Free Home Sweet Home by Lizzie Lane Page B

confidence. ‘No need to concern yourself, sir. The army’s made arrangements for us to be taken aboard. We
are
priority transport.’
    Frances felt Ruby’s eyes on her. Then Ruby was pulling her to one side, out of earshot of everybody else. ‘Frances, I think it might be better if you serve in the shop today and I go with the children.’
    Frances eyed her accusingly. ‘My, my! Are you that jealous?’
    Ruby winced at the comment and the defiance in her cousin’s eyes. ‘No. Of course I’m not,’ she hissed, keeping her voice low. ‘It’s just that … well, a man like Declan …’
    â€˜I can cope with Declan. Anyway, I know the way there better than you do. I know the forest and I know Ada. I want to see her. I
have
to see her. I’m going.’
    Ruby leaned closer. ‘Sweetie, you don’t understand. Declan is not like one of the boys you’re used to, he’s a man …’
    Frances could barely keep her temper under control. ‘What you are saying is that he’s
your
man. You want him for yourself!’
    â€˜No,’ Ruby hissed back. ‘That’s not it at all. He’s a man, Frances, and you’re only a child!’
    Frances shrugged off her hand, her manner indignant. ‘I am not a child!’
    â€˜Frances, that isn’t exactly what I meant to say!’
    Declan O’Malley and the Jeep were surrounded by children. Fuming at being told she was still a child, Frances flounced away from her cousin. The bold smile she gave Declan was returned just as broadly.
    â€˜Are we all ready?’ She beamed up at him, no longer caring what anyone might think. Ruby might not want Declan for herself, but she was clearly jealous because Declan preferred her. That’s all there was to it.
    â€˜Come on, you kids. Here’s the supplies for the journey.’ He proceeded to hand out bars of chocolate into outstretched hands. Squeals of delight erupted from all concerned. The kids had already been furnished with rucksacks containing thickly cut sandwiches spread with margarine and jam, and a slice of cake made by Stan Sweet and an apple. The bars of chocolate disappeared into hungry mouths, though not before Ruby had instructed them to thank Declan.
    Mouths full of chocolate, they all mumbled a muted thanks.
    â€˜You should have saved the chocolate for the journey,’ Ruby remonstrated. Her glare was enough to silence Hitler, but Declan ignored her. He was where he wanted to be, and despite Ruby’s cross features, he was enjoying himself.
    Deliberately playing to the crowd, both adults and children, he picked up a box from the vehicle’s dashboard and waved it around. ‘Like any professional army out on manoeuvres, I brought reinforcements.’ He handed out more chocolate bars to the children and threw a few more to the adults watching the event.
    â€˜Very clever of you, Captain,’ Ruby said. ‘Just don’t make them sick. The River Severn can be very choppy.’
    Frances laughed dismissively, though she knew Ruby was right. The River Severn that divided most of Wales from England could be quite choppy when the wind was blowing against the tide, and the tide itself was the second highest in the world. Frances had learned that at school, but she wasn’t thinking about it at this moment in time. Still seething at being called a child, she resolved to be good company for Declan and for the children.
    â€˜So let’s get going,’ said Declan. His first job was to help Frances into the front seat of the Jeep. The warmth of his hand on her elbow sent a bolt of electricity up her arm.
    I will not blush, she thought to herself. I will act like a grown-up. I am no longer a child, after all.
    After thanking him, she settled herself in the front seat, purposefully looking ahead through the windscreen, anything rather than stare at his chiselled features. Working out exactly how