Hannah’s heart was thumping. If her mother found out, she would be so angry. But if he told everyone at school…

Knowing she didn’t have a choice, she nodded.

It would just be quick. She would show him and it would be over.

‘Go on then.’

Her fingers fumbled with the buttons on her jeans, her skin burning hot as she pulled them down her legs.

‘Lower,’ Bill demanded when she paused.

Hannah did as he asked, yanking them further down until they were around her knees.

‘Now your knickers.’

For a moment, she froze and didn’t think she could do it.

‘Pull them down.’ His voice was stern, but he also sounded a little excited.

One quick flash and it would be over.

She didn’t dare look at him as she hooked her thumbs over the elastic waistband, slowly lowering the briefs until she was fully exposed.

She squeezed her eyes shut, hating that he was looking at her private parts.

‘Nice,’ she heard him mutter, followed moments later by. ‘Oh shit.’

The last words sounded panicked and Hannah opened her eyes, blinking at the furious face of Mrs W.

‘What the hell is going on here?’

Bill’s eyes were wide. ‘She asked me if I wanted to see. I told her no, Mum.’

Mrs W whirled on Hannah. ‘Pull your knickers up now! Is this true?’

Hannah didn’t need to be asked twice, cheeks flaming as she yanked both her underwear and jeans up together.

‘No, no! It’s not true,’ she protested, finding her voice. Although she was scared, she was also angry. How dare Bill blame her. ‘He’s lying. He made me do it.’

‘You know I wouldn’t do that. Mum, you have to believe me. She’s always following me around the farm. She’s just a stupid little kid. I told her I wasn’t interested, but she won’t leave me alone.’

‘It’s not true. Stop lying!’

The smack when it came caught her around the head, knocking her off her feet. Hannah didn’t fall because Mrs W caught hold of her by a handful of her hair.

‘I think you and I need to have a talk, young lady.’

Hannah was still stunned as the woman dragged her out of the garage towards the farmhouse and she stumbled over her feet, before finding her voice.

‘Please, Mrs Wickham. I swear he’s lying. He made me do it because I saw him.’ She tried to free her hair from the woman’s grip, certain it was going to rip right out of her scalp.

It wasn’t until they were inside the farmhouse and Hannah had been pushed down into one of the kitchen chairs that Mrs W spoke again.

‘You saw what?’ she demanded.