A Family Affair by Janet Tanner Read Free Book Online Page A

picked up their instruments, the floor began to clear. A finger jabbed Heather hard between the shoulder blades and she turned to see Brian Jacobs grinning at her.
    â€˜Come on then, gorgeous.’
    â€˜No thank you.’
    â€˜Aw – don’t be a spoilsport! Come on!’
    She could smell the odour of sweat and carbolic soap mingled with beer. It revolted her.
    â€˜I said no thanks.’
    She turned away, trying to sidestep him, but he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back towards him and pushing his hips against hers. She wriggled, not wanting to be forced to dance with him but not wanting to make a scene either.
    â€˜Look …’
    â€˜The lady said no.’ A hand as big as a small ham came down on Brian’s shoulder; surprised, Heather looked up into a square-jawed face and deep violet eyes.
    â€˜Get off, Steve!’
    â€˜No. You get off.’ His voice was deep, soft yet surprisingly firm, with the trace of an accent she did not recognise.
    For a few moments the two men stared each other out, the one still holding Heather by the waist and wrist, the other equally intransigent, standing his ground, and Heather’s heart came into her mouth. There was going to be a fight, one of those horrible brawls that started all too often in dance halls – or outside them, afterwards, and ended with whole gangs of youths and men being locked in the police cells for the night. Then, to her surprise, the miner released her as suddenly as he had grabbed her, muttering something she could not catch because it was drowned by the swelling dance music, and waving his fist threateningly in Steve’s face. Steve stood motionless, not flinching, and Brian stumbled off, bumping into a twirling couple as he went and looking as if he might threaten to hit them too.
    â€˜I apologise for him,’ the man called Steve said. ‘He’s had too much to drink.’
    â€˜Friend of yours, is he?’ Heather asked, recovering herself.
    He shrugged his massive shoulders. ‘I suppose so.’
    â€˜Then you ought to keep him under control!’ Heather said tartly.
    â€˜I try.’
    He turned and walked away between the dancers, the light from the twirling globe making his hair gleam like spun gold.
    â€˜Well!’ Heather said. She was still shaking a bit. ‘Well.’
    She made her way back to her seat, carefully avoiding anyone else who looked as if they might be about to ask her to dance. But almost without realising it she was scanning the crowded room, trying to catch a glimpse of her rescuer.
    â€˜You should have won,’ Heather said to Julia.
    â€˜Well I didn’t.’ Julia was trying to look as if she didn’t care. ‘I’m second attendant anyway. I shall get a dress – and get to ride on the best side of the coach.’
    â€˜You should have won!’ Heather said again. ‘I can’t understand it. You were the obvious choice. They were playing politics, I expect. Spreading it round the villages.’
    â€˜They aren’t supposed to know which one we represent.’
    â€˜But they do, don’t they? I suppose they think they daren’t give it to Hillsbridge again. Especially with Harry Hall being one of the judges, and him born and bred in Hillsbridge.’
    â€˜Maybe. It doesn’t matter.’
    â€˜It matters to me. I wanted you to win.’
    The girls were waiting in the queue to get their coats. It was just after one a.m. but they were both too hyped up to be tired. As they went down the stairs one of a gang of boys managed to get alongside Julia, only falling back to join his friends when they reached the street.
    â€˜I just walked down the steps with a beauty queen!’ he boasted
    It was a fine night and much warmer than of late. The stars were shining and a full moon bathed the street in a soft light and reflected in the slowly moving water of the river which ran its full length, disappearing