BooksBarbecue
Back The Village Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. START READING
  6. PROLOGUE
  7. CHAPTER ONE
  8. CHAPTER TWO
  9. CHAPTER THREE
  10. CHAPTER FOUR
  11. CHAPTER FIVE
  12. CHAPTER SIX
  13. CHAPTER SEVEN
  14. CHAPTER EIGHT
  15. CHAPTER NINE
  16. CHAPTER TEN
  17. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  18. CHAPTER TWELVE
  19. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  20. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  21. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  22. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  23. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  24. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  25. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  53. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  54. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  55. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  56. CHAPTER FIFTY
  57. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
  58. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
  59. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
  60. CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lloyd felt a pang of sympathy for his former schoolfriend. He rested a hand on her bony shoulder and gave it a squeeze. ‘How long has it been since Martin left?’

‘He goes for up to a week at a time.’ A flush of blood pinkened her cheeks. ‘I know we’re safe here, but still . . . I’d rather people didn’t know.’

‘Sounds like a dog is a good idea.’ Lloyd dropped his hand. ‘And you’re sure it won’t do any harm? What if it licks her skin?’

‘I’ll make sure she keeps her gloves on. I won’t let it get too near.’

Judging by the excitement in Susan’s voice, the dog was more for her than her daughter. As an animal-lover himself, Lloyd understood. ‘Want me to keep an eye out for you?’

‘That would be lovely, thanks.’ Susan’s eyes brightened. ‘A retriever, or a Labrador maybe. I’ve always wanted a dog, but up until now, we’ve moved around so much, we’ve not been able to commit.’

‘But you’re settling here?’ As he glanced at the little girl, Lloyd hoped she was.

Susan nodded. ‘Martin’s trying for another job, one that doesn’t involve travelling so much . . . I’m so rude,’ she said, as Lloyd paused to check his watch. ‘I didn’t offer you a drink. Can I make you a cup of tea? Coffee? I’ve got powdered milk.’

‘Sorry,’ Lloyd replied. ‘Work calls.’

‘Of course,’ Susan said, taking a step back. ‘Thanks again for popping in.’

Lloyd made a mental note to drop off a pint of milk. ‘Bye bye, Grace, it was nice to meet you.’ He gave one last glance towards the little girl before he left the way he came in. She responded with a shy smile. She was the sweetest thing he’d seen in years. ‘Take care of yourself, Susan,’ he said, as he turned to her mother. ‘I hope to see you again very soon.’

A screech of bolts slid across the door as he stepped out into the cold.

It would take a few more visits before Susan would trust him enough to spend time with her little girl. Ambling down the path, his thoughts were filled with Grace, her eyes wide and curious. He slid his hand down to his hip flask. The time would come soon enough.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Ten Years Previously