One Summer at Deer’s Leap. Elizabeth Elgin

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СКАЧАТЬ Susan’s pilot was killed, Cassie?’

      ‘I don’t know. According to the book, it was during the daylight raid on a flying bomb launching site. That was all it said.’

      ‘Poor Susan,’ she whispered. ‘I wonder how it was for her?’

      ‘I think,’ I said as I gazed in a kind of trance over that flat piece of land, ‘that she wouldn’t even be told. They weren’t married, so she wouldn’t be his next of kin. The telegram would go to his parents. I read, somewhere, that aircrews used to leave letters behind to be sent to people. Maybe Jack left one addressed to Susan Smith at Deer’s Leap. I’m almost certain the family was still there on 8 June.’

      ‘Hm. I must have a look at it tonight – take it to bed with me – if you don’t want to read it, that is …’

      ‘No. Not tonight. You’ll find it interesting, Jeannie.’

      ‘I think I will.’ She turned abruptly and began to walk towards the stone wall of the paddock. ‘And I’ve had enough of ghosts for one day, if you don’t mind. Let’s get the bikes out and go to the Rose. We could eat there, if you’d like.’

      She laughed out loud, almost as if she were trying to shake off the spell of the past, then set off at a run, calling to Hector, her short-cut hair bobbing with every stride.

      ‘A good idea,’ I panted, when we reached the paddock wall. ‘I want to phone Mum, anyway.’

      ‘Good, then that’s settled. Let’s have a quick shower and get changed? All of a sudden, I’m hungry!’

      I thought as we walked back through the wet grass that maybe Jeannie wasn’t as blasé about vibes and ghosts as she tried to make out. She was interested in the bomber station book and her eyes had been far away as she looked down to where RAF Acton Carey had once stood. I wouldn’t mind betting, I thought as I kicked off my wellies, that if she gave it a bit of effort she’d be quite good at sending out vibes. Maybe I shouldn’t be too sure that Jack Hunter wouldn’t appear if she were with me.

      ‘Would you be afraid,’ I said, ‘if you were to see the airman? On your own, I mean …?’

      ‘N-no, I don’t think I would; not after what you’ve told me, Cassie. But I’d be very, very sad, for all that. But let’s get ourselves off! I’m famished!’

      

      The Red Rose was quiet when we walked in at seven o’clock. The darts team, the landlord told us, had an away fixture at Waddington and Bill Jarvis had gone on the mini-bus with them.

      ‘No grist to the mill tonight,’ I said as we looked at the menu, disappointed that Bill wasn’t there. ‘Look – would you order for me? Scampi and salad; no chips. And get a couple of drinks in, whilst I phone Mum?’ I laid a ten-pound note on the table. ‘Won’t be long.’

      ‘Cassie?’ Mum answered quickly, as if she had been waiting for my call. ‘I was wanting you to phone, love. Your dad’s just got back from the flower show and he says why don’t we pop up to see you tomorrow?’

      ‘Of course you can, but I thought he didn’t like the roads at weekends.’

      ‘Well, he’s changed his mind. If we set out early we should be with you about ten-ish. Is that all right, or shall we leave it till Wednesday?’

      ‘No! Come tomorrow!’ All at once I wanted to see them both.

      ‘No problem. I’ve got a chicken in the fridge. I’ll cook it tonight and bring it with me. Shall I bring saladings?’

      ‘Please, Mum. Lots. I don’t suppose there’d be any parkin …’

      ‘As a matter of fact there is, and I’ll bring an apple pie.’

      ‘You’re an angel!’

      ‘Sounds as if you haven’t been getting enough to eat, our Cassie.’

      ‘I have, but your cooking tastes so much better! Jeannie’s here. She’ll be pleased to meet you both.’

      ‘We-e-ll, if you’re sure it’s all right – somebody else’s house, I mean.’

      ‘Mum! Just come!’

      ‘In that case, no sense wasting money on the phone. I’ll give you all the news when we arrive. Dad will work out a route.’

      ‘If you look on the pinboard above my desk, you’ll find one there – very detailed. And warn Dad the dog doesn’t take kindly to strange men. A few cream biscuits in his pocket should do the trick – OK?’

      

      Sunday was going to be a bright, warm day; I knew it the minute I pulled back the curtains. The grass still looked damp, but the flowers stood straight and looked more colourful against the moist black earth.

      I thought with a squiggle of delight about ten o’clock and how much I was looking forward to seeing my parents.

      ‘Pity we didn’t get the grass cut yesterday,’ said Jeannie, who had got up early in their honour. ‘And it’s still too wet to do today,’ she said with relief.

      ‘I’ll do it later in the week. Want some toast?’

      ‘No thanks. Just coffee. What are they like, your folks: what are they called?’

      ‘Lydia and Geoffrey. They’re ordinary and direct. Dad has strong opinions about things – Yorkshire-stubborn, I suppose. And Mum fusses and is cuddly. I adore them. Oh, and they’d appreciate being called Mr and Mrs. They don’t go a lot on first names until they know people better. A bit old-fashioned, that way.’

      ‘If your Mum brings some parkin, I’ll call her Duchess!’ Jeannie grinned. ‘Now let’s tidy the place up a bit – put out the welcome mat!’

      ‘As long as the kettle is on the boil, Mum won’t mind.’ I felt light-headed and happy and eager to show Mum the house. ‘But not one word about the airman, if you don’t mind. They don’t believe in ghosts.’

      ‘Then who did you get your kinkiness from, Cas?’

      ‘Obliquely, I suppose, from Aunt Jane. We were always on the same wavelength. We still have little chats, sort of. Now, will you be a love and get rid of those dead flowers, and pick some fresh ones?’

      I was acting as if Deer’s Leap were my own house, which it was, really, until the end of the month. And the end of the month was a long way away!

       Chapter Seven

      Mum and Dad arrived ten minutes early, which meant I hadn’t opened the white gate, nor shoved Hector in the outhouse.

      ‘They’re here!’ Jeannie called, but it was too late to stop the angry dog rushing out and snarling and snapping from the other side of the gate.

      ‘Behave yourself, dog!’ I yelled. ‘Just СКАЧАТЬ