Rejection Runs Deep (The Canleigh Series, book 1: A chilling psychological family drama), Carole Williams [ebook reader 8 inch .TXT] 📗

missed him so much and knew just how Philip felt.  Without thinking she nestled closer to him so that their heads were touching.  He put his arm around her and drew her close.

“Thank you so much, Ruth.  You’ve been absolutely wonderful,” he murmured.  His eyes closed and his breathing deepened.  Within minutes he was fast asleep.

*   *   *

In their mutual grief, Ruth and Philip leant on each heavily over the coming months.  Having drifted into the routine of being at Tangles every afternoon, Ruth found it difficult to keep away so she popped in frequently to make sure Philip had a decent meal on the table most nights during the week.  She liked to cook and didn’t get the opportunity at Canleigh so found real pleasure in baking bread and searching out vegetarian recipes other than nut roast as being a devoted animal lover, Philip had given up on meat many years ago.  As Vicky had given Ruth a number of lectures regarding the appalling cruelty animals suffered in the abattoirs in order for humans to eat their flesh, Ruth decided it was time to give vegetarianism her full attention.  Discovering she had a real liking for many of the dishes, meat became something of a rarity at Canleigh too.

Ruth often took Stephen over to Tangles.  Philip found pleasure in his company, it being a matter of deep regret that he and Sue hadn’t managed to have children.  He offered to teach Stephen to ride, having a couple of sturdy Shetland ponies in his stables for the tiny children’s first lessons and Stephen took to it like a duck to water, grinning from ear to ear as he trotted around the indoor ring on a beautiful little chestnut pony called Dusty.

There were no horses in the stables at Canleigh any longer.  Perkins had long since retired so there was no-one to look after them anyway.  Charles had given Star and Dolly, who had belonged to Delia and Richard when they were young, to Philip.  Both ponies were getting on in years but were useful for the more nervous riders who frequented Philip’s stables.  Samson and Delilah, the tiny Shetlands Richard and Delia had learnt to ride on, had been put down once the real sufferings of old age had set in and their quality of life became impaired.  Demon resided permanently at Tangles as Philip was the only person who could handle him.  The horse was still exceedingly temperamental and hard to handle and Ruth made sure she kept well out of the way of his stable if he was in and didn’t go anywhere near his field if he was turned out.

It was strange to think that after two hundred years or more of the Canleigh stables being crammed with horses, they were now empty … and there was no longer any need for a chauffeur either.  Ruth had dispensed with the Rolls, feeling it was too grand and cumbersome, and as her little Fiat was a bit small if she wanted a day out with Stephen and Tina, she sold that too and bought a nice Audi estate car, which fitted the bill nicely.

Although she did love Philip’s Volvo.   He tried hard to keep it clean and tidy inside but invariably it smelt of dogs and horses, which she didn’t mind it at all.  It was synonymous with him.  It was all he was about.  Animals and the countryside.   Honest and reliable.  A solid man.  A rock … not unlike Charles but younger and with masses of energy.  Charles, before that awful heart attack, had been active with his walking and swimming but Philip was something else.  He rode for hours every day, accompanying pupils on long hacks or teaching in the arena.  He never seemed to stop, up early and even after returning home to Tangles for an evening meal, would go out again until it was dusk.  Ruth understood his need to be out of the house.  She had felt the same when Charles died.  It was all part of the grieving process.

But they had come through it, together, spending more and more time in each other’s company, leaning on each other for support and comfort, each knowing how the other felt.  Their deep friendship grew gradually until they knew they loved each other.  It wasn’t anything like a lightning bolt from heaven, but a gradual process of mutual understanding and contentment together.  It was a love that would last and they were both happier than they had been for a very long time.  Charles and Sue would never be forgotten but they were in the past and there was still a future to be lived.

“Are we nearly there, Mummy?” came a weary little voice from the rear of the car.

“Yes, darling.  We won’t be long,” replied Ruth, smiling at Stephen, who had woken with a jolt, as Philip had to put on the brakes sharply because of a cat charging across the road in front of them.  They were out of Leeds now, heading up the Harrogate road towards Canleigh and it would only be minutes before they were home.

“Well, Prudence won’t need to worry about producing much food this evening.  I think we are all full after our afternoon out.” Ruth grinned.

“I love Pru,” Stephen said loudly.  “She promised strawberry ice cream when we get home.”

“Oh, did she?” smiled Ruth.  “I think you’ve probably had enough to eat for a little while, young man.”

“She was a brilliant find,” remarked Philip.  “Much better than that poncy French chef you hired.”

Ruth laughed.  She had to agree.  Two years ago, the cook who had worked at Canleigh for nearly as long as the Hardy’s, retired and on a recommendation from Louis, the estate manager, Ruth hired Francoise, who was Louis’ cousin and a fully qualified chef, desperate to gain experience working in the United Kingdom.  However, Ruth had never really taken to