David sat on the side of his bed and rubbed his fingers through his tangled hair, pushing it back off his face. He was still dressed in his walking clothes. ‘Stop messing around, Linzi! What do you want?’ and he shook his head to waken himself.
‘Can you lend me twenty pounds? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.’
‘Twenty quid … ! What on earth do you want it for? You still owe me ten from when you were over at Christmas!’
‘Oh … ! Don’t ask stupid questions… . It’s just for this and that.’
‘Twenty pounds is more than “this and that.”’
‘I’ve just got behind with things, that’s all.’
‘So you’d rather owe me than anyone else, eh?’
‘Oh, don’t be so mean! I’ve no one else to help me have I? I daren’t ask Mum, and I just can’t manage on my grant. Anyway, I’m starting a new waitressing job when I get back, so I’ll soon catch up again.’
She came across and flopped on the bed beside him.
‘Look Linzi, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to keep lending you money, and I’m not exactly flush myself.’
‘Oh, come off it… . You can’t be broke… . You never spend anything!’
‘Now don’t start getting at me or you’ll not get a penny. I’ll lend you ten quid, and that’s all I can spare, but you’ll have to pay me back as soon as you can, or there’ll be no more.’
David reluctantly got up from his bed and rummaged through his trouser pockets to find his wallet. He turned away from her and carefully pulled out two five-pound notes and threw them down on the bed beside her. Linzi snatched at them and flung her arms around him, then started to mock kiss him on his neck and on his cheek.
‘Okay … okay … go away now. I’m tired!’ And with that, he fell back on the bed.
‘Don’t forget we’re going out tonight, Davey?’
‘I haven’t forgotten.’
Linzi started to leave, and then looked back at him and said, ‘Oh… . Will you pick Hannah up then?’ and she left without waiting for a reply.
When Linzi returned downstairs she found her mother alone in the kitchen, busy at the sink, preparing the vegetables for tea. Shutting the stairway door behind her, Linzi moved up closer to Kathy and checked over her shoulder that they were alone. ‘Is there something going on between David and Joanne?’
Kathy stopped what she was doing, putting the peeled carrots down into the dirty water. ‘And what makes you think that?’
Linzi’s interest was fuelled by the look of concern on her mother’s face. ‘Oh, something he’s just said … something really strange.’
‘What thing?’
‘There is something isn’t there?’
Kathy lifted a warm towel from the Aga to dry her hands and looked towards the stairs. ‘I think David and Joanne must be seeing each other. But neither of them seem to be happy about it. I hope to God I’m wrong, though.’
‘Oh Mum!’ Linzi raised her voice, ‘What can be so wrong with David dating Joanne?’
‘I’m sorry, love. I don’t want to sound prejudiced, but not the Milton girl, she’s turning out to be kind of - odd!’
‘Well, I’m sorry, but you are being prejudiced.’ Linzi was whispering again. ‘Joanne’s a lovely girl and, anyway, David’s not been acting what you might call, rationally, himself has he? Who’s going to want him? Who’s going to want to marry into this family?’
‘Why do you have to be so blunt, Linzi? I just want things to be better for David that’s all.’ Kathy picked up a kitchen knife and started to peel the vegetables again.
‘Better than what? Better than you and Dad you mean?’
‘Let’s leave it now, please, and don’t you dare say a word to him.’
*
David continued to laze on his bed and close his eyes, still feeling tired despite his nap; his dream hadn’t helped. He guessed his body had relaxed itself too much after the walk. Sleep wasn’t necessary, yet his eyes kept closing. He didn’t really want to get up, yet he felt grubby. He knew he must wash and change, but was reluctant to do so. Glancing down, David saw the muddied trousers he was still wearing, his woollen walking socks hanging loosely on his feet; he hadn’t even brushed his hair. He knew he was procrastinating, so with a surge of energy, jumped up off the bed to rouse himself and went to run a hot bath.
