‘I’ll come with you.’ Luke held open the passenger door of the car. ‘Dad can take Mum home in my car.’

After saying goodbye to Mr and Mrs Stannard, Jenny was made to sit in the front, with Luke in the back.

As they drove away from the hospital, John said, ‘Have you any idea why Greaves wants you so badly?’

‘None at all.’ She was completely bewildered by what was happening. It just didn’t make sense after two years. Surely he couldn’t still want to marry her?

Luke leant forward until he was looking through the two front seats. ‘You’ll have to do some more digging, John.’

‘I intend to,’ was the curt reply, ‘but it might just turn out that having set his mind on Jenny, he’s not prepared to give up.’

‘I must admit that it does seem the only logical answer.’ Luke rested his hands on the back of John’s seat. ‘But sending murderous villains after her is rather desperate, isn’t it?’

The conversation came to an end as they pulled up outside Ma’s house. The street was immediately alive with people wanting to know how Matthew was. There were smiles all round when told that he would make a full recovery.

Fred hugged Jenny. ‘And what about you, dear, are you all right?’

‘I’m fine, but I’m so angry …’

Luke gave his easy laugh. ‘Jenny’s fuming and wants to go to tell Greaves just what she thinks of him, but she mustn’t do that. It’s far too dangerous.’

‘I’d like to give that devil the thrashing he deserves,’ Ron growled. ‘It was bloody lucky no one was killed today.’

‘I understand how you feel’ – John gave a grim smile – ‘but I should hold off on that, if I were you. While we were waiting for Matt to be patched up, the police arrived. If it can be proved that Greaves is behind this attack, the law will deal with him.’

‘And if they don’t, then we’ll give him something to think about!’ Jimmy looked around for approval and smiled when Fred, Stan and Ron nodded.

Jenny was alarmed; her friends could end up in serious trouble. ‘I don’t want this turning into another fight and you all ending up in prison. I’ve caused enough trouble for everyone.’

‘Let the police handle this,’ John admonished.

‘We will.’ Fred shook hands with John and Luke. ‘We’re right glad to know Matt’s going to be all right. Nice lad. Thanks for bringing our Jen back home. We’ll look after her, don’t you worry.’

With that assurance, the brothers got back in the car and drove off.

‘Go and see Ma, Jen,’ Fred said. ‘She’s fretting bad.’

Jenny ran up the stairs and found Glad sitting beside the bed, holding Ma’s hand. She stood up to make room for Jenny.