- Siegfried receives some difficult news and becomes even more irascible than usual. The perfect distraction comes along in the form of Major Sebright Saunders, who asks Siegfried to look at a difficult young racehorse called River.
- Siegfried remembers his Great war horror when ordered after caring for the war horses to put nearly all down to save on expenses. Now his former CO, Major Sebright Saunders, calls upon Siegfried to cure his newly bought Irish thoroughbred, or put it down, a matter of overcoming fear patiently. Tristan claims some independence, resisting Siegfried's grim criticism, but is duly scolded for careless treatment of chemicals with lethal potential. James finds it hard to convince farmers to risk tuberculosis tests as put-down herds aren't getting fair compensation, with the farmers society chairman as his worst, miser adversary. Helen ridicules him being a push-over with clients who don't pay due fees, but fails as badly with a crone whose cat also proves a claw problem in the car and Tristan's surgery.—KGF Vissers
- Everyone at Skeldale House can see that Siegfried is out of sorts, he even more short-tempered than usual. Indeed, he is emotionally brought back to his days in the Great War serving in the veterinary corps in Belgium in more ways than one, then when he was asked to do something much to his horror as a veterinarian. One connection back to that time is having once again to deal with his former commanding officer, Albert Sebright Saunders, who has just purchased a racehorse, River. Something has happened to River between the time Saunders purchased him in Ireland to his arrival in Yorkshire, where he now will let no one ride him. The second connection is trying to reconcile what is written in a recent letter from his friend and fellow Great War veterinary corps member Maurice Oliver against recent news. The topics of Siegfried's tirades are Tristan's slipshod handling of the dispensary, the criticism which Tristan may or may not heed, and James focusing so much effort on the TB testing program upon which he has not really yet embarked with the local farmers, most in their mentality probably not seeing the individual benefit against the risk to their respective herds if any of their animals tests positive. James can see that mentality in dealing with Mr. Barge, one of his just deceased cows who he wants James to rule as "death by lightning strike" so that he can claim the insurance. Helen, knowing that James is overworked in being responsible for all the night calls, of which there have been a slew of late, and having accompanied him on many of the day calls, comes to the realization that he lets their clients walk all over him. James clarifies that position and dares her to do any better with the specific clients who he knows are able to walk all over him.—Huggo
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