He didn’t spend much time in deciding what he should wear; he never did, and with only a bath towel wrapped around his waist and his hair still wet, he reached for his blue, checked lumberjack shirt from the wardrobe. But something made him hesitate, and instead he took out a cream-coloured cotton shirt with dark brown buttons. He carefully examined it to check it was clean then slipped it on his bare chest. He then rooted through his chest-of-drawers and took out a pair of dark, pressed, cord trousers.
When he finally walked into the kitchen with clean dry hair, and more smartly dressed than was usual for him, Kathy cast a worried glance towards Linzi. David took the shoe polish from the sink cupboard and vigorously polished his best brown boots; that was even more worrying.
*
Linzi had arranged with Hannah that someone would pick her up at 7:30 pm. But she didn’t say who that someone would be.
Hannah, like David, felt she just wanted a quiet evening in as she’d had a hectic day in the surgery. As she prepared for the evening, she had bathed and was undecided in what to wear. She was always more comfortable in jeans and pullovers and, not really knowing Linzi that well, didn’t know how to dress. Linzi had given her no clues in her appearance at their first meeting on the bus and Hannah recalled Linzi had been unwell and had just dressed for warmth.
Hannah decided on a black, crushed velvet mini-dress, with a modest neckline. And, as a token for the cold weather, wore a pair of black, knee-high boots and a grey, fun-fur coat.
When she heard a car swiftly pull into the gravel driveway, she peered through the window down into the yard. She could see through the street light that it was the red-coloured Rover of the Keldas family. She strained herself further, to see who the driver was, but the interior of the car was in darkness.
Hannah hoped it would be Kathy and she wasn’t certain whether Linzi could drive or not. So, feeling hesitant, she grabbed her shoulder bag, ran down the stairs and outside into the cool, windy night and jumped in the waiting car.
Through the momentary illumination of the interior light, Hannah saw her driver was David. But as they sat in darkness together, she had no indication of his appearance.
She briefly thanked him for calling, and he appeared to ignore her, but he hadn’t; he’d just nodded politely and his gesture was unseen. All the bravado was gone and David was nervous.
Hannah felt awkward and the muscles in her throat tightened. She hoped she wouldn’t have to talk much, at least not until she’d settled. But as David drove speedily through Windermere and then on to Ambleside, Hannah realised she needn’t be concerned as it was obvious David wasn’t going to speak to her at all.
Hannah was angry, yet she should have expected this rudeness from him. But the silence became uncomfortable and, as David recklessly negotiated each bend, Hannah was glad he was driving quickly as their journey would end the sooner.
In the darkness and the silence, Hannah’s other senses were acute. She heard him clear his throat as if he was going to speak, but he didn’t. She could smell a manly odour coming from him. Not a bad one, or an unclean one, but perhaps David’s aftershave. Glancing at his arm, she saw he was wearing a suede jacket and she could smell the soft, mellow, scent of leather.
Hannah was surprised when out of the silence, David finally spoke. ‘Have you had a good day, Hannah?’ His voice was husky.
‘Oh … yes… . Very busy.’ She stumbled over her words.
‘Have you been chasing cattle around?’ A little clearer now.
‘Oh, not today… . Just a few emergencies at the surgery. We had to operate on a spaniel that’d been knocked down and a few small a
nimals to treat.’ She coughed to clear her throat.
That was the end of the conversation. That had been enough for David. He couldn’t think of anything else to say and he wished he’d brought Sarah with him. But then again, it excited him to be alone with her.
He couldn’t make out Hannah’s appearance through the darkness and didn’t want to look at her. But he could smell the soft, womanly scent of perfume. He could also see her knees close to his hand looking tanned with the stockings she wore. He held on firmly to the gear lever with each change of speed, as he drove the twisty road through Rydal and on to Grasmere and Keld Head. He tried not to let go as he didn’t want to move his hand any further away from her.
*
It was unusual for David to be the first in the pub. He was usually held up checking over the cattle or messing around with some unfinished work, or even just lacking motivation. But tonight he was the first. He’d put his head down as he walked down the lane, thrust his hands in his pockets and walked well ahead of the two girls. Linzi clung on to Hannah’s arm, as they huddled together, walking through the cold night to the village pub.
