Broken Rainbows by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online Page A

him.’
    â€˜I’m too busy, Colonel Ford,’ she interposed briskly, negating any intended sympathy.
    â€˜I can see that I’m taking up your time.’
    â€˜I can spare a few moments, especially as Maisie has gone to the trouble of making tea. Would you like a cup and one of your biscuits?’
    â€˜Just tea please.’
    â€˜Milk and sugar?’
    â€˜Milk, thank you.’
    She poured out two cups and handed him his. ‘Colonel, as you’re going to live here, presumably for some time …’
    â€˜Until we finish training our troops,’ he interrupted, giving her no hint as to how long that might take.
    â€˜Perhaps we should lay down a few rules to ensure that all our lives run smoothly.’
    â€˜Such as?’
    â€˜I’m responsible for Maisie and Liza as well as the children. Given the shortage of men in Pontypridd it would be very easy for your staff to turn their heads.’
    â€˜I have already given my officers a lecture on respecting the young ladies of the town. It will be passed down to the men.’
    â€˜I’m glad to hear it.’
    â€˜As for my immediate staff, Sergeant Morelli is forty: he’s a volunteer and wanted to ensure that he’d be in this war to the bitter end. He’s old enough to be Maisie and Liza’s father so I don’t think you need fear he’ll start chasing them.’
    â€˜There’s still Maurice.’
    â€˜An extremely naive twenty-year-old.’
    â€˜I hope you’ll ensure he stays that way.’
    â€˜I can’t promise that. I drove past Station Yard last night. There seemed to be an extraordinarily large number of ladies waiting to meet the trains.’
    â€˜Every town in Britain has its Station Yard, Colonel Ford. It’s Maisie and Liza I’m concerned about, not the ladies waiting to meet the trains.’
    â€˜Any problems, Mrs John, please feel free to discuss them with me.’
    â€˜Thank you.’
    â€˜And if you don’t want my staff mixing with the girls or the children …’
    â€˜I didn’t say that.’
    He looked into her eyes as he set down his cup and rose to his feet. ‘We’re strangers, far from home in an alien land, Mrs John. And your kindness is greatly appreciated.’

Chapter Three
    For the first time since they had started work in the munitions factory Jenny Powell and Judy Crofter didn’t call in at either Ronconi’s café or the pub before going home. Turning under the railway bridge, they began the long haul up the Graig hill, halting outside Jenny’s corner shop at the top of Factory Lane.
    â€˜Pick you up here at eight?’ Judy asked, as Jenny opened the door of the shop she had entrusted to an assistant’s care for the duration.
    â€˜That gives me enough time to turn from a dust-coated frog into a princess.’ Jenny looked at her sister-in-law, Jane. ‘Coming with us?’
    â€˜Not tonight, thanks.’
    â€˜Your Haydn wouldn’t give up the chance to have a good time,’ Judy taunted. Jane’s husband, Haydn Powell, was one of the leading lights of ENSA and the newspapers were constantly printing ‘morale boosting’ photographs of him in uniform with his arms wrapped around scantily clad chorus girls.
    â€˜I’m looking forward to putting Anne to bed. She’s growing up so fast I feel I’m missing out on her childhood.’
    â€˜Babies!’ Judy wrinkled her nose in disgust. ‘I learned all I ever want to know about them from my younger brothers. Thank God they’re in the army now. There’s nothing like a kid hanging round your neck to cramp your style. You won’t catch me having any.’
    â€˜I’ll talk to you when you’re married. See you tomorrow, Jenny.’
    â€˜See you,’ Jenny called after them as she walked inside. Pushing past the crowd of women and children waiting to be served, she murmured a