Nodding, Felix half turned in the direction of the station, before turning back and dropping his kitbag to the ground. Sensing what he was about to do, Roz placed the reins on the driver’s seat and jumped down into Felix’s arms. Holding her tight, he kissed her with a passion that she had never experienced before. Feeling lost in his embrace, she didn’t hear the train whistle and was confused as to why he suddenly broke off, picked up his bag and began running towards the train. He just managed to jump into the only carriage with its door open before the guard shut it behind him. Felix leaned out through the window, waving enthusiastically at Roz. As the train began to pull out of the station, he called out to her.

‘I love you, Rozalin Sachs!’

With a beaming smile she called back. ‘I love you too, Felix Ackerman.’

Waving until he was out of sight, Roz returned to Zeus, tears of happiness flowing freely. She kissed the horse’s soft muzzle. ‘He really does love me, Zeus, and that’s why he came back to me,’ she said quietly, a contented smile lingering on her lips as she mounted the sledge and clicked her tongue for Zeus to move on. She thought back to the conversation she’d had with Mabel when they’d last stood on the platform waving Gethin off. At the time she had worried that her feelings for Felix were only strong when she thought him in danger. Well, she knew he wasn’t in danger any more, yet there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that she loved him with all her heart, and what’s more he loved her too!

March 1941

Felix had been posted to Lincoln to serve on an anti-aircraft gun, and from his letters it appeared he was very happy with his new role. Mabel’s first instinct had been to ask if Felix had seen Gethin, seeing as her beau was also serving on an airfield in Lincoln, but Howell had explained that Lincoln was huge, with airfields dotted all over the place.

Spring was in the air, and the girls were getting to see Glasfryn at its best. The daffodils were in full bloom and they were well into the lambing season.

Mabel was in the kitchen helping Heulwyn bake bread whilst Roz helped Howell check the sheep to see if any of them were close to giving birth. Hearing a brief knock on the kitchen door, Heulwyn called for the unknown visitor to enter.

It was Dewi the postman. ‘Bore da!’

‘Bore da, Dewi.’ She took the envelopes from him and handed him a biscuit.

Grinning, he thanked her for the sweet treat before bidding her goodbye.

Heulwyn looked through the envelopes, most of which were bills, and handed three of them to Mabel.