Two Strangers (2 page)

No point thinking about that, she told herself firmly as she shook out the blanket and rolled it up. There had been lots of people working here at one time so there must be an outhouse somewhere. Not wanting to dismantle her barricade, she picked up her towel and piece of soap and then squeezed out of the window. The yard was littered with rubbish, but there was another building a few yards away which looked promising.

The door was boarded up and the two windows were too small for even her to get through, but she was sure this was an outhouse. There was a heap of metal nearby and a search soon uncovered a hefty iron bar. Pleased with her find, she went back to the door and began to try to lever the boarding off.

‘What are you doing?’

Vicki spun round, the bar held in both hands in front of her. She had been so intent on what she had been doing that she hadn’t heard anyone coming up behind her. From the cultured sound of his voice, her first thought was that this was someone in authority, but he was too shabby. She waved the bar menacingly. ‘Don’t you come near me!’

A slight smile touched the corners of his mouth as he held up his hands in surrender. ‘I only wondered what you were trying to do.’

‘That’s a stupid question! I’m trying to open this bloody door, of course.’

He glanced at the towel and soap she had put on the window sill. ‘There might not still be running water in there,’ he pointed out gently.

‘I know that! I’ve got to see, though, haven’t I?’ The realization of her perilous situation suddenly swamped her, and her bottom lip trembled. ‘I can’t walk around dirty because no one would give me any jobs, and I need to earn some money.’

He sighed. ‘What are you doing out on your own? You’re only a child.’

‘My dad threw me out because I wouldn’t go and work for a nasty old man – and I’ll be fifteen in a few months.’

He tilted his head to one side and studied her intently, his startling green eyes taking in every detail. ‘And what is this man’s name?’

‘Preston.’ She grimaced as she said his name.

‘I’ve heard of him. You faced a difficult choice.’

‘Weren’t difficult. I won’t be sold, and that’s that, so I’ve got to fend for myself.’

He nodded. ‘If you’d put down that weapon, I’ll get the door open for you.’

She stepped back and let the bar hang by her side, still keeping a firm grip on it.

The slight smile appeared again. ‘That will have to do, I suppose.’

She took another step back. ‘Go on, see what you can do.’

In only a few minutes he had ripped off the boarding panels and forced open the door. Then he disappeared inside.

Vicki waited, amazed at how easily he had managed to get into the outhouse, and doubted she would ever have been able to do it by herself. Of course, he was a tall man and obviously strong. His voice was soft, gentle, and when he spoke he sounded educated, so what was a man like that doing as a down-and-out? And there was no doubt from his appearance that he was one.

He reappeared after some minutes shaking water from his hands. ‘You’re in luck. Everything in there is still working, and I’ve cleaned up as much as possible for you.’

‘Oh, thank you.’ She smiled with relief. ‘You didn’t need to do that – I’d have done it myself – but it was kind of you to trouble.’

He dipped his head. ‘My pleasure. What is your name?’

‘Vicki. What’s yours?’

‘Bill. Where did you spend the night, Vicki?’

She relaxed her guard a little. He didn’t seem threatening. ‘I found a room with no one in it, and I barricaded the only door. The window is too small for anyone bigger than me to get through.’

‘That was sensible of you.’

She nodded and eyed the book sticking out of his coat pocket. ‘You like reading?’

‘Very much. Do you like books as well?’

She nodded again, enthusiasm showing on her face. ‘I like reading and looking up words I don’t know, but I can’t always say them properly. You speak like a gent.’

Bill chuckled, a deep musical sound, making no attempt to answer her obvious curiosity. ‘Go and have a wash, Vicki, and I’ll keep watch to see you’re not disturbed.’

‘You’re not to come in. I’m taking the iron bar with me.’

‘I promise to stay right here. You can trust me – but I have the impression there haven’t been many in your life you could trust.’

Her laugh was devoid of humour. ‘None is the answer to that. You can’t be too careful.’

‘Indeed. Go and clean up, Vicki.’

She gave him a suspicious look. How do I know you will keep your word and stay out here?’

He held out his hand. ‘I found a key inside and it locks the door. Take it.’

Taking a cautious step forward, she snatched it out of his hand and quickly stepped back. ‘Thank you. You needn’t wait.’

