A Dream Rides By

  Mary Southcott was smiling at their backs, but then her face clouded with doubt. ‘Are you sure ’tis a good idea, they two going off together?’

  ‘To join their friends? What harm can she come to? Besides, she’s a good head on her shoulders. And, Mary, she be growing up. There comes a time when you has to accept that. Now then, let’s hurry along, or we’ll be missing half the fun!’

  By the time they caught up with the group of jocund youngsters, Barney was sweating uncomfortably, his dark hair stuck to his forehead, even though it wasn’t a particularly warm day, the sky being grey and overcast. Ling, though, still looked as fresh as a daisy, even if her face shone with exhilaration and her hat was somewhat awry on her head. Barney’s chest swelled with contentment as he contemplated her. She looked quite stunning, her tall, willowy figure clad in its serviceable Sunday best and her mane of springing copper curls already escaping from beneath her straw hat. There was no other maid to match Ling in either looks or personality, and she was his. Barney Mayhew’s. And the sooner he got a ring on her finger, the better.

  ‘You two have bin a long time getting yere! Stopped off behind a boulder for a few minutes, eh, did we? ’Tis all it takes, I’ve yeard tell!’

  Ling’s eyes narrowed in disgust. Her altercation with Harry Spence two weeks ago was still fresh in her mind. No one liked the uncouth youth, who was unfortunately part of everyone’s daily company, and for two pins Ling would have liked to knee him again where it hurt most. But there were other ways to skin a cat!

  ‘Little boys shouldn’t joke about something they know nothing about,’ she scorned and, so saying, she sprang forward with a gleeful cry. Before he had a chance to stop her, she pulled Harry’s cap down over his eyes. Blinded for an instant as he struggled to remove it, she spun him round, disorientating him further. He stumbled on to his knees, and when he finally released himself from the blindfold he was met by a chorus of hooting laughter.

  ‘Well done, Ling!’ Sam Tippet chortled. ‘’Twill keep ’en quiet for a bit.’

  ‘Met your match, eh, Harry?’ someone else jeered cheerfully, and Barney’s eyes flashed. It was all very well everyone congratulating Ling, which, of course, filled him with pride, but just so long as they didn’t start coveting her into the bargain! But Ling took his hand, her head thrown back in glorious triumph as she skipped along beside him. The incident, in her mind, was already forgotten, as she at last felt she had got even with Harry Spence.

  Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled at Barney and he held her hand even more tightly. He was looking forward immensely to the day ahead – a whole day and the evening, too, with fireworks and a dance. Then they would walk home in the dark of the August evening. What could be more romantic? Perhaps he would even get a more passionate kiss than her usual peck on the cheek!

  The views across the moor as they followed alongside the new railway seemed to Ling even more breathtaking than ever, the particular quality of the light that day lending a dramatic blue tinge to the spectacular landscape. It was always changing, Dartmoor, as if it were alive, and that was what Ling loved about it. Green and welcoming in the sunshine with banks of vibrant, yellow gorse and purple heather; sprinkled white with winter snow; lashed with driving rain from a granite sky; or enveloped in swirling, mysterious fog that could descend in minutes, even in the middle of summer – Ling loved all of Dartmoor’s faces. But today the weather was still and set, with the sort of cloud that might produce a brief shower. Ling crossed her fingers that it would remain dry, and they began to hurry a little as no one wanted to miss the arrival of the train.

  The moorland peace was interrupted by the cacophony of voices raised in good humour, and the general clamour muffled the rhythmical drumming of the horse’s hooves until it was almost upon the larking youngsters. Ling’s attention was drawn to the animal as it overtook them, leaving a safe, wide berth. It was unusual to witness anyone riding at breakneck speed on the moor and this horse was so striking: white but with a few small grey rings on its rump and a grey mane and tail. Ling hardly noticed the rider, but her eyes sparkled in appreciation of the beautiful steed.

  Barney saw the wonderment on her face and scowled. ‘Bloody idjit,’ he barked irritably. ‘Could’ve knocked someone over.’

  ‘Hardly.’ Ling blinked at him. ‘He was keeping well away.’

  ‘Huh! Racing the train, more like.’

