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He tried the handle several times, with no luck. With no other ideas, and increasingly worried, he rapped his knuckles on the wooden panelling; all to no avail.
Lifting the cover of the letter box, he peered through. The inner door to the saloon was closed and there was no evidence of anyone inside: no laughter or chatter, and no rattling of glasses.
Stepping back, he looked up at the bedroom windows. Disappointingly, the curtains were drawn.
Hesitating, he wondered if he should shout up but he knew the publican wouldn’t thank him for waking him and his wife if they were asleep. But he was frantic to know Molly’s whereabouts, so he decided to call anyway. He was aware that the landlord might occasionally organise lock-ins, when he would invite a chosen party of friends to have a quiet drink outside of normal hours.
First he rattled the letter box again, but there was still no response from inside. Desperate, he leaned forward to call through the aperture. ‘Hello,’ he yelled, ‘it’s John Tanner. I’m sorry, but I need to know if my wife is in there with you.’
When there was still no answer, he raised his voice and shouted up for a second time: ‘It’s John Tanner, Molly’s husband. She hasn’t come home yet, and I’m worried about her. Is she in there? Hello?’
He listened for a moment but the silence thickened, so this time he pressed his face even closer to the letter box, yelling as loud as he dared: ‘I’m sorry to disturb you when it’s so late, but I’m really worried. Molly hasn’t come home, and I don’t know where she is. I was hoping you might be able to help me.’
Upstairs, Peggy Benson and her husband, Roger, woke with a start.
‘What the hell’s going on?’ Leaning up on one elbow, Roger looked a sorry sight with his wild, ginger hair standing on end, and his eyes like two sunken holes in his features.
‘Dammit! Can’t a person get a decent night’s sleep after a long working day?’ Peggy grumbled. When her husband fell back and seemed to be nodding off again, she shook him violently. ‘Roger, wake up!’
He groaned as though in agony. ‘Aw, dammit! Leave me alone. It’s probably some drunk lost his way. He’ll soon get fed up if we ignore him.’
‘How the hell can we ignore him? We’d best get rid of him, or he’ll wake the entire street.’
Roger lazily opened one eye. ‘I said leave him. He’ll soon get the message. Go back to sleep, woman.’
‘I can’t!’ She shook Roger again. ‘Listen! He’s causing a commotion out there.’ She gave a long yawn. ‘Please, Roger. It’s all right for you; you’ve been out for most of the day, while I’ve been stuck behind the bar. I’m bone tired. Please, Roger! Just go down and chase the bugger off, whoever he is!’ Frustrated when he didn’t move, she gave him a hard dig with her elbow. ‘Go on then!’
‘Why can’t you “chase the bugger off”?’
‘’Cause I’m a woman, and you’re a man … or you should be.’
‘Like I say, ignore him. He’ll get fed up when he realises we’re closed.’
The shouting stopped and they lay back to catch up on their much-needed sleep. But after a few minutes the peace was broken yet again.
This time the voice was even louder. ‘It’s John Tanner. I’m looking for Molly … my wife. She hasn’t come home yet. Is she in there?’
‘Well, I never,’ Peggy said, hearing clearly this time. ‘It’s Molly Tanner’s husband. He’s asking after Molly. He says she hasn’t come home yet.’
‘Damn and bugger it, woman!’ Bleary-eyed, Roger sat up again. ‘What makes him think she’s still here? For pity’s sake, get down there and tell him we need our sleep, and that his wife left ages since.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I didn’t see her leave but she must have gone while I was fixing the light in the cellar. But do I recall you saying she left with some bloke?’
‘That’s right. They went off ages ago, both of ’em the worse for the drink.’ Now Peggy was concerned. ‘You don’t think something’s happened to them, do you? I mean, they were more than a bit jolly. What if they wandered into the road and got run over, or fell into a ditch or something?’
