Free The Baker's Daughter by Anne Forsyth Page B

take my dinner-break early? I’m wanting to get to the shops before one.’
    â€˜Aye, that’ll be all right,’ he said a little absently. And then he thought. ‘Jeannie, I’m not saying anything, but did you open the petty cash box yesterday?’
    Rona, tidying the shelves, turned sharply. Surely Father wasn’t accusing Jeannie?
    Jeannie’s face flushed. ‘Me? Me, Mr Maclaren? What would I be wanting with the petty cash box?’
    â€˜You were the only one here,’ he returned. ‘Mind you, I’m not saying anything.’
    He hesitated a moment. ‘I wouldn’t like to suspect anyone, so you’ll not mind if I ask you to open your purse.’
    Jeannie went to her coat hanging in the back shop and produced a shabby leather purse.
    â€˜You’ll open it, please. You understand?’ Angus was a fair man. ‘You were the only one here, so I have to be certain. Just a precaution.’
    Very slowly she opened the purse and laid out the heap of sixpences, a few shillings and two ten-shilling notes.
    Angus picked up the notes and held them out to her. ‘They’re marked,’ he said. ‘These were the ones I marked.’
    Jeannie stared at him, horrified. Then she burst into tears. ‘I never meant to,’ she sobbed. ‘I needed the money. I was going to put it back, honest.’
    â€˜Honest?’ Angus’s voice rose. ‘You don’t know the meaning of the word. And how long has this been going on?’
    â€˜It was just a little at first—maybe a shilling or two.’ She spoke so quietly, that Rona, standing behind the counter, could hardly hear her.
    Angus looked at her coldly. ‘I can’t have anyone working here that I can’t trust,’ he said. ‘Miss Maclaren here will give you your money till the end of the week and you can go now. Fetch your coat and get out.’
    â€˜Father!’ said Rona.
    â€˜Be quiet, Rona, this is nothing to do with you.’
    â€˜But you’re being unfair. It could have been anyone. It could have been me.’
    â€˜But it wasn’t, was it, Rona?’ He glared at her.
    â€˜No, of course not,’ she said hotly.
    â€˜Well, there’s only one thief here, and it’s been proved. Go on, girl, get your wages from Miss Maclaren and you can be off.’
    Jeannie was silent. She didn’t look at Rona and in a few minutes she was gone, closing the door quietly behind her.
    â€˜Well,’ said Angus heavily, ‘we’d best get back to work. I’m just thankful the shop was empty.’
    There was something very strange about the whole situation, thought Rona. She knew there was no use talking to Father, but she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

A LESSON OF LIFE
    It was perhaps a fortnight later, a pleasant late spring evening with a slight breeze, when Callum and Rona met up.
    â€˜There’s nothing much on at the pictures,’ he said. ‘Fancy a walk? We could go down by the harbour and along the sands.’
    â€˜Fine.’
    â€˜And maybe stop for an ice-cream if the café’s still open.’
    â€˜I’d like that.’
    They set off down the road that led to the harbour. Rona had often wondered about these little houses—all in a row, they must be cramped inside and no front garden like the ones they’d just passed which were bright with late tulips and wallflowers.
    As they approached one of the houses, Rona thought that it looked just like all the rest, except there was a figure bent double who seemed to be whitening the step. The woman—no, it was a girl—looked up and seeing Rona, looked away again quickly and bent down to her work.
    â€˜Callum,’ said Rona, ‘would you mind walking on? I’ll catch up with you in a minute. There’s . . . someone I know, I want to speak to.’
    â€˜Right you are.’ Callum was good-natured as always. ‘I’ll