Sure Thing by Ashe Barker Read Free Book Online

sitting.
    They’ve brought a jelly and custard trifle too, and some cheese and onion crisps which Tom earlier tipped out into bowls for us to share. While I was still getting dressed I gather Tom threw together some ham and cheese sandwiches—and voilà!— my birthday feast is ready. And it’s absolutely wonderful. We all tuck in, Rosie chatting all the time about her helicopter ride and night in hospital, while Nathan and Grace ask after my health now. Suitably reassured that everyone is indeed okay we enjoy our banquet, gearing up for the main event of the singing and cake cutting.
    “Did you make a wish, Ashley?” Rosie’s eager little face is liberally dotted with chocolate cake crumbs. She looks at me expectantly, obviously keen to be let in on any secret wishes.
    “Er, no. Not yet. I will though, I just need to think. Decide what I want most.”
    “That’s a cue to bring on the presents if ever I heard one.” Nathan Darke’s tone is amiable, agreeable even.
    He hasn’t said anything yet about me abandoning his little princess up on the moors, but there’s still time. I’m not convinced one jot by Tom’s assurances that he’ll be fine about it.
    I look up in surprise at his remark. Presents?
    “Really, there’s no need. I’m not expecting anything…”
    “Can we go first? Can we give Ashley our present first? Please? Please?” Rosie is hopping from one foot to another in her excitement.
    Nathan hushes her, turning to Tom. “That okay with you, mate?”
    “Sure.” Tom shrugs. “Shall we go outside?”
    At Nathan’s brief nod Tom holds out his hand to me, pulling me to my feet. He tugs me outside, the rest of the room emptying as everyone, including the three dogs, troop after us. We assemble outside the back door.
    “Wait here.” Nathan leaves us all there whilst he marches off around the side of the house. A few moments later he’s back, astride a beautiful, gleaming, brand-new quad bike. Followed by the excited dogs, he circles the yard slowly before bringing the shiny purple and yellow machine to a graceful halt in front of the door. He turns off the engine, pulls out the key which he holds out to me.
    “Happy Birthday, Ashley. And thanks.” Dumbfounded I just stand and gape at him. Surely he can’t mean…
    “Is this…? Is this…?”
    “For you, yes. Enjoy it.” He climbs effortlessly off the machine and hands me the key. “There’s a helmet under the seat, and a tankful of petrol. You’re good to go.”
    “But I, you, I mean, you can’t… It’s too expensive, I mean…” I can’t manage to string a coherent thought together, let alone a sentence. I just stare at the beautiful machine, disbelief etched all over my face. “But why? It’s too much…” Then, as usual at times of stress, blurting out the thought uppermost in my mind, “But you don’t even like me!”
    He laughs, reaching for me while Tom steps tactfully back. He hugs me, and I gasp in amazement. What’s happening—what on earth’s going on?
    “I always liked you. More or less. I just didn’t trust you. At first. But that was then, and I guess I have to accept that Tom’s just a better judge of character than I am. But”—and his voice is serious now, the teasing note gone as he steps back to look into my eyes, his dark gaze intent, holding mine—“two days ago your actions saved my daughter, the most precious thing in the world to me. You put yourself in danger to help her, and I’ll never forget it. I’m in your debt, I always will be. This is only a fraction of what I owe you, but we thought it a fitting present in the circumstances. We thought you should have a quad of your own, so when Tom takes his back for his precious lambing you can still roar around the moors taking your pictures and rescuing little girls.”
    I stare at him, bewildered. Does he mean me? Is it me who did those things? I suppose it must have been. Wow. I’m speechless, embarrassed. Not used to being the center of