  ‘Talking of which, look, everyone!’ Ling shouted as she turned round. ‘Look! The train! It’s coming!’

  Sure enough, in the distance behind them, a trail of grey smoke was all that distinguished the locomotive from the camouflaging background of the moor. A moment’s hush fell over the awestruck faces, broken almost instantly by excited whoops of joy.

  ‘Come on! Come on! We won’t get there in time!’

  Dozens of feet broke into a run. Older people or those with small children would have to content themselves with watching as the train passed by. But the youngsters’ strong legs bore them forward at a good pace until they rushed into the station, which was already crowded as so many people wanted to be on the platform to witness the train’s arrival.

  Barney muscled his way through, hauling Ling along behind him with an inescapable grip on her wrist. He wanted to prove himself the man of the group, and that he could care for Ling better than anyone else. Besides, he had spied the distinctive dapple grey horse tethered outside the station, and his nose had wrinkled with disdain as he had pushed past the well-dressed rider he’d instantly recognized. Ling had not seemed to have noticed the stranger, and Barney was determined it should remain that way. So he shouldered himself forward, much to the annoyance of those who had deliberately arrived in plenty of time. Ling cast apologetic glances in every direction as it wasn’t her fault she was being propelled to the front of the crowd. But she had to admit to a thrill of elation at the uninterrupted view down the single track and way beyond the signal box.

  And there she was, the gleaming, green engine pulling two resplendent coaches. No more than a wisp of smoke was wafting from her chimney as she sauntered along the flat. The driver had closed the regulator so that the train would coast into the station, and he pulled the whistle-cord three times in salutation. A resounding cheer rose from the waiting crowd, adults clapped and children jumped up and down. Passengers in the crowded carriages waved their handkerchiefs out of the windows, including the elegant Mrs Warrington. Ling had heard that the respected and generous lady was a major shareholder in the Princetown Railway Company, even though the Great Western Railway was, in fact, to run the line and held the controlling interest in it.

  The whole spectacle was a sight to behold, and Ling felt bound in her own world. The engine, massive now as it rolled into the station, was almost magical, like some mythical, fiery dragon. Ling stared, captivated, as it drew nearer, almost unaware of the milling throng about her, which, unwittingly, was surging forward.

  Harry Spence, who had taken advantage of Barney’s elbowing his way to the front, had followed in his wake. Jostled by the crowd, he saw it all as one huge joke and dug Barney in the ribs, throwing him off-balance. Barney staggered sideways against Ling, and, being so tall and slender, it knocked her clean off her feet.

  It all happened so quickly, Ling didn’t have the chance to scream as she tumbled over the edge of the platform. She felt herself falling through the air, and then she knew she had landed, quite winded, on to something hard. The wooden sleepers of the track. A tearing pain raked her ankle, but, though she knew it was there, the agony did not register in her brain. Her body was so stunned that all she could do was stare in appalled, frozen horror as the gigantic, monstrous train trundled relentlessly towards her, its colossal wheels and mighty engine towering above her. She could even feel the sizzling heat as it bore down towards her, but every last muscle was locked in paralysis. The last she saw before she passed out was Barney’s petrified gaze from the platform as his terror-struck eyes bulged from his ashen face.

/>   Three

  She was floating on a cloud, lulled, protected. Seeing nothing, feeling nothing. No fear. Voices, sounds, reached her from somewhere far, far away. Someone screamed. A woman, she thought.

  ‘Whoa!’ she caught the stationmaster’s cry above the throaty rumble of the mighty engine as it coasted into the station. ‘There be someone fallen on the line!’

  Oh, yes, that was her, wasn’t it? But it didn’t matter. It didn’t mean anything. She was swaying gently in a different world. A different universe.

  The shriek of metal scraping on metal as the engine-driver wrenched on the brake-lever in his battle to bring the tons of heavy steel and ironwork to a screeching halt. Clank, lurch, hissing of steam. The weight and power that would crush a human form like a twig. Would it take her? She would have to wait and see. But it wouldn’t. It was unreal. None of this was happening. She had the vague sensation of being moved, dragged. Smelt the heat, the coal fire, the hot engine-oil.

