Two Strangers (27 page)

‘It’s hard, but I know you are right, and it has given me hope for the future at last.’

‘I’m glad.’ She studied the tall man in front of her and saw there was still a troubled look in his eyes. ‘When I finally told Bob and Flo that I was really a girl, I was terrified they would throw me out, but they didn’t. Do you know what happened?’

Bill shook his head.

‘Flo hugged me. No one had ever done that to me before and it was such a comfort. I am relieved to have found you again, so would you mind if I gave you a hug?’

He held out his arms and she stepped forward. He rested his chin on the top of her head, and they stood there, both giving and receiving comfort from each other. Just two people who had suffered, albeit in different ways, but they understood, and that made a bond between them.

‘Get away from my Vicki!’ A furious child’s voice broke through the silence.

‘Ouch!’ Bill stepped away from Vicki and began fending off Alfie who was thumping him with the silver topped head of the cane.

‘Get away! Get away! You won’t hurt my Vicki!’

‘Alfie,’ she shouted. ‘Bill wasn’t hurting me. We are friends and pleased to see each other again.’

Dave skidded into the stables. ‘What’s going on? What are you doing, Alfie? Stop that; you’ll hurt Mr Bill.’

‘He mustn’t do that!’

‘Do what?’ Dave caught hold of his brother to stop him lashing out.

‘He had hold of Vicki. Won’t let him hurt her.’

‘I wasn’t hurting her, young man.’ Bill was laughing now, and so was Vicki. ‘It’s very laudable of you to want to protect her, but it isn’t necessary, Alfie. We were just giving each other a hug like old friends do.’

Alfie came over to Vicki and took hold of her hand. ‘Are you his friend, then?’

‘Yes. Do you remember I’ve talked about the two men who helped me when I was homeless? Well, Sir Charles was one of them, and Bill is the other. I was so pleased to have found him and I gave him a hug, like this.’ She gently held the little boy. ‘There, that didn’t hurt, did it?’

‘It’s nice,’ he sighed. Then he went back to Bill, head down. ‘Sorry, I thought you was hurting her.’

‘I’d never do that, Alfie.’

‘Gosh!’ Dave was staring at Bill. ‘Are you that stranger who met Vicki at the old warehouse and gave her food and that book?’

‘That’s right, Dave.’ Bill looked down at Alfie who was examining the place he had been hitting on Bill’s leg. ‘What are you doing, Alfie?’

The little boy tipped his head back to look up. ‘Er … have I bruised you?’

Bill reached down and swept Alfie up. ‘Probably, but I’ve had worse. Don’t worry about it. You were very brave to defend Vicki like that.’

‘She’s kind.’ He smiled at Bill then. ‘You were kind to her, so I won’t hit you again.’

‘I’m relieved to hear that, young man. Now we are all friends, how about us taking the ponies out for a ride. I expect they would like that.’

‘Yes, yes!’ Alfie was wriggling with excitement as Bill put him down. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he was running around in search of Fred. ‘We’re gonna ride the ponies, Fred!’ he shouted. ‘Fred!’

‘I’m coming. What’s all this racket for?’

Alfie grabbed his sleeve and dragged him towards the others. ‘Mr Bill’s gonna take us riding!’

‘Ah, I see.’ The young man in charge of the stables grinned. ‘How many of you going?’

‘All of us!’ Alfie was jumping up and down. ‘I’ll help get the ponies ready.’

‘We can’t all go,’ Dave told his brother. ‘Mr Bill can’t ride a pony. His feet will touch the ground.’

‘Course not.’ Alfie gave his brother a disgusted look. ‘Fred’s got a big horse, haven’t you?’

Fred eyed the little boy with suspicion. ‘He only arrived yesterday, and he has a bit of a temper. I hope you haven’t been near him, Alfie?’

‘I only looked. I didn’t touch him.’

Dave groaned. ‘I don’t know what’s happened to him since we came here. I can’t take my eyes off him for a moment and he’s off. He’s crazy about the animals.’

Completely ignoring his brother’s remarks, Alfie tugged at Fred again. ‘I’ll go and tell Mr Harry we’re going out.’ Then he was gone.

‘Oh blast!’ Dave muttered as he took off after his brother.

By now, Vicki and the two men were almost doubled over with laughter.

‘Oh, I haven’t laughed like this for a long time,’ Bill told them. ‘And it feels good. That little rascal deserves a treat.’

‘Will you walk beside them, sir?’ Fred managed to ask once he had controlled his amusement.

