It Was Always You Page 3

All the same, it wasn’t exactly a vibrant social life. Not really. She ought to get out with Carol more often. Peggy, too. They did go into Alnwick together occasionally, and Berwick. Newcastle even. But not often enough. She sighed. Sometimes she wondered if her mother might not be right to worry about her, and her prospects. They weren’t great, especially now she was to lose her job.

  She suddenly smiled, thinking of Matthew and his uncle. She didn’t think any of the people she went to see at the cottage hospital in nearby Wagton were there to have their plumbing done. It sounded dreadful. Funny as well, though, but no doubt he hadn’t been having a wonderful time. Poor man. Maybe tonight she might find out a bit more. That was something to look forward to!

  For the evening ahead, she chose a summer frock, in cream with red camellias dotted about. It was still spring, and none too warm, but she knew from experience that the village hall would be a steam bath once things got going. There would be hundreds of people there, in that old place, and with all the charging about the traditional dances required there wouldn’t be any need of heating.

  ‘Oh, my!’ Carol said when Anna opened the door. ‘Look at you. You’re going to sweep them off their feet and knock ‘em dead tonight!’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Anna said, laughing.

  ‘That’s a lovely dress. You look gorgeous.’

  ‘Thank you, Carol. And so do you.’

  There was no way she could compete with Carol, who was the most beautiful girl in the village, but she felt good as they left the house together and headed for the ceilidh. No shop talk tonight, Anna thought firmly. Nothing about the Wilsons either. She was going to avoid those subjects altogether. She was going to enjoy herself. Tomorrow could look after itself.

  The village hall had seen better days, and better evenings probably, but Anna doubted if it had ever seen a happier, more joyful occasion. Maybe it did need a new roof and a lick of paint. Possible even some new windows. But it didn’t need any more people – or any noisier people! She stood just inside the doorway with Carol and they winced at one another. Then they shook their heads and laughed.

  ‘Have you ever seen anything like it?’ Carol screeched to make herself heard.

  Anna shook her head. It was wonderful.

  The "Jimmy Turnbull Band" was playing a lively tune, the accordions and the fiddles getting everyone’s feet tapping. Folk were dancing, early as it was. Even the old ones were at it, perhaps fearing their legs might not be so reliable later on.

  For a moment, Anna caught a glimpse of Matthew. Then he was gone, swallowed up by the crowd.

  The beautiful Cummings sisters, Marie and Josie, were holding court, surrounded by a press of young farmers eager to urge them on to the dance floor.

  George Armstrong, from The Queen’s Head, was running a makeshift bar in a corner of the room. He was doing a steady trade, but it wouldn’t be long before he was utterly swamped and the queue was a mile long.

  Peggy Miller came across and took Anna’s hand. ‘Come and meet our visitors,’ she urged, pulling gently.

  Anna smiled and allowed herself to be led through the throng to the far side of the hall, where Peggy’s party had commandeered a table and some chairs.

  ‘This is Anna,’ Peggy announced during a small lull in the uproar. ‘She’s one of my oldest friends. Anna, this is Mum’s brother and his family from Calgary, in Canada.’

  A chorus of greetings ran round the table. Peggy ran through the names, half of which it was impossible to hear, and the other half impossible to remember.

  Anna gathered, though, that there was an Uncle Bob and an Aunt Katy, and two of their teenage children. There was Aunt Katy’s older sister. There was also a young man a little older than herself, the one with the very black hair she had seen getting out of the car the other day. He looked nice and friendly. They all did, in fact.

  They were a happy family group that in a little while, Anna learned, would become considerably bigger.

  ‘Mum and Dad have gone up the valley to fetch my cousins from the farm,’ Peggy said. ‘They’ll be here soon. With Aunt Jean,’ she added with a grimace. ‘They’re picking her up, as well.’

  Anna smiled. Peggy didn’t get on with all of her relations. Aunt Jean was a particular struggle.

  ‘You’re going to have a house-full,’ Anna said. ‘How long is everyone staying?’

  ‘The Canadians are staying for a month, but I like them a lot. Aunt Jean is staying for a whole night,’ she added, eyes rolling with despair.

