A Most Determined Bachelor. Miriam Macgregor

her present situation.

      Sitting at the kitchen table one day, Robin had said casually, ‘My Gran is very, very cross. She’s so angry she’s nearly crying.’

      Judy had looked at him in amazement. She could imagine Hilda Simmons being cross, because it was a state not at all foreign to her. But for her neighbour to reach the stage of tears was something she was unable to visualise. Should she go next door to see if there was anything she could do to help? Judy was the type of person who liked to help.

      At the same time she hesitated, fearing that Hilda Simmons might consider she was intruding upon a private matter. Nevertheless, the thought of her being so upset disturbed Judy, particularly as she was an elderly widow whose daughter, Robin’s mother, was away at present. Tentatively, she asked, ‘Why is your gran so upset?’

      His mouth half full, Robin said, “Cos Mrs Fulton won’t do something she wants her to do.’

      Judy looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Could I help? Is it something I could do for her?’

      ‘I don’t know...’

      Judy made a decision. She might be putting herself in the position of being told to mind her own business, but if her neighbour needed assistance she felt it should be of fered. Impulsively, she said, ‘Finish your drink and we’ll go and see your gran.’

      Robin had not exaggerated the extent of his grandmother’s anger. She was frothing mad, yet her face cleared and a speculative look crept into her eyes as Judy stepped into the neighbouring kitchen.

      ‘Robin said you need a little help,’ the latter began.

      ‘Oh, I do—I do!’ Hilda Simmons exclaimed. She was a tall, dominant woman of generous proportions, and her dark eyes held a piercing glint. People usually found themselves doing as she demanded, but in this case she did not appear to have been completely successful. ‘That wretched Pulton woman has let me down,’ she went on in an aggrieved tone. ‘She’s one of my bridge players. She was going to Napier and had promised to take Robin with her. She was to leave him with Ryan—but now she’s had to cancel her trip.’

      Who was Ryan? Judy wondered at that stage.

      Hilda’s wrath then turned towards her daughter. ‘It was very selfish of Verna to go skiing at the beginning of the school holidays,’ she complained. ‘She has no right to put the responsibility for Robin on me. She knows he’s becoming more than I can cope with. She knows I can’t allow my good works to suffer because of a small boy who is often very naughty.’

      The last words were accompanied by a dark glare towards Robin, who stood listening with a sullen look on his small face and his lower lip thrust slightly forward.

      ‘It would be dreadful if he had one of his tantrums in front of my bridge ladies,’ Hilda added, the mere thought causing a hint of horror to creep into her voice.

      Judy made no reply. She considered Hilda Simmons to be an overbearing woman who was capable of coping with anything. Nor did she find it difficult to imagine her placing the responsibility of Robin on somebody else herself. As for the ‘good works’—they were little more than afternoon bridge parties which resulted in a few dollars going to charity. Even so, Hilda’s next words had given her a shock.

      Taking a deep breath, the older woman drew herself to her full height as she said, ‘Well—you asked if there was anything you could do to help. As it happens, there is. You can take Robin to Napier and leave him with Ryan Ellison.’

      ‘Me-?’ The word came out like a squeak as Judy gaped at her.

      ‘Of course you’ll be paid. That should be a help, considering you’re currently out of work.’ Hilda paused before adding thoughtfully, ‘I feel sure he’ll be safe with Ryan.’

      Her last words surprised Judy. ‘Safe? Safe from what?’

      Hilda ignored the question as she said, ‘Don’t allow him to talk to any strange men. One hears so much about these ghastly people...’

      The thought made Judy shudder, but she managed to speak calmly. ‘I think you’re worrying needlessly, Mrs Simmons. Air hostesses will do the job for you. Children often travel in the care of hostesses. They’re very reliable—’

      Hilda pursed thin lips. ‘But they’d be strangers to Robin, whereas he knows you,’ she said, with unexpected grandmotherly concern. ‘I’m afraid he’s not very good with women he doesn’t know, although he’s quite at ease with men.’

      A sigh escaped Judy. ‘Very well, I’ll take him. Job-hunting will have to wait until I return to Christchurch.’

      Hilda breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you, my dear. And don’t forget to warn Ryan about what happens if the boy becomes unduly upset. You know what I mean...’

      Judy had nodded without uttering the dreaded word bed-wetting.

      Hilda stood looking at Judy reflectively, her dark eyes taking in the latter’s lovely face, with its clear complexion, straight nose and sweetly generous mouth. The blonde hair curling about the slim shoulders made her look much younger than her twenty-three years, and, almost as if noticing her neighbour’s beauty for the first time, the older woman spoke firmly. ‘Of course there’ll be no need for you to stay in Napier. Ryan’s housekeeper will take care of Robin as soon as he becomes accustomed to her. You may come home the next day.’

      Judy felt puzzled. ‘I can? But—who will bring Robin home?’

      ‘Naturally, Verna will make the trip to fetch him. It’s high time she made contact with Ryan again. Actually—he should have married her years ago.’ Hilda’s eyes blazed with a flash of anger. ‘But has he done so? No—he has not. According to his housekeeper, he’s thrown himself into agricultural pursuits and has become a veritable land baron. She said it’s difficult to know whether he owns the land, or whether the land owns him. She also said his house sees as much social life as a hermit’s cave. But of course Verna would alter all that.’

      Robin broke into Judy’s ponderings, his voice holding an anxious note as he said, ‘I don’t think Uncle Ryan is pleased we’re coming to stay with him. That’s why he’s not here to meet us.’

      Judy sent him a curious glance, but forced herself to speak casually. ‘Why do you say that?’

      “Cos Gran kept frowning when she talked to him on the phone. She was very, very cross. I think Uncle Ryan was cross too.’ His eyes looked at her pleadingly. ‘Judy—could we go home—now?’

      She felt disturbed. ‘No, dear, I’m afraid that’s impossible. At least, not today.’ Had a word of welcome been missing from the other end of the line? she wondered. Her arm went about Robin in a comforting gesture as she added, ‘If Uncle Ryan stays cross with us we shall go home very soon.’ she promised.

      By this time the airport was emptying. Luggage had been collected, people were departing, and it was then that Judy became aware of the man who stood watching them. Judging him to be about thirty, and over six feet in height, he stood with his arms folded across a broad chest. Their eyes met and their locked gazes held for several long moments while instinct told her that this was Ryan Ellison.

      ‘A man who stands out in a crowd’, Hilda Simmons had said, and Judy could only agree that he would make any girl look twice. But she hadn’t expected him to be quite so handsome, and as he came towards them her legs suddenly felt weak and shaky. Olive-green eyes swept over her, and when he spoke it was with a deep, vibrant voice that fitted in with the rest of him.

      ‘Is it possible you’re Mrs Fulton and that this lad is Robin Bryant?’ he queried.

      It took her a moment to gather her wits. ‘Mrs Fulton? No—I’m Judith Arledge. But this is Robin... I presume you’re Mr Elison?’ As he nodded she went on to explain, ‘Mrs Fulton was unable to make her visit to Napier, so Mrs Simmons arranged with me to bring Robin to you. Didn’t she tell you about this change of plan?’

      His tone became crisp.