Christmas With the Wartime Midwives by Daisy Styles

Author:Daisy Styles [Styles, Daisy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Sagas, Friendship, Women, Historical, World War II, Holidays, Small Town & Rural
ISBN: 9781405950428
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2022-10-12T23:00:00+00:00

20. A Change of Plan

When Alf Arkwright spotted Libby tacking up Snowball one afternoon, straight after dinner had been served in the Home, he ambled over for a chat.

‘Not your usual time for a ride out,’ he amiably remarked.

Throwing the saddle on to her pony’s back, Libby explained, ‘I’m not actually going for a ride, Alf. Snowball is taking me to work these days.’

Alf cocked one of his crinkly grey eyebrows. ‘You’re travelling to work on your hoss?’

‘I have to, Alf, somebody mangled my bike. Snowball is the only means of transport I’ve got now.’

Looking serious, the farmer asked, ‘Why would somebody mess about with your bike, lass?’

Tightening the saddle girths, Libby crossly explained, ‘To stop me from visiting my patients.’

‘That’s not right,’ Alf commented.

Patting Snowball, Libby robustly replied, ‘It’s definitely not right!’ She continued, scowling, ‘I’m quite sure it was my patient’s husband, Ronnie Thorp, trying to stop me from nursing his wife.’

Alf took a step forward. ‘Ronnie Thorp?’ he queried. ‘Yon fella that lives in Thorp Hall?’

‘That’s him all right,’ Libby seethed. ‘Do you know him?’

Alf shook his head. ‘Nay, I’ve heard about him though, came from t’other side of Windermere, from poor sheep farming stock. Once he got wed to a wealthy lass, he bought a big estate up Allithwaite way.’ Dropping his voice, Alf added, ‘He jacked up all the rents without a word of warning, even kicked out a couple of retired sitting tenants. Then bold as brass has the bare-faced cheek to swan around in his big fancy car when we’re told there’s no fuel to be had.’ Shaking his head, he grumbled, ‘Your guess is as good as mine where he gets it from.’

‘Nothing would surprise me about that beast of a man,’ Libby declared. ‘I shouldn’t be telling you this, Alf, but Thorp treats his wife very badly, which is why I’m determined to visit her even if I have to walk there to see her.’

Coming closer in order to soothe Snowball, who always grumbled and stamped his hooves when his girths were pulled tight, Alf grinned. ‘I’ll tell you what, lass, you get yourself over there on Snowball and I’ll follow later in’t cart. Old Captain could do with an outing. And I could pick up your bike and fetch it back here, to see if I can fix it for you.’

Libby smiled back at the old man. ‘That would be so kind of you, Alf. Are you sure?’ At his emphatic nod, she spoke hurriedly. ‘I’ve a couple of ladies to see in Grange first. Hopefully, I won’t be long there, then I’ll ride over to Thorp Hall. Perhaps you could meet me at the Hall at four thirty? That would give me time to visit all three of my patients before we try to track down my bike.’

Alf gave another quick nod. ‘Aye, I’ll do that.’

Expecting the worst, Libby grimaced. ‘That’s if my bike is still there,’ she said, ‘and Ronnie Thorp’s not thrown it into the nearest river.’

‘There’s only one way of finding out,’ Alf answered grimly.

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