Free Cat Among the Pumpkins by Mandy Morton Page B

the High Street with her first delivery of the day, more aggressive than usual and looking forward to ringing Teezle Makepeace’s neck when she finally turned up for work.
    Back in their room, a cheery blaze awaited them as if the fire knew the precise time of their arrival home. Hettie unloaded the contents of the shopper onto the table and Tilly limped to her blanket by the fire, hoping that some heat would ease the growing pain in her limbs.
    ‘I think we’ll have to set you up in my armchair for the day,’ Hettie said. ‘If you’re up to it, I need you to go through some of this stuff,’ she nodded towards the pile of things on the table. ‘You should stay at home in the warm until you feel better. I’ll have to go and see Miss Spitforce’s sister. I can’t put that off any longer – she needs to know, and there’s a funeral to arrange.’ Hettie crossed to her armchair, plumped up her cushion and lifted Tilly’s blanket from the floor. ‘Come on. You’ll be much more comfortable up here.’
    Tilly didn’t need to be asked twice, and settled herself in. The heat was getting through to her old bones and she was actually feeling much better, but it was a rare treat to sit in Hettie’s chair and she was going to milk it for all it was worth.
    Hettie glanced at the parcel that Lavender Stamp had so ungraciously handed over. ‘I wonder what this is? I don’t remember ordering anything. It’s a local postmark. Shall we open it as a treat later?’
    Tilly nodded. ‘Why do you think Teezle didn’t turn up for work? She seemed fine when she left here last night.’
    ‘I got the impression that she was putting a braveface on it. She’d had quite a shock, finding Miss Spitforce like that. She seems like a good sort who cares about the cats she delivers to – I bet she woke up this morning and just couldn’t handle another day at the coalface.’
    Tilly was still giggling at the idea of Lavender Stamp with a miner’s pick in hand when there was a polite knock at their door. Hettie moved to open it as Bruiser let himself in.
    ‘Mornin’ all! Just popped in to see if yer fancy a bite to eat? I’m in the market for a couple of yer landlady’s sausage rolls. Can I get yer anything?’
    Normally, Hettie would have bitten his paw off for a free breakfast but there were things to be done. ‘No time this morning, but you can treat us to dinner later if you like. Wednesday is chicken pie day on the Butters’ specials board, and Beryl’s cream horns are Tilly’s favourite.’
    ‘Right o,’ said Bruiser, slightly stung by Hettie’s quick response to his half-hearted offer of a sausage roll.
    Hettie laughed. ‘I was only joking. We get dinner thrown in with our rent so you’ll just have to stump up for your own, but you’re welcome to eat with us later.’
    Bruiser breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his financial situation was not as healthy as he would like. ‘I’ll ’ave to get meself a bit of work if I’m stayin’around. If yer hear of anything goin’, I’d be pleased to know about it.’
    Hettie thought for a moment as she added more coal to the fire. Glancing across at Tilly, she noticed that her friend was fast asleep. She suddenly had an idea and looked up at Bruiser who was standing awkwardly in the open doorway. ‘You used to have a motorbike when you lived on the allotments, didn’t you?’
    Bruiser’s scarred old face lit up at the memory. ‘Those were the days! My old bike and me doin’ a ton on that road to Much-Purrin’. I came off a few times but I ’ad me leathers then, saved me from all sorts.’
    Hettie knew that Bruiser would go on for some time about his biker days if she let him, so she brought his raptures to an abrupt end. ‘Can you still handle a motorbike? Because if you can, I might be able to offer you a bit of work. There’s not much money in it, but enough to buy a dinner or two.’
    ‘Sounds just the job,’ said Bruiser, straightening himself up and