Escape to the Country (12 page)

When Leah remarked on the number of people present, Jim looked
puzzled.

"I see only two people, but they are so beautiful I don't want
to look at anyone else." That, of course, provided him with
another excuse to kiss Jayne and Leah. And then Jayne again.

The delicious wine went to Leah's head and she took it in turns with
Jayne to flirt with Jim and anyone else who joined their small
circle. She knew she was acting a little silly but it was great to
get a reaction from a man, that was something other than a
disapproving frown. The old lady who'd claimed Duncan earlier in the
evening tapped Leah's elbow and beckoned her to follow

Leah, following into a quiet corner, wondered if she'd have to endure
a lecture about unladylike behaviour. Instead the lady wanted to tell
her what a dear boy Ollie was. It took Leah a minute to realise she
meant Duncan. Once she did, she agreed enthusiastically. Perhaps too
enthusiastically because the lady beamed and said how nice it was
that something was going right for him after all his problems. She
seemed to assume the two of them would naturally get together. Leah
hoped she was right about that, though glad she was wrong about the
name. Ollie was a silly name, probably short for Oliver.

The glass fell from her hand and shattered. People rushed to clear it
up, but Leah couldn't move. Jayne had told her Duncan was Oliver
Gilmore-Bunce and Leah hadn't believed it. Adam had pointed out an
older, far less attractive man and said he was G-B and she'd believed
him instead - just as she'd believed all the awful things Adam had
said about the man. They hadn't all been true, she had since
realised, maybe his identification had been no more accurate. If
Duncan was G-B, what did that mean? He said he didn't believe she'd
committed the fraud, but then he'd said he was Duncan...

"Are you all right, dear?" The old lady asked.

Leah couldn't reply.

"Anyone know where May is? Her girl looks like she's had a bit
of a shock."

Thank goodness, the lady was just terrible with names. Leah took a
deep breath.

"Want to sit down?" the old lady asked.

"No, I'm fine really," Leah reassured her. To prove it, she
escorted her new friend to the buffet table where they both managed a
few more mouthfuls of delicious roast pork and spiced apple sauce.

Later, the music became softer and the mood more romantic. Jim
approached holding a hand over one eye.

"Are you OK?" Leah asked.

Jim removed the hand and stuck his fingers in his ears. "Too
much loveliness at once confuses a poor chap like me. I've got to
pretend there's just one of you or I'll go crazy deciding which one
to dance with first."

Leah stood behind Jayne. "Does this help?"

"Indeed it does. Jayne, please dance with me?"

Jayne looked at Leah who'd just caught sight of Duncan approaching,
this time without a glass in his hand.

"Go on, Jayne, I'll be fine."

Duncan came close enough to whisper, "Shall we?" as he
gestured to the dance floor.

Leah nodded and stepped into his arms.

As soon as he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close,
she knew that was what she'd been waiting for all evening.

He didn't speak as they danced, just held her gently and moved slowly
in time to the music. She felt ridiculously happy as though nothing
in her life could ever go wrong again. She rested her cheek against
his shoulder and breathed deeply. He didn't smell of aftershave or
even fabric conditioner. Leah wasn't entirely sure what she was
breathing in except that judging by the effect it was having on her
body, it had to contain a healthy dose of pheromones.

The song was far too short. Just as she'd closed her eyes and tried
to imprint her brain with every sensation she was feeling so she
could relive the happiness later, the music changed to something
livelier. Duncan took her hand and lead her outside. The flames from
the hog roast had died down to a gentle glow. Leah couldn't see
anyone else there, but then she wasn't really looking. All her senses
where concentrating on Duncan.

"You look even more beautiful without your wellies," he
said.

"Thanks, so do you. I mean..."

He laughed and pulled her into his arms, just as he'd done when they
started dancing. This time she didn't rest her head on his shoulders,
but lifted it up. He took the hint and kissed her.

His kiss was so gentle it barely registered on her lips, yet its
effects could be felt rushing through her body. She wanted him to do
it again. From the feel of him against her and the deep breaths he
was taking, she guessed he felt the same way.

