Shadows of Conflict

by Jennifer Bohnet

  There was a pause of several seconds before Leo said quietly, ‘The thing is, Tiggy, I don’t want to let you go ever again.’

  As Katie stared at him, shocked at the intensity in his voice, he pulled her against him and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. ‘Oh, Tiggy,’ he murmured, taking his lips away from her. ‘I’ve wanted to do that for so long.’

  Katie, surprised at the feelings Leo’s gentle kiss had aroused in her, stirred in his arms and as his lips met hers for the second time, she responded to the delicious intimacy of his kiss.

  A loud knocking on the shop door made them both jump and draw apart.

  ‘Who the devil?’ Leo muttered. ‘Stay here. I’ll go.’

  Katie took several deep breaths to calm herself down. Whoever was at the door and whatever happened next, she doubted things between her and Leo could ever be the same again.

  ‘Tiggy, can you come here, please?’ Leo called. ‘Someone here to see you.’

  ‘Bit late for visitors, isn’t it?’ Katie said as she went through to the shop and stopped in shock.

  ‘Patrick. What on earth are you doing here?’

  FIFTEEN

  ‘Coffee?’

  ‘I’d prefer wine.’

  ‘No can do. Haven’t moved in yet so there’s none here,’ Katie said, filling the kettle and flicking the switch.

  ‘Suppose that means there’s nothing to go with the coffee?’

  Katie shook her head. ‘Got it in one. You’ll have to eat at the hotel.’

  ‘I was hoping to stay with you,’ Patrick said.

  Katie shook her head again. ‘Sorry. I’m still living at Mattie’s and there’s no bed here. You’d better ring the Castle Hotel and hope they’ve got a vacancy.’ Honestly, did he really expect to leap straight into her bed after the sulking of the past weeks?

  Patrick took out his iPhone and scrolled through his address book.

  ‘You know the hotel number?’ Katie said.

  Patrick nodded, pressing his screen. ‘You know me. Boy scout ready for anything. Ah, hi,’ he said. ‘Patrick Tegwen here. Just wanted to confirm my booking for this evening. I’ve been delayed but should be with you soon. Thanks.’

  He caught the expression on Katie’s face as he closed his phone. ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Katie said. ‘Just that you’re unbelievable. I still don’t understand why you’re here, though,’ she said, spooning coffee into the cafetière.

  ‘I’ve got a new location to check out near Plymouth tomorrow, so I thought I’d break the journey and see my girlfriend. Not that you seem that pleased to see me. Not even a welcoming kiss.’

  ‘Of course I’m pleased to see you,’ Katie said, moving across to him. ‘I’m surprised, that’s all.’ She reached up to kiss him. ‘You’ve always said you’re too busy when I’ve mentioned coming for a visit.’

  ‘There’s a film crew here in town I’m rather keen to meet up with,’ Patrick added, before kissing her back and nuzzling her neck. ‘Are you sure you won’t come back to the hotel?’

  Katie pulled back and looked at him. She might have guessed Patrick wouldn’t be here just to see her. ‘Do you mean the Empreys?’

  ‘You know them? Great, you can help me get them on board,’ Patrick said. ‘Persuade them to sell me the English rights to this World War Two documentary they’re filming.’

  ‘I don’t think so, Patrick. I’m completely out of touch these days with the business.’ She moved out of the circle of his arms and switched off the kettle.

  Patrick shrugged. ‘Pity. So, who’s the country bumpkin who was here earlier?’

  ‘Less of the country bumpkin,’ Katie said, pouring the water on to the coffee. ‘Leo is anything but. And you know very well who he is – I introduced you.’ And wasn’t that embarrassing she thought, plunging the cafetière strainer down.

  The two men had touched knuckles more than shaken hands and Leo had left without another word. Katie had called out, ‘Thanks for your help this evening’ but he’d merely raised his hand in acknowledgement and kept walking. Katie had sighed inwardly. This wasn’t the way she’d planned on introducing the two men to each other. She’d hoped they’d get on, instead of clearly loathing each other on sight.

  ‘He was a tad protective of you when I told him who I was,’ Patrick said. ‘Almost as though he has a prior claim over you?’

