‘There are.’ Jessie’s face set. ‘But the nurses haven’t the training to give anaesthetic. And the doctor won’t.’

‘“Won’t”?’

Niall echoed the word blankly and it hung between them in the soft morning sunshine. A question…

‘“Won’t”,’ Jessie repeated. She held out her hand in silent demand. ‘Please…Could you pass me my bag?’

Niall Mountmarche ignored her. ‘What do you mean, “won’t”?’

Jess sighed. ‘The island’s two trained doctors-a husband-and-wife team-are away for twelve months doing further training on the mainland. The locum replacing them had to leave because of family problems and the present locum-well, Lionel Hurd won’t touch animals. He says it’s not in his contract and he’s right.’ She sighed again. ‘I can’t force him.’

‘So Harry dies.’

‘So Harry dies,’ Jess said sadly. She looked up at Niall then and met those dark, angry, eyes full-on. ‘Unless you have any other suggestions, Mr Mountmarche?’

There was a long, long silence.

‘Hand me my bag,’ Jess said finally again into the stillness-but Niall Mountmarche shook his head.

He touched the injured dog’s leg once more and gentle fingers carefully probed the rotten flesh. His touch was so gentle that the dog didn’t so much as flinch.

Finally Niall nodded, as if coming to a hard decision.

‘I do have an alternative suggestion,’ he told Jess, his voice firming as he spoke.

‘Which is?’ Jessie sounded sceptical, she knew. Her voice was flat and hopeless-but she loved this dog.

‘I’ll give the anaesthetic.’

‘You!’

He shrugged. ‘I can do it.’

‘But how…?’ Jess looked down at those long, sensitive fingers, skilfully and gently examining the wound. ‘You’re not…’

‘A vet? No.’ He shook his head. ‘I’m not. So you’re going to have to talk me through it, Dr Harvey. But I do have medical skills. I’m a doctor.’

CHAPTER TWO