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‘How’s that now?’ he asked.
‘I’m OK,’ the man said, but he was trembling uncontrollably.
Leif glanced at Magnus who was now sitting observing them, his ball in his mouth. If it was possible for a dog to look worried, Magnus did right now. And then the man made a strange noise and Leif’s heart froze. Was the man about to collapse? Should he call an ambulance?
But the noise and the shaking continued and when the man looked up, Leif could see that his face was split into a wide grin.
He was laughing!
‘Oh, lad, if my Mavis could only see me now. Well, maybe she can. Who knows? Here I am on a December afternoon taking my stroll around the village and I’ve been knocked over by a hound from hell and then rescued by a… a Viking. It’s a… a story she’d have loved, that’s for sure.’
Leif didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but he felt some of the tension seep away as the man continued to chuckle.
‘Magnus is actually a gentle giant,’ Leif said, hoping he could get the man to believe him.
‘That… hound from hell is gentle?’ the man asked.
‘He is. I promise. Wouldn’t hurt a fly.’ Leif cleared his throat. ‘Well… maybe a squirrel but he’s never caught one, so I don’t know for sure.’
‘You could put a saddle on him and ride him like a horse,’ the man said gruffly. Then he chuckled again. ‘Or hook him up to a sleigh like Rudolph.’
Leif stayed silent, not sure if the man had managed to sustain a concussion even though he hadn’t seen him bang his head.
‘Excuse me!’ A female voice caught their attention and they both looked over at an approaching figure. ‘Is everything OK?’
Victor seemed to straighten at her voice, and he puffed out his chest. ‘Everything’s fine,’ he said loudly then he muttered to Leif, ‘You can let go of me now.’
Leif released him but stayed close in case the man’s wobbly knees gave way.
‘Mr Shaw isn’t it?’ the woman asked when she reached them.
‘That’s right,’ Victor replied then he looked closely at the woman. ‘Flora?’
‘Yes, Flora Reid. We met recently at the village grocery shop. You uhhh… told me I was too young to buy a bottle of wine.’
Victor guffawed. ‘So I did! But you look about sixteen, Flora, so how was I to know you were twenty-six? And it’s Victor, please.’
‘It’s fine, Victor,’ Flora said. ‘I often get asked for ID when buying age restricted products.’ She shrugged but her cheeks flushed when she looked at Leif. ‘And you… I’ve seen you around the village too.’
‘The Viking,’ Victor said.
‘You could be,’ Flora said, peering at Leif from under very long dark lashes.
‘Could be?’ Leif asked.
‘A Viking.’ She blinked at him.
‘Actually… my name is Leif Thorsgard. My father is Norwegian and I lived out there until two years ago.’
‘That explains the accent,’ Flora said. Then she returned her attention to the man who Leif now knew was Victor. ‘But you’re all right? I saw you on the ground. Did you slip on ice or leaves?’
Victor shook his head. ‘No, Flora, Leif’s giant dog knocked me over.’
Flora’s big, brown eyes widened. ‘Oh no! You could have broken something.’
‘I’m fine, honestly,’ Victor said. ‘But I could do with a cup of tea. That ground is cold.’
‘I’ll come home with you and make sure you’re all right then,’ Flora said, offering Victor her arm.
