crossing the Forth.â
Shona looked a little surprised to see him.
âOh, hello, Mr Logan.â
Walter paused, waiting for her to introduce her chap, prepared to make some other comment about the bridge. Everyone wanted to know how much it was costing, how long it would take to build, and so on. He could hardly go into the pub for a quiet beer without someone cornering him and asking questions.
But Shona and her boyfriend seemed disinclined to talk.
âIâd best be getting on, then,â Walter said at last, a little embarrassed.
As the passengers streamed off the ferry, he could see the man helping Shona into his car.
He wondered where they had been and what sort of income could let him afford a motor like that. Then he shook himself. It was none of his business. Miss McAllister seemed fine pleased with him, anyway.
He turned away to have a word with Joe and to thank him for the trip.
But, later on, Walter felt a little uneasy about Shonaâs boyfriend, and he wondered why. Heâd never met the man, never spoken to him. He looked respectable enough, although a bit flash.
There was nothing wrong with him, nothing at all. So why, Walter asked himself, did he get this uneasy feeling about him?
* * *
âSurely theyâll not be working today!â
Nancy paused, dishcloth in hand, to look out of the kitchen window There had been another snowfall overnight, and a glance at the sky showed heavy clouds.
More snow on the way, she thought.
It had been like this for weeks, and now it was the coldest January she could remember. She went through to the living room to bank up the fire.
âWeâll remember nineteen-sixty-three,â she said to herself.
At least they had plenty of coal, unlike some. Every day the papers carried stories of hardshipâthere was no part of the country, it seemed, that had escaped.
But it wasnât just the weather that made Nancy feel down in spirits. She was constantly fretting about the family. Except Roy, she thought with a smile. He was in his elementâsledging, snowball fights, building snowmen. She remembered how cross Joe had been when Roy borrowed his favourite pipe to put in the snowmanâs mouth.
And, of course, best of all from Royâs point of view, school often closed early because of the weather.
No, it was Mattâoh, Joe had told her time and again, and so had Walterâthat safety was the prime concern on the bridge. Still . . . she glanced out of the window again. She began peeling and coring apples. Apple pie was Walterâs favourite and it was a pleasure to cook for someone so appreciative.
Not just Matt. But Lornaâwhat had happened to her bright, affectionate daughter? These days she was often surlyâsnapping at Nancy, and being short-tempered with Matt. Sometimes she flared up over nothing, and there were constant arguments with her father.
* * *
Nancy sighed, wishing Joe wasnât so heavy-handed with her. It was no use laying down the law, not with todayâs young people!
It wasnât many months since Lorna had brought friends homeâthey would spend hours up in her room, looking at teenage magazines, and trying out make-up. But now she rarely brought anyone home.
âWe donât know who her friends are,â Joe complained one evening.
Nancy felt a wave of sympathy that evening for her daughter. Of course all young people wanted to be fashionable. It wasnât Lornaâs ever-changing hairstyles and make-up that worried Nancy. Sheâd become secretive.
Nancy sighed as she rubbed the fat into the flour, and added water, then brought the mixture together, wishing, not for the first time, that Joe was more patient with Lorna. Not that he wasnât a good, caring father. He would do anything for his daughter. Look at the trouble he had taken, building a lovely dressing table for her bedroom.
She set the pastry aside and began to chop the apples. They were Bramleys from
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