A Rough Kind of Magic

by Louise James

  It was now the end of May. Ray was taking his holidays when Greg moved, arranging with a cousin to hire his van and give them a hand; he looked at his friend strangely from time to time as he saw him flagging at what used to be simple tasks but he could see a decline in Greg’s stamina and found it hard to accept. Tod looked a lot like Ray except he was darker but the same blue eyes and ready grin, unlike Ray he was shy although he had managed to get himself a fiancée and planned an autumn wedding. He was looking forward to staying for a few days and getting his first glimpse of the Welsh hills.

  Chapter 9

  It was a perfect spring day as Olwen left for Worcester, a cold clear day not a cloud in the sky, flowers beginning to bloom in the hedges and birds giving full voice to their plans. Usually Olwen enjoyed her early morning trip back from her grandmothers but today she had very mixed feelings. She was looking forward to her classes and eager to show them the new ideas that were flooding her mind but it was overshadowed by the fact that Aiden may not have left as she asked him to but was waiting for her to come back to continue the argument that he should stay and it was her that was being unreasonable. She was not afraid of him although he had shown a nasty temper at times; she was more afraid of him wearing her down until she was committed to something that she didn’t want at all. she was not in love with him and she just wanted him to leave, however he was not the kind of person that you told to do anything, he pleased himself; he would try to charm her or dominate her into submission and although Olwen could stand up for herself she hated the conflict and pressure. She was determined this time it would not happen.

  Parking her car she was relieved to see Aiden’s space empty. With a sigh of relief she unloaded her bag, briefcase and Grannie’s box of goodies she always brought back. The flat was quiet and very tidy she almost dared to hope when she saw the note on the table.

  ‘I’ve gone to stay with Marcus until you come to your senses. You need space I’m giving you space, make good use of it. I’ll see you next week. Don’t be too long about it. Have fun. X’

  “Shit” Olwen slung the note in the waste basket in disgust then kicking it across the floor. She slammed her fist on the table.

  “How high handed, patronising and bloody minded is that” She was consumed with rage. How dare he make out she was going to be a pushover anymore? Enough was enough and she had taken all that she was going to take. She picked up the phone and rang the flats caretaker Dave stressing that it was urgent that her locks were changed right away. Dave had heard it all before there was always someone breaking up or breaking in; he promised to call around that evening. With a sigh of relief she unpacked showered and changed before heading off to her workshop firmly putting it all out of her mind as she greeted her students keen to see how they had individually handled their projects. Several asked if she had enjoyed her weekend and she could honestly reply that she had. Olwen settled into her day with a lighter heart now she had taken her first steps to independence.

  Dave true to his word fitted her new locks early evening, teasing her about who she wanted to keep out. Later she sat with a glass of her favourite wine and allowed herself to dream about the little farm under the rock. How she would love to live there where the garden was full of flowers and the stream wandered through the yard. She could see herself wading in to clear it out having great fun. Of course she would have money to do the roof and who knows what state the inside would be in. She sighed there was no way that was going to happen, the little savings she had was not going to let her even think of buying it let alone what it would cost to do up. She only hoped the man that was buying it had good taste or at least a girlfriend who did. She wouldn’t want to walk up there and find they had pulled it down to build another house or pulled it about until it didn’t look anything like it was now. Well a girl could dream couldn’t she? It was never going to happen that was for sure. She sighed longingly then smiled. She had better keep doing the lottery.

  The next morning she filled black bags with Aiden’s clothes, CDs and books, piling them in the boot of her car driving slowly around to Marcus’s flat. She prayed she wouldn’t meet either of them on the way. Luck was with her and with a sigh of relief she dumped it all in Marcus’s bike shed pinning a note to the door. With a light heart she returned to her workshop. She didn’t think for a moment he would let that stop him and waited with some trepidation for an angry phone call which to her surprise didn’t come. She phoned Bronwyn telling her what she had done. “Good girl” was the reply but with a gentle warning to be careful in case of repercussions.

