Rock a Bye Baby by Mia Dolan Read Free Book Online Page B

bafflers.
    ‘Pig,’ muttered Marcie under her breath, staring after him, willing him to come back for her. She shouted it, louder and louder.
    ‘Pig! PIG!’
    The rear light on his bike swiftly became a lonely spot in the distance. All alone now, she shivered. By itself the darkness was intense; coupled with the mist and the rain the night lay like a wet blanket in a damp, steamy room.
    Suddenly she found herself craving a light – any light. Her thoughts turned to Rita. At least Rita would get home. She was probably already there. Rita would do whatever a boy wanted to do. She didn’t have the best of figures, so made the best of what fate threw her way.
    Forgetting that her watch had run down, she pulled back her cuff and attempted to check the time. It was too dark and the dial wasn’t luminous. There was a good possibility that the bus was already gone. What would she do if it didn’t show up?
    She answered her own question.
    There’s only one thing you can do, Marcie. You walk.
    She turned her face towards home. Land and sky had merged into one black sheet. What with the rain as well, it would be difficult to see her way. There was no light at the bus stop but at least she was on firm ground. She had no choice but to wait and hope that the bus would turn up. Otherwise she would have to wait until it got lighter and that would mean dawn. It would also mean trouble when she got home.

Chapter Five
    The rain that had started as a fine drizzle came down in stinging stair-rods. Wet and miserable, Marcie peered into the darkness in the direction the bus should come from. Her hair was soon plastered to her head like a swimming cap and her short dress clung to her thighs, revealing her legs from there down. Thank goodness for the darkness, she thought. The clinging fabric left nothing to the imagination.
    She wiped her face with the back of her hand and blinked into the driving rain. Something glimmered. Something shone.
    Pushing her wet hair back onto her head she narrowed her eyes. Her spirits rose. Coming out from behind her hand she saw – headlights!
    Not sure she was seeing things, and unable to judge whether it was a bus, she blinked again. Another light had appeared just beyond the first then seemed to overtake.
    At the same time she heard the throaty roar of a motorcycle. It could only be one of the London boys. None of the local boys had big bikes, though they wished they did.
    A single headlight bore down on her. The bike slowed and began to do a ‘U’ turn across the road.
    The headlight lit up the road in front of her and the ground at her feet. By its light she recognised the painted flames on the front of the crash helmet and knew it was Johnnie.
    ‘Hop on.’ He jerked his head at the space behind him.
    No apology. No explanation that he couldn’t possibly leave her here all alone. And was his intention to take her home directly, or would there be a price to pay?
    She asked him outright. ‘How do I know you’ll take me straight home?’
    He shook his head. ‘Aw, come on. Get on or get lost!’
    ‘What did you say?’
    Her bile was up! Oh boy! Did he have a nerve!
    She was about to cross her arms and tell him to sod off, but could see other headlights. If that wasn’t the bus coming along the road she’d have to walk home. She’d be late. She’d be in trouble and wouldn’t be allowed out for a week.
    It had to be the bus! If it wasn’t then she’d thumb for a lift anyway.
    Waving her arms and shouting, she ran out into the road.
    ‘Stop! Oh please stop!’
    She didn’t hear what Johnnie was shouting at herand didn’t care. Besides, she could guess at the words. He was angry, just as angry as she was now.
    The headlights of the other vehicle lit up her face. It was a car not a bus. Obviously the driver had seen her frantic waving and was slowing down.
    The long bonnet and chromium wheel spokes were instantly familiar. No one, absolutely no one on Sheppey had such a super Jaguar car except