‘Don’t be so dramatic, woman. She’s probably gone back to her friend’s house for a good old time – lucky beggars! And there’s us, can’t even get a decent night’s sleep, let alone enjoy a bit o’ slap and tickle.’
‘Aw, you poor thing. Well, unlike you, I’ve been up since five this morning, and I need my sleep more than you do. So get down them stairs and get rid of him. Oh, and you’d best not mention how Molly left with a man on her arm.’
‘You needn’t worry about that because I am not getting involved. Please, sweetheart, you’re much better at this kind of thing than I am.’
‘But I’m so tired, Roger.’ She tried a change of tack. ‘I don’t know where Molly is any more than you do. So please, help me out here, will you?’
He turned away, saying, ‘Get down there and see him off! You can have a lie-in, and I’ll get up and oversee the brewery’s delivery.’
‘No. What if I work the late shift again tonight instead?’ She much preferred that.
‘Nope.’
‘Hmm. Call yourself a man?’ Slinking out of bed, she gave him a parting slap across the shoulders. ‘And don’t think you can have your wicked way with me when I get back.’
‘Spoilsport!’ He turned over and gave her a cheeky little wink. ‘I really hoped I might be on a promise.’
‘Well, you were wrong.’ She threw her dressing gown over her nakedness. ‘You get back to sleep. I won’t wake you because I’ll be sleeping in the spare room tonight.’ She thrust on her slippers and strode angrily across the room, banging the door behind her. ‘Lazy git.’ Her sharp cursing echoed back to him.
‘Yeah, you too!’ Making a face, he turned over again and went back to sleep.
John Tanner was relieved when he saw the lights going on. A moment or so later, the door was opened by the landlady, who looked harassed and dishevelled in her hastily thrown-on dressing gown. ‘What the devil d’you think you’re doing, banging and shouting through the letter box? We were fast asleep in bed. Don’t you know what time it is?’
‘I’m sorry,’ John said. ‘I’m looking for my wife, Molly. She hasn’t come home from work yet.’
‘Well, I’m sorry, I have no idea where she might be. She ended her shift as usual, and then she had a last drink or so with her friend. As I recall, it was past closing hour when I turned them out.’
‘Who was it, this friend?’ John asked.
‘I have no idea.’ Peggy recalled that Molly and her friend had had a relationship before Molly married John Tanner, but she decided it would be best to keep her mouth shut.
‘Did they go off together?’
‘Well, I suppose they parted company once they were out of here … I don’t know.’ She was wishing she had not even mentioned Molly Tanner’s ‘friend’.
‘What did this friend look like?’
‘Sorry, I was run off my feet … too busy to take notice.’
‘When they left, though, did you see which way they went?’
‘Nope.’ The landlady hunched her shoulders. ‘Like I said, I was run off my feet. But I’m sure she’ll be home when you get back. Now, I need to go to my bed. I’m up at five in the morning.’
John was feeling desperate. ‘So you really can’t describe this friend to me?’
Increasingly uncomfortable at being put in this position, the landlady replied with a slow shake of her head.
‘Was it a man or a woman?’
Peggy cautioned herself against getting drawn into any business of Molly’s. Although she had never actually met John Tanner before she was well aware of his reputation as a decent, hard-working man and a fine husband. However, jealousy could change the situation in a minute.
‘I really must get back to bed,’ she pleaded. ‘Like I say, she’s bound to be home by the time you get there.’
Peggy was not the only one who had been surprised at John Tanner’s marrying Molly. It was local belief that he had settled for the wrong woman, although he appeared happy and contented.
For her part, Peggy Benson tried to distance herself from the gossip. It wasn’t good for business to be known for spreading tittle-tattle, especially about her own staff. She saw Molly as a good barmaid, but possessed of a sense of her own importance.
Peggy found herself feeling for John, who was obviously not aware of his wife’s devious nature.
‘Please …’ John pressed her for an answer. ‘What did her friend look like?’
‘Oh, he was nothing special. I didn’t take too much notice. Like I said, I was run off my feet.’
