Mrs. Allen! shouted Matthew. Who gave you permission to keep a wolf in the village?
Eleanor Allen burst into bitter tears when she saw her broken fence. She had already propped it up with planks and mended the rotten posts several times, hoping the barrier would last until she could save enough from her small pension. But it was hopelessthe fence had finally collapsed.
For ten years, Eleanor had managed the small cottage alone, ever since her beloved husband, Peter Allen, had passed away. He had hands of gold. While he was alive, Eleanor never worried. Peter was a skilled carpenterthere was nothing he couldnt do, and theyd never needed to hire anyone. Villagers respected him for his kindness and hard work. Together, theyd shared forty years of happiness, missing their ruby anniversary by just one day. The tidy house, the abundant vegetable patch, the healthy livestockall were thanks to their joint effort.
The couple had one son, Jamestheir joy and pride. From childhood, James learnt the value of work and was never coaxed into helping. If his mother returned weary from the farm, shed find the firewood chopped, water fetched, the range set, and the animals fed.
Peter would come home, wash up, and step outside with his pipe as Eleanor prepared supper. In the evenings, they gathered around the table to share their days stories. They were content.
Time, as ever, marched on, leaving only memories behind. James grew up, left home, and went to London to study and settled there after marrying a city girl named Grace. At first, James would come back on family holidays, but soon his wife persuaded him to take trips abroad instead each year. Peter found it hard to understand his son’s choices.
Whys our Jamie always so tired? Its Grace, turning his head with all these holidays. Whats wrong with a good rest at home?
The parents missed their son, but what could they do? They carried on, hoping for a letter or a call. Then one spring, Peter fell ill. He refused food, weakened daily. The doctors prescribed pills but eventually sent him home, saying there was nothing more to be done. As the bluebells bloomed and the birds returned, Peter gently slipped away.
James came for the funeral, sobbing bitterly for not making it home in time. He spent a week in his childhood home, then went back to the city. In ten years, he wrote his mother only three times. Eleanor was left alone. She sold the cow and sheep to a neighbourno need for livestock now. The old cow lingered outside the gate long after, listening to Eleanors weeping. The old woman locked herself away and wept.
Without Peter, everything deteriorated: the roof leaked, the porch steps gave way, the pantry flooded. But Eleanor, whod grown up in the countryside, did what she could, sometimes putting aside a few pounds from her pension to pay a handyman. Other times, she managed alone, scraping by each month.
Then, misfortune struck again. Her eyesight began to fail, though shed never had trouble before. One afternoon at the village shop, she could hardly make out the prices on the shelf labels. In a few months, she could barely read the shop sign.
The district nurse visited and insisted she be checked at the hospital. Mrs. Allen, do you want to go blind? They can fix it with an operation!
But the idea of surgery frightened her, and she refused. Within a year she had all but lost her sight. It didnt seem to trouble Eleanor seriously.
What would I do with sight anyway? I dont watch the telly, just listen to the news. And I know my house by heart.
Still, sometimes she worried. The village saw more and more unsavoury strangers, and abandoned homes were often broken into. Eleanor wished she had a decent dog to bark at unwanted visitors.
She asked Simon, the village gamekeeper, “Know where I might find a sheepdog pup? Even a small oneIll raise it myself.
Simon gave her a curious look: Mrs. Allen, what do you need with a sheepdog? I can bring you a pedigree collie from town.
That sort must cost a fortune.
Not as dear as you think, Mrs. Allen.
Well then, bring one for me.
Eleanor counted her savings, just enough for a good dog, she thought. But Simon, a rather unreliable sort, kept delaying. She scolded him but pitied him, tooSimon was alone, with no family, and drink was his only friend.
Simon, now the same age as her James, had never left the village. City life was no good for him. He hunted in the woods for days on end, and during the off-season, he did odd jobs for the old ladies, mending, digging, or fixing whatever he could, then spent it all at the pub.
After a drinking spree, hed disappear into the woodsill and ashamed. Soon enough, hed return with baskets of mushrooms, berries, or fish, sell them for pennies, and squander the proceeds again. Simon helped Eleanor, but for his services he insisted on payment. When her fence fell, she was forced to call him again.
Looks like the dogll have to wait, sighed Eleanor. Ill need to pay Simon for the fence, and Im low on money.
Simon arrived, not empty-handed. In his rucksack, besides his tools, something was moving. He beckoned Eleanor close. Look who Ive brought you! He opened the rucksack.
She reached inside and found a fluffy pup. Simon, have you truly brought me a puppy?
The best of the best! First-rate breed, Mrs. Allen! The little dog struggled to get out.
