YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) by Beryl Darby Page A

like to see a beautiful young lady by herself and looking sad. Won’t you join me for a drink?’
    Annita jumped to her feet and ran. Her mother had warned her about such strangers. Her heart was pounding as she reached her home and tumbled inside, slamming the door shut and leaning against it to regain her breath.
    ‘Annita – what’s wrong?’
    ‘A man!’ gasped Annita. ‘He wanted to take me for a drink.’
    ‘What!’ Yannis was horrified. ‘Where is he?’ The boy clenched his fists menacingly.
    ‘I don’t think he followed me. He only asked me to go for a drink. I was only frightened because I didn’t know him. There’s no need to go looking for him.’
    Yannis scrutinized his cousin gravely. ‘He didn’t touch you? He only spoke to you?’
    Annita nodded, she was feeling distinctly braver now she was safely indoors with Yannis. ‘Let’s forget it.’ She smiled a little shakily.
    To her surprise Yannis put his arms round her and held her tightly to him. ‘I couldn’t bear anything to happen to you, Annita.’
    Annita felt a thrill go through her. ‘Do you mean that, Yannis?’
    ‘Of course. You’re as precious to me as one of my sisters. You mustn’t go anywhere on your own in the evening again.’
    ‘I’m sorry you thought I was being nasty to you earlier,’ she apologised humbly.
    ‘You were being nasty,’ retorted Yannis.
    ‘I was just surprised. We’ve talked about it for so long, and now it seems to be happening.’
    ‘I have to get the scholarship first. You’re right, Pappa probably has no idea how much the fees would be. I expect he’ll want me to go back to Plaka to help on the farm during the summer. Maybe I’ll change my mind and become a farmer after all.’ Yannis smiled, knowing that nothing would make him change his mind.
    ‘I wouldn’t mind being a farmer’s wife.’ Annita could have bitten her tongue for the indiscreet remark.
    Yannis appeared not to notice. ‘You’ve never been on a farm. You don’t know how hard the work is, much harder than fishing. You don’t ever have a day off because the weather’s bad. Maybe you and Andreas could come and visit us during the holidays.’
    Annita smiled. ‘I’d like that.’
    ‘Let’s go and find Pappa now and ask him about the holidays.’ Yannis took Annita by the hand.
    Annita agreed readily and they toiled up the hill and down the far side, Yannis avoiding the back streets, which were a short cut. Annita had not been to the taverna before and wrinkled her nose in disgust as they entered, the smell of wine, smoke and stale food assaulting her nostrils. Yannis was sitting where his son had left him and Mr Pavlakis was working behind the bar where a young girl sat at the end looking thoroughly bored. Every so often she would be handed some coins, which she placed in a pot and gave the correct change.
    Yannis approached his father. ‘Are you ready to go home, Pappa? I thought you might not know your way, so Annita and I came to meet you.’
    ‘That was thoughtful of you, but this is no place for Annita. Go and wait for me outside, both of you. I’ll just say goodbye to Mr Pavlakis.’
    The cousins retreated from the smoky interior; glad to be back in the fresh air and after a short time Yannis’s father joined them.
    ‘We wanted to ask you a favour, Pappa. When school finishes here will you want me to come back to the farm to work before I go to High School, if I get a place, that is?’
    ‘It would certainly help. What had you in mind?’
    ‘I wondered if Annita and Andreas could come also.’
    ‘I see no reason why they shouldn’t, if Yiorgo and Elena don’t need them.’
    Annita clapped her hands. ‘Thank you, uncle Yannis, that would be lovely.’
    Yannis’s father smiled at her exuberance. ‘I don’t think you’ll find it very exciting. We haven’t all the shops that you have here.’
    ‘I don’t mind. It will be different.’
    Elena was in the kitchen preparing fresh coffee. ‘Is Andreas with