  Anna laughed. She would have liked to talk to Peggy’s visitors but it was difficult. They were sitting down and she was standing up. Anyway, the noise level made it difficult even to hear Peggy, who was standing beside her.

  She glanced round, looking for Carol, who had disappeared. No doubt dancing already. She caught another glimpse of Matthew, who seemed to be enjoying himself on the dance floor. She was glad about that. He worked far too hard.

  ‘Can I interest you in this next dance?’ someone shouted in her ear.

  She turned. It was the young Canadian man, Peggy’s visitor. She smiled and nodded.

  ‘I’m Anna,’ she said.

  ‘I know. Peggy told me.’

  ‘But I didn’t catch your name.’

  ‘Don, Don McKinnon.’

  She followed him on to the floor, squeezing through the crush.

  ‘I have no idea what this next dance is about,’ Don said, turning to her.

  ‘Neither do I,’ she confessed. ‘Oh, wait a minute! I think I heard them say it’s Strip the Willow. I do know that one.’

  ‘So what do you do?’

  ‘You just charge up and down the hall, basically, when it’s your turn, while everyone else claps. If you can, you whoop loudly at the same time.’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘We’ll just do what everyone else does,’ she assured him. ‘You’ll soon get the hang of it.’

  And so they did. With only a few wrong turns, Don soon did get the hang of it. Especially the whooping bit.

  ‘I can do that real good,’ he assured her. ‘Where I come from, it’s part of our culture, our birth right. Stampede country – The Calgary Stampede?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ she said vaguely. ‘I think I’ve heard of that.’

  ‘This dancing’s something else, though. At home we just do disco usually.’

  ‘So do we,’ Anna assured him. ‘But once in a while an old-time ceilidh like this pulls everyone together – or out of the woodwork!’

  ‘I can see that. You dance real good, Anna,’ he said earnestly.

  ‘Oh, we learned all these dances at first school. We’ve known them all our lives nearly, even if we young ones don’t do them so much.’

  ‘You should. They’re fun.’

  ‘Only if you’re in the mood!’

  The music started up again, and they were off once more. Don really was a hopeless dancer, she decided. Clumsy, awkward, out of step with the music... But he was good looking and beautifully dressed, and he was fun to be with. He laughed a lot. So did she, she realised.

  ‘It reminds me of Stampede,’ he said during a break, when they were sitting round the table with the others.

  She smiled. ‘That’s the rodeo, isn’t it?’

  ‘Only the biggest in the world. People dress Western all week, and there’s music and dancing all over town.’

  ‘Party time, eh?’

  ‘Exactly. You’d love it.’

  She wondered about that, but she nodded and smiled, and listened, as Don told her about Calgary and Stampede week.

  ‘A million people having fun,’ he concluded.

  Peggy leaned over and said, ‘Our kind of place, eh, Anna?’

  Anna laughed. It did sound fun.

  Later, on the way to the Ladies, she saw Carol and Matthew dancing a waltz, and she stopped for a moment to watch. They looked good together, she thought enviously. In fact, they danced better than anyone else on the floor.

  Carol caught her eye an
d waved. Anna waved back. Matthew turned and laughed. She smiled at him.

  Oh, how happy we all are tonight! she thought, continuing on her way. Tonight she would even have been able to find it within herself to be nice to the Wilsons. They weren’t here, of course. She didn’t think she had ever seen them at a function in the village. They were not that sort of people.

  Later still, Don walked home with her. It was a lovely spring evening. The light had lasted until late. It was cool and clear now, and a welcome change after the hothouse of the village hall.

  ‘The air is so wonderful, isn’t it?’ Anna said.

  ‘It sure is. It reminds me of springtime at home.’

  ‘Will it be spring there, too?’

  ‘Not quite. But winter’s coming to an end. In a few weeks the ice will be breaking up on the rivers and the temperature rising. Then we’ll have four months of glorious summer.’

  ‘No rain?’

  ‘Not much. Just the occasional thunderstorm.’

  ‘Sounds nice.’

  ‘Yes. You’d like it, Anna.’

  ‘I’m sure I would.’ She smiled and added, ‘You must tell me more.’

  Chapter Six

  ‘I didn’t see much of you at the ceilidh, Matthew. Did you enjoy yourself?’