  Chapter 10

  The weather was fine and the journey uneventful. Once they were through Abergavenny the twisting lanes slowed the van, Greg wondered what Ray was thinking as he led them into the hills. When they at last pulled onto the cobbled yard, he grinned to see Ray’s face as he jumped from the van and looked around.

  “Bloody Hell! Greg we’ve done some things in our miss-spent youth but I reckon this beats the lot. Where are we for God’s sake, surely you aren’t going to live in that shed?’

  “It’s not a shed” Greg unlocked the door. “Come on in. Welcome to Graig-y-Dorth.”

  Ray stood very still, hands on hips surveying the mountain green now with a carpet of fern. Tod stood silent looking around with wide eyes.

  “What in God’s name are you going to do here? It’s not big enough to farm. It’s miles from anywhere and it’s got a tin roof if you haven’t noticed.’

  Tod laughed. “I thought you liked mountains, Ray?’

  “I do but not to squat under one doing sod all with my life. You gave up all that you had for this? Gone bonkers or what?” Ray lit a cigarette drawing heavily on it as if it might lead him to some understanding of the situation. Tod leaned on the van as if to get back in. Ray looked around.

  “Beautiful site if you are going to pull it down and start again but what are you going to live on?’

  “If I have been led here for some purpose, that question will take care of itself. You believe in fate and destiny and all that stuff more than I do. You should know. If all that stuff is true what choice do I have? Something will show up. Now get your butt in here, we have to sweep the chimney so that we can light a fire.”

  Ray said no more and Tod set to with the brushes they had brought. Later with a good fire going and some pies and coffee consumed, they swung into action. When the electric and water turned on, beds put up and essentials brought in, Ray began to show a bit more enthusiasm but before he would do any more he had to see the shed. When he saw the old Land Rover half buried under the tree he was sold, Greg almost had to remove him by force.

  “Come on let’s get some of the stuff in the house. It might rain.”

  Ray threw him a quick look and opened the van doors. They worked for the next three hours only stopping for more coffee. Although Greg could feel the ache building in his chest and his strength going he struggled to keep it from Tod and Ray. Finally he called a halt.

  “Let’s leave the rest until morning. I’m for bed it’s been a long day.’

  Ray gave him a searching glance usually Greg had the strength of ten men and certainly wouldn’t have stopped until everything was in place; still he was ill and Ray didn’t know much about lung shadows and things so he agreed to pack up for the night. He said nothing to Tod but he was worried, everything Greg was doing was completely out of character. He was certain this move was not a good idea. It just didn’t make sense. He hoped in the next few days to be able to find some reason for the change in his friend. He felt certain it was not just this illness, there was something more and Ray was determined to find out.

  The next few days kept them busy. Greg tried to pull his weight but it was beyond him and he found himself picking the easier jobs and leaving the lifting and tugging to Ray and Tod. He was fortunate here as Tod was a great one for pitching in without being asked. He was a strong lad and often took jobs
off Greg without thinking. He knew Greg wasn’t well and that was enough for Tod, he would have done it all by himself without thought, Ray worked hard but Tod worked harder so Greg slid under the net without much notice taken. He took it on himself to provide meals and keep the fires going. He also took on sorting out the kitchen so they had a sterile clean place to store food and eat.

  Ray was beginning to enjoy himself. A couple of days and the place was coming to some sort of order, entering into the spirit of things he began to make a list of the sort of things that Greg could do to make a living, he and Tod were full of suggestions from market gardening, sheep farming and breeding dogs. Greg laughed with them and promised to think about it. Talk then led to Greg’s finances. He had paid outright for the farm and was left with a couple of thousand to see him through until the flat sold.

  ‘If and when the flat sells.” Ray reminded him. The agent had not been too hopeful of a quick sale, too big and expensive for the average man, not large enough for a family.

  “Surely it’s a business man’s flat?” Greg had argued with him.

  “Yes. As long as he has enough income or two could share but don’t hold your breaths for a quick sale will you? It will go eventually it’s a nice flat.”

  Ray was bothered; he came back to the subject the next morning as they were painting the kitchen.

