A Place of Hope by Anna Jacobs

Author:Anna Jacobs [Jacobs, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
Published: 2013-01-31T13:00:00+00:00

Eight

Oliver took them for a hearty snack at a café he patronized regularly, then on to do some shopping.

After buying several bags of food at a big supermarket, and some basic jeans, tops and underclothes for Chad, they set off back to The Drover’s Hope.

Emily noticed a large car sales yard ahead. ‘Could we stop here, please, Oliver? I need to buy a car.’

‘Today?’ He looked surprised, but slowed down.

‘The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned. I don’t like being dependent on others, even friends. Unless this isn’t a reputable place for second-hand cars?’

‘Well, I’ve bought my last three cars here, though they were new ones, so obviously I find this company good to deal with. Don’t you want a new car? You can easily afford it.’

‘Not really. A nearly new one is best, I reckon. It won’t lose as much in depreciation.’ No matter how much money she had, she didn’t intend to spend recklessly. It simply wasn’t in her nature.

She got out and studied the place. It had ‘Quality New and Used Cars’ in big red letters along the front above the showroom. The outside looked well tended, as if business was good, with rows of well-polished cars gleaming in the weak sunlight. There was a row of what looked like new luxury vehicles inside the showroom, cars like Oliver’s.

A young man came out of the office and changed direction to join them.

‘Something wrong with the car, Oliver?’

‘No. It’s running beautifully. Good to see you again, Mark. These are two friends of mine, Emily and Chad. Emily needs a car.’

‘Pleased to meet you.’

Mark waited for her to speak, which was a good sign. She hated pushy sales people. ‘My old car was involved in an accident and is a write-off, so I have no trade-in. I’m looking for something no more than two years old, automatic, air conditioning, not too low slung and not too small. Apart from that, I’m open to suggestions.’

‘You seem to know your own mind, at least. Some people turn up with no idea what sort of car they want, apart from the colour and the sound system. So . . . let me see.’ He surveyed the rows of vehicles. ‘There are probably three which would suit you, and of course I’ll offer a good price to any friend of Oliver’s. Come and have a look at them.’

An hour later, after two test drives and some consultation with Chad, who seemed to know about cars, Emily bought a neat hatchback with an excellent safety rating. Mark offered to bring the car to the pub the following day, since she didn’t have transport.

As she settled back in her seat, she smiled in satisfaction. ‘That’s good. I’ve hated not being mobile. I really value my independence.’

‘Why does that not surprise me?’ Chad teased.

Oliver started up the engine. ‘You must both be tired now.’

‘I’m not too bad today,’ Chad said. ‘Nothing a short rest won’t put right, anyway.’

‘I’m the same,’ Emily agreed. ‘Most of all, I’m hungry.

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