Hello! Okay, for those of you who don't know my family and I are very involved in dog showing and breeding in South Africa and it is my dream to become a professional handler in the states someday. Anyway, my mom and I were trying to figure out what breeds the characters of Downton would own and I really wanted to write this. Naturally it'll be mainly a chelsie fic but set in my world. It was supposed to be a one shot but there's too much I want to write so I'm aiming at around 5 chapters. Somethings are different in this country to the rest of the world but as I know the SA dog world best I've stuck to it.
The characters all belong to Mr Fellows despite my constant begging for them.
Elsie breathed in deeply a she drove onto the show grounds. This truly was her favorite place to be apart from her bed. Thanks to the recent rains the grass was a brilliant shade of green and the trees seemed to stand a little taller. Everywhere, people were pitching their gazebos, chatting with friends, walking dogs or hurrying to find some breakfast or a cup of café pronto coffee. Committee members of the show were checking rings, putting up tables and organizing prizes. Best she go and help them then. She quickly parked her car and climbed out where she was met by Peter, the man who made a little extra money by putting up tents for people and generally doing the heavy lifting
"Good morning ma-am" he greeted with his usual friendly smile "where do you want your gazebo?"
"Good morning Peter" She smiled "next to the terrier ring please and could you put the sun reflector up as well? Its going to be a scorcher of a day."
He nodded and she handed him her keys before hurrying off to the office marquee.
"Oh, Elsie will you lend me a hand?" Anna asked as she dashed past "the sponsors have provided shade but they haven't put them up. John is doing the Gundog Ring at the moment but I don't want him to have to do all of them and hurt his leg."
"Why on earth haven't they put them up yet?" Elsie asked with a frown
"Apparently they're funding some SPCA dog walk and haven't the time." Anna replied reaching the toy ring and bending down to unzip the bag "I know we wouldn't have a show without them but you'd think they could be a little more helpful."
"I agree" Elsie said "right, where do we start?"
"The A pole is in the middle, the Bs are on each side and they're all joined by the Cs. Ds and Es are the legs but the top needs to go on before we put them on." Anna explained and together they got it up and started hammering it down.
"I can't reach the rope" Anna grumbled, jumping up and down in an attempt to grab it from where it had wrapped itself around the pole
"Let me try" Elsie suggested and copied what Anna was doing
"What do you think you're doing?" A voice came from behind her, giving her a fright and causing her to jump backwards onto the person's foot. Immediately strong hands grasped her upper arms to steady her
"Mr Carson, I'm so sorry" she breathed hurriedly stepping away from him
"Not to worry Ms Hughes, no harm done." He assured her reaching up and un tangling the rope which Anna hurriedly pegged down before brushing off his track suit pants
"Right, Mr Bates and Mr Mosley have done the Gundog and Utility ring, Mr Barrow and Mr Kent have done the Terrier and Working rings, Ms O Brien and Ms Baxter have done the Hounds and Herding rings and you've done the Toys." Mr Carson informed them "Ms Hughes you had better get to the office and let them all collect their numbers and Mrs Bates can you make sure the judges are happy please?"
"Yes Mr Carson." Anna said before hurrying away from them both.
"I wish you'd just call us by our first names. We've known each other for years." Elsie sighed
"It wouldn't be proper Ms Hughes." He sniffed "now you'll have to excuse me I need to find Mr Barrow."
Elsie scowled at his retreating back. 'Annoying, stubborn, old-fashioned, gorgeous man' she thought to herself while she unpacked the entries and goody bags. She had been in love with him since she was a young woman and she had shown her Scottish Terrier for the first time and he had happened to be the judge. She hadn't a clue what she was doing but he patiently explained what he wanted her to do
"What on earth is a T?" She asked, clearly extremely confused.
"Walk in a straight line away from me" he replied "turn left at the top walk straight then turn around put the lead in your right hand walk all the way along, turn around again changing the lead back into your left, walk to the middle again and then come back to me"
"That sounds awfully complicated" she muttered
"Its easier than it sounds" he assured her. She looked at him doubtfully before squaring her shoulders and setting off determinedly
She had messed it up completely but he still had given her reserve best of breed. As he said, in the end it came down to the dog no matter how badly it was handled. Still she had signed up for ring classes with old Mrs Winter and at the next show she managed not to embarrass herself quite so spectacularly. That was thirty years ago and she now finds herself secretary of the biggest show in the country with him as chairman.
"Good morning Mary" she greeted as the young girl walked into the tent "are you here for your numbers?"
"I am" she confirmed "and I'll take mama's as well please"
Elsie nodded and handed her two bags with her envelopes.
"Good luck" she smiled
"I'll need it" Mary sighed rolling her eyes "I've forgotten my hair spray and Maybelline has chewed her ear wraps off."
"I'm sure Anna will have some spray" Elsie suggested "I can't help you with the ear wraps."
"I'll ask her. Thanks Ms Hughes." Mary smiled, waving as she left. Elsie rather envied her. Mary had grown up in the dog world and so had her father. Both her sisters were heavily involved as well.
Mary and her mother owned a highly successful kennel of poodles, Mary with the miniatures and Cora with the Toy variety. Her father, Robert, had labs, which he did field trails with as well as breed showing. Her Grandmother had been breeding Corgis for the last fifty years and was still going strong, while Edith showed a long-haired Dachshund and Sybil; an Irish water spaniel.
"Elsie, who is your vet on call?" Joseph Mosley asked as he walked in
"Uh Merton's down the road" She answered, looking up from her paperwork "why?"
"I think Tiddles is un well." He explained "he's been whining the whole way here."
"Have you taken him for a walk?" Elsie asked
"No not yet." He replied
"Do so. If he's still un well after that I'll call the vet." She told him patting his hand "oh and keep him away from Thomas's Dobermann this time."
"Will do Elsie" he replied "I hate those dogs of his, nasty, vindictive killers. Always going for my pinchers"
"They just don't like little dogs" Elsie reasoned "just like Thomas doesn't like anyone lower than him on the points system"
Joseph gave a small chuckle before covering his mouth with his hand, almost as if it was illegal to laugh.
Over the next half hour as exhibitors came and went and Elsie pondered how they were all like their dogs. William and Daisy with their beagles, Beryl with her pug, Rosamund with her Pomeranian, Tom and his Kerry Blue, Isobel with her Wire Fox Terriers and Dr Clarkson with his Airedale terrier. At that point Charles came in, dressed immaculately in a suit with his Bloodhound, Bruno in tow. Elsie glanced up at him before quickly returning her gaze to her paperwork. 'Do not blush. Do not blush' she chanted in her head
"Ms Hughes, are we about ready to start?" He asked, his gaze sweeping the show grounds
"I believe so, Mr Carson. There's a few people who haven't collected their numbers yet but Anna can manage that while we welcome everyone." She answered, getting to her feet and flashing him a smile. "Might I say, you look very handsome today Mr Chairman." She teased
"Thank you Ms Hughes, you look lovely as well." He said seriously
"Oh please, I'm still in my track suit." She scoffed
"I am aware of that." He smirked and offered his arm "now, let's get this show on the road."
Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know your thoughts and whether its worth continuing...