A Sister's War by Molly Green (best books to read for self improvement TXT) 📗

Jess had even said he was in love with her. If it was true … if he really was … well, it made everything even worse.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

June 1944

During the following months Ronnie was so busy she hardly had time to dwell on her inner turmoil about Michael. It had been sad saying goodbye to Dora. Ronnie felt the back of her eyes prick with tears as she recalled their parting. She was being stupid, she knew, but she’d become fond of the trainer. And she’d never forget Dora’s unhappy love affair.

‘It was nice knowin’ yer, Ver-ron-eek,’ Dora had said, with a teasing smile as she stuck out her hand. ‘I believe I’ve made a boatwoman out of yer.’

‘Oh, you have. I was worried at first. I kept thinking you were going to send me home.’

‘Not likely,’ Dora chuckled. ‘Not with them strong arms of yours. You was the perfect trainee. The company’s proud of you … and so’m I.’

Ronnie couldn’t restrain from giving Dora a hug.

‘All right, miss, that’s enough.’

But the way Dora had grinned, Ronnie knew she wasn’t displeased.

Lately the canal girls’ work had stepped up and they were working non-stop with no leave in between. But there was always something to hold Ronnie’s interest along the cut. It might be the heady almond scent of meadowsweet, the pretty little white flower growing along the bank. Or the rustle of the leaves in the trees. And the first time she saw little tots sitting on the roof of their parents’ boat made her suck in her breath, until she noticed they were chained to one of the chimneys. The youngsters pointed and shrieked at the cattle in the field who were curiously watching the boats pass by, making Ronnie laugh out loud.

Several times they’d had to travel through the night to manage the upsurge of deliveries. On these occasions the monotony would often be broken by boatmen singing as they passed by, their voices floating over the water with ‘Two Lovely Black Eyes’, or some comic music hall song. If Ronnie and the others attempted to join in there’d be shouts and hoots of derisive laughter.

Ronnie was exhausted but she found more peace when she was working hard. After a gruelling day she would go up on deck to steal some quiet moments, thrilling at the sight of bats emerging just as the sun was setting, flying so closely together it was a wonder they didn’t bump into one another. She loved hearing the sudden splash of an otter or a water vole, or seeing a red fox slide through the growth on the side of the cut, intent on its evening prowl.

Lucky had taken to sunning herself and dozing on the deck now it was milder. Only yesterday evening in the dusk the little cat had suddenly pricked up her ears when an insect, a water boatman, struck out from the water. Lucky had instantly sprung up and taken a snap at it. The water boatman had only just managed to escape and had flown off.

‘Sorry, Lucky, I’m afraid you were unlucky that time,’ Ronnie laughed as the cat pretended she wasn’t a scrap disappointed by licking herself at rapid speed.

There was one piece of good news and Ronnie and Jessica received it with undisguised delight – Angela decided she’d had enough of working with totally inept people and was leaving in the morning.

‘It was the last straw when head office told us our leave’s been cancelled again,’ Angela complained.

‘I think there’s a reason for that,’ Jessica said. ‘Do you realise all we seem to have been carrying lately are shell cases and steel? What does that tell you? An invasion on the coast of France, that’s what I think. And we’re helping prepare for it. I’m going to buy a paper today to see if it gives any clue.’

‘If it’s true, they’ll be keeping it secret,’ Angela said scathingly. ‘But whatever it is, I don’t intend to be part of it.’

‘I think it’s madly exciting,’ Ronnie said. ‘We’ll feel we’re doing something really important. Because when you think of it, we’re hardly aware of any war unless we walk round a town that’s taken a few hits.’ She turned to Angela. ‘Are you all packed?’

‘I know you can’t wait to be rid of me,’ Angela answered with a curl of her lip.

May and Sally had gone to another boat to make up a new team in February, but as soon as Sally found out Angela was leaving, she’d got in touch with the company to ask if she could make up the third girl on Penelope and Persephone. It had all been agreed and Sally was due to arrive in the afternoon. Ronnie felt a flutter of joy. Sally was lovely. She’d never forget how kind Sally had been when she’d hit her head on the paddle that time. She couldn’t wait to see her. It would be heaven to be part of a happy team again. They’d arranged that Jessica’s home would be in Persephone, the motor, and Ronnie and Sally would live in Penelope. That suited Ronnie down to the ground.

‘Sally!’ Ronnie said, as a dark-haired girl appeared in the butty an hour later, just as she was making tea.

‘It’s me all right. Sorry I’m a bit later than I’d said.’

Ronnie and Jessica gave her a hug, both wanting to know all the news about Dora and May.

‘One at a time,’ Sally laughed, a little breathless. She looked round the butty. ‘Where do I sleep?’

‘You can have the double bed to yourself as I’m the smallest,’ Ronnie said. ‘Jess’s got a whole boat to herself.’

‘I bagged it,’ Jessica laughed. ‘It now seems too good to be true. No moaning Angela and no Deadly Dora.’

‘I have to stick up for Dora,’ Ronnie said. ‘In spite of everything I can’t help liking and admiring her.’

‘She’s had a bit of a rough deal from what I gather,’ Jessica remarked. ‘But it’s good being on our own