  ‘Leo and I grew up together. He’s always looked out for me like a big brother,’ Katie said, trying not to think about the way Leo had kissed her earlier. Definitely no brotherly feelings involved there.

  ‘Besides, he’s convinced that long-distance relationships are doomed to failure and that you’d dumped me without bothering to tell me.’ Katie poured the coffee before looking at Patrick. ‘And let’s face it. I’ve barely heard from you since I’ve been down here. Let’s take this upstairs.’

  ‘I’ve been busy. You know how hectic it can get,’ Patrick said, following her up to the attic room.

  ‘You could still have replied to my texts,’ Katie said, handing him his coffee.

  Patrick moved across to look out of the window before he answered. ‘Leo is right about long-distance relationships being difficult,’ he said, ‘which is one of the reasons I’m here now. We need to talk.’

  Katie sipped her coffee and waited.

  ‘But I’d rather do it when we’ve got more time – and I’m not so hungry.’

  ‘You could always phone for a pizza,’ Katie said.

  Patrick pulled a face. ‘You know how I feel about pizzas. I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we just go to the hotel and have dinner together. You could always stay with me afterwards – I’ve booked a double room.’ Patrick looked at her hopefully. ‘Then tomorrow you can show me the local sights.’

  ‘Patrick, I’m working all day tomorrow. Any sightseeing you do will have to be alone. Besides, you just said you have to check out a new location.’

  ‘You could come and show me the way to Plymouth, no? OK, I get the message. But we do have to talk and it’s going to take more than five minutes.’

  Patrick drained his coffee. ‘OK, here’s the plan. I’ll take myself off to the hotel. Go to Plymouth tomorrow, do the biz, be back here the next day. We’ll talk then.’

  ‘Can’t you at least give me a clue what this is all about?’

  Patrick shook his head. ‘It’ll keep for another few hours. But I know you’ll like it. Right, I’d better go and book into the Castle. Hope their dining room doesn’t close early.’

  ‘I’ll walk there with you,’ Katie said.

  ‘Fancy a nightcap before you go?’ he asked at the entrance.

  Katie shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I’ll see you when you get back from Plymouth.’ She leant forward and kissed him goodnight before turning and making her way back to Above Town.

  She wished Patrick had come straight out with whatever he wanted to talk to her about, instead of being mysterious. Maybe he thought the anticipation would increase the chances of her agreeing to whatever it was. It was typical of Patrick to turn up and expect her to be immediately available to him.

  This ‘thing’ he wanted to talk about was probably just another job offer which she would turn down and he’d tell her again she was being stupid before going back to Bristol and ignoring her for weeks on end. Sighing, she opened the cottage gate. She was beginning to feel that her relationship with Patrick was doomed.

  SIXTEEN

  Mattie heard the gentle plop of letters on the front doormat as she finished lunch and made herself a coffee. Quickly checking through the bills and junk mail, she was irrationally pleased to see a letter with a Parisian postmark. Taking it and her coffee out to sit at the wrought-iron table under the blossom of the magnolia tree, she settled down to read it.

  Henri wrote English as well as he spoke it and Mattie could hear his voice in her head as she read, thanking her for a wonderful holiday, trusting she’d had a safe journey home and telling her he planned to visit soon – in abo
ut ten days if that was OK and could she please recommend somewhere for him to stay.

  Thoughtfully Mattie stared out across the river and came to a decision. Fetching her writing folder and a pen she replied to Henri, telling him the only place she could confidently recommend was her cottage and that she expected him to stay with her, no argument. A few more sentences about how much she was looking forward to seeing him again and she hesitated over her signature before settling on ‘Yours affectionately, Mattie’. She’d post the letter on her way to the shop to meet Leo – who was driving her out to see Ron.

  Katie was serving a customer when she arrived and there was no sign of Leo. Rather than stand around watching Katie, Mattie made her way to the clubroom to sit and wait. A man aimlessly flicking through a magazine glanced up at her and smiled.

  ‘Ah, you must be Patrick,’ Mattie said, remembering how agitated Katie had been the night he’d arrived. ‘Katie’s ex-boss.’

  ‘Rather more than just an ex-boss,’ Patrick said. ‘Close friend too. You must be Mattie,’ he added, holding out his hand. ‘The reason Katie came home to bury herself.’