"So, you'll come out with me?"

It seemed more of a statement than a question, but she said 'yes'
anyway.

C
hapter 8

The next morning at breakfast, Leah again asked Jayne what was
worrying her.

"It's probably nothing and I'm being silly getting myself in a
state over it."

"I expect so, but what's nothing?"

"I've been bleeding a bit from, well my bottom. See why I wasn't
keen to talk about it?" Jayne mumbled from behind her mug.

"I do, yes. Is that why you went to the doctor?"

Jayne nodded. "It's been uncomfortable for a while. Anyway, it
might be nothing serious. I won't know until I have an examination.
They want to stick cameras up my bum. That letter you asked about was
a hospital appointment."

Leah put down her drink and spoke carefully. "You're going into
hospital and you didn't tell me?"

"I'm not going."

"Oh yes you are!"

"I'm not. I only went to the doctor for some painkillers and he
got in a flap and said he was referring me to a specialist. They only
gave me a week's notice so I've cancelled it. That's why I had to go
to the doctor the other day. He called me in and said I have to make
another appointment as soon as possible."

"Then do it." If the specialist wanted to see Jayne that
quickly, it would be because she potentially had a very serious
condition requiring immediate action.

"How can I? I can't leave Rosemary to milk herself and the
chickens to bring in their own eggs."

"No, but I could do it. How long will you be in?"

"For the examination just a few hours, I think. But treatment,
if it's treatable, well that could mean I'm in for much longer."

"Oh, I see." Leah thought she could muddle through for a
few days if needed and milk the cow and stop the other animals going
hungry or short of water, but anything more than that was beyond her
skill and strength.

Jayne was crying.

"Hey, come on," Leah said as she put her arm around Jayne's
shoulders.

"I'm sorry, lovey. It's just... I can't even say it."

"I can't help if I don't know what's wrong."

"I don't think you can anyway. Oh, Leah it could be cancer. I
have the symptoms of bowel cancer. What'll happen to the farm if I
have?"

There was no answer she could give to that, so Leah just hugged her
and let her cry. Leah hadn't cried much when she'd been accused of
fraud and then discovered Adam didn't love her as much as she'd
thought and doubted if it would have helped much if she had. What had
helped her most was knowing she could count on Jayne for support and
had somewhere to run away too. Jayne couldn't run away from her
illness, but at least Leah could show some of the same kind of
support Jayne had offered her.

"I'll do anything I can to help," she said.

"I know you will, lovey. Thank you." She blew her nose. "I
suppose what I have to do is face up to this thing, make some kind of
plan."

"Yes. I think the first stage is to go for that examination and
see what we're up against. We can get as much done beforehand as
possible and I'll look after this place while you're in. Do you think
I could manage?"

"Yes, I'm sure you could, but what about work? It can't be much
longer before they realise they were wrong about you and want you
back again."

"I've heard nothing, so I don't think it'll be in the next
couple of weeks, but even if it is, I'll help here. They'll owe me
that much after what they've put me through. Actually, I'm due some
leave anyway, tell you what, I'm going to call in and book a couple
of days off, see how they handle that. Go ring your doctor and get an
appointment."

"You're determined I'm going to it, aren't you?"

"I am. You're going. End of discussion."

Jayne smiled slightly. "So, that's the start of a plan then?"

Leah nodded and gave what she hoped was an encouraging grin.

"You know, calling work about taking time off is a good idea.
They'll see you expect to be going back soon."

"Jayne, we're making a plan for you, not me."

"I know, I was just..."

"Trying to change the subject?"

"I suppose. Denial is quite appealing when you're scared. I
never realised what a coward I was."

"Coward, you? You're one of the bravest people I know. I'm the
coward. When I realised it wasn't working with Adam... I started
changing the subject! Now, you. You said it might be nothing
serious?"

