by Corrie, Jane
Megan frowned. `No. And I don't see why he should know. It's nothing to do with him. He wouldn't help anyway, and things are getting desperate.'
The next morning she collected Chas, together with his rug and tins of dog food, plus bowl for the use of. He looked a bit disappointed when he found
himself ushered into the car. Waving goodbye to Mrs. Jones, Megan hoped Chas would be a good traveller, especially as, after the first few miles, he leapt from the back seat to the front passenger seat and sat up, looking out and admiring the view.
On the way down, Megan gave him a lecture on how to conduct himself. 'You must be on your best behaviour,' she told him. 'No knocking people down, especially little Ian. Do you hear, Chas?'
She was halfway there when the thought struck her, making her slow up and seriously consider retreat. Sheep ! Heavens above ! She was certain Chas had never seen them. She went cold as her mind's eye sketched a picture of a joyful Chas pounding after them in high glee, and he wouldn't be rounding them up !
She then thought of Kevin, in some ways like Alain, and dependable. Kevin could train him. Alain had said he would make a good dog if taken in hand. She remembered how she had been able to train him to come to heel, and this thought gave her confidence and she settled back again and concentrated on the last lap of the journey.
It was close on lunch time when she arrived at Nappers End. The farm lay two miles out of the village, and soon Megan was drawing up in front of the old stone farmhouse. Getting out, she was about to let Chas out when, out of the corner of her eye,
she caught the shape of a large animal hurtling towards them from the house. She stared at it. It was the largest Alsatian she had ever seen, and from its fluffy fur she gathered it was only just out of the puppy stage. She hastily closed the car door, undecided whether to get back in and join Chas or stand her ground.
`It's all right,' Mary called, emerging from the stone porch. 'He's a big softie, but he will jump up.'
Megan, stroking the huge head, felt utterly deflated. Her journey had been in vain. They wouldn't be needing two large dogs, would they ? Perhaps this wasn't theirs? This thought, however, was soon dispelled by Mary.
`His name's Tawny. Isn't he beautiful? I couldn't resist him. You know we lost old Marty six months ago.' She bent forward and hugged Megan, then gave a sudden start and stared at the car. 'Good gracious, what's that?'
Megan turned and met Chas's reproachful eyes, his flat nose even flatter pressed up against the car window—quite a frightening sight if one wasn't prepared for it, and Mary hadn't been.
`That's Chas,' said Megan with a grin. 'He's a big softie too.'
Mary giggled. 'My goodness, he did give me a start. Is he yours ?'
Now was the time to tell the truth, Megan knew,
but somehow she couldn't bring herself to do so. The fact that Chas had been the only reason for her much belated visit made her feel ashamed, so she said, 'I wish he were. I'm just minding him for a day or so.'
`Well, let him out, then,' exclaimed Mary. 'You don't expect him to stay there all day, do you ?'
Megan wasn't sure how Chas would behave with another dog, but after the initial sniffing session the two raced around at a high rate of knots that slightly alarmed Megan. 'Where's Ian?' she asked, thinking that the poor lad would have to be steady on his feet to withstand the onslaught if he came within striking distance.
`Kevin's got him,' laughed Mary. 'Very brave of him, I thought, but he volunteered, so we can have a bit of a natter in peace. They won't be back until about one-thirty and I've everything ready for lunch. Come on in, I'll fix us a cup of coffee.'
Collecting her overnight case from the car, Megan accompanied her into the house. The house was very old, and low rafters proclaimed its age. Like Alain's, the farm had been in Kevin's family for generations. Children's toys lay scattered in the hall, one small wellington boot was flung in a corner, and a scribbled coloured picture half-finished with crayons, left for use again, lay on the polished dark oak hall table. As she sidestepped a model car, Megan grinned, 'And only one child, too !'
Mary grinned back and attempted to tidy up. `Trouble is keeping him occupied,' she responded. `You wouldn't believe what he gets up to. We just caught him taking the cuckoo clock apart the other day. Remember, it used to hang up there?'
Megan remembered. It had been a wedding present and a special favourite of Mary's. 'He got on a chair,' Mary continued. 'It just shows nothing's sacred. As you'll find out one day. How's Alain? I was half expecting him as well.'
