‘I’ve no idea, but I doubt anything will happen for a few days. You’ll have to talk to Jack.’
‘In which case I can think of only one solution. Being raided by the police again might cause Dad to have another stroke.’
*
The cats, Sooty and Spot, purred when she lifted them out of the truck. The two dogs bounded after them and immediately ran to the bushes to relieve themselves. She had no need to call them back as they were bouncing around her feet minutes later.
She dropped the cats in the stable and the dogs dashed in behind their feline friends. She hastily closed the bottom half of the stable door. ‘The man at Battersea said we should keep the cats shut in for several days, but I don’t think they’ll run away as long as the dogs are here.’
Neil and Jack had heard them arrive and came to inspect the new arrivals. ‘Isn’t Dad coming to see them?’
‘He’s asleep, seemed a pity to wake him. Jack and I are going to do the milking tonight. Will you and Greg feed the pigs?’
‘Of course. Before we go inside there’s something we have to talk about.’ She led them to the far side of the yard and into the barn that had been used as a bar the last night her mother had been at Glebe Farm.
‘I’ve come to a decision and I hope it’s the right thing to do. Neil, our mother abandoned us without a second thought to go and live with a traitor. I don’t think we owe her anything. What’s important is to protect Dad from any unnecessary shocks. Do you agree?’
‘I do. I think I can guess what you’re going to suggest but I’ll leave you to tell us in case I’m wrong.’
‘I didn’t tell any of you but I made a copy of that list before I hid it. I’m not sure why I did, but I thought it might be important later.’ She looked from one to the other and they were all watching her intently.
‘I think we should get in touch with someone in authority and tell them exactly what’s happened. Give them a copy of the names on the list. I know it’s not an ideal solution, and might well have unpleasant repercussions, but it’s the only thing that will protect Dad.’
Jack looked dubious, not surprisingly, as his family was up to their necks in the conspiracy. Greg moved until he was standing directly behind her; his solidity was a comfort.
Neil broke the silence. ‘Good God! You can’t do that, Ellie. This could ruin us.’
‘It won’t do anything to us financially, and I don’t see why any muck will stick. Nobody around here is aware that we’re related to Sir Reginald; even if it does get in the national papers it shouldn’t make any difference.’
‘You’re naive if you think a nosy journalist won’t ferret out that George and I are related to him.’ Her brother’s eyes were hard – he looked like a stranger.
Instinctively she leaned back and Greg’s arms encircled her waist giving her welcome reassurance. However, it was Jack who stepped in with further bad news.
‘I’ve not had the opportunity to tell you that the RAF cadets won’t be coming to us anymore. As of today, Glebe Aero Club is done. It has nothing to do with the other business as far as I know, it’s a directive from the War Office. I’m arranging to sell the aircraft and I’ve already told the staff. They will be coming in tomorrow to collect their last pay slip and wages.’
She turned into Greg’s embrace and rested her wet cheek on his shoulder. The dream was over. Civilians couldn’t fly anymore and from now on she would be a farm worker.
*
Jack hated seeing Ellie cry, but it wasn’t his responsibility to comfort her. He hadn’t told her the worst – that was his problem not hers. His aunt had written to him saying that his uncle had been charged with blackmail and receiving stolen goods. He’d pleaded guilty and been sentenced to five years. It was unlikely he’d ever hear from either of them again as she’d failed to provide a return address on her letter.
He didn’t think he could remain at Glebe Farm and he had nowhere else to go. The money from the sale of the aircraft would be sufficient to keep him solvent until he joined the RAF. Although he wasn’t sure the nephew of a convicted criminal would be welcome in the elite branch of the armed forces.
‘I’ll move out as soon as I’ve sold the aircraft….’
She wrenched herself away from Greg and rushed over to him. ‘Please, Jack, you can’t go. Dad needs you to help him on the farm. Won’t you stay until you join the RAF? I heard on the wireless that only reservists, volunteers and men between twenty and twenty-one are needed at the moment. You should be able to stay for another few months.’
He couldn’t refuse her tearful appeal. ‘I’d love to stay but you and Fred had better decide after you hear the rest of my news.’
Over a much-needed cuppa he told them and was surprised that they sympathised rather than condemned.
‘I don’t care about Joe Cross, lad, as far as I’m concerned you’re one of the family. You stay with us as long as you want to – you’re a natural when it comes to farming and I’d be sorry to see you go.’
This compliment didn’t go down too well with Neil and Jack didn’t blame him. The inference was that Fred’s sons were somehow lacking and that he favoured a stranger.
Ellie, who was sitting next to Greg on the sofa, endorsed her father’s remark. ‘There’s no need to look so po-faced, Neil, you know
