“I’m meeting Anne in Hexham tomorrow evening and I’m heading out after work so we can have meal together. Why don’t I drop you off in Corbridge on the way through?”
Andy thought that a great idea. “Good. I won’t have to borrow a bicycle to get over there,” he replied.
As they were coming in to Stamfordham, Lance said, “The ‘Bay Horse’ is the closest. How about going in there?” The other two agreed. They parked across the road from the pub on the edge of the village green and headed into the bar. It was fairly quiet for a Tuesday evening. A group of four farm labourers were in one corner and a couple of local ‘old timers’ sitting at the bar. It was a typical old pub of the area with a wooden bar and the pump handles polished smooth with use. The room was L-shaped and there was a dartboard at the short end of the L. A log fire was on in the hearth although it wasn’t particularly chilly. Brasses hung on the wall and there were photos of local events decorating it too. Smoke curled over the table with the farm workers and wreathed along the ceiling near the bar. The three airmen were in working dress uniform and as they entered, they got some hard looks from the corner. The barmaid, a well-endowed young woman with raven-coloured hair and in her early twenties, gave them a big smile. Lance and Sean had been there before and she recognised them. “Nice to see you boys again,” she said. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Andy. Andy, this is Jenny, who does a good job making the place more beautiful.”
At the remark, Jenny flushed with pleasure. “What would you like?”
Impishly Lance said, “I think we’d better stick to ‘Exhibition.’ That okay with you two?” They nodded their agreement. Jenny gave a wicked smile back, understanding his cheeky implication, and went to draw the beers.
The conversation at the bar had been overheard at the corner table and one of the men muttered, “They shouldn’t talk to ’er like that!”
His mate said, “Leave it, Eddie. They mean no ‘arm.”
He muttered on, “They’d better watch it.”
The three airmen stood at the bar and chatted and Jenny came over and joined in the conversation. “Where you all from, then? All over the country, I ’xpect.”
Dan said, “Not really. I’m from Wark, up the North Tyne and Andy’s from Alnwick — only we’ve lost our accents somewhat.”
“What about you then, cheeky?” she asked Lance.
“He put on a strong Welsh accent for her benefit and said, “Cwmbran. That means the ‘Valley of the Crows’.”
“Do you all sing like the crows?” she asked cheekily.
“This is not the place to demonstrate,” said Lance.
Just then, Eddie the farm worker came up to the bar and ordered another round. Jenny set to with the pouring of their beers.
“I don’t want you talking to them airmen like that, Jenny,” Eddie said.
“There’s nothing wrong with my talking to them, Eddie Freeman. They’re nice young men.”
“You’re my girl and I don’t want you talking to them,” Eddie responded.
“I’ll talk to them if I want,” Jenny replied. “You don’t own me.” She finished pouring the drinks and took his money, slamming down the change with, “Go back to your mates and don’t start anything or I’ll call Constable Sawyer.” Eddie glared at Jenny and took the drinks back to the corner table. He sat down and took a big gulp of the beer.
“You gonna stand for that, Eddie?” asked one of his mates.
“I wouldn’t have ’er speaking to you like that,” said another, egging him on. Eddie drank more of his beer, scowling as Jenny went back along the bar and talked to the three airmen again. Andy asked for some nuts and crisps and Jenny got them for him. Andy split the packets open for them all to share them and Jenny got two bowls from under the counter and emptied the contents of the bags into them.
Dan thanked her for looking after them and said, “You’re more than a pretty barmaid. That’s real service.” Jenny flushed up with pleasure. Dan ordered another round of drinks.
As she served them, one of Eddie’s mates said, “Look how she’s sucking up to them. One of them’ll be asking to take her home next.” Eddie scowled into his drink even more. He was getting flushed after several drinks. The three airmen chatted away at the bar, including Jenny in their conversation when she wasn’t serving or doing other tasks. All the time Eddie’s mates were stoking up the atmosphere at their table with comments about Jenny and the airmen. About twenty minutes had gone by since Eddie had ordered the last round. One of his mates got up and went to the bar and ordered another round.
Jenny said, “Don’t you think Eddie’s had enough to drink? He’s got an early start in the morning.”
His mate said, “What right have you got to decide when Eddie’s had enough? He can decide that for himself. You should pay him more attention instead of chatting up those RAF blokes.”
Jenny could barely contain herself. “George Milburn, you’ve no right to say things like that to me. I’ll get your drinks.” The three airmen stopped talking at the last outburst and saw what was happening.
Andy said, “I think someone is stoking up trouble and it’s aimed in our direction.” The other two agreed.
“Let’s finish our drinks and go before something happens,” said Dan. George took the drinks back to the table and made some comment about Jenny and the airmen. Eddie took his drink and had a gulp. His two mates also made comments.
As the three airmen finished their drinks and said goodnight to Jenny, Eddie got up and headed for them. “You airmen, get out and leave
