A Mistletoe Kiss by Katie Flynn Read Free Book Online Page A

the locals, same as me grandparents does.’
    Gareth sighed enviously. Hetty wondered why he was sharing his interest in the canal with her, a despised girl, but then she put two and two together and knew the answer to her unasked question. Gareth would be looking for work when he left school. He had hoped to go to the technical college to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer, but had had to give up that idea since his father had been injured at a footballmatch and could no longer work full time. She thought that most boys must think life aboard a canal barge fascinating, but she knew better than to advise him to try the Company, or indeed any of the other barges owned by their Number Ones. Folk worked the canals for generations, son succeeding father, and newcomers were rarely employed. Indeed, had she been a boy she would have taken it for granted that, upon leaving school, she would have a permanent place aboard the Water Sprite , but since she was a mere girl she doubted that she would ever be considered for a berth.
    â€˜Hetty? Did you hear what I said? Would you purrin a good word wi’ your grandpa for me? I’m real strong and I’ve been hangin’ about down by the wharf, helpin’ to load and unload the barges when they tie up. Honest to God, I’d work for me keep alone until they thought I were worth a wage.’
    Hetty grinned at her companion. ‘How polite you are when you want something,’ she said. ‘As for working on one of the Leeds and Liverpool barges, you have to be jokin’. Why, Gramps could take his pick of fellers who’ve spent their perishin’ lives aboard. If I were you I’d forget it.’ She felt mean, but it would not have been fair to encourage him when she believed his cause was hopeless.
    â€˜You’re just sayin’ that because you don’t like me,’ Gareth said, suddenly moody. ‘You’re just a stupid little kid what don’t know the first thing about work. Forget I ever mentioned it, why doncher?’
    Hetty tightened her lips but spoke with all the patience she could muster. ‘I wish I could help you,Gareth, honest to God I do, but it wouldn’t be no manner of use me tellin’ Grandpa you were after a berth aboard the Sprite . He’ll be wantin’ another hand as he an’ Gran get older, but that won’t be for a while yet. Of course, if they had the old Sprite converted from horse-drawn to engine they’d be lookin’ for someone who understands engines as well as someone who knows the Leeds and Liverpool canal backwards, but Grandpa says that will be over his dead body.’
    Gareth cast her an unfriendly glance from beneath his eyelids and heaved a disappointed sigh. ‘Me older brother, the one what moved out five years back, has a motorbike; I’m going to get him to show me how engines work,’ he said, and Hetty realised that he was still hoping to find a way of joining a canal barge as a member of her crew.
    However, it would not do to say so; instead she glanced into the nearest shop window, pretending an interest in the display therein. ‘That’s a real smart dress,’ she said. ‘Why not learn all you can from your big brother? If you truly get to know how engines work, there’s all sorts of jobs you could try for, apart from canal barges. Why, only the other day Bill was talking about joining one of the armed forces. He says they teach fellers to drive and service the vehicles and so on. You might have a go at that, Gareth.’
    Gareth was beginning to reply when they reached the jigger and turned into it. Bill was coming towards them and Hetty guessed that he had been sent to find her. The two boys grinned at one another. ‘Found her dreamin’ along as usual, the way you said she’d be,’Gareth called as soon as they were close enough to exchange a few words. ‘She were with some old woman, so of course your