Ruth blinked rapidly, sure her eyes were deceiving her. Suddenly the grip on her hand was released as Lucy began to run, her squeal of joy startling. ‘Oh, dear God!’ Ruth ran as well. Her eyes hadn’t been mistaken. It was Jack.
He saw them coming and held out his arms as they hurtled towards him, nearly knocking him off his feet. ‘Whoa there, steady on, I’m a bit shaky.’
After checking that her brother really was all right, Lucy launched herself at Simon. ‘Thank you, thank you for finding him!’
Jack was leaning against the plane for support and ran his fingers gently down Ruth’s cheek. ‘Hiya, honey.’
She didn’t bother to hide her relief as tears brimmed over and clouded her vision. ‘Where have you been, Jack? We’ve been out of our minds with worry.’
‘I’ll tell you later.’
Quite a crowd had gathered now to welcome him back. Everyone was overjoyed to see he was safe.
Simon stepped in. ‘All right, everyone, you’ll hear all about Jack’s adventures in time, but now he’s exhausted and needs to rest.’
‘Come home with us.’ Lucy placed a hand through her brother’s arm. ‘We’ll look after you. Ruth, take his other arm.’
‘Gee, a beauty on each arm. How lucky can a man get?’ he joked.
Ruth was very aware of the strain in his voice. He was thinner and looked several years older. Whatever he’d been doing over the last ten days, it had clearly been an ordeal.
‘I’ve got to report in,’ he said as they reached the Mess.
Jane greeted him with a hint of moisture in her eyes. ‘We’re relieved to have you back in one piece, Jack. The place hasn’t been the same without you. I want you to go to hospital for rest and a thorough check-up.’
‘There’s no need for that.’ The lazy smile was still there. ‘I’m fine; all I need is rest and food. Lucy and Ruth have offered to take good care of me.’
Jane looked reluctant, but knowing Jack, she relented. ‘All right, but you’re to find a doctor at once if you feel bad at any time.’
‘We will, Jane,’ Lucy assured her.
‘Very well. When you feel up to it, Jack, we’d like a full report of what happened.’
‘Will do.’
‘Take your brother home with you, Lucy, and I don’t want to see him climbing in a plane for at least a week.’
When he was about to protest, Captain Anders, who had just arrived, said, ‘It’s no use you arguing, Jack, that’s an order. We’re damned glad to see you, but you’re done in. Rest, and when you’re feeling stronger, come and see me.’
‘On your feet,’ Simon urged. ‘You’ve caused the girls a lot of worry, now it’s time to let them make a fuss of you.’
Back at the house, Ruth went straight up to the bathroom, hoping the temperamental water heater was going to behave itself. Ignoring the regulation of five inches of water for a bath, she filled it halfway, and then went back downstairs. ‘There’s a hot bath ready for you, Jack. Have a nice soak in that while we get you something to eat. Then you’re going straight to bed.’
‘I don’t want anything to eat at the moment. I was practically starving and the American troops gave me far too much food.’ He dragged himself to his feet and slapped Simon on the back. ‘Thanks, pal.’
‘I was damned relieved to see you get out of that American Jeep. Now, don’t let your bath get cold. I’ll bring your other uniform and clothes here in the morning. Sleep well.’
‘I will.’ He started for the stairs, and then stopped, looking slightly puzzled. ‘What am I doing here instead of my own digs?’
This alarmed Ruth. Jack was obviously suffering more than he was letting on. Perhaps he should have gone to the hospital after all.
Simon urged him towards the stairs. ‘Because this was nearer, and you refused to go to the hospital. Lucy and Ruth are going to see that you eat and rest.’
‘My God,’ he muttered, ‘I spent my time dodging Germans and shells, and now I’m being treated like a kid.’
‘Stop being so ungrateful,’ Lucy said, a smile of amusement on her face. ‘Your bath’s getting cold.’
When he’d disappeared up the stairs, Ruth frowned at Simon. ‘What did he mean by dodging Germans?’
‘He came down behind enemy lines. That’s all he would tell me, but by the look of him, he’s had a rough time getting through to the allies.’
