Promise Made by Linda Sole Read Free Book Online Page B

hug of affection.
    â€˜Dan! It’s so lovely to see you again.’ She drew back looking at him anxiously. ‘You’re a bit thinner but Alice will soon feed you up. You haven’t changed much otherwise. I was afraid you might have.’
    â€˜I was lucky,’ Daniel said with a lazy grin, consigning all the fear, hunger and pain to oblivion. ‘It could have been a lot worse. Some of the chaps were shot trying to escape. I was part of a tunnel group but it collapsed before my turn came and we couldn’t get enough wood to shore it up. After that I decided to sit it out. Hans told me it couldn’t be long so I waited for the surrender.’
    â€˜Hans – was he a German?’ Emily’s brows rose. She was used to everyone hating the enemy and Daniel’s voice seemed to indicate tolerance.
    â€˜I gave him chocolate from my parcels and he brought me manuals to study. I could probably pass any exam on mechanics I chose to sit now.’
    â€˜Oh, Dan . . .’ Emily breathed a sigh of relief. Daniel was all right! There were bound to be bad memories and hidden scars, but he could cope with them. He wasn’t broken in spirit like some of the men at the home. ‘Thank goodness! You’re just the same.’
    â€˜Not quite,’ he admitted with a wry look. If anything he had come out of it harder, tougher. ‘But I’ve been lucky. I was sorry about Simon . . .’ He looked at her oddly, uncertain of how she felt about her husband’s death.
    Emily nodded. ‘It was a shame. We all thought he was getting better. He was going to America with a friend for treatment. They told us it was quite sudden. Vane had a heart attack afterwards, but he is much better now – thank goodness.’
    â€˜Are you happy staying there?’
    â€˜Yes, of course,’ Emily said though she knew it wasn’t completely true. Sometimes she wanted a lot more, but she didn’t know what. Terry was dead and she was sure that she would never love another man in the same way. ‘I wouldn’t know what else to do, Daniel.’
    â€˜No, I suppose not,’ he said and looked at the small boy playing with Danny on the floor. ‘At least you’ve got a decent car, Emily. My old truck is all I can manage for the moment.’
    â€˜Vane bought it for my birthday. It isn’t new, of course. No one can get new cars yet, but it is in lovely condition.’ She smiled at her brother. ‘Would you like to drive it? You can take Alice to see that house she has been telling me about.’
    â€˜Are you sure?’ Daniel was pleased. ‘It’s generous of you, Emily. I’ll take good care of it. But what about you? You don’t want to drive my truck?’
    â€˜I’m going to see Frances when you and Alice leave. When you come back you can leave the car there for me if you will. I promised to have dinner with her and Marcus so you have plenty of time.’
    â€˜Great.’ Daniel glanced at Alice. ‘Get your coat on, love. I’ll just have a look at the car with Emily.’
    He went out and Emily followed, leaving Robert inside for the moment. She handed Daniel her keys, and watched as he got into the driving seat, looking at the controls.
    â€˜It’s a nice car, Emily.’
    â€˜I like it,’ she said. ‘I should like a private talk one day before I leave, Daniel.’
    â€˜Anything wrong?’ He lifted his brows.
    â€˜No, I just want to talk.’
    â€˜Tomorrow morning? I’ll come to the farm at ten.’
    â€˜Lovely,’ Emily agreed. ‘Have a nice afternoon with Alice. She is so excited about the house.’ She turned as Alice came down the path wearing her best blue coat. ‘Enjoy yourselves. I am going to fetch Robert and walk to Frances’s house. She says she wants to chat.’
    â€˜Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,’ Alice said and giggled. Her