  ‘It wasn’t bad.’

  Matthew was inspecting the contents of the cold-storage unit, seemingly unable to make up his mind whether to buy frozen sausage-and-mash or frozen mince-and-onions.

  ‘I saw you dancing with Carol,’ Anna said.

  ‘Yeah? You seemed to be getting on all right with that big bloke.’

  ‘Don – Peggy’s cousin from Canada? Yes. He’s very nice.’

  Matthew nodded. But he didn’t seem his usual cheery self. Something troubling him, perhaps? She wondered what it was.

  ‘I thought I was going to get a dance off you, Matthew?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘At the ceilidh. You said you would ask me to dance.’

  He turned to her and shrugged. ‘I couldn’t get a look in,’ he said. ‘You were too busy.’

  ‘That’s not true! More like Carol wouldn’t let go of you.’

  Matthew grinned at last. ‘Aye, well. There’s something in that. If only she didn’t have a regular boyfriend.’

  ‘Phil? Oh, don’t let that put you off, Matthew.’

  He yawned and stretched. ‘Anyway, she’s not my type.’

  ‘Oh, really? So who is?’

  ‘I’ll have these,’ he said, coming over to the counter.

  She smiled and turned to the cash register, letting him off the hook.

  ‘Are the Wilsons still closing this place?’

  ‘At the end of the month. I’ve got another couple of weeks yet. And so have you – before you have to shop somewhere else.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  She shrugged and gave him his change. ‘No idea yet.’

  He hovered, indecisive. ‘What are you doing tomorrow, Anna?’

  ‘Tomorrow? Well, for once, I’m having a Saturday off. I’ve arranged for Fiona Tait to look after the shop for me.’

  ‘I know that. So what are you doing?’

  ‘I thought I might... You know that? How do you know?’

  ‘I’m going over to Longwitton again,’ he said, ignoring her query. ‘Do you fancy coming with me? Have a day out?’

  She was surprised. ‘How do you mean, Matthew?’

  ‘Have a day out with me. Change of scene for you. We can have lunch somewhere along the way.’

  Now she was really surprised, and confused. Was this a date he was proposing, or did he just want company to visit his sick uncle in hospital?

  ‘I’ll not ask you again,’ he warned, narrowing his eyes to slits and looking menacing.

  She laughed. ‘All right! Yes, thank you. That would be lovely.’

  ‘Good. Pick you up at nine-thirty?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Good,’ he repeated. ‘There’s something I want to show you.’

  As he left, she wondered what it could be. Matthew was being unusually mysterious.

  *

  ‘What’s this?’ Anna asked the next morning.

  ‘A car.’

  ‘I can see that. Whose is it? It’s not yours, is it?’

  Matthew nodded and grinned. ‘I haven’t had it long.’

  ‘I didn’t know you had it at all. Oh, it’s lovely!’

  She walked round the shiny silver vehicle admiringly.

  ‘Matthew Greig! You are such a secretive person. Why didn’t you say you’d bought a new car? All I’ve ever seen you driving is the limousine – the one with the rusty patches and the noisy exhaust, and the piles of barbed wire and wood in the back.’

  ‘Can’t be taking a new Ford Focus to the places I work,’ Matthew said complacently. ‘It wouldn’t last five minutes, up them rough tracks in the hills.’

  ‘Is it brand new?’

  ‘Nearly. Six months old. You get money off if you buy them like that. Anyway, stop your carping, and get in!’

  She gave him a little curtsey as he opened the passenger door for her.

  ‘Mm! It smells new.’

  ‘Wait till I’ve had it a bit longer,’ Matthew said, grinning. ‘I’ll soon have it broken in.’

  ‘Do you know,’ Anna said thoughtfully as they set off, ‘this is my first day out since I can’t remember when.’

  ‘You work too hard, Anna. There’s more to life than work, you know.’

  She laughed and shook her head in disbelief. ‘You’re a fine one to talk.’

  He flashed her a grin, and she began to relax and enjoy herself.

