her head. ‘No, it’s OK. We can take him back. Mum doesn’t need to know he got off the lead.’

‘You
took
him off!’ Emma squealed.

‘I really don’t mind,’ Cat said. ‘Our event’s done now, and I’d like to say hello to your mum again. Do you live close by?’

‘Number twelve Primrose Terrace.’ Emma said proudly.

‘Of course!’ Cat said. That’s where she remembered the older girl from – she’d passed them in the street on more than one occasion.

‘What?’ Lizzie said, her slender browns frowning.

‘I live on Primrose Terrace too. Oh this is perfect. I’ll just go and get Chips, and we’ll all walk back together.’

‘Of course,’ Joe said brightly. ‘We can’t get away with not knowing about one of our neighbours, can we?’

Cat shot him a sideways glance, handed Olaf back to Lizzie, and went in search of Polly and Chips.

Click here to pre-order now 978-0-00-813521-8

And let the fun continue…keep an eye out for further adventures from the people and pooches of Primrose Terrace, coming soon!

It’s autumn and Primrose Terrace has never looked lovelier. But things are far from rosy for the Barkers at No.8. Cat’s been walking their pair of gorgeous golden retrievers and she’s noticed that things are distinctly chilly between owners Juliette and Will. For Cat, things are coming to a head with Mark, but is he the right man for her? Especially as she is getting closer to flatmate Joe. Cat thinks she must be able to do something to stop autumn falling on the Barkers’ marriage, but is there anything she can do to resolve her feelings about Mark?

Raincoats and Retrievers
is the third part of a serialized novel told in four parts – all set in Primrose Terrace.

Click here to pre-order now 978-0-00-813522-5

Christmas is coming to Primrose Terrace, Pooch Promenade is doing brilliantly and Cat has made lots of new friends in the street, both dogs and their owners. Life seems good. Things start to go badly when Cat learns something about Mark that she wishes she hadn’t. Then, when one of Ellen’s lovable schnauzers, Chalky, gets ill, it looks like this Christmas could be turning into a dog’s dinner. But Cat has never given up on anything in her life – and this is one Christmas that’s definitely worth saving…

Tinsel and Terriers
is the fourth and final part of a serialized novel told in four parts – all set in Primrose Terrace.

Click here to pre-order now 978-0-00-813523-2

And the full Primrose Terrace story – A CHRISTMAS TAIL, complete with adorable Westies, Spaniels, Retrievers and festive Terriers – is available to pre-order now!

*A Christmas Tail was first published as a four-part serial set in Primrose Terrace*

Click here to buy 978-0-00-813602-4

About the Author

Cressy was born in South East London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. She studied English at the University of East Anglia and now lives in Norwich with her husband David.

Cressy’s favourite things include terrifying ghost stories, lava lamps and romantic heroes, though not necessarily at the same time. She doesn’t (yet) have a dog of her own, but feeds her love vicariously through friends’ pets, and was once chased around a field by a soaking wet, very mischievous Border Collie called Wags.

When she isn’t writing, Cressy spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.

About the Publisher

Australia

HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

http://www.harpercollins.com.au

Canada

HarperCollins Canada

2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor

Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada

http://www.harpercollins.ca