Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 2: The Loner, Born Bad, Three Letters. Josephine Cox

fine.’ And now that it was settled, they sat down to enjoy their food.

      For the next hour, they talked and laughed and exchanged confidences, about their favourite film stars and songs. Annie was dead smitten by Guy Mitchell, the handsome American vocalist. Both girls loved listening to Two-Way Family Favourites on a Sunday morning, when requests were played by Jean Metcalfe. You had to have someone in the Forces, though, to send in a request.

      ‘Ooh, I could listen to him all day,’ mooned Annie.

      The two girls watched the barges go by, and waved to the man at the tiller, and when the food was finished, they picked up their coats and strolled along the canal towpath. ‘Hey, look lively, you two day dreamers! You’d best move, unless you want trampling to a pulp!’

      Leading the horse along the towpath, the bargee had nowhere to go but onwards. Shafted to a wide strong harness, the huge powerful shire-horse was bent forward, using his great strength to draw the barge along in the water.

      Leaping out of the way, the two girls went up on the bank and remained there, until the horse had pulled the barge to a wider part of the canal.

      Suddenly, a brightly coloured ball came bouncing past with a little boy chasing it, and behind him ran a woman who caught the boy by the scruff of his neck. ‘What have I told you before, Charlie? You are not to run near the edge of the water.’

      Her companion was obviously her husband and the boy’s father; tall and pleasant-looking, he appeared to be in his early forties and in his smart, double-breasted overcoat, he had the air of a successful businessman. ‘Charles! You listen to your mother and do what she tells you!’ Taking the ball from the child, he gave him a stern though not unkind scolding. ‘I intend keeping this until you learn to do as you’re told. It’s for your own good. Now get between me and your mammy.’ He tempered his rebuke with a forgiving smile. ‘You can still see the ducks without diving in amongst them.’

      A moment later, with his mammy holding his hand on one side and his daddy holding his other hand, the small boy walked happily along the towpath.

      Annie winked at Judy. ‘He’s a bit of all right, don’t you think?’ She gestured to the man. ‘I’ll bet he’s not short of a bob or two neither.’

      Judy didn’t think the man was anything special. In fact, compared with Davie’s dad, Don, he wasn’t worth a second glance. Annie was right on one count though, because unlike Don, this man probably was worth a bob or two. But Don was far more good-looking for a man of his age; he was full of the Irish blarney, and he had a cheeky smile, just like Davie.

      A fleeting thought crossed her mind. What if Don never found out what happened after he left, and what if he and Davie never saw each other again? She swallowed.

      Annie linked her arm through her friend’s. ‘You don’t like the look of him, do you?’ she teased.

      ‘No, I don’t.’ Judy gave a shiver. ‘There’s something about him that gives me the creeps.’ A bit like your brother, she thought – but didn’t say so.

      For a while the two girls just wandered and chatted, about this and that and nothing in particular, until Annie suddenly got very excited. ‘Look!’ She pointed to a spot on the other side of the river, surrounded by trees and away from the madding crowd; quiet and secluded, it was a favourite place with fishermen. ‘Isn’t that Lenny?’

      Seated on a three-legged stool and lost in thought, Lenny didn’t see them. ‘Hey, Lenny!’ Annie’s distinctive voice sailed across the water. ‘Mind if we keep you company for a while?’

      Looking up, Lenny waved them over. He had been feeling lonely, but the sight of the two friends brightened his day. He really liked Judy, though everyone knew she and Davie would be sweethearts one day. But now Davie was gone, and though he was sorry for what had happened to Davie, he was glad Judy was still here. And as she crossed the bridge towards him, his heart was lurching all over the place.

      ‘Is there really a need for them to shout like that?’ The woman and her son had heard Annie call out and their attention was drawn to Lenny. ‘Such vulgar behaviour!’

      As the girls ran across the bridge and through the field towards Lenny, the man discreetly slowed his step to steal another look at Lenny.

      Sensing the man’s eyes on him, Lenny raised his head. For an instant they exchanged glances until unnerved, the man quickly looked away.

      ‘Stuart?’ His wife’s voice cut through his thoughts.

      ‘What?’

      ‘Do you know that young man?’ She had seen him scrutinising Lenny from a distance.

      ‘Of course I don’t know him, Janette.’ The man was obviously irritated. ‘Why in God’s name would I know him?’

      ‘Do you know the two girls then?’ The woman’s intuition told her that something was untoward. She recalled various other unsettling instances, when her husband had given her reason to doubt his word.

      He scowled at her. ‘What’s the matter with you? Sounds like a blasted inquisition! I don’t know that young man, and I don’t know those girls. All right?’

      ‘I expect so, yes. And there is no need to swear.’

      ‘Good. So now can we get off home?’

      As they walked on, Janette Fitzwilliam gave the impression that she was satisfied with his answer. But she did not believe him. She knew her husband too well. She saw how the colour drained from his face when he looked across the water and suddenly, what had started as a leisurely Saturday afternoon stroll in the park now seemed a frantic rush to get away.

      Twice the man discreetly glanced back; his mind alive with dark, intriguing thoughts. His wife had her suspicions, he was sure of it. But for now, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

      As they approached Lenny, Annie and Judy slowed their pace. ‘I really like Lenny,’ Annie confessed. ‘I’ve always liked him.’

      Judy was not surprised. Annie fancied every single boy she ever came across.

      ‘Does he know?’ she asked.

      Annie shrugged her shoulders. ‘Don’t think so.’

      ‘Why don’t you tell him then?’

      ‘I will,’ Annie retorted, ‘when the time is right.’

      ‘If you really like him, don’t leave it too long, or some other girl will snatch him from under your nose,’ Judy warned.

      ‘Hmh!’ Annie showed her a bunched fist. ‘Just let them try, that’s all.’

      ‘You like him now, but I bet you’ll fancy somebody else before the week’s out.’ Judy had never met anyone more flippant than Annie.

      ‘I won’t!’

      ‘What about Ian Lacey?’

      ‘What about him? Ow!’ Tripping over a stone, Annie picked it up and slammed it into the water. ‘Damned thing, I’ve stubbed my toe now.’

      ‘I thought you and Ian had taken a shine to each other?’

      ‘Naw.’ She made a grimace. ‘He’s not my type, and anyway, it’s you he’s waiting for.’

      Judy smiled. ‘He’ll wait a long time then!’

      ‘You’ll see,’ Annie chuckled. ‘One of these days, he’ll start making his move.’

      ‘Then he’s in for a disappointment, ’cause I’m not interested in him, or any other boy for that matter.’

      ‘Except Davie, eh?’ Annie wouldn’t let it go.

      ‘Davie is my friend,’ Judy answered loyally.