`I don't know why you should,' Megan answered half truculently, wondering if it were possible to spend one day without his name cropping up.
`Still coming the heavy brother act ?' Mary grinned. 'You know, I can still see the pair of you at our engagement party. Do you remember Ginger Watkins offering to run you round the village on his motor bike ? There you were, perched up on the back waiting for him to start up on the promised joyride, and before you could blink an eyelid Alain had you off and was giving Ginger the telling-off of a lifetime. I'd never seen anyone move as fast as he did when he spotted you. And the look on your face ! Kevin said he pitied the chap you fell in love with, he'd have to get past Alain first.'
Feeling her heart jerk, Megan didn't know why Mary had had to bring that up at this particular time. She might as well, she thought, get it over with.
`He's courting,' she said airily.
Mary stopped on the way to the kitchen and turned round her brows raised in query. 'Is he now?' she queried. 'Who?'
Megan kept her voice casual. 'Iris Markham. I don't know if you remember her, she only came to the village after you got engaged.'
Mary frowned. Not the one who thinks she's Helen of Troy?' she asked, almost in wonderment.
Megan grinned at the description. She nodded. 'I must say it sounds like her.'
Mary came back and stared at Megan. For goodness' sake ! I thought he'd got a bit more sense. Unless she's changed a lot I can't see her as farmer's wife, even a rich farmer's wife.'
Megan felt sad, and looked it. 'There's no accounting for tastes,' she said.
`Are you sure?' demanded Mary.
`I'm sure,' Megan said quietly, and to her relief Mary did not pursue the subject.
Kevin joined them for lunch. He strode in with a fat bundle of boy tucked under one arm.
`I know it's asking for trouble,' remarked Mary, dishing up. But has he been good?'
Kevin grinned. 'I will ignore that question,' he said, 'on the grounds that it may incriminate him.' He steadied him on his feet, and Ian toddled over to Megan and stood regarding her with his bright blue
eyes, so like his father's. The mop of black hair, his mother's contribution, was fluffed up in front. The two gazed solemnly at each other. Megan took in the tiny denims and the carefully patched knees, and the one wellington bootee. 'I know where the other one is,' she commented.
Ian continued to gaze at her as if she were an interesting specimen.
`He's got a thing about shoes,' observed Mary. 'I find them all over the place. I think he's one of the back-to-nature types—let's hope it wears off in time. Now come and sit down, it's ready.'
At that moment Ian spotted Chas, sitting next to Tawny on the kitchen floor, both recovering from their earlier excursions, and made a beeline towards him. 'Oh, no, you don't,' said Kevin. 'I've just scrubbed you up for lunch, my lad,' and he hauled him into his high chair. For a moment or so it looked as if Ian would protest, but Mary hastily placed a plate in front of him and he turned his attention to that instead.
That afternoon Kevin suggested they all went with him to the west field. 'Got a few more bales to pick up,' he said. 'I ought to have finished it this morning, but I hadn't counted on the extra hand.' His look rested on his son, now happily demolishing a plate of jelly.
Mary grinned. 'Now you know what I have to put
up with. How would you like to have him every day?' Kevin visibly shuddered. 'You're doing a
grand job, love, keep it up.'
`Coward !' accused Mary.
The girls spent a lazy afternoon watching Kevin work. The dogs had been left at the farm and put in one of the small paddocks, so Megan had no worry about Chas spotting any sheep. A picnic had been taken and as Mary poured out the tea from the flasks, Megan sat watching Kevin and Ian. Ian, seeing that his mother was otherwise occupied, had wandered over to 'help' his father. He was now attempting to pick up the fork and heave a bale of straw on to the waiting lorry. For a moment Kevin watched him, grinning, then with an expert flick of the wrist he finished the job and swung Ian up on to his shoulder.
Megan looked away quickly. One day Alain would have a son. He would act in just the same way as Kevin had done. She was not one to give way to tears, but she could have wept her heart out at that particular moment in time.
The rest of the time passed pleasantly enough, but Megan still had the worry of Chas's future on her mind as she set off home on the Sunday.
