Read Never Another You for Free Online

ambled over with the vet. He was always a calm chap. No ounce of sympathy for his distraught Daughter. It was all just a job to him, which needed to be done.
    “I have ordered Benny do the deed,” he said coldly.
    “No Father!” Nell cried.
    I grabbed her hand and knew right away it was wrong of me. But she needed it, and she wouldn’t let me go.
    “Who is this boy sir?” Alistair scowled.
    “A worker who is going to take his hand off my daughter.”
    Nell released me, fearing all hell breaking out. “Father, I want Jack to do it.”
    Even I was shocked she said it. I had grown fond of that horse; the situation was painful for me also. The only thing I ever put out of its misery before that day, was a blackbird that had broken both its wings. Fairly upsetting for a boy of only ten years. A horse however, was a completely different kettle of fish.
    “You will do this boy?” the Brigadier asked.
    I had no choice. It was a damned if I do; damned if I don’t moment. “Yes sir.”
    “Good. Well see it done boy, and then you are free to go home. Your services here are no longer required.” His boots scrapped against the gravel as he turned sharp to leave with Alistair and the vet.
    I lowered my head then looked at Nell, weeping. I couldn’t talk or hold her in my arms out there, so I gestured her to follow me back to the stable.
    Byron was now unsteady on his feet. His legs were weak and his breathing had declined into a strenuous low rattle. I don’t cry with ease, but right then, I had to use all my strength to stop the tears. Nell ran her hand up and down his nose with her head resting upon his. She peered over her shoulder, snivelling, and dipped her head at the shotgun propped against an old rocking chair.
    “Jack,” she sniffed with red puffy eyes. “I will never think badly of you. He deserves to die with honour, and an honourable man must do it.”
    I picked up the gun and shook my head as a tear managed to escape down my cheek. There was nothing honourable about it at all.
    Nell came to me and took my face in her hands. “Byron would want you to do it.”
    I pressed my lips firmly together, then went into my friend to say my peace. I had to tell him I was sorry, and that it was a pleasure to have known him. To thank him for bringing Nell to me.
    After I had finished whispering in his ear, he held his head as steady as it had been in days. It was as though the poor fella knew and was ready to die. I held the gun in position, resting the butt firmly between my shoulder and collar bone.
    “Nell… turn away please.”
    I waited for her to remove her view, shut my eyes, then pulled the trigger. The whole stable shook with the shot echo, and the horrid thud of Byron’s momentous fall. I dropped the gun on the ground, and I too found myself there. On the floor feeling as though my gut had just been ripped clean out. Nell joined my side and put her arm around my shoulders.
    “Thank you Jack,” she snivelled and kissed my cheek. “Let’s get away from here for a while… please.”
    We covered Byron’s body with his large green tartan horse blanket, and said our final goodbye.
    That afternoon, we walked a good few mile in the blustery wind, to arrive at one of the empty stone farmhouses the Brigadier owned. We were both quiet. I think we were both grieving for Byron, trying to block out those last images of him.
    Nell took a key out from her blue floral dress pocket, and opened the door. The place was in much better condition than the house my parents rented. It was bigger, drier, and didn’t reek of mould. There was a small table with two chairs beneath the window. And a green armchair before a stove.
    “This is nice,” I said.
    “Yes. I’ve stayed here a few times to get away from that house.”
    She bent down to the cast-iron wood-burner, and struck a match to light the kindle. I stood back, watching as she straightened up to brush her hand over her wavy hair. It was when her sweet tapered eyes