Chapter Seventeen – Coming Back Home

"I deeply object to the smell that comes with it, Scripps," Lord Ashfordly said sternly before breaking into a thin and satisfied smile. "But at the moment it's worth it because even the campers, soul seekers or whatever they call themselves, can't stand it."

Vernon clasped his hands together and returned the smile with a wide grin. "Just give it a couple of days, my lordship and…" he looked up at the rain clouds. "…A few drops of rain and it will be gone. The smell, I mean."

Ashfordly nodded, pushing his hands into his pockets. "Well, I suppose it came to good use at last, your product - but don't expect any payment for it," he said.

The cheeriness Scripps had felt a moment ago was suddenly gone and replaced by confusion. "I'm afraid you've lost me there my lordship," he returned with uncertainty.

"Well, the council ordered you to get rid of it or you'd be charged with a fee given the heavy smell it caused while being hauled up at your brother's garage. Then there was Angelica Nolan's fishpond and, oh my, I believe a bill for washing a costume jacket clean of spillage. I was kind enough to let you dispose of it on my land without charge – saving you a lot of trouble," he reasoned.

Vernon opened his mouth to protest but closed it again as he realized there was nothing he could say that would change Lord Ashfordly's mind.

"I see it as a win-win situation," the lordship added with a smile before turning around to begin the walk back up to the Hall, leaving Scripps alone at the outskirt of the Ashfordly Estate with an undignified look on his face.

OOOOOO

Jack Lane felt like a new man as he stepped into the house back at the goat farm, truth to be told maybe he was? He couldn't help but smile at the clean house and flowers on the kitchen table. It hadn't looked this neat since his fiancée walked out on him a couple of months after he'd gotten back from his military service and that was a very long time ago.

He had a sneaky suspicion that the cunning little doctor had emptied his reserves of liquor, beer, whiskey and ale so he took a stroll through the rooms and everywhere he looked the cabinets and lockers was filled with various other things. Merrick had gotten to all his stashes and he found himself suddenly very grateful for it.

Clad in an elegant dark blue suit, completed by a very light blue shirt that accented his pale blue eyes and a new haircut along with the loss of his former beard made him look very handsome.

Liz had been kind enough to send him some money made from the selling of the wool while he was away and her posh medical friend hadn't hesitated to take him on a shopping spree. To his utter surprise he had actually enjoyed it.

It was almost with a pang of regret he realized that he was about to hang up the suit and trade it for a blue coverall once again and walk out in the harsh moor fields to shepherd his sheep. Then again he would do it for Jeremy but he would take one day at a time.

There was a knock on the door and the usually so well clad young doctor walked into the house dressed in rubber boots and a beige coverall, her outfit completed by a wrap around her curly hair.

Jack couldn't help but chuckle lightly at her appearance.

Her eyes sparkled as her hands reached her hips, she tried hard to look offended by his reaction but found that she couldn't and broke into a wide grin instead.

Ben Norton walked through the door only minutes later and shook his head. "Well, if I didn't know better I'd say I'd be worried. On the borderline to jealous," he said with a smirk, his voice light and slightly teasing.

"By all means, Ben," Liz said, deciding to play along. "You're lucky I laid my eyes on you first."

"From the brief updates I've got I take it everything's been going well?" Jack asked curiously.

"Yes," Liz began, looking smug, and was interrupted by Ben.

"You better watch out for her if she decides to take up the business," he cautioned. "She's been working with your image, brought in some extra hands, argued stubbornly with some of the, shall we say, narrow-minded people in the vicinity."

"I've had a lot of help," Liz explained looking rather pleased with herself. "I hope I haven't offended you in any way by doing so?"

Jack shook his head lightly. "We'll go through everything together when you can spare the time," he reasoned.

"I seriously consider hiring her as an extra hand up at the Hall," Ben let on cheekily.

Liz huffed. "You might just need that," she returned. "But I don't work alone – I need Jenny with me and I'm expensive."

"Now," Ben began innocently. "Where was I? Right, before all this I was bringing in Jack's mail and the books concerning the sheep shearing. Now, I've updated everything and kept it neat. Got you a mall from the Hall's business plan that you can follow if you wish to simplify things."

"Thanks. I really appreciate what you've all been doing," Jack said sincerely.

"We're just glad we could help out," Ben reassured him as he patted his shoulder lightly. "I'll head back outside. See you later."

Jack nodded as he watched Lord Ashfordly's right hand man walk out through his door.

Liz walked up to the sink and filled the kettle. "I heard that you took a detour to Liverpool to talk to Jeremy's colleagues and friends," she said softly. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Jack shook his head. "Not really," he returned gloomily. "But I owe you."

