‘Normally, Dermot is charm itself, wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone a pretty young woman like yourself but . . .’ Marion paused for dramatic effect. ‘I know he likes his pint, but he doesn’t usually drink that much. It could send him wild. He has a reputation with women. You don’t look strong enough to fight him off.’

Laura giggled in spite of the trickiness of the situation. ‘I’m sure he’s not going to jump on me. He might shout a bit, but that’s all.’

‘It’s still not a fit place for you to visit on your own. Take one of the boys with you if you must go.’ She paused. ‘I must say folk have been worried. They’d be glad to know if he’s all right.’

‘So why hasn’t anyone looked before now? If he’s been holed up for over a week?’

‘Scared to. I tell you, he’s got a reputation.’

A horrible thought occurred to her. ‘He’s not armed, is he?’

‘Oh dear no. Anyway, if he is, he’ll be so drunk he won’t be able to shoot straight.’

‘I don’t think that’s very comforting!’

‘I’m not trying to be comforting, I’m trying to tell you not to go! But I’m also saying we’d all be glad to know how he is.’

‘So you’ll sacrifice a stranger to get the information you need?’ Laura was fairly sure she’d read a book where this was the theme.

Marion laughed. ‘Well, we know him too well to risk it. And besides, we have to live here. If he turns on you, you can fly back to England.’

‘Should I have a taxi with its engine running outside?’ Laura was laughing too now.

‘No, but I’ll get Murphy to keep his mule on stand-by.’

After more tea, laughter and for Laura a shower and a change of clothes, she set off up the road to Dermot’s house. She didn’t feel like laughing now. She remembered taking her GCSEs, her A levels, her driving test, and being summoned to the headmistress’s office for some unknown reason. None of those experiences had made her feel this shaky.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

She knew the way, although the last time she had made the journey it had been in the other direction. The fact that the village was so small definitely helped. And the fact that on this visit, the taxi had driven past his house, pointing it out to her as the home of the local celebrity. She would have preferred the journey to be longer really, so she could put off the moment of truth, whatever that turned out to be, for a little while. Seemingly two seconds after she’d set off, she was at his gate.