CHAPTER TEN
CHAS was returned to Mrs Jones on Sunday by a subdued Megan. 'I was just six months too late,' she said miserably. Then, seeing Mrs. Jones's downcast look, she said stoutly, 'We're not beaten yet. Something will turn up, you'll see.'
Ray rang her on the Monday morning before she started off to work. 'I won't be back till Wednesday, Megan. I couldn't get out of two more engagements my publisher lined up for me. Joanna's here, by the way; her husband's got some sort of conference on, so I'm detailed to take her to the dinners. Are you all right? I rang yesterday morning, but your father couldn't remember where you'd gone.'
Megan sighed. 'I could have eloped for all he knew,' she said. 'I did tell him I was visiting a friend in Devon, but he was deep in the fells, if you know what I mean. By the way, how much do you charge for an autographed book ? I sort of promised my friend one as a peace-offering because I couldn't stay for a week.'
`Considering it's for a good cause,' he replied grandly, 'I shall be delighted to oblige. By the way,
the offer's still open for you to join me. With Joanna here we'll be well chaperoned, in case a certain body raised Cain.'
Megan chuckled. 'No, thank you,' she answered. `What are you doing with yourself ?' he asked
curiously. 'You appear to be doing a bit of dashing
around.'
`Like a scalded hen,' she said. 'I'll tell you about it on Wednesday. Anything you want me to do?'
`Well, you might tell Mrs. White what's happening. I couldn't contact her, she's not on the phone. Tell her I hope to be back by six—and Megan,' he added, `don't you dare elope !'
Another chuckle from Megan and she hung up.
Megan found Mrs. White watering her potted plants in her small conservatory. She had her coat on and must have been filling in with last-minute jobs before setting off for The Foxes. She gave her the message, then duly admired the plants and started to leave; but Mrs. White was talkative. 'Have they found out where Mr. Drew is?' she asked hopefully.
Megan stared at her uncomprehendingly, her surprise evident.
`Don't you know?' Mrs. White asked, in as much surprise as Megan had shown.
`I've been away for the weekend,' Megan explained.
Mrs. White looked wise. 'Well, I suppose that
would be it,' she said mysteriously, nodding to herself. 'Mind you, I'm glad he stood no nonsense from
that Iris. Talk of the village it was, Sunday afternoon.'
Megan felt a stab of apprehension. 'What happened?' she asked quickly.
`Well,' began Mrs. White, 'it started in the local. She was there with Don Lamb, you know.'
Megan didn't want to hear any more. Her heart went out to Alain. Why had he to care for someone like Iris? She wanted to stop Mrs. White, but couldn't.
`And Mr. Drew goes in,' she continued, now in full flood, 'just nods to them and gives his order, then stands chatting to Sammy Drake, the barman, you know. Well, this Iris comes and joins him, and Mr. Drew reminds her who she came in with, quite nicely, you know, and says he's no wish to break anything up and he's just leaving anyway. Her ladyship didn't like that, receiving her marching orders like, and says how she can please herself what company she keeps. Poor Mr. Drew, can you imagine it? Sammy said he was furious, still, he keeps his temper and just walks out, leaving her to it. 'Course, by then she'd got her dander well and truly up and follows him out of the pub.' She sighed. 'Some folk haven't the sense to see when they're not wanted. No one knew what she said to him, or what he told her, but she was fit to be tied when she flounces back into the pub. Next thing that happens is that Mr. Drew goes back to Clock
House, packs a bag and takes off into the blue without telling anyone where he's going.'
Megan felt sick. It was worse than anything that had so far happened. She knew only too well how spiteful Iris could be when she put her mind to it. Whatever she had said to him must have hurt dreadfully to make Alain take off in that manner. Mrs. White droned on, but Megan barely heard her.
`Anyone with half an eye could see he wasn't interested. He's got his head screwed on, a more spiteful little besom would be hard to find ..
All this time Megan was edging towards the door. She wanted to put her hands over her ears, and in sheer desperation she changed the subject. 'Mrs. White, do you know of anyone likely to take Mrs. Jones's dog? She's joining her sister in London, you know,' she said breathlessly, hurrying on now that she had successfully stemmed the flow. 'He's such a pet, and it would be nice if we got someone local to take him, rather than advertise, that is.'
