Chapter 3. Sway

  Vie spent the morning in the house gardens with Nain Joan.

  As they worked, Vie asked about Finn's parents decision to

  live apart.

  "It was all Miriam's doing, other than paying for whatever she

  wanted, Innis had no say in it."

  Surprised by her tone Vie apologised for asking.

  "It's alright Vie, I didn't mean to be short. Over the years I

  have developed an abiding dislike for that woman. Soon

  as Finn and his sisters where settled at University,

  Miriam pursued her political ambitions, free of the

  consideration of her children or husband."

  Nain Joan put a ladder against a rose arbour. "Cornish farmers

  have a saying about that sort of thing - A bellowing cow soon

  forgets it's calves.'"

  Vie laughed.

  "Finn and the girls still come back to visit during the holidays,

  but not Miriam. She hasn't set foot in this house for years."

  Vie handed a pair of pruning shears to Nain Joan.

  "It's funny you should ask though."

  Vie steadied the ladder as Nain Joan climbed.

  "Charlotte will be coming home to stay while she works in the

  area with the land army."

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  *

  The curtains swayed in the bedroom windows.

  "I didn't realise how much I missed the smell of the sea."

  Charlotte unpacked her things onto the bed.

  "Is that your Land Army uniform?" Vie asked.

  "Breeches, a smock and a pair of knee high boots - I'd hardly

  call it a uniform."

  "They're a bit m-m -mannish but I like the breeches." Vie said.

  "So do I." Charlotte held them up and twirled around as if she

  was dancing with them.

  Vie clapped her hands and smiled.

  "Finn told me you had a beautiful smile."

  "Did he?" Vie said.

  "He did." Charlotte sighed, and enjoyed the sight of the

  deep blush that spread across Vie's cheeks.

  Vie looked at the ground and shook her head.

  ''When is this terrible War ever going to end."

  "The War?" Charlotte said. "I hope it goes on forever."

  Vie looked at her in surprise. ''You can't mean that Charlotte."

  "I do mean it Vie. I never would of chosen to work outside

  with my hands. To be sure some days are harder than others,

  but I do the work I'm asked to do and no-one stands in

  judgement of me. I'm with a great group of girls and to top it off,

  for the next couple of months I'm in Cornwall working on

  local farms. The War has been the best thing that ever happened

  to me."

  Vie winced at Charlotte's selfishness. "What about your brother."

  "My brother? What about him?"

  "Aren't you worried about Finn being over there in the middle of it."

  "I'm not worried about him at all, and neither should you be."

  "That's a cruel thing to say." Vie said.

  ''If there is such a thing as being born under a lucky star, it's Finn.

  It's like he has an Angel sitting on his shoulder looking out for him."

  Charlotte opened a wardrobe draw and packed some things

  away. "When we were little our Aunt Edith took us into town to a

  farm show. There was all sorts of livestock and farm machinery,

  and food stalls and rides - so we made an afternoon of it.

  Aunt Edith was carrying Beatrice and I was walking with Finn.

  We were looking at a pen of goats when there was a commotion

  behind us. I couldn't see what was causing it. There was a lot of

  shouting, and the shouting got louder and louder. All of a sudden

  the crowd around us pressed together then pushed forward

  like a wave."

  "What was it?" Vie asked.

  "A team of harnessed horses had broken out of the show

  stalls and was trampling through the crowd. I got pushed to

  the ground by people trying to get out of the way and I lost

  hold of Finn's hand. There was so much noise and commotion.

  One of the lead horses stumbled and fell and pulled the other

  horses down on top of it."

  "What happened?"

  "Aunt Edith found Finn sitting on one of the dead horses as calm

  as can be. His clothes were torn, but he didn't have a scratch

  on him."

  Vie shook her head. "How?"

  Charlotte shut the draw she was putting clothes in and opened

  another. "I've often asked myself that question."

  *

  That night as she lay in bed Charlotte dreamt of the woman who'd

  pushed the crush of broken bodies aside and helped her to her feet.

  "I am always here with you Charlotte." The woman's voice was the only

  part of her that Charlotte clearly remembered, which was why she'd

  never been certain that the woman was real, and not the imagining of

  a frightened child.

  She hadn't told Vie that part of the story.

  *