Every word was a lie. He better than anyone knew that it was Hugh who had attacked Cissie that night in the copse. But how could he have told her that? He was glad now that he had destroyed the incriminating evidence, the handkerchief Hugh had dropped at the scene, and he prayed that God would forgive him for lying.

He held his breath as he watched a mixture of emotions flit across her face then a solitary tear ran down her cheek and she managed to smile.

‘I always knew he was a good lad deep down,’ she breathed. ‘And at least I can be proud of him now. Thank you for telling me, Tom.’ She rose then and quietly left the room to tell George and to grieve in private. I’ll tell Mr and Mrs Tate the same thing when I’m able to save their heartache as well, Tom promised himself.

‘Knowing you as I do, I think there is more to this than you’re saying,’ Sunday told her husband. ‘But bless you for sparing her feelings. At least she has something to hang on to now.’ And then she went into the safe shelter of his arms, determined to make the most of every precious second they had left together.

A week later, George drove Tom into town in his freshly laundered uniform with his kitbag slung across his shoulder, for his medical. The goodbyes at Treetops had been tearful but Tom was grateful that he had managed to see his home again for a few weeks at least.

‘I’ll wait here for you, man,’ George told him in a thick voice when they arrived.

‘No, you get yourself away. I’ll probably be catching a train,’ Tom advised.

‘Aye well, I’ll wait all the same till yer come out again,’ George insisted, and knowing better than to argue Tom nodded and went inside to meet the Army doctor. His limp had been much more pronounced since losing his toes to frostbite and his foot still pained him, but all the same Tom walked in with his back as straight as he could hold it.

Once shown into the doctor’s office he found the man poring over his records. ‘Ah, Corporal Branning?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Tom stood to attention as the doctor came around the desk to him.

‘Right, let’s have a look at you then, shall we? Hop onto the couch.’

Tom proceeded to take his boot and sock off and the doctor then examined him before saying, ‘Could you walk a straight line for me?’

Tom did as requested as the doctor watched him with a thoughtful expression on his face before saying, ‘You know what, man, I reckon you’ve done your bit now. That leg and foot of yours are in a pretty bad way. I’m going to give you a medical discharge on the grounds of being unfit to fight any more.’

Tom was astounded. ‘What? You mean I don’t have to go back?’

‘That’s exactly what I mean.’ The doctor sat back down at his desk and began to scribble on his pad. ‘It’s all credit to you that you enlisted at your age before you were asked to in the first place, so hold your head high and go home to your family. I shall be sending my report to your commanding officer so this is an end to it for you.’ Then his manner becoming official again, he barked, ‘Next!’ as Tom staggered from the room with his sock and his boot still in his hand.