  Reluctantly Mattie shook his hand. She’d decided before she’d even met Patrick she wasn’t going to like him and his last comment confirmed it.

  ‘Katie came home because she wanted to. I didn’t make her.’

  Patrick shrugged. ‘Whatever. It’s a nice enough place but I know Katie will be restless and want to move back to the city in – oh, I give it another six months at the most. Less, if I have anything to do with it. Already got a job lined up for her the minute she wants it.’

  Mattie stared at him. ‘How long exactly are you planning to stay?’

  ‘Got a spot of business to see to down here and a couple of days’ annual leave to use up so….’ Patrick shrugged again. ‘A few days at least while I try to talk some sense into Katie. Make her an offer she can’t refuse.’

  ‘I see you two have introduced yourselves,’ Katie said, walking into the clubroom at that moment. ‘You haven’t told me anything yet about this offer I can’t refuse,’ she added, turning to Patrick.

  ‘Tell you later. Over dinner?’

  Katie shook her head. ‘I’m busy later. In fact, I’m busy now so why don’t you go and let me get on with some work? I’ve told you I can’t just drop everything on a whim – or because you insist.’ She was surprised at how cross she still felt over his unexpected appearance and demands for her time.

  Patrick glanced at his watch. ‘Hell, yes. I’ve got an appointment with the Empreys in about five minutes so I’d better get going.’

  The sound of a car horn tooting came in through the window.

  ‘That’ll be Leo,’ Mattie said. ‘I’m off. See you later.’ Pointedly ignoring Patrick, she left.

  Once settled in Leo’s car she slammed the door shut.

  ‘Something the matter?’ Leo asked.

  ‘Mr Smoothie’s in the shop.’

  ‘Mr Smoothie? Oh, you’ve met Patrick.’

  ‘He seems to blame me for Katie coming home. But she’d been made redundant – I offered her an opportunity which she accepted.’ Mattie sighed. ‘I do hope she didn’t take it just to please me.’

  ‘Fairly certain she took the shop on because she fancied the challenge,’ Leo said.

  ‘He seems confident that he can make her change her mind. He’s going to make her an offer.’

  ‘Between us we’ll just have to make her an even better offer then, won’t we?’ Leo said.

  ‘Any ideas how we do that?’

  ‘I’m working on it,’ Leo said with a smile. ‘So, decided what we’re going to say to Ron?’

  ‘Not really. Challenge him about the break-in and the earlier vandalism. See what his reaction is. Not sure what else we can do.’

  Mattie sighed. ‘I just hope he’ll speak to us. It’s never been that easy dealing with Ron and the old family agreement always rears its complicated head.’

  Leo glanced across at her. ‘I thought that agreement was a family myth.’

  ‘Wish it was. All down to dear Grandmother Luttrell. Caused untold problems in the past and continues to do so. The main problem is the clause that gives Ron and his family 40% of any profit on the sale of the shop building.’

  Leo whistled. ‘That’s a lot of money in any century. Can see why Ron wants you to sell up.’

  ‘The thing is, the agreement does finally expire next year. Another twelve months and ownership reverts to me totally … to do what I like with.’

  Mattie was silent as Leo drove through Blackawton village before turning down the potholed farm lane that led to Ron’s farm. ‘You’d think he’d tidy the place up a bit,’ Leo muttered, looking at the rusting machinery littering the adjoining fields. ‘Place is more like a scrapyard than a farm.’

  ‘Ron didn’t ever want to be a farmer,’ Mattie said. ‘As the only son, he inherited the place. He’s never worked the place as a proper farm. Now he’s looking for yet another handout from the family.’

  Ron was on the yard working on an old tractor as they pulled up outside the farmhouse, but made no attempt to greet them. Belatedly he yelled, ‘Quiet!’ at the Alsatian dog frantically barking at them from his chain by an outbuilding.

  ‘What do you two want?’

  ‘Wanted to talk to you about the shop,’ Mattie said. ‘See if you know anything about the recent problems we’ve had.’ She stared at Ron and waited.

  ‘Why should I know something about your problems? Like you keep telling me – place ain’t nothing to do with me.’

  ‘So you’re not trying to make Mattie sell up and share the proceeds with you, then?’ Leo said.

