‘Oh, don’t mind them,’ she said dismissively, ‘Val’s got a shotgun under the counter, she’ll make them leave if they cause any trouble.’

She took his hand, and as they weaved their way through the crowded bar to the pocket-sized dance floor, Kasey marvelled at this slender young woman, so blonde, so pretty, yet head held high, defying the animosity he could feel in the room. She might be a country girl, he thought admiringly, but she really is tough.

Kasey had never known anything quite like this.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The Brown’s Bar, during the limited hours of its opening anyway, continued to be a favourite haunt of Rupe’s and Kasey’s – and also of Willie’s because Willie went wherever his two best buddies went. But it was evident to a number of onlookers that young Kasey Davis was drawn to the place for more than the music.

‘You think perhaps you should practise a little caution, Kase?’ Rupe couldn’t help offering a gentle word of warning. ‘You think perhaps you might be getting a little close with this gal?’

‘No, no,’ Kasey replied with an airy wave of his hand. ‘We’re just friends, that’s all. Friends who like music, simple as that.’

The observation was not one-sided, and Rupe wasn’t the only person offering a word of warning. Although Val’s initial approach was more brutal.

‘You’re not leading this boy on, are you?’ she demanded. ‘Because if you’re playing some sort of game you could get him into real trouble, you do know that, don’t you?’

Betty took umbrage. ‘I’m not leading him on at all,’ she responded with icy dignity, ‘Kasey and I are good friends who just happen to share a love of music.’

‘Fair enough.’ Val backed off immediately. ‘But watch out, lovey,’ she said, her tone gentle now, ‘you don’t want to get yourself into trouble.’

So the friendship between the two continued. And it did genuinely appear to be the music causing it to blossom the way it was, for when Kasey sang and Betty joined him on piano it was as if the two were making love. Which was of course why Rupe and Val had felt it necessary to issue a warning, which both had realised was of course destined to go unheeded.

One late Saturday afternoon, when the queue of drinkers had poured into the bar and Betty had started up on the piano, there turned out to be a surprise arrival.

‘Well, well, they were right, you really do make some beautiful music in this place.’

Samuel Robinson had stood quietly by the door watching as Betty and Kasey performed ‘Fascinating Rhythm’ to an appreciative audience that was astoundingly quiet for a room full of servicemen. Now, at the conclusion of the song, as the crowd gave a rapturous round of applause, he walked up to them and made his presence known.

‘Even better than aboard ship,’ he said to Rupe, who was propped beside the piano.