‘That’s for sure,’ Lucy agreed. ‘Simon, I’ve got to let Mom know he’s safe. There’s a small store near our house and they’ve got a telephone. Is there any chance we could phone from ops? The storekeeper, Bud, would go and get Mom. He often let us use it when we had shows to arrange. I’ve got the number.’
‘I’m sure it will be all right. Why don’t we go there now? We could ask the storekeeper to bring your mother to the phone at a certain time so Jack can speak to her himself.’
‘That’s a great idea.’ Lucy’s eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Simon. ‘You’re really something, do you know that?’
‘I’m not going to ask what you mean by that,’ he laughed.
When Simon stood up, Ruth caught his arm. ‘Would you just check on Jack to see he hasn’t fallen asleep in the bath?’
He ran up the stairs, coming back almost at once. ‘He’s in bed and fast asleep. I doubt he will move until morning.’ He held his hand out to Lucy. ‘We won’t be long, Ruth.’
The house was very quiet after they left, and Ruth made her way upstairs. She’d just check on Jack again and then go to bed herself; she was exhausted. He was in her bedroom, but she didn’t mind; she could easily sleep in the spare room. He was sprawled out with only a sheet covering him. She crept forward and began to carefully cover him with a blanket as well. A hand reached out and pulled her down beside him, wrapping his arms around her and making it impossible to move.
‘Stay,’ he murmured.
She was exactly where she wanted to be, so she laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady breathing. Relaxed at last after days of worrying, she was instantly asleep.
‘Hello, Bud, can you hear me? This is Lucy Nelson and I’m calling from England.’ She paused. ‘Oh, good, I’m coming through OK. Could you ask Mom to come to the phone at nine o’clock tomorrow morning? Ask her to wait for my call. It might take us a while to make the connection, but keep her there. It’s very important.’
Lucy nodded as she listened to Bud on the other end. ‘Thanks a lot.’
She replaced the receiver and turned to Simon. ‘There was a lot of noise on the line, but he heard me. All we’ve got to do now is get Jack to the phone early tomorrow afternoon.’
‘He’ll be awake by then. I’ll take you back home now.’ He studied her tired face. ‘You need sleep as well.’
When they arrived back there was no sign of Ruth downstairs. ‘She’s probably gone to bed,’ Lucy said. ‘I’ll just creep up and see if Jack’s OK.’
Simon went with her. He was still concerned for Jack, and thought he should have gone for a check-up as soon as they arrived back. When the American Jeep had arrived at Le Bourget airfield, Simon had hardly recognised his friend. He had been dressed in US Army combat gear, had lost weight and looked years older. The sergeant with him had explained to Simon that Jack had walked up to their tanks, his hands in the air, and shouted in an American accent that he was a downed pilot. After eating and changing out of his tattered uniform, he had asked to be taken to an airfield.
All Jack had wanted to do then was get back to England, and no amount of prompting had made him talk about his experiences. Hopefully, they would learn more when he submitted his official report.
Lucy stopped in the doorway of one of the bedrooms. ‘Look at that,’ she whispered, a huge smile on her face.
Simon’s reaction was the same. Jack and Ruth were locked in each other’s arms and sound asleep.
They tiptoed downstairs again, and Lucy giggled. ‘Ruth’s going to be sorry she slept in her clothes all night. I’d better get her
other uniform ready for the morning. Want some cocoa, Simon?’
‘No thanks. I’ll be back tomorrow with Jack’s clothes.’ The corners of his mouth twitched when he thought about the scene upstairs. ‘Your tough guy of a brother might not say much, but he obviously needs the comfort of having Ruth close after his ordeal.’
‘And it has been an ordeal. That’s clear for anyone to see, but if I know Jack, he’ll soon recover.’ Lucy yawned and handed him a spare key. ‘You’ll need this if we aren’t here. I don’t think sleeping will be any problem for me either tonight. Thanks for everything you’ve done for us, Simon.’
‘My pleasure.’ He kissed her cheek gently. ‘See you in the morning.’
