Part 41 (2/2)

Kevin, struggling in slow motion, Sharon and Tanya, an arm apiece, holding him back.

Mrs Crisp standing in the kitchen doorway, a dark shape against the lighted kitchen behind her, hands to her face.

Daniel clutching a smoke-blackened Francesca as if he would never let her go.

Then the world speeded up and many things happened at once.

The barn doors blew open with a boom and huge orange flames reached up to the night sky.

Flas.h.i.+ng lights announced the arrival of the emergency services. Theyd switched off the sirens, which was just as well. Marilyn might have relished the challenge. Suddenly, the yard was full of red and blue lights and men shouting and unrolling hoses.

Russell appeared, supporting a blood-stained Andrew. People ran towards them and pulled them away from the flames. Not me. My legs had stopped working. I got as far as Thomas and had to stop, leaning heavily on him and crying into his mane. He took it very well.

Russell handed Andrew over to the paramedics and pushed his way towards me.

'Hey, whats all this? Were all safe. Why are you crying?

I couldnt tell him why. The answer to that was far too complicated to attempt now.

'Ill be back in a minute. Stay here and try not to injure yourself.

He crouched by Francesca. 'Franny? Daniel told me. If you hadnt got the gate open, hed have injured himself really badly. Im more grateful that I can ever say. Are you hurt?

'No, she said, still sounding slightly surprised. 'Im not.

'Youll be stiff and sore tomorrow, he said. 'Get Daniel to take you away to a really good spa hotel for a couple of days. In fact, it might be a good idea to go now.

He stood up. 'Get her away, Daniel. Ill keep her out of it as much as I can, but if the police want to know whats been going on here, then Ill tell the truth. Im not lying to protect that s.h.i.+thead, ChristopherKingdom.

Daniel nodded, put his arm around her, and led her away. Tanya, bending over a coughing Andrew, straightened up. 'Francesca. Next week you will have lunch with Jenny and me. I will call you. It was a command.

She nodded, looking rather pale. Reaction was setting in. She waved feebly and then Daniel took her away.

Russell went off to speak to the fire brigade who had everything perfectly under control. There was a comforting feeling that tonight, finally, there were people here who knew what they were doing.

We found Boxer at the very edge of his field, snorting and trembling, but still just about on Planet Earth. Marilyn fussed around him like a small tugboat. We led them back to Thomas, who hadnt moved and the three of them huddled together.

Martin Braithwaite turned up with his horsebox and took them away. They could spend the night quietly in his barn. He would keep an eye on them for us.

Tanya took Andrew to hospital. He and Russell exchanged a few words. Russell thumped him on the arm and then hugged him. This is probably not the recommended treatment for concussion.

He said to Tanya, 'What can I say? There are no words ...

She said, 'Words are not needed, Russell.

I sat on the ground, in the cold and dark, with Kevin on one side and Sharon on the other. We waited in silence. The cat turned up, dishevelled and smoky. He climbed onto my lap and I clutched him to my chest.

Mrs Crisp tried to get us to come inside. We refused. With much groaning, she sat on the ground with us. I worried wed never get her up again.

It didnt take them long to get things under control. The barn would need to be rebuilt. Our feed was all gone. The stables next door suffered only water and smoke damage. Nothing that couldnt be put right. n.o.body was dead.

Russell dealt with everything and everyone. There was no shouting.

He found us all, sitting in the dark, like refugees. He helped Mrs Crisp to her feet and she and Sharon went off to make the reservoir of tea that was such a small and inadequate reward for our wonderful fire-fighters.

He came back to me. 'Come on. We can go back inside now, and pulled me to my feet. I tried to follow the others, but he held my arm, saying quietly, 'Whats really the matter?

Still clinging to the cat, I looked down. I looked up. I looked everywhere except 'Out with it, wife.

I shook my head.

'Jenny. Its been a long day. And its not over yet. Tell me whats wrong. You remember a long time ago you promised youd tell me. You wouldnt make me guess.

True.

I took a deep breath. 'My family. What theyve done to you. And tonight. I gestured. 'And the deal was I brought the money and you brought the house and theres no money. I cant keep up my end of the deal. You said 'Oh, for G.o.ds sake, Jenny. The cat growled. He took two hasty steps backwards. 'Are you going to throw every stupid thing Ive ever said right back at me? Now? Tonight? Because if you are then were going to be standing here for a very long time. Is that all its been for you? Just some sort of commercial transaction? Well its not. Not for me, anyway. Well, it was initially, but not for long. And I guessed fairly early on about your money. That business with the feed bill never paid and other things too. And now, now I finally get everything sorted out, its all over and youre standing in a field in the middle of the night, crying your eyes out because you think you have no worth without money? If I wasnt the most easy-going, uncomplaining, patient bloke on the planet, I swear Id be shouting my head off in frustration.

He stopped shouting, took a very deep breath, and put his arm around me.

'Its all right, Jenny. Ive got you ... Now why are you crying?

'Because Ive got you.

'Well ... good ... OK. thats all right, then. Lets go inside before that lot finish off all the lemon tart. And bring the cat.

'What?

He grinned. 'Who do you think got Boxer moving? Old b.u.g.g.e.rlugs here bit him. As far as Im concerned, he has a home for life. But you knew that anyway, didnt you?

The kitchen was full of people. All talking loudly. Mugs and plates were scattered across every available surface. There wasnt a crumb of lemon tart left anywhere.

I sat in a corner, watching, nursing a mug of tea and the cat. Gradually, they all went away. There would be questions and paperwork and explanations, but that was all for tomorrow.

Russell turned to Mrs Crisp. 'You gave them our pudding?

She smiled slightly and patted her hair. 'Well, theyre firemen.

'Stop that at once, he said. 'What sort of behaviour is that in front of two impressionable young people?

The two impressionable young people grinned at him.

'And you two can pack that in, as well. What are you doing?

Mrs Crisp had started to pile up plates and dishes. He took them from her, saying softly, 'Go to bed, Auntie Lizzie. Well see to all this in the morning.

She swallowed, and said, 'Oh ... Russell.

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