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Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Prologue
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Chapter Twenty-One
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Chapter Forty
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Chapter Forty-Five
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Chapter Forty-Seven
  52. Chapter Forty-Eight
  53. Chapter Forty-Nine
  54. Chapter Fifty
  55. Chapter Fifty-One
  56. Chapter Fifty-Two
  57. Chapter Fifty-Three
  58. Chapter Fifty-Four
  59. Chapter Fifty-Five
  60. Chapter Fifty-Six
  61. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  62. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  63. Acknowledgements
  64. Also by Rosie Goodwin
  65. About Rosie Goodwin
  66. Welcome to the world of Rosie Goodwin!
  67. A Letter from Rosie Goodwin
  68. Cissie’s Roast Chicken
  69. An extract from Rosie Goodwin’s next novel
  70. Prologue
  71. Chapter One
  72. Love Rosie Goodwin?
  73. The Days of the Week collection
  74. Mothering Sunday
  75. Tales from Memory Lane
  76. Memory Lane Advert

‘And so, what I have in mind for you is an even more import­ant job,’ the woman told her not unkindly. ‘If you feel you’re up to it, that is. It would of course involve a great deal more training but what we have in mind for you is a radio operator communicating with the pilots in the air.’

Livvy’s eyes almost popped out of her head and a little gasp escaped her. She knew what an important job that was. Men’s lives depended on the operators to guide them in and out of the airfields and also to keep track of them while they were airborne.

‘So, what do you think? Would you like to do it?’

A broad smile spread across Livvy’s face. ‘Yes … ma’am, definitely.’

‘Good, then go and pack your things. You’ll be transported to an airfield in Lincolnshire this afternoon where your training will commence. And, Branning, don’t let me down. It was me that put you forward for this. Good luck.’

‘Thank you, ma’am. I promise I’ll do my very best.’

Livvy was on such a high that she didn’t even notice the snow leaking over the top of her boots as she raced back to the hut. She felt sad that she wouldn’t get to say goodbye to her friends, though. She would probably be long gone by the time they came off duty. Still, she thought, I can leave them a note telling them what’s happened and asking them to keep in touch.

Hastily she grabbed a pad and pen and scribbled a note, which she propped on Nell’s bedside locker.

As soon as she was ready Livvy was transported to her new headquarters. She couldn’t help her heart beating a little faster with excitement. She knew how highly the operators were regarded, and now she had the chance to become one of them, she intended to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Chapter Thirty

May 1940

Ben sat shoulder to shoulder in the bowels of the ship with men and boys almost all of whom were many years younger than him. As the large craft ploughed through the icy seas towards their destination, Ben found, to his surprise, that he was looking forward to working with horses again; he had missed them. He knew, though, that what lay ahead wasn’t going to be anything like being back in the stables at Treetops – in fact it wasn’t going to be pleasant at all.

The day before he had visited a solicitor and left a letter for Sunday with strict instructions that it should be forwarded to her immediately should anything happen to him. It would be ironic, he thought, if the money he had taken so much trouble stealing from her should end up being returned.