The doctor nodded as she put the kettle on the stove and walked over to the kitchen table and sat down next to him.

"First of all I met my brother, Joshua, down in London. I haven't seen him in years and it took some time to reacquaint. Joshua has changed, I guess I have too. He's living a different life now, a secure and happy life that suits him. We ended on good terms and I guess Mr. Scripps has already told you that he's coming here for the funeral?" He asked. "In fact, I'm certain he should have arrived here even before I did."

Liz nodded. "I'm sorry that tragedy would be what brought you together again," she said.

Jack sighed, this topic was hard for him but he forced himself to open up.

Liz hastily got up as the whistle blared and poured two cups of tea.

He watched her stove away the kettle and tidy up the sink before coming back to sit next to him.

"When I arrived to Liverpool it took me some time to find the General Hospital and while there it took me even more time to locate anyone that knew of my nephew, not only by rumours," Jack explained.

"You see, Liz, Jeremy was a good guy and he always worked so hard to get what he wanted. But he got a taste of another life down in the city that he'd never come across up here. His father, Joshua, has always been a gambler, a risk-taker, if you so wish. Therefore, he sought out the casino and started gambling a little just for fun," he said sadly.

Liz waited for him to continue but she didn't push him.

"His former colleagues told me he was a good junior doctor and a promising surgeon. Then it's a little unclear what happened but as of what I can gather there was some kind of disagreement in theatre and Jeremy ended up on the wrong foot with the head of surgery. A patient in theatre died and it was blamed on Jeremy who was later excluded from his internship."

This caused Liz to frown and she made a mental note to check further into it using her contacts down there.

"I don't know. I guess that was the final nail in the coffin so to speak. That's what finally broke my nephew," Jack reasoned. "He started drinking and doubled up on gaming, most of the friends that he had seemed to abandon him to his fate as he refused to let them in. Apparently he had debts to some shady figure…"

"I know it's a small comfort for you, Jack, but I'm so sorry," Liz apologized.

Jack nodded as he absentmindedly started picking up and sort out his mail. He froze as he stared down one particular white envelope carrying his name. "Jeremy," he whispered as he ripped the envelope in two and retrieved the letter.

"Jack?" Liz asked carefully.

"When did this come?" He demanded, slightly shocked. "It's from Jeremy."

"I think Ben picked up a small bag with mail from Gladys at the post office only yesterday," she replied.

With shaky fingers he began to read and as he did so he was unable to keep the tears from spilling onto his cheeks. It was like a flood of emotions swept over the edges of a river.

"Dear Uncle Jack.

I know it's been ages since we last saw each other but I can't help but feel the need to talk to you. Faith is denying me a chance to prove to you and dad that I can become someone to be proud of. In a moment of weakness I remembered the bottle you always seemed to carry with you and the look of pure happiness my father had on his face when he came home late at night with a few extra shillings after a night at the new casino bar in Ashfordly.

Before I knew it I had debts that I couldn't pay and no job to go to. No friends to borrow from. I was approached by a man called Mr. Carter who offered to help me out should I give a large amount of my future income to him as a fee. I don't know how the casino business runs exactly but I can tell I'm in deep trouble.

Then, heavy intoxicated and cocky, to the borderline of stupid, I went to the casino the other night. I won back the money that I owed and then some. To say that I was surprised is an understatement. It felt as if faith had changed its mind and given me a second chance. Hastily I paid back what I was pegged for and packed my bags. I've had enough of Liverpool. I wanted to go back, Uncle Jack. Back to a time when I was happier. At least back to a time when there was still hope for me to become a doctor.

I'm coming home Uncle Jack and I'm taking my savings with me, maybe together we can make the farm flourish? As of Mr. Carter, he can see himself after the money I supposedly owe him somewhere else. He never helped me, I helped myself."

Anyway, I'm sure that I'll stand on your doorstep before this arrives. I hope my coming back will not trouble you.

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy."

Liz Merrick gently squeezed Jack's shoulder, unable to prevent a tear escaping her own eye. They sat in silence for a while before Liz swallowed, her throat feeling dry despite the tea.

"Jack, we better show this for the police. I know you're not too fond of them but Mr. Carter was the man following Jeremy here. He was the one –" She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"I think it's time I settle my disagreements with the police," he reasoned as he dried his tears.

"I'll phone PC Crane straight away," Liz offered. "A lot of things has happened here too while you've been away, Jack."

OOOOOO

17/18

To be continued

/Thank you for the reviews ;) You're the best. If you see any strange words – or maybe not even words, my apologies. I have a cat that just loves to help out.