‘No, I’ll take the new horse. Have you got anything suitable for Vicki?’

‘I’ve never been on a horse,’ she said in alarm. ‘I’ll stay with Alfie and see he doesn’t fall off.’

‘He won’t do that. Dave is the one liable to topple off. His little imp of a brother is as steady as a rock in the saddle. Are you sure you want to ride the stallion, sir? He could be difficult.’

‘Let me have a look at him.’

‘He’s in the very end stall.’

Vicki followed the two men. As they approached the stall, a large black face peered over the door and glared at them. She didn’t like the look of him and held back.

‘Hello, old fellow,’ Bill said softly as he walked slowly up to the animal. ‘Fed up with everything, are you?’

The horse snorted and kicked the door. Bill then reached out and took hold of his head and began to talk quietly. That seemed to calm the horse down, and after a while Bill stepped back. ‘I’ll saddle him up, Fred. It will do him good to get out.’

‘Very well, sir.’ Fred was eyeing the tall man with respect. ‘You obviously know what you’re doing. If anyone can handle him, it will be you. I’ll get the tack for you. I’ve got a suitable mount for the young lady.’

Vicki opened her mouth to refuse, but, before she could speak, Bill said, ‘Excellent.’

‘I told you I can’t ride,’ she protested after Fred left them. ‘And how do you know you can handle that stallion?’

He grinned. ‘I don’t, but I’m about to find out.’

Within a short time, the ponies and horses were ready and waiting in the yard. Bill swung Alfie into the saddle and then gave Dave a boost up. Fred put a mounting block for Vicki to use and steadied her as she settled in the saddle.

‘Don’t worry,’ he told her. ‘I’m coming as well and will stay beside you all the time. You’ll be quite safe; she’s a gentle mare.’

‘Relieved to hear that, Vicki watched as Bill talked to the fractious horse and then swung himself into the saddle with fluid grace.

Fred nodded in approval and they set off at a slow walk. Everyone looked comfortable on the animals except Vicki and Dave. He pulled a face at her as they made their way out of the yard, and she knew how he felt.

The stallion was protesting at the slow pace, and, once in open country, Fred said, ‘Why don’t you let the animal have a good gallop, sir? I will look after everyone.’

‘I think I will have to. He’s losing his temper.’

‘Off you go then, sir.’

Vicki held her breath as the big horse took off at speed, hooves flying over the grass.

‘Wow!’ Dave cried. ‘Look at him go!’

‘He’s jumped that hedge!’ Alfie was so excited. ‘Fred! I want to learn to ride like that.’

‘Very few become that expert, Alfie, but if you keep riding and listen to what I say, then I think you could be good when you are older. You already sit the pony well.’

Alfie grinned, happy with the compliment, but not taking his eyes of the horizon where Bill had disappeared.

‘Mr Dale is one of the best horsemen I’ve seen. Notice how he rides, Alfie. He is at one with the animal. Quite remarkable.’

Vicki watched as Bill thundered back to them, her hopes rising. Some deep memory must have told him he was capable of controlling a difficult animal.

‘Superb riding, sir,’ Fred told him when Bill pulled up in front of them. ‘I would appreciate it if you could find the time to ride him. He needs exercise like that, and we don’t have anyone capable of controlling him. I was going to ask Sir Charles to find him another home, but I won’t do that now.’

‘I would love to ride him, Fred.’ Bill slapped the animal’s neck and bent down to speak in his ear. ‘But you remember I’m the boss.’

‘Mr Bill, can I ride him?’ Alfie edged his pony next to the stallion.

Bill plucked Alfie from the saddle and sat the little boy in front of him, making him squeal with delight. ‘You can ride him only with me, young man. If I am not around, you are not to go near him. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, Mr Bill.’ Alfie craned his neck to look up. ‘Can we gallop?’

‘No, but we’ll trot.’ Holding the youngster firmly with one hand, Bill urged the horse into motion.

‘Crikey!’ Dave exclaimed. ‘We’re never gonna hear the last of this. He didn’t talk for ages; now he won’t stop. Marvellous, ain’t it?’

‘It certainly is. It’s wonderful to see him so happy.’ Vicki looked across at Dave. ‘And what about you? Are you happy as well?’

‘I couldn’t be happier, Vicki. This is like heaven after the rotten life we had before. You understand how we feel, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I understand,’ she said softly.

‘We had better get back now.’ Fred guided Vicki’s horse. ‘Don’t grip the reins so tightly. Hold them loosely … and you, Dave.’