  ‘Well done, sir!’ The voice was nearer this time. ‘Can I have some help here?’

  She was moving again, flying, feeling discomfort now. Oh, it had been better before, so she let herself sink beneath the waves of oblivion where it was peaceful and safe.

  She could hear voices again, one of them familiar and comforting.

  ‘Let me in! I be her best friend! We’m from the quarries. Us was yere together.’

  ‘Yes, I saw,’ the other voice cut in tersely. ‘’Twas you pushed her on to the line.’

  ‘No! Well, yes, but ’tweren’t my fault. I were pushed from behind and—’

  Ah, Barney. She would be all right now. She could come back. She struggled to focus her mind, claw her way back to reality.

  ‘Barney.’

  That was her own voice, wasn’t it, yet it sounded so weak and feeble. Her muscles still refused to work; she couldn’t open her eyes. And then she felt Barney crush her against him, safe and warm.

  ‘No!’ another voice she didn’t recognize, a young man’s this time, commanded. ‘Lie her down on the floor and raise her legs.’

  ‘Who the hell d’you think—’

  ‘I’m a doctor. Now, do as I say.’

  Oh, no. Please don’t argue. I feel sick as it is. The black curtain enshrouding her vision began to lift and, as she moaned softly, her eyelids flickered open. The first thing she saw was Barney, an expression like thunder on his face, and then her gaze wandered about the strange room. She was lying on the floor of what must be the ladies’ waiting room. A vile wave of fear washed through her as she remembered falling beneath the huge, terrifying monster of the train.

  ‘What . . . what happened?’ she whispered hoarsely.

  ‘You was pushed off the platform,’ she was told by an older man, who she guessed by his uniform must be the stationmaster. She saw him throw a disparaging glance in Barney’s direction. ‘Accidental, like,’ he added tightly. ‘But then this young gentleman saved you. A doctor, he be,’ he concluded with a deferential bob of his head.

  It was only then that Ling noticed, kneeling down next to her, the rider of the striking dappled horse that had streaked past them at such speed. He had taken her wrist, and now he looked up and smiled.

  ‘Your pulse is settling nicely now so you should start to feel better.’

  ‘Yes, I am,’ she answered, surprised at how quickly the queasiness had passed.

  ‘Good. Now I want you to keep your head still and follow my finger with your eyes.’

  She obeyed meekly, but she would much rather have continued studying his face, which was very handsome in a quiet, steadfast sort of way.

  ‘Excellent,’ he pronounced, smiling again, and, behind him, the stationmaster cleared his throat.

  ‘Can you manage now, sir? I really should be getting back to my duties. Though I’m not sure I should be leaving this young girl alone with you two gentlemen.’

  ‘I am a man of the professional class,’ the young doctor assured him, ‘so I believe I am to be trusted. But is there anyone we can fetch for the young lady?’

  ‘Oh, Barney, find my parents, would you?’ Ling asked, beginning to feel like her normal self. But, as she lifted her eyes to Barney’s, she caught the stranger’s gaze on her before he quickly turned away in embarrassment. Then she saw Barney give an ill-tempered frown as he followed the stationmaster out of the waiting room, allowing the door to slam closed behind him.

  ‘Do you have any pain anywhere?’

  Ling was glad to allow her attention to be drawn back to the handsome stranger. ‘My ankle’s throbbing. I think I twisted it as I fell.’

  ‘I’ll take a look, if you’ll permit me. But first I should like to feel over your head and you must tell me if it hurts anywhere. I believe you only fainted, but we should make sure you didn’t hit your head. No, just lie still,’ he instructed as she went to sit up.

  He proceeded to remove her hat, which had only stayed attached because of the long pin Mary had fixed through it that morning. Then he brushed the hair back from each of her ears in turn, appearing to check them for Ling didn’t know what, before carefully moving his hands over her skull. Ling kept still, her head clearer now and the strange situation beginning to dawn on her. Here she was, alone with this most polite but nonetheless unknown person, who she was now allowing to remove her boot and sock. And yet somehow she felt perfectly at ease with him.

  ‘You seem . . . very young for a doctor,’ she faltered.

