Ménage à trios

By John Gwynant

I was sitting on the grass, by the west gate of Bradgate Park in the Charnwood Forest, lookingtowards Old John. Out of sight beyond the hills was the ancestral home of Lady Jane Grey, theerstwhile Queen of England who lost her head just a few days after her parents pushed her into theascendancy.The sun was overhead, the sky was clear and the stillness of the air accentuated every sound. Ilooked up at Old John, dominating the hilltop, it seemed to belie its age, giving the appearance of a formidable castle turret.Feeling a movement beside me I turned, her brown eyes gazed into mine. She looked happy andleaned in closer to kiss me, a light breeze sprang up ruffling her long black hair. She snuggledclose into the crook of my arm. She grinned, ducked away and ran up the hill towards the oldfolly; I watched as her lithe body swept effortlessly up the steep slope. Her hair streaming out behind her."I wish I was still that fit," I said to myself, remembering how as a young teenager, taking partin a National Association of Boys' Clubs wide game, I'd raced up the hill, round a flag at the top,then down again to the finish line.She sat by the rocks waiting, her face a picture of happiness, she watched me climb towards her.As I closed the gap between us, she suddenly stood up and ran joyfully to me. I laughed andopened my arms to receive her, but at the last moment she swerved away and skipped playfullyround me before coming back to my side.We strolled together up to Old John and sat on the step that runs around the base, we could seeout across the green countyside, dotted at intervals with buildings and settlements. I put my armaround her shoulders and she leaned her head against me, I could feel her warmth as her long hair rubbed against my neck.I don’t know what made me turn around at that moment, but as I glanced through the archway Isaw a figure approaching from the memorial on the next hill. It was a figure I recognised … mywife was hurrying towards us."Stay here," I whispered as I stood to face the onrushing figure."Jim!" she shouted."Mary, you found us!" I exclaimed and waved.Then I caught a shadow from the corner of my eye and held my breath, they were going to meet,my wife and the new lady in my life were about to go head to head. I was riveted to the spot byapprehension.Katie leapt from the top of the steep grassy slope, Mary caught her in mid flight and they twistedround, falling and rolling on the grass. They stopped moving, their eyes met for a second.Then, panting, Katie leant forward, and licked my wife's face.Katie had immediately appealed to me when I saw her at the Border Collie Rescue Centre near rugely and as the white tip of her black tail wagged enthusiastically back and forth with pleasureat meeting her new mistress, my apprehension disappeared, I knew they were going to be friends.