‘But she was with a man – that’s what you said.’
‘Did I?’ She could have kicked herself.
‘Yes. Just now, you said, “He was nothing special.”’
‘That’s right, but I didn’t get a good look at him.’
John needed more information. ‘This man – can you recall anything else? For instance, what he was wearing?’ He had an idea, though if he were less desperate he’d have realised he was clinging on to a very faint hope. ‘Did he have a mop of fair, wavy hair, because it might well have been her sister’s husband, Patrick. She may have gone with him to see her sister, although they surely would have rung us at home first.’ He was babbling now.
‘I can’t describe the friend,’ Peggy informed him. ‘I saw him only from the back. I was busy all night, so I didn’t get a proper look at him.’
John gently insisted, ‘Try and think back. Did the man have a thick mop of fair, wavy hair?’
‘I can’t recall. Sorry.’
John had by now convinced himself that Molly must have bumped into the amiable Paddy, her brother-in-law. ‘Thank you, and I’m truly sorry to have bothered you.’ He bade Peggy good night.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful …’ She began closing the door, regretting being so impatient with him. ‘Only I’ve had one hell of a day. I really need to get some sleep before I’m on my feet again.’ She was also wishing she had been more careful with the little information she had offered.
‘So you really have no idea where they were headed?’ John was not altogether content with the outcome of their little chat.
‘No, I have no idea whatsoever,’ she assured him. ‘I’m really sorry.’ She truly sympathised with his dilemma, but was most reluctant to add anything to what she had already said. Fearing he might ask more questions, she continued closing the door. ‘Good night then.’ Feeling mean, she quickly shut and secured the door behind him.
She then hurried up the stairs and went straight to the bedroom window, ignoring her husband’s sleeping form. She peeped through the curtains to see John Tanner hurrying away down the shadowy street.
She considered him to be a well-built figure of a man, in his long dark coat and black-and-white checked flat cap. She also believed him to be a good and kindly soul although if the occasion demanded it, she sensed, he could be a man to be reckoned with.
For a few minutes more, she kept him in sight but then he turned the corner and was gone.
She now called to mind how his feckless wife had flirted shamelessly with her male companion. ‘You’re a downright fool, Molly!’ she murmured under her breath. ‘You don’t deserve a fine man like John Tanner.’
Eager to get home, John quickened his steps. He felt somewhat relieved by the landlady’s assurance that he might find Molly waiting at the farmhouse.
Hurrying from the intrusive lights of streetlamps and passing vehicles, he turned into the long lane towards home. Maybe she’s right, he thought. Perhaps Molly really will be home by now, and no doubt wondering where I am.
He wondered if Rosie might tell Molly he was out searching the streets for her. He hoped not, because Molly would be angry about that and he was in no mood for an argument.
Taking a moment to think about it, he convinced himself that Rosie wouldn’t say anything. Regrettably, Rosie and Molly were never going to be best friends. He thought it understandable, especially when one of them was gentle and giving, while the other was hard-hearted and capable of wickedness.
He was painfully aware of how Rosie had not altogether forgiven Molly for spitefully whipping that poor old horse all that time ago, although, in truth, on that particular day Molly had shown a depth to her wicked temper that he had never seen before.
Even now, it was difficult for him to forgive Molly’s actions, although in time he hoped he would.
Rosie, however, with her caring nature and huge love for the tired old gelding, might take longer to forgive her mother. If she ever did.
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_f81c6657-1b44-5cde-8374-445d3092d823)
‘COME ON, BIG BOY!’ Feeling playful, Molly drew Tom towards the big hay barn at Tanner’s Farm. ‘Nobody ever comes in here outside of work,’ she explained. ‘We could stay here all night if needs be, and no one would ever know.’
‘I’m not sure I’d want to stay here all night.’ Tom was surprised and a little concerned that she had brought him onto the farm after all. It made him nervous. ‘I bet there are mice and even rats hiding in here … and what if someone does come in and find us?’ He stole a look behind him.
