‘Lottie. What’s yours?’

‘Dave.’

Just then the ride came to an end, and his colleague was calling him. ‘Wait by the wagon over there, see?’ He pointed to a dilapidated vehicle parked some way from the fairground. ‘I’ll ask Will to take over the shift. He owes me a favour anyway.’ Tilting her face to his, he kissed her on the mouth. ‘You’re not planning to run away, are you?’

Completely besotted, Lottie shook her head. ‘I’ll wait there, like you said.’

‘Good girl.’ His smile enveloped her. ‘I’ll be back in no time. Then you and I can get to know each other.’

On his way to join his mate, Dave glanced back and, much to his delight, she had followed his instruction without question. ‘Like a lamb to the slaughter,’ he muttered, and went away to claim his ‘favour’.

‘Catching ’em young these days, ain’t yer?’ Discreetly giving Lottie the once-over, Will nudged his wayward friend. ‘Not bad, though.’

Dave licked his lips. ‘She’ll do for now.’

‘Easy, is she?’

‘Dunno, but I’ll soon find out.’ He winked. ‘Best get off, while she’s still warm.’

Will watched his mate swagger off. ‘What’s he up to now?’ Having come up quietly behind him, the older man looked angry. ‘He’s a bad lot, is that one.’ His disapproval was evident as he watched Dave lead Lottie into the wagon, his arm round her and his soft laughter drifting over the night air. ‘I wish I’d never took that bloke on,’ the man said. ‘I’ve a mind to give him his marching orders.’

‘He’s a good worker though,’ Will argued. ‘You’ll not find better.’

The other man considered this. ‘You might be right, but you’d best tell him… if he brings trouble down on my head, he’ll be up the road on the end of my boot, and no mistake!’ And with that he marched off, muttering and cursing, and wondering if he should sell up and retire to a toffee shop in Liverpool.

Left alone, Will increased the speed of the Waltzer, much to the delight of its passengers, whose shrieks of laughter echoed through the night. His envious gaze travelled to the wagon. ‘You’d best watch yourself, matey,’ he murmured. ‘Beating up women is bad enough, but this one’s just a kid.’

From the gathering darkness, the woman hidden in the shadows also looked across to the wagon, her fingers stroking the deep scar that ran from her cheek to her mouth. ‘Silly young mare,’ she snarled. ‘If only you knew what he’d done to me.’ Hatred shaped her features, then she was smiling, and then she was laughing. ‘You’ve set your cap at the wrong fella. Let’s hope you won’t live to rue the day.’

Still cackling, she made her way from the fairground to the pub on the corner where, as on every other night, she drank until her senses were numbed, and the memories dimmed.

Chapter Six

As always, Amy was glad to see Molly. She had been moved to a general ward by now, which was a relief as it got her away from all the other mums and babies.