Follow My Lead Episode 14
The four dogs were off the lead, sometimes running on ahead only to come racing back, ears flying and tongues lolling.
Normally Danielle would find their antics comical, but worry was pressing on her.
Three cancellations in as many days. After all her hard work, could it really be coming undone?
The woods were used by lots of people for a variety of pursuits, and on any given day walkers vied for space with joggers, off-road bikes or even horses.
“Here, Buster,” she called, recognising two women coming towards her along the path.
She knew one of them was quite wary of dogs.
“Good boy,” she praised him as he returned to her.
Buster was the one she had to keep the closest eye on. He was the one most likely to race off or to offer an exuberant greeting to anyone he met.
But he was well trained, too, and invariably came when she called.
She stepped off the path and held the dogs close as the women approached.
“Thank you,” they acknowledged.
“You’re welcome,” she said, then she decided to follow Lydia’s example.
“It’s a lovely day for a walk, isn’t it?” she added.
“It is.” They turned with a smile. “You can see for miles from the hill today.”
Danielle felt pleased with herself. It was a start.
She was still smiling when a black and grey mongrel came out of nowhere, barking and snapping at her group.
“Steady now, boys,” she said, scanning the path.
Where was the dog’s owner?
Before she could do a thing about it, a white flash took off from her side, racing away through the ferns and bracken.
“Ollie, no! Here, Ollie!”
Ollie was the newest of her charges, a nervy little thing who was still getting used to being walked in a group like this.
It was the first time she’d let him off the lead.
The grey mongrel had vanished as fast as he’d appeared, but the damage was done.
“Here, Ollie!”
She kept calling while she clipped the leads on the other three, her eyes straining for a glimpse of white fur amidst the trees.
She listened. Nothing.
What should she do? She tried to calm her thoughts.
For a start, she would take the remaining three dogs back to the van.
She studied the trees. Would she find this spot again?
She dipped into her jeans pocket and found a red hair scrunchie, which she tied on a skinny branch.
Settling the dogs in the van, with promises to be back soon, she returned to where she’d last seen Ollie.
“Come on, Ollie. Here, boy,” she pleaded.
She waited. Still no sign.
Help was needed.
She dashed out some texts to the dog-walking group she was part of:
Dog gone AWOL. Anyone free to help?
A flurry of exchanges assured her that everyone would keep an eye out.
Then came the call she was dreading: to Ollie’s owners.
They weren’t happy.
“I’m really sorry. I’ll stay here and keep looking.”
“We placed our trust in you, Danielle.” The tone was decidedly frosty. “Let us know as soon as you find him, will you?”
Ollie had ID tags on his collar, one with his name and phone number, and one with hers. Surely someone would find him and call?
Time passed, yet still there was no sign of him.
She took out her phone again.
“Stu? I’m sorry to bother you, but are you busy?”
“What’s the problem?”
He came straight over and met her by her van.
She told him in more detail what had happened.
“I need to take these three home. Could you wait here for me? Ollie knows this is where we park, so he might come back here.”
“No worries. Take your time and drive safely. I bet we’ll both be sitting here waiting when you get back.”
Stu’s calm reassurance was like a soothing balm.
She delivered her three charges, and was back at the car park in barely 45 minutes.
As she drew up she was full of hope, but Stu shook his head.
“He’ll be chasing rabbits,” he assured her. “He’ll turn up.”
It was easy for him to say, but Ollie wasn’t that kind of dog.
They called and walked back into the woods at regular intervals. Between times, they sat in the van.
The funny thing was, in spite of the worry, it was nice sitting there with Stu.
He chatted away, telling her funny stories about his clients, and she was grateful for his attempts to distract her.
“This has never happened to me before,” she fretted. “And it’s the last thing I need right now.”
Not with a rival business nipping at her heels.
He shrugged.
“It could just as easily have happened when he was with his owners. You’ve done everything right since he ran off.” He gave her a hug. “He’ll come back.”
They were outside, leaning against the van after another foray into the woods, when Danielle saw a glimmer of white.
She caught her breath. Please let it be Ollie.
Then there he was, trotting from the undergrowth, tail wagging, completely unscathed.
“Look at him!” Stu laughed. “Happy as Larry, isn’t he?”
“Am I glad to see you!” she cried, clipping on his lead. “Where have you been, you little devil?”
Once he was safely inside the van, she gave vent to a huge sigh of relief.
“Oh, thank goodness!”
“I told you he’d turn up!” Stu spoke at the same time.
Laughing, it felt completely natural when they hugged again.
“Now,” she began, drawing away with a feeling of dread, “I just have to face his owners.”