Free Soldier's Daughters by Fiona Field Page B

door.
    ‘Cooked breakfast, ma’am?’
    ‘Mmm, please. Poached egg, bacon and tomato and some brown toast.’
    ‘Certainly, ma’am.’
    ‘Hello, Sam.’ James bounced in looking remarkably chipper.
    ‘Quiet duty?’
    ‘Mostly. There was a bit of a ruckus down at the soldiers’ bar after you went to bed – but that’s hardly unexpected on a Friday night, it was nothing the regimental police and the duty sergeant couldn’t handle. I almost got my full quota of beauty sleep.’
    ‘Glad to hear it.’
    James grinned as he too got tea and orange and brought it over to the table. ‘Are you implying I need as much as I can get?’
    Sam shrugged and smiled back. ‘If the cap fits.’
    The mess waiter reappeared and took James’s breakfast order. Once he’d asked for a full English ‘with mushrooms if there are any’ he turned back to Sam.
    ‘What are your plans today?’
    ‘Nothing much. I think the main excitement might consist of trying to make an appointment to get my hair cut.’
    ‘Blimey, life in the fast lane.’
    Sam nodded. ‘Oh, yes.’
    ‘Look, yesterday Ben and Will and I made some vague plans about high-tailing it off to the seaside for the day; the forecast is brilliant. Just a drive down to Bournemouth or somewhere like that, a walk along the beach, a fish and chip lunch or maybe a pie and a pint and then back here for tea and medals. How about you join us?’
    ‘You don’t want me along. I’d only cramp your style.’
    ‘In what way? We’re only going to the seaside. We’re not planning on trying our hand at world domination or anything like that.’
    Sam laughed. ‘OK, but only if you think the others won’t mind. And as long as you all promise not to get silly and chivalrous and not let me pay my way.’
    ‘I can only speak for myself but if the other two have bank balances anything like mine you will be perfectly safe in that department.’
    ‘Then it’s a deal.’
    ‘Right, the plan is to meet at ten o’clock in the anteroom.’
    Sam’s breakfast arrived and she tucked in with gusto, feeling ridiculously pleased at the prospect of the day ahead. After she’d finished, she returned to her room to ring Sergeant Armstrong’s partner to make an appointment for the next weekend, sort her kit out for the following week before meeting the others at the agreed time.
    ‘All set?’ said James.
    ‘Certainly am. Seaside here we come!’
    What with the sunshine and the roof of James’s Audi being down, the four young officers were slightly wind- and sunburned by the time they arrived at the Dorset coast. They were also happy and laughing and at ease with each other.
    ‘This is grand,’ said James, as he hauled on the handbrake in a parking spot, right by the beach. ‘A day by the sea and the sun is shining.’
    Sam got out of the car and stretched. She sniffed the air, savouring the smell of seaweed and ozone. ‘I do love the sea.’
    Will and Ben, who had insisted that Sam, despite being the smallest of the four, had ridden in the front seat, uncurled themselves from the rear of the car and eased their shoulders. ‘That’s better,’ said Ben. He walked round to the boot and opened it. He reached in and brought out a couple of travelling rugs and a football.
    ‘Let’s hit the beach,’ he said, and chucked the ball to Will, who caught it neatly and then bounced it several times as they waited for James to lock up his vehicle.
    ‘Oh, the sea,’ said James. ‘It brings out the kid in me. Makes me want to dig holes, build sandcastles and paddle.’
    ‘Well, what are we waiting for?’ said Sam. She ran down the beach to the water’s edge, where she hopped on first one foot then the other as she pulled off her trainers and socks, abandoning them any old where as she dashed into the water, sending up a spray of water droplets that caught the sun and turned into an instant, ephemeral rainbow.
    Ben and Will spread out the rugs and then began to have a kick-about with the ball