When they reached the stables, Alfie was waiting for them. ‘We beat you back. Mr Bill’s seeing to his horse, and he’s gonna take me riding with him again. We went ever so fast!’

‘Yes, we saw you,’ Vicki told the excited boy.

‘Ah, there you are.’ John Steadman came into the stables. ‘Lunch is ready, boys.’

‘What we got, Mr John?’ Alfie wanted to know. ‘I’m starving. I’ve been riding the big horse!’

‘Told you. We’ll never hear the last of this.’ Still grinning, Dave took off after John and his brother.

Fred was seeing to the ponies, so Vicki waited for Bill. When he came out of the stall, his expression was serious. She had expected him to be happy after the ride. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘While I was galloping along, I had a brief flash of doing the same thing before, only I was younger then, and had others with me as well. I tried to see the faces, but I couldn’t hold the picture long enough. It’s like trying to grasp at mist, and it is so frustrating.’

‘Don’t let it upset you too much. You have discovered today that you are an excellent horseman, and you used to ride with friends when you were young. That’s something, Bill. I’m sure it will all come back eventually.’

‘I hope you’re right. I haven’t really tried to regain my memory, not wanting to see the horrors I’m sure are there, but things have changed. Now I want to know.’

Twenty-Eight

‘Did you enjoy your ride?’ Bob asked when Vicki joined them for lunch.

‘Not as much as Alfie.’

‘Or Bill?’ Harry studied Vicki intently. ‘I was pleased to see you talking to him. Can I take it that he did apologize for the way he treated you?’

‘Yes, he did, and it was good to see him laughing.’

Edward nodded. ‘That was an encouraging sight. And my goodness, he can certainly ride a horse.’

‘Alfie has declared he is going to ride just like him.’ Vicki smiled at the memory of the little boy’s excitement.

‘I think the whole school knows that by now,’ Pearl said drily. ‘I’m sure his shouts even reached the village.’

‘Without a doubt.’ Vicki got up to help Pearl serve the meal. ‘Bill is his hero now.’

‘And is he still yours?’ Flo asked gently.

‘Yes, and always will be. He’s going to need help, Harry. I fear we have thrown his life into turmoil, and he now wants his memory back.’

‘I’m relieved to hear that he wants to regain his memory. He’s been drifting for far too long. Don’t worry, Vicki; I’ve told him we are here for him if he needs help, or just to talk.’

‘You’ll write and let me know how he is, won’t you, Harry?’

‘I will. Now, eat your lunch. Charles is coming this afternoon. He says we should have a tennis court and must decide where to put it.’

‘A tennis court?’ Vicki was astonished. ‘You are going to end up with the best school in the county. Parents will soon be paying you to educate their children.’

Edward’s mouth twitched. ‘Perhaps we should ask Charles for a swimming pool as well.’

That sent them all into peals of laughter, releasing the tension of the morning.

‘I’ve brought you a present,’ Charles declared, indicating the horsebox attached to the van he had arrived in. ‘Thought you might need a couple more horses. Your new students are too big for the ponies.’

‘New students?’

‘Yes, Harry. They will be arriving tomorrow from Andover. Sad story. Father died in the war, and the mother has been sick all the time. The two youngsters have been trying to survive without any help. Mother died last month. I’ve met them, and they need your help.’

‘They will have to share a room. We can’t take many more, Charles.’

‘I’ve thought of that. The builders will be starting next week on an extension to the main house. Will another five bedrooms be sufficient?’

‘Oh, plenty.’ Harry ran a hand over his eyes. ‘Charles, will you please ask us before you find more children who need our help! We have our hands full already.’

He laughed at Harry’s pained expression. ‘All right, but there are so many poor little scraps who need this place, just like the ex-soldiers needing a helping hand who are having a job to cope with life in one way and another.’

‘We can’t save the whole world,’ Harry reminded him.

‘I know, but we can have a damned good try. Don’t worry, funds are pouring in, and you’ve just employed a new teacher. Where is Manton? Couldn’t get here before, but I’d like to meet him.’

‘He’s around somewhere, but remember what I told you about him,’ Harry warned. ‘He knows his real name now, but not much more.’

‘I understand the situation.’

‘I’ll go and find him.’ Edward headed for the stables and in only a few minutes was coming back with Bill beside him.

‘That’s him,’ Charles declared. ‘Even at a distance I can recognize him. My dear mother used to say that some people are like that – once seen never forgotten. I must admit I believed you were mistaken, Vicki.’

‘I never forgot either of my strangers,’ she told him, smiling affectionately at him.