‘Trust me, there won’t be anyone here at this time of night.’ Reaching into the deep crack under the window ledge, she collected the big iron key along with a bulky torch. ‘Ah,’ she waved the key at Tom, ‘I’m glad they still hide the key there.’ With a flourish she slid the big key into the lock and eased open the heavy door. ‘Come on, hurry up!’
When they were both inside, she spread her hands across the big door, and pushed it shut. That done, she carefully directed the narrow torch-beam in order to locate the switch, then switched on the light.
‘Hmm. There’s not much more light now than there was with the torch,’ Tom commented.
‘No matter,’ Molly retorted. ‘As long as it’s just enough to guide us, that’s all we need.’ She swept the place with a long, searching look, quickly satisfied that they were the only people there. ‘See, quiet as a graveyard. We’ll be all right in here.’
Greatly relieved, Tom chuckled like a naughty schoolboy. ‘So it’s just us two lovebirds, eh?’
‘Come on, you big old softy!’
Taking him by the hand, Molly led him further into the barn. The two of them followed a well-worn path between the bales. Wide enough to get a man and barrow through, it led them to the heart of the barn.
‘Wow!’ Tom was amazed to find himself surrounded by mountainous walls of hay bales, neatly stacked almost to the roof.
With the overhead light being barely adequate, Molly kept the torch trained low to the ground as she went, keeping a wary eye on Tom, who followed nervously not far behind.
‘Good grief! Where the devil are we going, Molly?… Are you sure you closed that door tight?… Ooh, look at that; I’ve never seen so much hay all in one place. It must have taken a long time to get it all stacked and safe.’
‘You don’t know anything about farming, do you?’ Molly teased him, rolling her eyes.
‘No, I don’t, and am never likely to. I work in a factory and I live in town. There ain’t no fields there, an’ there ain’t no hay-eating animals that I know of!’
‘Well, just so you won’t be totally ignorant, I’ll explain. The hay is cut and collected off the fields towards the end of summer, and fed to the animals over the winter months. John grows some of it for his own animals, but at least half gets sold to local beef and pork farmers who don’t have enough land for growing their own fodder. That works out well for everyone: it helps the farmers to feed their herds, and it also brings in more cash for us. Once the hay is inside, it’s no trouble as long as it’s kept in the right conditions.’
‘Hey, I’m not altogether stupid, Molly. But thanks for the information.’
Proceeding into the belly of the dimly lit barn, he glanced furtively about him, as though fearing some dark shape would leap out and swallow him up. When Molly quickened her steps, he broke into a clumsy little run behind her. He was definitely not comfortable in amongst this mountain of hay. What if the bales should fall on him? What if someone was watching them right now? And what about rats – how could he be sure they were not waiting to pounce? The thought made him shiver.
Mentally shaking himself, he concentrated on Molly. He did love her, even though, through all the years, she had never once contacted him. Tonight he had engineered a meeting in the pub, and it proved only how much he had missed her and how lonely his life had been without her. Molly was his only true love, and always would be.
Looking at her now, he smiled as she led him along the meandering corridor. Molly always had a good pair of legs, he thought. She was the best-looking girl he’d ever clapped eyes on, and when he was younger it had taken him a long time to find the courage to woo her. One thing he knew for sure, though: the few years when he had been with Molly were the best of his life.
He wondered if she would ever come back to him – not just for a tumble in the hay, but to be with him for the rest of his days. That would be his heaven: he and Molly together for the remainder of their lives. If he could have just one wish it would be that maybe – just maybe – she might learn to love him again as deeply as he had loved her all these years past.
Right now, though, he needed to concentrate on the reason she had brought him here. When he dared to imagine she would give herself to him, his heart leaped in his chest. Molly had always been his woman and he needed her now more than ever.
Nevertheless, this adventure was making him highly nervous, even though they were nearing the far end of the great barn. ‘Molly, I don’t like being in here. What if somebody finds us?’