The sun was streaming through the window and resting on his face. Jack stretched, revelling in the comfort of a proper bed. Then his eyes shot open and he sat upright, groaning at the pain caused by the sudden movement. Every muscle in his body was aching, but that was hardly surprising. He’d spent days hiding in ditches, barns or anywhere there was cover. It had been his bad fortune to come down behind the German lines and, as he’d only been able to move at night, the journey to the allies had been long and dangerous.
He rested back against the pillows. He remembered pulling Ruth down beside him before sinking into oblivion. How long had she stayed with him? He tipped his head to one side and listened to footsteps on the stairs.
‘Ah, good, you’re awake at last.’ Simon came in with an armful of clothes.
‘Hi, Simon, where are the girls?’
‘Halfway through their working day.’
Jack frowned. ‘What time is it?’
‘Midday, and I need you to get up. We’ve made arrangements for you to speak to your mother. Your storekeeper friend is going to make sure she’s by the phone when we call.’
‘That’s great.’ Jack was already out of bed. ‘Thanks a lot, Simon, she must be worried sick.’
‘Worried?’ Simon shook his head. ‘Jack, everyone’s been frantic about you, not only in America, but here as well. You’ve made a lot of friends since you came here, and you’d have left a large hole in many lives if you’d died in France.’
Jack was touched by Simon’s words. Joining the ATA was the best thing he’d ever done. Being here had helped him sort out what was important in life, and what wasn’t worth bothering about. He’d also learnt the value of each life, and had been damned determined not to lose his. He was no longer gazing over the next hill, wondering if it was better on the other side. He’d found all he wanted here.
‘What are you going to do when the war’s over?’ Jack asked Simon as he shaved.
‘Start my flying school again. There will be a big demand for pilots, especially with the airlines making plans for the future of air travel. My planes are still in Cornwall where someone’s been looking after them for me.’
‘They’ll need a good overhaul before they’re fit to fly again.’
Simon gave Jack a studied look. ‘I know. Want a job?’
Razor poised in the air, Jack turned to look at him. ‘You serious?’
‘Completely. Think about it, Jack, we could go into partnership. We’d make a good team.’
‘I sure will give it serious thought.’ And he would. That was something he would really like to do, but he had a lot to sort out before he could make a decision. This wasn’t just about him; there were other people to consider.
‘Good, now, do you want something to eat before we go to the airfield?’
‘Not just at the moment, but how about a meal after I’ve spoken to Ma?’
‘We’ll see what we can get.’
It took some time to make the connection and Jack had begun to worry they wouldn’t be able to get through. He knew his ma would be worrying, and he wanted to let her know he was safe. A phone call would be the quickest way. Finally, Simon gave him a thumbs-up sign. ‘Hello, Mrs Nelson, this is Simon from England. I’ve got someone here who wants to talk to you.’
Jack took the phone. ‘Hi, Ma.’ He listened for a few seconds. ‘Yes, it’s me and I’m fine. Now don’t take on so, Ma. I haven’t got a scratch on me. I’ll tell you all about it in a letter … you still there, Ma?’
He handed the phone back to Simon. ‘We got cut off, but she knows I’m OK. Thanks a lot. Now I’m hungry.’
Chapter Twenty-Nine
It was eight o’clock before Ruth arrived home, and the first thing she saw was Jack’s little car outside the house. She found him in the kitchen writing industriously.
He looked up and smiled. ‘Hi, honey, I’m just doing a letter to Ma. Is Lucy with you?’
‘She’ll be about another hour, we think.’
‘Ah, in that case …’ He stood up and wrapped her in his arms, kissing her like a hungry man. Breaking off the embrace, he sighed. ‘Hell, but it’s great to be home.’
A warm glow ran through Ruth. That was the first time she had ever heard him refer to England as home. ‘It’s wonderful to have you back. You scared us, Jack.’
He gave a dry laugh. ‘I scared myself, but I couldn’t get back any sooner. If I’d been caught I could have ended up as a prisoner or dead, and I didn’t fancy either. I doubted if a retreating army would bother with prisoners. I was surrounded by them and it was damned difficult to move without being seen.’
Just then the front door burst open and Lucy erupted into the room with Simon right behind her. ‘Jack, you spoke to Mom. What did she say?’