Mrs. White's mouth fell open, and she made a valiant effort to bring her mind back from the village highlight to a more mundane subject. She frowned. `That big dog, you mean ?'
Megan nodded, vastly relieved that her ruse had served its purpose.
`Well, I don't know. 'Course, my sister's girl lives at Wroxford, not local as you might say, but not
more than ten miles away, they've a smallholding. Can't promise, mind you, but I'll have a word with her. As it's a pedigree they might consider it. Always one for a bargain, that Jean is.'
Megan's already lacerated feelings took another plunge into the depths. A bargain, she thought bitterly. Well, that was one place Chas wouldn't be going, not if she had anything to do with it. 'Er ... ask them to contact me, will you?' she said hastily. `If they're interested.'
She didn't really remember getting home. Her mind was so full of Alain that her fingers curled round the steering wheel and she gripped it hard, wishing it were Iris's neck. Alain was proud, he was not likely to seek reconciliation, and it looked as if Iris had got the message at last. She felt the tears spring up behind her eyes. She had had all that, a fine man like Alain at her feet and she'd ruined everything by sheer vanity.
Pulling up in the drive outside the house, Megan did not get out immediately, just sat gazing ahead of her, not seeing anything in particular. What about Alain? For goodness' sake, where was he? If only she could go to him. She closed her eyes. He wouldn't want her. He'd asked for her help, hadn't he, and she'd refused it. A few minutes later she took a deep breath. She would ring Clock House. Mrs. Smith would tell her if there had been any news; she had
to do something.
She rang through as soon as she got into the house. Her nervous fingers gripped the cord of the telephone, twisting it round into a tangle as she heard the purring ring at the end of the line. Mrs. Smith answered, and Megan spoke hastily. 'Is Mr. Drew back?' she asked. `It's Megan here.'
`Just a moment,' Mrs. Smith said, and there was a tiny silence. Megan, suddenly realising what was happening, said hastily, 'I didn't want to worry him, Mrs. Smith, I just wondered ..'
`Did you?' said Alain sourly.
`Are you all right?' Megan asked anxiously, feeling untold relief flow over her.
`I rather think I ought to be asking that question, don't you?' he answered harshly.
Megan blinked, not understanding—unless he had tried to contact her and she had been a
way. She thought she had better explain. 'I've been away,' she began.
`Is that supposed to surprise me?' he cut in. `Because it doesn't. I know where you've been, too,' he continued bitingly. 'I thought you had more pride. I hope your father's proud of you! Why did you come back? He's still in London, isn't he? Or did you get your fingers burnt at last?'
Megan swallowed. Now what had she done? He sounded as if he hated her. Because she had let him
down over Iris? She gulped again.
`Oh, Alain ... you don't understand ...' She couldn't go on, a sob caught at the back of her throat.
understand all right,' he ground out. 'Heaven knows I tried to warn you. Well, it's done now. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my sight !'
The phone was slammed down with a force that made Megan jump, and she stood blinking the tears back and staring at her receiver, his words rebounding all around her. He had never spoken to her quite like that before. He did hate her ! She had so often received a telling-off, but never accompanied by such bitterness. Slowly the words made sense. He actually thought ... She caught her breath. He thought she had gone to London with Ray, and that wasn't all he thought ! Had Iris so poisoned his judgment that he could no longer think straight, and like a wounded bear struck out at the nearest object? She caught her lip in her teeth and made a headlong rush to her room.
Two days passed, and the news filtered through the village that Iris had got engaged to Don Lamb. When Megan heard the news her thoughts flew to Alain. Would he now make a move to get Iris back? Was that what it really was in aid of ? Don worked
in his uncle's estate office and was probably earning good money with the chance of inheriting the business one day, but even so, he was nowhere near Alain's income bracket. Megan did not think Iris had fallen for Don; money and position headed the top of her shopping list, and she had wanted Alain.
She felt sorry for Don, certain he was being used as a pawn by Iris to gain her real objective. Would Alain lower his pride and snatch the woman he wanted? The Main she had once known would have done so. He would have brooked no interference, especially when the woman concerned had shown she was agreeable to such happenings.
