Shepherd had been part of Leona's life from the moment of her birth. Mum would tell her the story over and over again. “You decided one day that you couldn't wait any longer. Dad was at the creamery, and by the time Mrs Callinan got here from the village you were nearly born, and Shepherd stood guard in the doorway of my bedroom, waiting for you. He didn't bark, even when I screamed. He knew just to be still and to wait.” Shepherd often listened to the story, too, looking from Mum's face to Leona's face, as though he might at any moment nod his head and say, “Yes. That was the best day of my life.”
It was a cold day, not far from Christmas. The valley stretched still and…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 2023