‘Not much, we got cut off, but there was just enough time to let her know I was all in one piece and back here safely.’
‘I bet she cried.’
He chuckled. ‘Not enough to stop her asking what the hell I thought I was doing, frightening everyone like this.’
Brother and sister grinned at each other. ‘That’s Mom,’ Lucy said, ‘but I bet she had a good cry when she got back home.’
It was interesting to see the rapport between them, and Ruth gave Simon an amused glance. ‘Want a cup of cocoa?’ she asked him.
‘No, thanks, I’ve come to remind Jack about the report, and to take you all out for a drink. That’s if Jack feels up to it?’
‘Sure, I’m great now.’ He shuffled through the papers on the table and handed Simon a single sheet. ‘I’ve done the report.’
Simon read it and then shook his head in disbelief. ‘This is it?’
‘Yep.’
‘Jack, you were missing for ten days, and all you’ve said is that you got caught in a sudden storm, ran out of fuel and had to bail out. You were behind enemy lines and had to find the allies.’
‘Well?’
‘Couldn’t you give a few more details?’
‘Why?’
By now Ruth and Lucy were almost bursting with suppressed laughter at the puzzled expression on Jack’s face. He obviously considered that his report was adequate.
‘Simon,’ Lucy took the paper from out of his hands, folded it neatly and tucked it in his top pocket, ‘you’re wasting your breath. I know my brother and that’s all you’re going to get. Once his sentences get down to one word you can forget it. He isn’t going to budge.’
‘All right, but do you think that if we get him drunk he’ll tell us what really happened in France?’
‘Not a chance.’ She slipped her hand through Simon’s arm. ‘You said something about a drink?’
‘Do you think we can get something to eat, as well?’ Jack closed the front door behind them. ‘I’m ravenous.’
‘We’ll get the girls to smile nicely at the landlord.’
‘Great idea, Simon. Who can resist a woman in uniform? Especially when they’re wearing golden wings.’
‘Oh, this brother of yours is smooth, isn’t he?’ Ruth said, giving Jack a teasing glance. There had been a chance that she would never see him again, but here he was, walking beside her, and still the same man she loved. She couldn’t stop smiling with happiness.
‘Yep, back home he had the girls dropping at his feet in an effort to ga
in his attention.’
Jack looked up at the sky in mock despair. ‘Let’s get that drink before my reputation’s in shreds. There’s something you don’t know about my sister, Simon: she exaggerates like hell.’
They were in luck at the pub. The landlord’s wife had just finished baking a batch of vegetable pies for the next day, and quite happily agreed to give them a meal. They were regulars at the pub and always received the best service. There was huge admiration throughout the country for what the pilots had done, and were still doing. And although the ATA weren’t RAF, they still flew planes and kept the RAF supplied with aircraft, and that counted for a lot with many people.
‘Gosh, this is great,’ Jack said as he demolished the pie, mashed potatoes and carrots. ‘I’ve got a few missed meals to make up for.’
It was noticeable that he was thinner so Ruth slipped half of her pie on to his plate, which quickly disappeared. He hadn’t been very hungry when he’d first arrived back, but now he had rested he seemed to need the food.
The landlady bustled over to their table. ‘Come back hungry, has he?’ she asked Ruth, well aware that Jack had been reported missing for some days.
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘You look half starved. What have you been up to, young man?’
Jack gave her one of his engaging smiles. ‘Got lost in France – without food,’ he added, pointedly looking at his empty plate.
She picked up the plate, muttering about the young people doing dangerous things, and walked back to the kitchen. She soon returned with another portion of pie and mash. Placing it in front of him, she tapped his hand. ‘You eat that now, there’s a lot of you to fill up.’
‘Why thank you, ma’am.’
The landlady chuckled. ‘He’s a right charmer, isn’t he? Don’t you go getting lost again.’
‘I’ll sure be careful not to.’
As she walked away, Lucy punched her brother on the arm. ‘You’re shameless, Jack Nelson. Fancy playing on her sympathy to get another meal!’
A Flight of Golden Wings Page 23