  They travelled up the valley for four or five miles, and then climbed up the steep little road that led across the moor. From there, they could see Cheviot and Hedgehope in the distance. Nearer, the heather-clad moors shimmered in the bright sunlight. Pools of water from overnight rain, and perhaps from snow or frost melt, gleamed invitingly. Grass, bright green, grew in patches amongst the heather. There was scarcely a cloud in the sky.

  Anna sighed. Matthew glanced at her. ‘It’s so beautiful,’ she said happily.

  He nodded. ‘I always like coming this way. It reminds me why I live in this part of the world.’

  ‘Instead of building kangaroo fences in Australia?’

  ‘Or buffalo fences in Canada.’

  They looked at each other and began to laugh. Anna knew then that they were going to have a lovely day.

  Chapter Seven

  In less than half an hour they reached Longwitton. It wasn’t a place Anna went to very often but she remembered it as a simple, attractive little village. And so it was still. Matthew drew up and parked outside a cottage on Main Street, the only street in the village.

  ‘We’ll just pop in to see Aunt Dorothy first,’ Matthew said.

  The way he said it made Anna wonder what else he had in mind. It was far too early to be thinking about lunch.

  Aunt Dorothy, a small, cheerful woman, welcomed them profusely. ‘Come in, come in! Hello, Anna.’

  She led them into a cosy kitchen that was obviously the hub of the house. Anna glanced around, admiring the oak dresser and table. Fresh daffodils occupied a central position in a vase on the dresser, illuminating the entire room.

  ‘How is he?’ Anna heard Matthew ask.

  ‘A lot better, they say. He’ll be coming home soon.’

  ‘That’s good. My uncle, in hospital,’ Matthew said in an aside to Anna.

  She nodded and smiled politely at Aunt Dorothy. She hoped it wasn’t going to be a doom-and-gloom visit.

  Over coffee Aunt Dorothy asked Anna if she lived in Callerton.

  ‘Yes. I’ve lived there all my life.’

  ‘Whereabouts, dear?’

  ‘In the main street. "Physic House", if you know it?’

  ‘Of course. The old doctor’s house. Oh, so you must be Jack and Hillary Fenwick’s daughter?’

  ‘That’s right.’ Anna smi
led. ‘Fancy you knowing them!’

  ‘Oh, this part of Northumberland is still a small world. I used to go to dances with your mother, when we were young. Your dad was a fine dancer.’

  Anna found that hard to imagine.

  ‘Does he still dance?’

  ‘Dad? Not since a cow stood on his foot.’

  ‘I’m not surprised!’ Aunt Dorothy said, laughing. ‘Well, that’s life, isn’t it? One surprise after another.’

  Anna smiled, and decided she liked Aunt Dorothy.

  ‘Do you work locally, Anna?’

  ‘Yes. I run the village shop.’ She hesitated. ‘Well... Unfortunately...’

  ‘It’s going to close,’ Matthew said for her. ‘At the end of the month.’

  ‘Oh? That’s a shame. So many villages don’t have a shop any more these days. The powers that be must think everybody wants to spend half their life driving about in cars. Or on their computers, I suppose. So what are you going to do next?’

  Anna shook her head. ‘I haven’t really had time to think about it.’

  ‘I thought we’d go over to see Gordon,’ Matthew said, rescuing her from what she feared might become an interrogation. ‘Anything we can get you while we’re there?’

  ‘I don’t think so, thank you,’ Aunt Dorothy said. ‘Will you be coming back for lunch?’

  ‘No, but thanks anyway. I’m treating Anna to a meal out today.’

  ‘Oh? Lovely!’

  ‘Enjoy your day, dear,’ Aunt Dorothy added as they were leaving.

  ‘Oh, I will. Thank you. And I hope your husband is home soon.’

  They left the car where it was, and headed across the street.

  ‘Where now, Matthew?’

  ‘The village shop,’ he said, pointing ahead. ‘Longwitton’s prize-winning village shop.’

  The shop was a little further along the street. It occupied the ground floor of a substantial stone house. Anna looked at it with interest. She could see the shop front had recently been re-painted. It was dark green, with delightful little pictures – emblems, really – picked out in gold of the kind of things a village shop might be expected to stock : loaves, sausages, fish, apples, a teapot.

  A name went with the shop title : "Gordon Turnbull, Provision Merchant", written as a signature in a pleasing copperplate script.