Read Online The Girls in Blue by Lily Baxter - Free Book Online Page B

Highcliffe they had started on ‘Run Rabbit Run’ and somewhat self-consciously Miranda had joined in, but the sight of a telegram boy in his navy-blue uniform sent a chill running down her spine and she held her hand up for silence. Not for nothing were these youngsters known as messengers of death. She jumped down from the truck and stood, frozen to the spot, staring at the fresh-faced boy who clutched a yellow envelope in his hand.
    ‘Telegram for Mr and Mrs Beddoes.’
    Miranda closed her eyes, praying silently.
Don’t let it be my father. Please God, don’t let it be him
.
    There was complete silence as Maggie opened the envelope and stared at the telegram. Even the babies had stopped crying and their mothers were staring at her with anxious faces. Then, to Miranda’s amazement, her grandmother threw back her head and laughed. A murmur of consternation rippled round the women. ‘It’s shock,’ one of them whispered. ‘I was like that when our cat got run over.’
    Her companion nudged her in the ribs. ‘Shh.’
    ‘Granny, what is it?’ Miranda’s lips were so dry she could barely frame the words.
    ‘I’ll kill that son of mine,’ Maggie said, wiping her eyes on a lace-edged hanky. She took a deep breath, tucking the crumpled telegram into her pocket with a rueful smile. ‘I’m so sorry, everyone. I must apologise for the drama caused by my thoughtless son Jack. I’ll have more than a few words to say to him when he gets here.’
    Miranda found herself clutching Rita’s hand so tightly that her knuckles stood out beneath her skin. She let go with a murmur of apology.
    ‘It’s not bad news then, Mrs Beddoes,’ Raif said politely.
    ‘On the contrary. My errant son says he’s got leave and he’s on his way home. If the Luftwaffe don’t kill him I very well might.’
    ‘You don’t mean that, Granny.’ Miranda glanced anxiously at Raif, hoping that he did not think that the entire Beddoes family was mad.
    ‘No, of course I don’t, but I just aged about twenty years. Then that’s my younger son all over. Thoughtless, feckless and utterly charming, just like …’ She broke off, frowning. ‘Never mind.’
    The telegram boy cleared his throat in an attempt to attract her attention. ‘Any reply, lady?’
    Maggie opened her handbag and took out her purse, handing him a coin. ‘What I have to say to my son would set the paper on fire. No reply, thank you.’ She turned to Raif. ‘Thank you for your help. I’m sure the ladies are very grateful to you, but now I expect you want to get the truck back to its owner.’
    If her cool tone came as a surprise after his efforts to help, Raif did not betray his inner feelings. He smiled. ‘It was my pleasure.’ He turned to the women who were attempting to control their overtired and over-excited children. ‘Goodbye, ladies. I hope you find comfortable billets and that you can return to your homes in the not too distant future.’ He climbed into the cab and drove off.
    With mixed feelings, Miranda watched the vehicle lumber down the hill on its journey back to town. Fate had thrown her quite literally into Raif Carstairs’ path twice that day, but now he was gone and it seemed unlikely that they would meet again. She should have been happy that the message in the telegram was good, but she felt deflated and even a little depressed. She came back to earth as Rita nudged her with a bony elbow. ‘Wake up, sunshine. I think we’re supposed to be helping.’
    There was a sudden burst of conversation as her grandmother marshalled the women and children through the garden gate. Miranda was about to follow them but her legs felt like jelly and she was certain that they would give way beneath her if she attempted to take a single step.
    ‘What’s up with you?’ Rita demanded.
    ‘Nothing. I’m fine.’
    ‘You’re as white as a sheet.’
    ‘I thought the telegram was telling them that my dad had been killed in action.’ Miranda choked on a