  He raised a bashful eyebrow at her. ‘I’m not a doctor,’ he admitted somewhat sheepishly. ‘At least, not yet. I’m a medical student. I’ve been assisting Dr Greenwood in Tavistock for the past year. But, next month, I’m off to London. To Guy’s. To become fully qualified. It’ll take years, mind. Now, can you push against my hand?’

  The examination was uncomfortable, but he was very gentle, his long fingers cool on her puffed ankle. He seemed unhurried and thorough, his lips softly pursed in concentration, and Ling felt disappointed when the door burst open and Barney marched back in with Arthur, Mary and Fanny on his heels.

  ‘Ling!’ her mother cried, flinging herself on her knees and wrapping her elder daughter in her arms.

  ‘No need to cry, Mother! I’m proper clever now.’

  Nevertheless, Mary’s shoulders shook convulsively, and it was Arthur who held out his hand. ‘We can’t believe what happened,’ he said gravely. ‘I must be thanking you, sir, from the bottom of my heart.’

  ‘You was that brave, sir, jumping down in front of the train like that!’ Mary added her gratitude as her husband vigorously shook the fellow’s hand.

  ‘Is that what you did?’ Ling suddenly remembered what the stationmaster had said about the young stranger having saved her, and she sat up abruptly, her eyes wide, aware of a shiver of pleasure slithering down her spine.

  ‘This young gentleman risked his own life to save yourn, and if he hadn’t, ’tis certain ’twould have been a wake and not a celebration we’d be having now! And as for you –’ Arthur spun round, his normally gentle demeanour flung to the four winds – ‘as her friend, and a young man at that, I expected you to take care on my daughter, not push her under a bloody train!’

  Barney had been standing grinding his teeth in black resentment at the praise being heaped upon the stranger, but now Ling noticed the colour flaming into his face. She knew that her father, usually such a mild man, must have been furious to have used such language. She saw Barney take a step backwards,but then brace his shoulders as youthful indignation flared within him.

  She had to go to his rescue. ‘Oh, it wasn’t Barney’s fault! The crowd was jostling and—’

  ‘Hmm.’ Arthur’s forehead pleated fiercely. ‘Well, I suggest you make yersel scarce for today, boy. We’ll take care on our daughter ourselves.’

  Barney lifted his chin, and Ling saw his eyes move beneath his swooping brows. He must have understood her father’s anger as he obediently backed out of the room, though with a churlish scowl on his face. Through the
open door came the sound of the Tavistock Volunteer Band striking up the first rousing march with which it was to lead the procession of flag-waving children towards the centre of Princetown, cheered on by the gathered crowds who were not only celebrating the arrival of the new railway but the salvation of the young girl who had fallen into its path.

  Barney clenched his jaw and went to join them.

  Four

  ‘I don’t think it’s broken, just badly sprained.’

  The young gentleman examining Ling’s ankle glanced up and his mouth widened into a smile, accentuating the strong line of his jaw and revealing evenly set teeth. Ling felt a thrill of excitement. He was so quiet and unassuming, as if putting his own life in danger to rescue others was something he did every day. He was obviously well educated – which was attractive to Ling in itself – and, although far above her in social rank, he put on no airs and graces. His eyes smiled warmly at her, a deep blue with a hint of green in them, and his fair hair fell in a roguish wave over his broad forehead. It was his hair more than anything that Ling recognized, for the horseman on the moor had been bareheaded, unusual in anyone, let alone someone wealthy enough to be riding a horse. So perhaps he possessed some secret determination in his character that was not immediately apparent. All the more intriguing!

  ‘Are you sure, Mr . . . er . . . Dr . . .?’ Arthur questioned him. ‘I mean no offence, but you seem mighty young . . .’

  ‘Franfield, sir. Elliott Franfield. And you’re right. I’m not a doctor yet, just a medical student. But I have dealt with many a twisted ankle. Under supervision, of course, but it is a common injury, and I’m positive it isn’t broken. But it should be strapped up and rested as much as possible.’

  Ling was happily impressed. But, just then, a loud knock rapped on the door, and Ling looked up to see Mrs Warrington sweep into the waiting room like a whirlwind. The stunningly beautiful lady hurried across to Ling, her expressive face melting with relief.