A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

closed the bottom gate first before trying to fill it. Dora would be furious.

Almost in tears she took hold of one of the bottom paddles and immediately wished she hadn’t. It was covered in filth and slime. She opened her hand and spread her fingers, now thick with dirt and grease, in front of her and groaned aloud. She didn’t even have a handkerchief. Her raincoat wouldn’t stand a chance of keeping clean.

‘Put your back against the white bit of the gate,’ she heard the echo of Dora’s voice in her ears. ‘Walk slowly back. The brick path under yer feet will help yer grip.’

Ronnie turned and leaned against the end of the gate, pushing one foot, then the other behind her, but the gate refused to budge. She tried again, more firmly this time, but nothing happened. She bit her lip, remembering Will Drake’s words that she didn’t look strong enough to him to prepare a lock. She stuck her chin out. She’d show him. She’d show them all – especially Dora. Using every possible ounce of strength she pushed again. Her boot slid and her head banged against the paddle as she landed in a heap.

‘Need some help?’

She knew that voice. Holding her throbbing head with her free hand she looked round and into the laughing eyes of Will Drake.

Oh, why did he have to catch her at her worst moment? She needed to get the gates open immediately but Dora would be furious if she saw Will helping her.

‘I … um … yes, that would be very kind,’ she said, trying to struggle to her feet. But the country scene in her vision shifted and blurred in front of her and she fell back.

Will bent low and put both arms around her waist.

‘Hang on ter me … that’s it … easy does it.’ He sat her on one of the beams. ‘That’s the second time terday I’ve come to yer rescue.’ He grinned, showing white teeth. ‘Yous all right?’

Her cheeks flaming and not daring to look him in the eye she said, ‘I’m all right but my head isn’t.’

He put his hand to her face and lifted the wet curls on her forehead.

‘Hmm. That’s gonna be a good’un.’

‘A bruise?’

‘’Fraid so. Yous best stay there and I’ll finish the job.’

Dazed, her head throbbing madly, she watched as Will Drake opened the gates. His style was slow but focused, and seemingly effortless. He raised his thumb to alert the two boats that they could enter and as soon as they’d eased their way into the narrow space, one behind the other, he closed the bottom gates behind them. Ronnie staggered over to watch how he let the water in, fascinated to see Persephone and Penelope gently float to the surface. But her fascination only lasted seconds when she spotted Dora at the tiller of the motorboat. If looks could kill, Ronnie thought, she and Will would have keeled over on the spot.

For a moment Will looked as though he would ignore Dora’s face, twisted with fury, until she shouted something Ronnie couldn’t quite catch.

Will shrugged and opened the front gates to allow the two boats to smoothly go through. Dora steered Persephone over to the side of the canal and tied it up; Penelope, with May steering, followed in its wake. Dora leapt out.

‘What d’ya think yous’re playing at, Will?’ Dora’s eyes were like black slits.

‘Your trainee wench had an accident.’

Dora grimaced as she rounded on Ronnie. ‘What happened, miss?’

Ronnie pushed her wet curls back off her face, unconsciously mirroring what Will had done.

‘Hmm. That wants seein’ to,’ Dora said, her tone sharp. She put a hand on Ronnie’s arm. ‘Come on, I’ll help yer back on the butty. There’s a nurse lives not far along the cut just before Fenny Stratford.’

‘I can take her on the bike,’ Will said. ‘Get her there in no time.’

‘She’s in no state to be ridin’ bikes,’ Dora said.

‘Then I’ll see her on the boat.’

Dora opened her mouth to argue but Will had already got his arm round Ronnie and was leading her towards the two boats.

‘Which one’s yours?’ Will said, turning to her.

She could feel the grip of his arm through her raincoat. She was feeling light-headed. Was it the bang on the head? Or was it to do with Will, so close to her she could feel his breath on her cheek when he spoke?

She pointed to the butty and he helped her onto the deck.

‘That’s enough,’ came Dora’s strident voice from behind. ‘I’ll see to her now.’

‘As yer like,’ Will said. He glanced at Ronnie. ‘Get that seen to.’ In a flash, he took her face in his hand and kissed her swiftly on the lips.

‘Go!’ Dora practically screamed. ‘This minute.’

Will whipped off his cap, and with a wide grin gave Ronnie an exaggerated bow.

It was as though they were the only two people in the world. As though Will Drake had created some kind of aura around them that no one else would be able to penetrate. She couldn’t understand what was happening to her, only that her pulse quickened and her breath caught.

‘Hope I’m there next time yer need a knight in shinin’ armour,’ he said, laughing, and sprang from the boat and onto the towpath. With a wave of his hand he disappeared.

Ronnie didn’t know how her legs managed to hold her up as she slid through the hatch. She pulled down the folding bed and lay on it, not caring about the lump already forming on her head nor Dora’s wrath. She needed to think. Quietly. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. Will’s presence thrilled every bone in her body. Shakily, she put her finger to her lips. They felt bruised. No boy had ever kissed her. And she’d never bothered about ‘that sort of thing’ as she called it when friends at school went on and on about their boyfriends, or how to meet one, or sobbing over the one who’d finished