  “If that flat doesn’t sell for a year, what then?” If it doesn’t sell for six months your money isn’t going to last that long,”

  “I’ll think of something.” Greg replied trying not to look worried. “The only pity is that I can’t put this place to rights until it does sell. I do need a new roof and a decent bathroom and shower and I’d like to finish the extension.”

  “I’ll give you a hand when you do need it.” Tod wiped his paint brush and his hands. “Thanks! It’ll give you a few more days holiday but what will your new bride think of it? You will be married by then and under the thumb”

  “Nah, I’ll still come” They laughed. Ray wiped his hands and opened a can of lager throwing a one to Tod. “I still don’t understand why you couldn’t have taken out a small mortgage. You could still do it at least it would give you a bit of leeway. I think you were mad to part with all that money when you knew the place was in this state. I didn’t realise how bad it was I thought you were just painting a wilderness picture. Talking of wilderness where does the witch live?”

  “Back down the hill I think. There are several cottages down there.” Greg was relieved to get of the subject of mortgages. “There are a few neighbours around, haven’t met any others yet.”

  “Witch where?” Tod looked around fearfully. Ray laughed. “Tod don’t like things like that you’ll scare him he’ll jump in the van and be off. You will have to get a phone line in soon, the mobile’s not enough very poor signal, I have to go up to the gate to get a good one.” Ray stretched flinging down his brush. “Hell! This place is filthy, it’s going to take gallons of this magnolia, good job we bought a good dose of it.”

  They had made a trip the day before and stocked up on rollers, brushes, nails, hooks and gallons of white and magnolia paint as well as a stack of freezer food and a larder of tins. Greg had sold his cooker with the flat so microwave and the range had to do for a while. The next item on the agenda was ordering or buying coal and cutting a supply of wood. He had to go out and buy a chainsaw tomorrow (more expense) but he couldn’t chop wood. Money could be a problem sooner than he thought. He went to put the kettle on thinking very negative thoughts. Later however as he walked in the yard and saw smoke arising from the cleaned chimney in a soft grey plume and the lights shining through clean windows, Greg felt the magic return. Whatever happened in the future, however rough it would become, he was here for a new beginning. A Morgan had come home.

  Chapter 11

  After five days of scrubbing, repairing, burning and painting the old house took on a new life. Coming from town the following Saturday Tod remarked how homely and welcoming it looked. Ray’s mother had sent a load of curtains and cushions with him which would have to do temporarily. Greg knew that his mother was dying to get her hands on the place only prevented by a bout of flu which she was certainly not bringing to him. Frequent phone calls warned him that a car full of goodies would be arriving as soon as she had the all clear. The answer to curtain hanging at the moment was for one of them to hold up the curtains while the other chopped them off at whatever level was required. The kitchen was now complete; only awaiting a cooker as Greg had brought freezer and washing machine with him. It was clean and fresh with a smell of pine from the new woodwork that Ray had spent a fair time on. Both Greg and Ray had always carried good tool kits; these now proving invaluable. Ray had hired a sander and as the upstairs floorboards were in good condition he had repaired and sanded them back to the original state. They looked good.

  A days before he and Tod were due to leave, Ray came down one morning in a state of rebellion. “Greg have you seen my blisters? There is no way I am doing anymore chopping. We have to hire a chain saw. I haven’t seen you chopping lately either and more important there is no way I am going to let another day go by without a look at that Land Rover. Let’s go today and hire a saw for God’s sake, I’ll hire it if we can get it for a week then we can move the tree and see what treasures we have in the woodshed.”

  “We’ll go halves on the hire” Greg filled the kettle, guilty about the way he had avoided any chopping because there was no way he could bring himself to tell Ray the truth when he was so happily settling him in. These were good times he knew Ray would always remember these weeks with pleasure.

