Someone Else's Conflict by Alison Layland Read Free Book Online

chainsaw, wielding it expertly and insisting he was glad to do whatever it took to help. After a late lunch of hot soup, they’d managed to coax the car with its erratic electrics into life and she could now bring it safely into the open.
    Relieved, she turned off the engine and got out. The roof was dented and scratched, and she ran her hand over it. She shrugged. ‘I suppose it adds character.’
    â€˜It’s out and working, no real harm done … Sorry, that’s a bit like the old “could be worse”, isn’t it?’
    â€˜I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. It’s…a relief. Thank you for all your help.’
    He offered to chop the branch up as a substitute for her buried woodpile.
    â€˜Don’t feel you have to. I’ll run you back to Holdwick if you like. You should be able to find somewhere to stay, but you’ll not get there on foot before it gets dark.’
    â€˜Much appreciated.’
    He started to gather up the tools he’d been using, pausing to stick out a hand as some scattered drops of rain fell. He looked across at her.
    â€˜You know you were talking earlier about your builders not coming for a while?’
    â€˜Mm-hm…’ She could imagine where this was heading and was already trying to think of excuses.
    â€˜I’ll be honest with you. I haven’t had any steady work for a while. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not about to starve or anything but, well, I’ve enjoyed today, and…if I can make myself useful till they start, perhaps…?’
    He looked slightly embarrassed and she wondered, not for the first time, what his circumstances were. Her mind raced but no excuses came. It would certainly speed things up, and in any case, even if she managed to find someone else to finish clearing the yard, she had no guarantee that she could trust them any more than this man, who at least came with the character reference of a day’s willing work.
    â€˜Let me think about it. I suppose I’d have had to pay Alan extra anyway, what with all this.’
    â€˜The price isn’t an issue, don’t worry on that count. I know I can do a good job in preparation for the experts, and it’d be satisfying to be working on something worthwhile.’
    â€˜I’m not promising anything, but…’ The rain was getting heavier. ‘Step in for a moment.’
    He joined her in the porch, dragging his rucksack in behind him.
    â€˜Listen, I’ve got quite a bit of food in the fridge and freezer that’s only going to go off.’
    â€˜And you need me to dig a hole to keep the stuff cool underground?’
    He grinned and she smiled back.
    â€˜I think you’ve done enough digging. I mean I could use some of it up by cooking you a meal. To say thanks.’
    â€˜Hey, that’d be amazing, cheers. I’ve even got some supplies I could contribute.’
    He opened the top flap of his rucksack and produced the carrier she’d seen him get at the market.
    â€˜ Then I’ll run you to Holdwick.’
    â€˜OK. Or, well, could you just show me a field where I could pitch my tent? Save you having to drive.’
    â€˜It’s no trouble,’ she said, waving a hand at the glass roof of the porch, where the initial drumming had increased to an insistent tattoo. ‘You can hardly call this camping weather.’
    â€˜I’m used to it.’
    She realised how tactless she’d been, assuming he could afford bed and breakfast in town, and rushed to cover up for herself.
    â€˜You know, I…I could just about clear enough space for you to sleep in the spare room for tonight. It’s a bit of a tip though. I haven’t got round to sorting it out yet; I…’ She stopped herself talking, realising the words were spilling out to hide her incredulity at the offer she’d just heard herself make.
    â€˜Don’t worry about that,’ he said as if reading her