The outhouse was surprisingly clean. All the rubbish was piled in a corner, leaving the sink and privy uncluttered. Vicki nodded approval. Bill had done well, but she still didn’t trust him. She might be young, but the men she had grown up around never did girls favours unless they wanted something in return. She locked the door.

When she came out a while later, she was annoyed to see he was still there, leaning against an old machine of some kind, reading his book.

He looked up and smiled. ‘Feel better?’

‘Yes, thank you.’ She locked the door behind her and studied the key in her hands. ‘You found this, so do you want it back?’

‘No, you keep it.’

She nodded, relieved, but still wary of this man. ‘I ain’t gonna give you nothing for being kind to me.’

With a sigh, he pushed himself up straight. ‘I’m not helping you for a reward, Vicki.’

‘Then what you doing it for?’

He thought for a moment, and then said, ‘I like to start my day by doing someone a good turn.’

‘Oh, mister!’ she snorted. ‘You don’t expect me to believe that, do you? I might be from the slums, but I ain’t daft! No one does things for nothing.’

‘You may not believe it, Vicki, but some people take great pleasure in helping others – and expect nothing in return. You have obviously had a harsh life.’

‘You could say that.’ She looked down at the ground and kicked at an old piece of tin while she blinked the moisture away from her eyes. The last thing she must do is show weakness of any kind.

‘What are you going to do now?’ he asked gently.

‘I’m gonna make something of myself and make my dad sorry he chucked me out!’ When she looked up, her expression was fierce with determination. ‘And don’t you dare laugh!’

‘I wouldn’t dream of laughing at you, Vicki, but if you are to achieve your dream, we are going to have to do something about your speech.’

‘
We’re
not going to do nothing, mate! I’ll manage on my own. What’s wrong with the way I talk, anyway?’

‘Your accent is rough, you use a double negative often, and it would sound better if you didn’t say “ain’t”.’ He pulled a small book from his inner pocket and handed it to her. ‘This should help you understand.’

Curious, she took it, admiring the beautiful leather-bound volume. ‘English Grammar? Er … can I borrow it?’

‘You can keep it.’

‘What?’ Her head shot up. ‘I can’t take this from you. It must be worth a lot of money. This looks like real leather.’

‘I don’t need it, and I would like you to have it.’ He smiled. ‘When you’re rich and famous, you can return it to me if you want to.’

She giggled. ‘All right, that’s a promise, but you ain’t … aren’t likely to get it back.’

‘Oh, I have a feeling I will.’ He put his head on one side, his expression thoughtful. ‘I have every confidence in you. Now, let me do one more thing for you today, and that is to buy you a good breakfast.’

‘You’re full of good turns, aren’t you? Don’t you think you’ve done enough for me already?’

‘Indulge me, Vicki. I can afford to buy us both a good meal today.’

Her instinct was to refuse; her stomach had other ideas, however, because at that moment it growled in anticipation, so she nodded. ‘I’ll put my things in a safe place and see you out the front.’

Two

After making sure that Bill had walked away and couldn’t see where she was going, Vicki squeezed through the window again, relieved to see her barricade was untouched. She changed into her other frock and rolled the rest of her meagre belongings in the blanket. She stowed it behind a sturdy cupboard and then piled wood against it, but the book she put in her frock pocket. That was too precious to leave here; anyway, it didn’t belong to her, so she had to keep it safe.

Bill smiled when he saw her running towards him. As they walked together along the road, she glanced up at him, still puzzled why a man like this was homeless. Didn’t he know how good-looking he was? If he was in trouble, he could have found a woman of means to support him, surely? That sort of thing did happen, she knew.

A deep laugh rumbled through him. ‘I can practically hear your mind working, Vicki.’

She grinned at him. ‘You don’t miss much, do you? I’m just trying to make some sense of you. I like to get the measure of people, but I can’t figure you out at all. Your clothes have seen better days, but I can tell from the material and fit that they had been expensive. What the devil are you doing sleeping rough?’

‘It doesn’t matter what background one comes from; anyone can find themselves in difficulties.’ His ready smile appeared again. ‘But, like you, I intend this to be temporary.’

She nodded. ‘You’ll make it back, and I’ll try my hardest to get out of this mess, no matter how long it takes.’

‘Whatever it takes, Vicki?’ he asked.