David had easily managed to keep several paces in front of them. This suited Linzi, as the last words her mother said to her was: “Watch over him like a hawk tonight!”
David bought the first round of drinks and Linzi was quick to embarrass him and said he’d only bought them now because it was cheaper, before everyone else arrived. But David didn’t find it particularly cheap, buying his sister a brandy and Babycham and Hannah a Bacardi and Coke.
The two girls removed their coats and flung them on the chair backs, and sat together in the corner. David stood at the bar, and for the first time Hannah saw him in a clear light. She noticed straight away how clean and well-groomed he looked, despite his dark hair curling over his collar. The wound above his lip was still discernible and left a scar that would stay with him for the rest of his life. He appeared taller than she remembered; perhaps it was just the cut of his trousers or maybe just his good posture.
Hannah felt comfortable from her vantage point, nestled safely in the corner. She and Linzi had picked up their conversation immediately from where they’d left off.
David brought the drinks across to the girls and went straight back to the bar. He rested his boot on the brass footplate, leant on the bar and chatted to the landlord.
Hannah, still suspicious of David, eyed him cautiously, wanting to learn more of his character. She was helped when another couple joined him, a young man with pale skin, freckles and long, red, curly hair. The girl with him was small and also pale, but she had the most beautiful red hair. It was brushed back off her face and tumbled over her shoulders and back.
‘That’s Joanne Milton. She’s one of my friends. And that’s her brother, Tony.’ Linzi whispered in Hannah’s ear. ‘She’s lovely, but he’s a complete idiot and, not surprisingly, is our Davey’s best friend!’
Hannah wondered why the girl didn’t come across to speak to Linzi; she hadn’t even acknowledged her.
Linzi continued to talk non-stop about life at college, but Hannah was distracted, half-listening to her and half-trying to hear what the young people at the bar were saying.
She watched the girl with the beautiful hair, standing close to David, but making no contact with him. She was listening to the two men talking, one much louder and more excitedly than the other.
David turned and stood with his back to the bar. He glanced across and saw Hannah looking at him. She was embarrassed when they made eye contact and she looked away. And several times throughout the evening, Hannah felt he was also watching her, but each time she looked at him, he purposely smiled and kept the eye contact.
Hannah also saw Tony Milton watching Linzi and guessed he liked her. Linzi did look attractive, more so than the poorly girl she’d met two days earlier on the coach. Linzi’s dark hair was neatly cut into a bob and, for the first time, Hannah noticed the shape of her eyebrows. Linzi had beautiful, blue, deep-set eyes, much like David’s.
As the girls emptied their glasses, Tony ambled across, grabbed a stool and sat at the table with them. ‘Another drink, ladies?’ he asked. ‘So you’re the girl trying to kill off Dave’s cattle are you?’ He looked directly at Hannah.
Hannah rose to the bait and with her view of Tony being coloured by Linzi’s comments, took an instant disliking to him. She just smirked back.
Tony went to buy the next round of drinks, and David and Joanne came to sit down. For the rest of the evening they remained altogether. Tony still did most of the talking and, as usual, Linzi became irritated with him. He continued to tease Hannah as David suspected he would. At first David found it amusing but, gradually, he could see Hannah was agitated and that troubled him.
Hannah continued to eye David as she sat across from him. She watched Joanne looking at him, and her intuition told her that this girl was in love with David, but there appeared to be no reciprocation on his part. Joanne had hardly spoken a word all evening and Hannah thought she was either shy, or strange.
Then the more Tony drank, the more he fooled around, aiming most of his jokes either David’s or Hannah’s way and repeating words she said in her Durham accent. David sat with his legs stretched out in front of him, resting his beer glass on his folded arm and only half-smiling at his friend’s jesting. Then, as usual, Tony went too far and he didn’t have the self-control to stop. ‘You’re too small to be a vet, Hannah.’
‘I get on very well, thank you.’
‘I suppose it helps with the lambing does it? Getting your arm stuck in a sheep’s backside and all!’