But I havent the money! Only enough to pay for the fence!
Cant send him back, can I? Simon protested. Do you know how many pounds I paid for this dog?
What could she do? She hurried to the shop, where the shopkeeper gave her five bottles on tick, scribbling her name in the account book.
That evening, Simon finished the fence. Eleanor prepared him a hot meal and poured a dram of whisky. The cheerful drunk advised, glancing at the pup curled by the stove, Feed him twice a day. Buy a proper chainhell be big and strong. I know dogs.
So, a new tenantRovercame to Eleanors cottage. She adored him, and he responded with nothing but loyalty; every time she stepped outside, hed leap and wag, longing to greet her. One thing troubled her: Rover grew to the size of a calf, but never once barked.
Oh, Simon! You rascal. Youve sold me a useless dog, Eleanor would say.
But she couldnt throw out such a gentle creature. Besides, he didnt need to bark. The neighbours dogs didnt even challenge himby the time three months passed, Rover reached to Eleanors waist.
One day, Matthew, another local huntsman, came to the village to pick up some supplies for the winter shooting season. Passing Eleanors gate, he stopped dead, gazing at the massive dog.
Mrs. Allen! he shouted. Who gave you permission to keep a wolf in the village?
Eleanor clutched her chest in horror. My goodness! How foolish I am! That rascal Simon tricked me! He swore it was a pedigree collie
Matthew gravely warned, Mrs. Allen, he must be set free in the woods. Otherwise, someone could get hurt.
Eleanors eyes filled with tears. It pained her to let Rover gohe was gentle and loving, even if he was a wolf. Yet hed become restless lately, tugging his chain and longing for freedom. The other villagers eyed him with distrust. She had no choice.
Matthew took the wolf deep into the woods. Rover wagged his tail, vanished among the trees, and was never seen again.
Eleanor missed her beloved companion and cursed Simon, though Simon, in his own way, regretted it too. He had meant well. Once, wandering the forest, hed found bear tracks nearby, heard the squeal of a pup. Simon guessed a bear had attacked a wolfs denaround a dead she-wolf lay mauled cubs, but one had hidden in the burrow and survived. Taking pity on the orphan, he brought it home, planning only to leave it with Eleanor until he could give her a real dog. But Matthew ruined that plan.
Simon haunted her garden for days, unable to face her. Winter howled outside. Eleanor lit her stove to keep warm as evening fell.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. She hurried to answera traveller stood on the step.
Good evening, Mrs. Allen. May I come in for the night? I was heading to the next village, but got lost.
Whats your name, lad? My eyes are no good now.
Brian.
She frowned. Weve no Brians in the village
Ive not long moved here. Bought a cottage up the laneonly, my car got stuck, so I walked, and this blizzard caught me.
So, youve bought old Danbys place?
He nodded. Thats right.
Eleanor let the stranger in and put the kettle on. She didnt notice him looking hungrily at the old cabinet where villagers kept cash or trinkets.
As she busied at the stove, her guest began fiddling with the cabinet. Eleanor heard the squeak.
What are you doing there, Brian?
Oh, there was a currency change! Im helping you get rid of old money you cant use any more.
She scowled. Nonsense. No such thing! Who are you?
The stranger brandished a knife, pressing it under her chin.
Quiet, old woman. Fork over your money, your jewellery, your food!
Eleanors heart hammeredhere stood a criminal on the run. There was nothing she could do.
Suddenly, the door slammed open. A giant wolf leapt inside and hurled himself at the thief. The man shrieked, but a thick scarf saved him from being bitten. He stabbed at the wolfs shoulder; Rover dodged, allowing the burglar to flee.
At that exact moment, Simon approached the cottage, intent on apologising. He saw a man sprint from the gate, cursing, knife in hand. Simon rushed in, finding Rover bleeding on the floor. Understanding immediately, Simon dashed off to call the constable.
The thief was caught and sentenced again.
Rover became a village hero. People brought treats, greeted him, and he was never chained again. He roamed free, but always returned to Eleanor, walking home with Simon after hunting trips.
One day, Eleanor saw a black Land Rover at her gate. Someone was chopping wood in the gardenit was her son, James. Seeing Simon, they shared a warm hug.
That evening, all sat together at the table, and Eleanor glowed with happiness. James urged her to come to London for her operation, so she might see his sonher grandsonin the summer.
Well, if it must be done she sighed. Id like to see my grandson. Simon, look after the houseand Roverfor me, will you?
Simon nodded. Rover settled down by the stove, content, his place secure among friends.
From this, we learn that kindness and loyalty often return to us in the most unexpected ways, and true family can sometimes be found where we least expectamong friends, both human and not.