‘No! There’s things I won’t do. I won’t sell myself, I won’t steal and I’ll try never to hurt anyone unless my life depends on it. I’ve seen too much of that kind of thing. And do you know—’ she glanced up at him, her face serious – ‘it don’t do no one any good to be cruel and dishonest. It always seems to come back on them somehow.’

‘I agree.’ He stopped and turned her to face him. ‘I want you to promise that, no matter how tough things become, you won’t drop those standards.’

‘There’s no fear of that.’ She tapped her chest. ‘Them feelings are deep in here!’

‘Promise me, Vicki.’

‘I promise.’ She frowned. What a strange man he was. It sounded as if he really cared what she thought and did, but that was daft. He didn’t even know her. ‘It was sticking to what I feel that got me into this mess, but I’ll get out of it my way.’

‘Good girl.’ The smile was back. ‘Are you going to read and study that book I gave you?’

‘Of course. Is that another promise you want me to make?’ she teased.

‘No, I’ll take your word for that.’ They began walking again. ‘We’re nearly at the cafe I use. Hungry?’

‘Starving!’ In fact, she was so hungry she was prepared to spend her few precious coins on a good meal. Bill had said he would pay for her, but she doubted he had enough money for the both of them. And, anyway, she couldn’t take whatever money he had. It wouldn’t be right when he was in the same situation as her.

It was a workman’s cafe and busy at this time of the morning. Bill held the door open for her as if she was a real lady, and the gesture made her feel good. Much to her surprise, Bill was greeted by some of the men who obviously knew him.

‘There’s a table by the window, Vicki,’ Bill told her as he led her to the only vacant seats in the place.

When he held her chair for her, a broad smile crossed her face. ‘You got lovely manners,’ she said.

‘There is no need to drop my standards just because I am in changed circumstances at the moment, is there?’

She shook her head.

‘Hello, Bill.’ The owner came up to them, all smiles. ‘The usual, is it?’

‘Yes, please, Frank, and the same for my guest, Vicki.’

‘Nice to meet you, Vicki. The food will be right up.’

She watched Frank weave his way through the tables, and then turned her attention back to Bill. ‘You must come here a lot because they all seem to know you.’

‘I eat here quite often. The food is good and the helpings are generous.’

When a plate was put in front of her, she gasped, seeing what he meant. There were two eggs, fried bread, bacon and even a large sausage. She watched in astonishment as a pot of tea and a plate of bread and butter were also put on their table.

‘Eat up; don’t let it get cold.’

‘But … but … I can’t afford grub like this!’

‘I’m paying, remember?’ Bill told her gently, seeing the distress on her face.

‘But this feast will cost a lot, and I can’t let you do this.’ She fished in her pocket and slipped two pennies across the table towards him. ‘That’s all I’ve got, but it will help a bit.’

‘Vicki!’ Bill said sternly. ‘I am paying for our breakfast. Are you going to insult me by refusing to eat it?’

‘Oh.’ She was taken aback by his tone. ‘I don’t mean to do that, but I’m not happy that you might be spending your last bit of money on feeding me.’

‘I know.’ He smiled then, the gentleness back in his voice. ‘But I can afford our meal, so you keep your money. Now eat up or Frank will think you don’t like his cooking.’

The smell of the food was too much for Vicki. She put the coins back in her pocket, picked up her knife and fork, and began eating. She was ravenous, and there was enough food here to fill her up for the rest of the day.

They worked their way through everything on the table, and, when they had drained the teapot, Vicki sat back sighing contentedly. ‘I’ve never had so much to eat at one meal,’ she told Bill. ‘There was enough food there for a week.’

‘Would you like another helping?’

‘Oh, no. That was more than enough! I enjoyed every mouthful, and it won’t matter if I don’t have anything else today. If I can earn some money, I’ll buy you a meal next.’

‘I won’t be around, Vicki, because I’m moving on today.’

‘Are you?’ The stab of disappointment she felt surprised her. Why should she care if he was going to disappear? They had only just met. But, of course, she knew why. Bill had been kind to her, and that was something she was not used to. ‘Have you got somewhere to go, then?’

He nodded, stood up and walked over to the counter. Vicki watched as he paid for their meal and talked to Frank; then they both came back to the table.