"Yes. A cyst the doctor said it could be. If it is, that's quite
simple to sort out apparently. They just cauterise it and I rest for
a few days and everything is fine." She gave a proper smile.
"D'you know, I'm actually starting to think that's a
possibility. How stupid will I feel if I've got myself into this
state over a cyst?"

"A right lemon, I expect."

"Yeah. OK, I'll have that examination. Now you've bullied me
into telling you about my problem you can jolly well cheer me up
again. Spill the beans about what you and Duncan got up to at the
party."

"I don't know what you can possibly mean," Leah said,
trying to sound prim.

"Yes you do! I saw you dancing with him."

"Hmm, OK we did dance. Come to think of it, I saw you dancing
with Jim, what did you two get up to?"

"Don't change the subject. Did he ask you out again?"

"Yes," Leah admitted. She felt her face flush as she
remembered being in Duncan's arms and kissing him just before he
asked.

"And did you say anything stupid?" Jayne demanded.

"What would count as stupid?"

"Anything other than 'yes'."

"In that case, no. I didn't say anything stupid."

"Good girl."

"So, what about you and Jim?"

"Oh, just dancing," Jayne said, but it was her turn to
blush. "Come on, we've got chicken to feed."

Leah tried hard not to fantasise about what might happen on her date
with Duncan. She wasn't sure how he felt about her; one kiss after a
few glasses of wine didn't necessarily mean anything, however nice it
was at the time.

Also she didn't know how long she was likely to stay in Winkleigh
Marsh. The idea of staying for a long time had become very appealing.
She had got ahead of herself though. This was just a first date and
she might be on the rebound. It would be best to see what happened
before making any decisions.

"So, what are you wearing tonight?" Jayne asked.

"I hadn't really thought... well, that's not quite true. I
haven't decided."

"Come on then, let's have a look at what you've got. That's if
you don't mind? I don't mean to interfere."

"Of course not. It'll be fun. We're going for a meal in a pub,
he said. The Frog and Bucket, do you know it?"

"Of it. Don't think I've been in there."

They went through the contents of Leah's wardrobe, giggling at the
various possibilities. It was obvious Leah hadn't been thinking
clearly when she came to Winkleigh Marsh. She hadn't packed anything
suitable for mucking out the pigs, but that was simply because she
didn't own anything like that. There were a few outfits almost
suitable for walking in the countryside - provided of course it
wasn't damp, or muddy, and the route avoided grass and hedges.

"How about this?" Jayne asked. She was holding up a silky
black silk top. "If you wore it with jeans it wouldn't be too
dressy would it?"

"It's more undressy. I can't wear a bra with it and the front
comes down to about here." She indicated a position that would
expose plenty of cleavage.

"Sounds perfect."

"I'm not sure. I don't really know if this is just as friends
or..."

"Wear that and I think you'll find out!"

Leah decided Jayne was right. She'd dress for a date and take her cue
from him.

When Duncan arrived he was clutching a bunch of carnations. Duncan
must have driven the four miles into town to get them which surely
meant he'd given up his lunch hour for her.

Jayne took the flowers and said she'd put them in water.

"Thanks," Leah muttered. It was the first thing either she
or Duncan had said since he'd arrived. Silly to be so nervous.

"Have a good time, both of you." Jayne turned Leah towards
the door and gave Duncan a friendly shove.

"You look nice," Duncan said.

"Thanks, and thank you for the flowers."

"You're welcome."

She smiled up at him and suddenly they were both laughing. It seemed
he'd felt as nervous as Leah had.

They chatted easily once they were in the car. Duncan teased her,
asking if he should expect a flood on the way to the restaurant.

"Why?"

"First time I met you involved mud, then it was rain. A flood
seemed the next step."

"In that case, I'll try to arrange a dry disaster for you to
rescue me from."

If it hadn't been for the illuminated sign outside showing a frog's
crowned head sticking out the top of an old fashioned bucket, she'd
have thought the pub was a farmhouse. When he pulled into the car
park Duncan said, "It doesn't look much, but the food is great."

"Actually, I was just thinking it looked nice. No big electric
signs for a chain or offering two for one deals."