Free The Baker's Daughter by Anne Forsyth

that one,’ he said firmly. ‘That laugh, it would drive me demented in a day.’
    The last applicant was a small girl with mousy hair and pale, sharp features. Her hair was cut short and she wore a grey knitted jumper and a pleated skirt, shabby, but clean.
    â€˜I’ve come about the advertisement that was in the paper,’ she said in a small voice.
    â€˜You’d better come through.’
    She was very slight, thought Rona, would this one be strong enough for the job?
    â€˜I’ve got a reference. The girl produced from her basket a much folded piece of paper and thrust it towards Rona.
    â€˜It’s my father that’s interviewing,’ said Rona, a little regretfully. ‘You’ll have to see him.’
    â€˜Right then,’ said Angus appearing from the back shop. ‘Now miss, what’s your name?’
    â€˜I’m Jean Ross,’ said the girl, ‘but they call me Jeannie.’ The words came out in a little squeak.
    Angus scanned the piece of paper she held out to him which told him that Jean Ross had been a conscientious and hardworking pupil, and neat and tidy in her work.
    He explained the demands of the job. ‘It’s hard work.’
    â€˜I’m not afraid of hard work,’ she said with a little spurt of spirit.
    â€˜And early rising,’ he added. ‘The shop’s open at eight for people wanting breakfast rolls.’
    â€˜I’m always up early,’ she said a little defiantly.
    â€˜Right you are.’ There was not much left to say, except for discussion of wages and her insurance stamp and time off. ‘A half day a week, and a week’s holiday in the summer.’
    She was not ideal. He would have liked a big, strong girl capable of handling the large trays of loaves and rolls, but he was anxious to fill the post.
    â€˜She’ll have to do,’ he said to Rona as he ushered the girl out of the shop.
    â€˜You start on Monday, Jeannie. Mind, eight sharp.’
    Rona was a little disappointed. She would have liked someone a bit brighter, someone you could share a joke with. And what about Aunt Lizzie when she came back again?
    Poor Jeannie, she thought. If she was in awe of Father, she would be absolutely terrified of Aunt Lizzie.
    But Maclaren’s were taking on staff and this new girl would be under Rona’s supervision.
    â€˜Fancy me with a junior assistant,’ thought Rona, and liked the idea.

AN UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE
    The new assistant, Jeannie, proved to be a willing worker—she scurried backwards and forwards, and to Rona’s surprise, was much stronger than she looked, lifting trays without much effort and sweeping the floor energetically.
    Rona rather enjoyed being in charge of her, and clearly Jeannie looked up to Rona and was willing to do whatever Rona asked.
    Sometimes Rona tried to draw her out, but there was no talk of home or boyfriends or outings. Once Rona had suggested an evening at the pictures, but Jeannie shook her head. ‘I’ve things to do at home,’ so Rona gave up.
    â€˜If she doesn’t want to, that’s it.’
    But she liked the quiet little girl, always in her spotless white pinafore, and having Jeannie as an extra hand certainly made things easier in the shop.
    It was a good thing Aunt Lizzie was still away, Rona smiled to herself. She could just imagine how Jeannie would be terrified of Aunt Lizzie. Even Callum’s scared of her, thought Rona.
    She wondered for a moment how Aunt Lizzie was getting on, and whether she and Maisie were still on speaking terms. There had been a postcard or two, but her aunt would never think of phoning. She regarded the phone as a needless extravagance.
    *        *        *
    It was perhaps a few weeks later that the trouble began. Rona had risen early. Now that the days were lighter, she liked to hear the dawn chorus and usually lay awake for a little while