Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2 by Fenella Miller (top 10 ebook reader txt) 📗

He thought he could manage to get to his feet with a bit of help. ‘Jimmy, give me a hand up and I’ll wait in the office. Are you in a rush to get away?’

‘The day is yours, my friend.’

Nigel came out to grab his other arm and he and Jimmy managed to get him on his feet. He had a thumping headache and not only his other arm but his right shoulder was bloody painful – but apart from that he didn’t feel too bad.

‘You can let go now, thanks. I can stagger inside on my own.’ He was glad to collapse in one of the chairs. The newspapers had been put back on the shelf. Had Ellie found anything before his mates turned up?

He took the mug of tea that Nigel had made and nodded his thanks. From where he sat he could see the hangar. There was no sign of Ellie so she must be in there getting the de Havilland ready. There was the throaty sound of the engine and then the nose of the aircraft appeared.

It was really a two-man job to start this plane, one inside and one turning the propeller. He should have sent Nigel out to give her a hand.

‘Miss Simpson said she is a qualified instructor. A bit of an exaggeration, isn’t it? No man worth his salt would agree to be instructed by a woman and especially one as young as her.’ Nigel was old school and thought women should remain in the kitchen.

‘She’s a brilliant flyer. Best I’ve ever seen either male or female. She’s been qualified since she was fourteen years old and already has several hundred hours in her log book.’

‘If you say so, old chap. Bit smitten with her, are you? Can’t expect you to give me an honest opinion.’

This man was a total shmuck and he wished Jimmy had found someone else to accompany him. He didn’t trust DeVere not to blab. If he wasn’t incapacitated, he would flatten him.

Not trusting himself to say anything polite, Jack fixed his attention firmly on Ellie as she expertly taxied onto the strip and then over to the fuel store.

‘Jimmy, can you nip out and help Ellie refuel the Tiger Moth? She can do it on her own, but it will be much quicker if you give a hand.’

‘We can both go – you need to rest. Doctor’s orders.’ He winked and Jack grinned. His friend wasn’t daft, he’d keep an eye on Ellie for him and see she didn’t lose her temper.

The phone rang making him slop his tea in his lap. He could reach it from where he was sitting so he carefully picked up the receiver.

‘Glebe Aero Club – Reynolds speaking.’

‘It’s Mrs Smith. I was that worried when you didn’t come home last night, Mr Reynolds. I’m sorry if I’ve bothered you but I just wanted to make sure you were all right.’

His landlady sounded upset and this wasn’t like her. The fact that she’d walked all the way to the telephone box was also distinctly odd.

‘Is something wrong, Mrs Smith? I’m absolutely fine – I had a bit too much to drink and thought it better not to turn up the worse for wear so spent the night here.’

‘It’s just that there’s been a bit of trouble in the village. A stranger was asking after you and someone told him that you were lodging with me. If it wasn’t for my Bobby I think he might have tried to get in the house.’

Bobby was her huge, friendly mutt who ran away from the local tomcat – a real pantywaist most of the time. If the dog had been aggressive then the man had definitely been dodgy. He gripped the receiver and a shaft of agony travelled from his arm, across his back and into his damaged shoulder.

‘I’m sorry you were frightened because of me. I’ll send someone to collect my things later today. I’ll find somewhere else to live. I think my uncle has got himself into a bit of bother and some lowlife believes I can help them out.’

‘I didn’t want to ask you to go, but I think it best. I’ll put everything into your case and have it waiting…’

‘Thank you very much. I don’t want a refund for the two weeks I’ve paid for. I’d be grateful if you don’t mention about my uncle to anyone else. I’m going to London to sort things out and you won’t be bothered again.’

The pips went and she put down the phone with a clatter. He flicked the bar and the operator responded. He prayed that Mr Simpson would be home for lunch and that his wife wouldn’t pick up the phone.

‘Glebe Farm,’ a gruff voice said.

‘Mr Simpson, Jack Reynolds here. Ellie has invited me to stay with you and I want to check that Mrs Simpson won’t object. I had a bit of an accident last night and…and I’ve got a doctor with me and he needs to put in a few stitches.’

‘The wife has gone away for a week or so. You come whenever you want. If my Ellie is happy then it’s all right with me.’

*

By the time Ellie had, with the assistance of Jack’s friends, refuelled and completed the pre-flight checks the young man and his girlfriend who were hiring the aircraft for the afternoon rolled up. She managed to complete the paperwork without the man needing to go into the office.

She watched the de Havilland take off safely. Jimmy – he’d insisted she call him by his first name – spoke from beside her.

‘I’m impressed, Ellie. I doubt many young ladies could do what you do. Ignore Nigel, I try to.’

‘I’m glad my father’s happy to have Jack stay with us. I was thinking that maybe De Vere could go home in your car and we could use the Austin? You could take that as Jack won’t be