‘Dr Harvey’s a dog doctor.’

The little girl looked down at Harry and her hand went out in involuntary compassion.

‘He’s…The doggie’s hurting.’

‘Yes, Paige,’ Niall told her, still in that low, gentle tone, as if expecting the child to turn and run. ‘He’s hurting badly. You can see that.’

‘And…and you can help the lady doctor make the dog better.’

‘You know I’m a doctor, too, Paige,’ Niall said gently. ‘It’s my job. If you agree.’

The child touched the dog’s soft ears.

‘He really could die?’

‘He really could die.’

The little girl sighed-the sigh of someone letting something precious go out of sight and not knowing if she’d ever see it again-but willing to take the risk. For something as priceless as the life of this dog.

‘You’ll be longer than when you go to the shops?’

‘Much longer, Paige. But Hugo will still be here.’

‘OK,’ Paige whispered. ‘But…But hurry back…’

The drive to the clinic was in near-silence. Jessie sat on the passenger side of Niall Mountmarche’s gleaming Range Rover with the dog cradled against her and let a thousand questions crowd through her mind as Niall drove.

There were answers to none of them.

The dog whimpered and stirred in her arms and Jessie’s hold on him tightened.

‘Soon,’ she whispered to the big collie.

It couldn’t be soon enough for Harry.

They operated on Harry fifteen minutes later.

‘Instructions, please,’ Niall said briefly as they carried the dog into Theatre.

Niall listened with care as Jess outlined the anaesthetic procedure. It wasn’t so different from human intubation. Niall flung fast questions at her and Jess began to relax as she responded. She not only had a skilled doctor here. In Niall Mountmarche, Jess had found someone who was prepared to learn and learn fast.

There was minimal delay.

As soon as the anaesthetic took effect the dreadful trap was removed, allowing Jessie to see what she was facing.