  “You are right about the Land Rover. I have been steeling myself to keep away from the shed with so much else to do. Let’s call it a holiday and get at it. Having the tree cut will be a welcome bonus. We’ll hire a saw for now but I am going to have to buy one soon”

  Ray was frowning as he opened the gate, things were niggling at him; something felt wrong about the whole set up. He had never known Greg to lie to him but his whole being told him that the truth was being badly bent. If this farm was bigger and in good repair not so useless for anything, he might be able to understand that Greg wanted to move here. It had been in his family for many years after all but there was the fact that Greg didn’t really want to work at anything making excuses to go and do something else when they were on a job as if he couldn’t finish one damn job before starting another it just wasn’t like him. He appeared nervy and preoccupied and Ray didn’t like the way he turned an awful colour after any exertion making silly excuses about being out of training. Greg was a perfect specimen for Christ’s sake fitter than himself surely a spot on a lung wouldn’t do this. He knew they had done some daft and dangerous things in the past; he had seen Greg lift the front or backend of a car by himself before now, in fact it was Ray who had shouted at him about straining himself perhaps that is what he had done so why didn’t he say so?’ Deep in thought he came to as Greg slammed on the brakes.

  “Damn the woman.” He yelled. As they rounded the sharp bend by the church, Ray saw a tall gaunt woman jump into the hedge dragging a funny coloured dog with her.

  “Why can’t you look where you are going?” Greg wound the window down as he spoke. The woman straightened and as Ray met her strange light eyes, he realised that this was Greg’s witch.

  “Why don’t you stop using these roads as a race track? Don’t you realise there are animals about in these country lanes? You might put me in the ditch and think it funny but what about Samuel Peeps here? Do you get pleasure in running over dumb animals?”

  “Just a moment–“Greg interrupted her flow. “Let’s get a few facts straight here. First I was not speeding, secondly the dog should be on a lead and no I don’t make a habit of killing animals nor find it funny to see people jump. Why do you see the worst in people? Look to yourself, you know the bends are there and cars are on the road. Why don’t you tak
e more care?”

  Bronwyn Rhys released the dog which bounded over the road and into the gateway of a whitewashed cottage which stood end on to the road.

  “Young man” she looked them both up and down, her light eyes sharp and steely. “I see who you are, we have met before. I am glad to see you have had the sense to get a more practical vehicle but it does not give you the right to drive around carelessly.” She held her hand up as Greg moved to speak.

  “Alright I admit I may be somewhat to blame in this instance.” Greg’s mouth dropped open. “I assume this thing has a horn of some kind; I suggest that you find where it is and use it.” She crossed in front of the pick-up disappearing into the house after the dog. Ray was in stitches, Greg speechless. He put the truck in gear and moved slowly on. When Ray finally speak “So that’s your witch, you didn’t introduce me. You realise she will put a spell on you now don’t you?”

  Greg turned a scowling face on him. Ray spluttered. “You should have seen your face.”

  “How the bloody hell did I get put in the wrong? The silly woman was in the middle of the road, the dog off the lead and I get put in the wrong.”

  Ray shook with laughter. “Who the hell is Samuel Peeps?” he asked when he could speak.

  “The dog.” Greg snapped.

  “For Pete’s sake why a name like that?”

  “Because he has wall eyes and peeps at you from the brown one.”

  This was too much for Ray and Greg could get no sense out of him until they reached Abergavenny. As they walked through the town looking for the hire shop, they noticed crowds gathering in the old market place.

  “There’s a sale.” Greg stopped to look. “They have these in Swansea sometimes, wonder if there’s anything good, let’s have a look.” The old green domed market was a hive of activity, pictures, tools, furniture and fittings of all kinds from baths to bedsteads filling the huge hall. People jammed the aisles all talking at once, pulling things about rummaging in boxes full of china, knick- knacks and rubbish. Tables full of books of all kinds while pictures of pastoral scenes leaned precariously against table legs along with portraits of gentlemen with moustaches in stiff collars and ladies held upright with pearl chockers and layers of lace. Someone was trying out a piano, kids banging the keys of another. The smell of dust and must mingled with the smell of humanity, sweat, perfume and tobacco. The enticing smell of frying bacon wafted from a cave like café at the side of the hall. Brown coated assistants hurried about. Women turned over curtains and bedding, inspected baby cots and prams. The overall noise was deafening.