At this, David sat up and thrust his empty beer glass down on the table. ‘Leave it out mate … !’
‘What’s the matter, Dave? You don’t normally stick up for women. She must mean something to you?’
David looked across at Hannah. She had her head bent low and was fumbling nervously through her handbag for something or other of no consequence. He also noticed a blotchy rash, from embarrassment, on her neck. He was incensed with Tony. Yet David should be used to it by now, but somehow this time it hurt, especially as he realised Tony was right. David didn’t want the feelings he had for Hannah to end just now, so he ordered everyone a fresh round of drinks and was glad to escape to the bar, before he did or said something he might regret.
Joanne had been watching and listening. She too had felt a little sorry for Hannah. But with Tony’s suggestion that David had feelings for the girl, she quickly changed her view. She’d also noticed David looking at Hannah, and consequently felt hatred grow inside her so intense that she felt she could actually do her some harm.
She began to study Hannah’s appearance and inwardly criticise her. Her stature? Too small. Her voice? Too common. Her eyes? Too big. Her taste in clothes? Too modern. The realisation of David’s new-found dress sense also took on a greater meaning.
If anyone had been watching Joanne (and sadly, no one hardly was) they would have noticed a change in the colour of her skin. If you could monitor her heartbeat, you would find that it was beating at a rapid pace. Her teeth were grinding together, and her jawbone was aching with the intensity.
Almost unnoticed by all, Joanne rose, took her jacket and left the bar. It was only when the drink that David had just bought, remained untouched, that anyone realised she’d gone. And, ironically, the one to notice was Hannah.
‘Your sister appears to have gone!’ She looked at Tony.
But the others all knew of Joanne’s turbulent nature and weren’t moved or surprised by this. And Linzi, with a mercenary spirit, immediately started to loot the untouched drink. ‘Well, there’s no need to waste it!’ she said.
David felt compelled to take charge of the conversation and steer it into a more sensible direction. But soon a heated debate developed as to who would make the best Prime Minister: a man or a woman. Then they argued about music, employment and politics, the state of the Cold War, and David had to change the subject
again.
‘I took Tom up to High White Stones today.’
Hannah was interested as David continued to talk passionately about the hills.
‘The little monster messed about on the rocks… . He’s no idea how dangerous that place can be.’
Hannah, intrigued by the change she’d seen in him hoped she could find out more about the walk. But Linzi didn’t want to let her brother turn, what should be a happy evening, into a grim lecture on the dangers of fell walking and she interrupted. ‘For goodness sake, Davey. Stop preaching!’
David knew exactly what Linzi was trying to do and, as he glanced again at Hannah, he guessed she would be watching him and waiting for a reaction, so he winked at her.
Her face relaxed at his gesture. ‘No, please. I would like to know more, David.’
As the evening passed and the bell for last orders rang, David felt smug with his behaviour toward Hannah. He’d whitened his character and that was enough. He walked home ahead of the girls, with Tony in tow. They headed for the Milton bungalow for coffee and supper, assuming that Joanne would already be home.
They bustled into the bungalow and the girls threw their coats down on the kitchen table and headed for the sofa by the fire. David slung some sticks and coal in the grate; his last act of chivalry.
Hannah thought the untidy condition of this house was a stark contrast to the neat appearance of the farmhouse at Keld Head.
Tony shouted for Joanne at her bedroom door and, getting no reply, gently pushed it open, but all was in darkness. He held onto the open door and peering into the darkened room, momentarily wondered, but he knew worrying about Joanne was futile.
*
The cups of black coffee and cheese sandwiches wouldn’t be enough to help any of the men become sober enough to drive Hannah home. It was too late in the night to expect Kathy to drive, so Linzi decided they would share the cost of a taxi. Tony was becoming irritable as he’d started to get a head cold and was searching the house for remedies. David had fallen asleep in the armchair and, unbeknown to Hannah, had done so out of contentment. No more talk was needed. He wouldn’t take this any further. He remembered his promise and was satisfied with her approval.
Northern Spirit Page 16