Read Online Just Desserts by Jan Jones - Free Book Online Page A

‘Adventurous? The WI?’
    Penny chuckled. ‘You may well be startled. Listen to this: ‘May 1941: At this week’s meeting, Mrs Ingle and Miss Fell demonstrated the anti-tank device. It was not an unqualified success and more development is needed. It was agreed that a puncture repair kit should be purchased so that volunteers can get home.’ Isn’t that fabulous?’
    Leo was laughing. ‘An anti-tank device? And a puncture repair kit?’
    â€˜That’s what it says.’ Penny looked at him expectantly. Had he missed the name of the other woman?
    He frowned and took the book from her. ‘Hold on a moment. Mrs Ingle and Miss Fell ? As in Grandad Fell’s sister?’
    â€˜I reckon. Do you fancy a trip up to the farm?’
    â€˜I certainly do. I want to rattle his cage about that plane as well. Jack Scrivener must have seen more than was in the paper. Mr Fell may know what.’
    The old gentleman was delighted to see them back. When Penny asked about the ‘anti-tank device’, he wheezed so hard he had to be revived with a fresh brew of tea.
    â€˜That were Mrs Ingle’s idea, that were. Not but what our Elsie wasn’t as bad. Powerful fired up, they were, thinking what they could do if the Germans landed and the Home Guard off protecting the gasworks. Daft women came up with the idea of strewing tin tacks across the road.’
    Leo yelped with laughter. ‘Tin tacks? Against a tank?’
    â€˜Told you they were daft. I knew nothing about it until afterwards. They were that much older than us and Elsie said we boys wouldn’t say what we were up to, so why should she tell me her doings? They tried it out down at St Mary’s, then the pair of them hid by the side of the wall lying in wait for the butcher’s boy – he’d cheeked Elsie twice that week and she reckoned he needed taking down a peg. They heard his bell, lobbed the tacks over the wall, then blow me if the Ministry farm inspector didn’t overtake the lad on the corner and bust his tyres!’
    â€˜Oh no! What did they do?’
    â€˜Do? They legged it. Mrs Ingle biked for home as fast as she could and my fool sister scurried up here by the back way and was near through feeding the hens when the inspector finally arrived. Did Fellrigg Farm a favour though. He was that grateful to me for mending his spare and to Ma for giving him a bottle of beer and a bite to eat he wasn’t nearly so particular about us from then on.’
    â€˜The Ingle Cup,’ said Penny suddenly.
    Leo looked at her enquiringly.
    â€˜Sorry. I’ve just remembered. One of the novelty classes in the Salthaven Show is for the Ingle Cup. The best use of unusual ingredients. I won it one year for chocolate-dipped mackerel.’
    Grandad Fell chortled. ‘She’d have liked that, all right.’
    â€˜I suppose she moved away, did she? I don’t know anyone nowadays by the name of Ingle.’
    â€˜Her husband got promotion and was shunted on after the war. She and Elsie always wrote though. Letters were always full of some madcap stunt for charity.’
    Leo was scribbling in his notepad. ‘I don’t suppose you’d have an address? She sounds just the subject for a column in the Messenger . Even if she isn’t with us any more, her family might have memories.’
    Rachel Fell had come into the kitchen while they were talking. ‘She’s on the Christmas card list, Grandad. Will I take it off the computer?’
    â€˜Do that, lass.’ He chucked again. ‘Haven’t thought of those days for years.’
    â€˜It’s doing you good,’ said Rachel. ‘Are you going back via Lowdale, Mrs Plain? Can you drop this envelope off for Tom? He needs to sign some forms. I was going to do it myself, but I’m that busy with orders for ice cream, not to mention my entries for the Salthaven Show.’
    Penny was aware of Leo stirring