  ‘Nothing to do with me. Might want me rightful share of family money but I ain’t no criminal.’ Ron glowered at them.

  ‘You could be paying someone else to vandalize the shop. This place looks like you could do with the money the property would raise.’

  Ron glared at Leo. ‘I told you. That ain’t nothing to do with me – and you can butt out too. This be between Mattie and me.’

  ‘Ron, don’t you think it’s time to stop this stupid family feud business?’ Mattie said.

  ‘Might be stupid to you,’ Ron said. ‘You be sitting pretty whatever ‘appens. Your lot always did come up smelling of roses. But I’ve got me rights and that property is one of ’em.’

  ‘Ron, you’ve had all you’re entitled to. After the war your father got thousands to help you all resettle after the evacuation and he still conned the family trustees into lengthening the agreement time limit into the twenty-first century.’

  ‘If your sister had done the right thing and married me, the shop would have been mine anyway.’

  Mattie smothered a laugh. ‘Clara would never have married you in a million years. She loved Hal not you.’

  ‘So, if you’re not behind the break-ins – any idea who might be?’ Leo asked.

  ‘Nope. Wouldn’t tell you if I did anyway,’ Ron said. ‘Unless, of course, you made it worth my while.’

  ‘If you’re that short of money you could always try working the farm properly,’ Leo said. ‘Instead of using it as a scrapyard.’

  ‘You can mind your own business – and get off my land.’

  Mattie stepped back involuntarily as Ron bent down and picked up a hammer from the toolbox at his feet. Straightening up he glared at them. ‘Now bloody well scarper before I set the dog on you.’ He turned his back on them and began bashing away at something on the tractor.

  ‘Well, I think I believe him when he says he’s not behind the break-ins,’ Mattie said as she and Leo returned to the car. ‘But I definitely got the feeling he knows more than he’s saying.’

  ‘Mmm,’ Leo said. ‘But we’re no closer to finding out who is, exactly. What’s this about him and Aunt Clara?’

  ‘Oh, Ron got it into his head she’d make him an ideal wife. It was designed for him to get his hands on the shop. He hadn’t reckoned on Clara falling for a GI.’
<
br />   Mattie looked back at the farmyard where Ron was still banging away at the tractor. ‘I’m blowed if I’m going to be bullied by anybody into selling A Good Yarn, just to give Ron yet another handout. I have too much respect for Clara’s memory to do that.’

  SEVENTEEN

  ‘Now, you’re sure you’ll manage? You don’t want me to see if Trisha can come in?’ Katie looked at Mattie anxiously. ‘Ring my mobile if it gets too busy and I’ll come back as quickly as I can.’

  ‘Katie, this used to be my shop, remember? I do know how to run it!’

  ‘Sorry,’ Katie said. ‘I can’t think what possessed Patrick to book a table for lunch and simply assume I’d shut up shop.’

  ‘Used to getting his own way, that one,’ Mattie said shrewdly. ‘Told you what he wants to talk about yet?’

  Katie shook her head. ‘I haven’t had a chance to see him properly yet. I imagine that’s what this lunch is all about. Whatever it is, I’ve a hunch he’s going to be disappointed by my reaction.’

  ‘Where is he taking you?’

  ‘The Barge.’

  ‘Well, at least the food will be good. Now, GO!’ Mattie said.

  Walking along the embankment to where she’d agreed to meet Patrick, Katie thought about what Mattie and Leo had told her about their visit to Ron’s. Leo had promised her that if it was Ron, and he caused any more trouble, he would personally make sure he stopped.

  Katie smiled as she thought about Leo fighting her battles for her. He’d always protected her like she’d assumed a big brother would. Bossed her around. That was why his kisses the other evening had been so unexpected.

  Patrick was waiting by the launch that ferried customers to and from the restaurant barge moored in the middle of the river and raised his hand in greeting as he saw her. Katie smiled and raised her own hand in acknowledgement. She’d forgotten how attractive Patrick was.

  Katie felt a stab of guilt as she saw how smart he looked in his white chinos and navy blazer while she was in her normal workday clothes. She banished the guilty thought instantly. Patrick would have to accept the way she was – it was the middle of a working day for her. Unlike him, she wasn’t having an away day.