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

get us out of this. Blokes who knows what they’re doin’.’

‘Why should it be me?’ Angela said sulkily. ‘I didn’t cause any of this.’

‘Because I said so.’ Dora’s voice was icy.

‘If Angela will take over, I’ll go,’ Ronnie said quickly.

She hopped down and sped off before Dora could stop her.

The Golden Eagle was only a couple of hundred yards from the towpath. Without hesitating she opened the door. It was the first time she’d ever entered a pub, let alone entered one on her own.

It was difficult at first to take in the scene with the clouds of smoke. Warmth emanated from an open fire in the inglenook on one side of the room and she vaguely noticed a few men sitting around it, talking loudly and adding to the smoke with their cigarettes. She headed towards the bar in front of her. Two men sitting on stools with their backs to her turned at the sound of her step.

‘Well, well, if it in’t one of them trainee wenches.’

Will Drake unfolded his legs and stood tall and solid, looking down at her with an amused grin.

‘What can I do for yer this time?’ he said to her.

His companion smirked. ‘Yer can introduce me, for one thing,’ he interrupted as he rose to his feet. Almost as tall as Will, he was more heavily built.

‘This is Ronnie, one of Dora’s lot,’ Will said, grinning at his friend. He looked back at Ronnie. ‘This here is Dave. Yer haven’t come here to have a drink on yer own, now have yer?’

‘N-no,’ Ronnie stammered. She swallowed, feeling nervous with him standing so close to her in the gloomy atmosphere, and his mate watching them with interest. ‘We’re stuck in the mud. Dora asked me to see whether anyone here could help.’

Will’s grin broadened. ‘Well, I’ve rescued yer twice before,’ he said, ‘so one more time i’nt goin’ to hurt, I reckon. Let’s see if the two of us can get you ladies on yer merry way.’ He threw some coins onto the counter and strode towards the door, Dave close behind.

Deadly Dora will go mad when she sees who I’ve brought with me to help, Ronnie thought, as she stumbled after them, her Wellingtons squelching on the rain-sodden towpath.

‘Not yous again,’ Dora grimaced from the deck of Persephone as they approached the boats.

‘Nice ter have a warm welcome,’ Will said with a grin. ‘I’ve brought Dave. He’s come ter help.’

Ronnie watched as the two men threw their whole weight upon the shafts.

‘Now reverse the engine,’ Will ordered Dora.

‘I think I know what ter do,’ she said, scowling at him.

Five minutes later Persephone was free.

Without looking at either Will or Dave, Dora said, ‘Thanks for the help.’ Her tone sounded the complete opposite. She glanced down at Ronnie. ‘Come on, miss. You can stop yer gawpin’.’

‘Not so fast.’ Will turned to Ronnie. ‘I want ter have a word with yer.’

‘I can’t, Will,’ Ronnie said, conscious of Dora’s glare. ‘We’ve got to go.’

He caught her arm. ‘When’s yer birthday?’ he said in an undertone.

Ronnie gave a start. ‘What?’

‘Well, when is it?’

‘December – the twenty-third. Why do you want to know?’

He shrugged. ‘Maybe there’s somethin’ yer want and yer can’t git hold of. Maybe nylon stockin’s. It’s not just the Yanks that can get ’em.’

‘Where do I go that I’d need nylons?’ Ronnie said, chuckling at the absurdity.

‘Ver-ron-eek, get up here right now!’ Dora shouted.

‘Coming, Miss Dummitt.’

‘We best make ourselves scarce,’ Dave said, pulling Will’s arm and jerking his head in the distance.

Will squinted. ‘Yer right,’ he said. ‘Time ter go.’ He glanced at Ronnie. ‘I’ll be seein’ yer.’ With that he and Dave vanished.

In two minutes flat Ronnie heard the roar of Will’s motorbike.

Chapter Fifteen

Because of the delay with the mud, Dora wouldn’t allow them to stop for lunch before entering Blisworth Tunnel.

‘Biscuits and tea is all yer gettin’,’ she said. ‘If we start ditherin’ we won’t be where we’re s’posed to be before dark.’

‘Is it a village?’ May asked.

‘Gayton Junction?’ Dora snorted. ‘Yous’ll be lucky. There in’t no villages near the junction.’

There was much grumbling as everyone took their places on Penelope, Dora shouting the final instructions.

‘Keep the tiller within the sides of the boat, miss,’ Dora called. ‘That way it don’t jam against the wall. If yer swerve do not use the wall ter push away with yer hands. It’s too dangerous. Take it slowly. Any major trouble, use yer oil lamp as a signal. The tunnel’s narrer but it’ll just take another seven-footer ter pass us.’

‘My stomach’s already rumbling,’ Ronnie said to Jessica and Margaret as she felt the familiar movement of the butty.

‘I’ll cook something special tonight and plenty of it,’ Jessica said. ‘In fact, I’m going to start it if you’re happy on the tiller. And I’ll make a snack for us for lunch. We can all eat as we’re going along. I’m not missing a meal for anyone – and that includes Deadly Dora.’

‘She won’t like it if you’re not watching me,’ Ronnie said as she pulled away.

Jessica chuckled. ‘Too bad. We’ve got to eat.’

‘Suits me,’ Ronnie said. ‘I feel hungry all the time.’

‘I’d better get started then,’ Jessica smiled as she disappeared.

‘Ronnie—’ Margaret began.

‘Don’t talk for a minute. I need to concentrate.’ Ronnie chewed her lips. ‘Bend coming up and— Oh, damn!’ she cried as the boat swerved into the middle of the canal.

Pull back. Keep following close as you can round the bend.

Ronnie managed to pull the boat back into the curve of the canal as she followed the trail of the motor in front. Feeling pleased with herself she righted the butty as the canal straightened, but her moment of pleasure faded as she saw not far in the distance, looming before Persephone, the black hole of the tunnel entrance. She had to get this right. Bring Penelope safely out to the other side or Dora would lose her patience.

Stiffening her shoulders, she said, ‘Margaret, keep an eye and tell me if