In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (097) – The Open Day Picnic

July

 

Ex RAF man Henry Nixon was 29 years old, tall, lean, and olive skinned with thick black curly hair, and was living and working in Abbottsford when his father died.

So, he decided to give up his life in town and move home.

It was by no means ideal for him to move back to village life, because since he had been away he had become a bit of a townie, but it was the right thing for him to do, even though his mother Sally tried to discourage him.

That had been more than a year earlier, and he was very settled and happy, within a few weeks he got a job as a Chauffeur with James Percival, and now he’d given up any thoughts of returning to Abbottsford.

 

The weekend after the official opening of the St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat there was an open day for the staff and people from the village, including a Picnic in the extensive grounds.

Th open day was well attended by the villagers, who were all eager to see within the walls of the convent, and it was a real family affair with all the generations represented.

Young boys with dirty knees and footballs at their feet, giggling girls with pigtails and plaits, teenage boys awkwardly trying to interact with teenage girls, who were in turn learning to be women, old men trying to remember how to be young, old women like mutton dressed as lamb.

In fact, every age group was represented and the different social groups mixed effortlessly.

 

As it was the first such event, which Toddy Phelps hoped would be repeated annually, it was very well attended, and everyone was determined to enjoy it.

As they lived on that side of the village, Henry walked to the Retreat with his mother, Sally, and his two young nieces, Donna and Elsie, their parents would be joining them a little later.

They were not the only villagers taking Shanks’s pony on the day and as they walked towards the retreat he was admiring some of the attractive girls along the way.

A girl in a figure-hugging blue dress, and he admired it as the fabric hugged her young curves, and he marveled at its apparent seamlessness, and the straight honey coloured hair caressing her neck as she walked ahead of him, until she stopped to talk with a friend.

His attention was then drawn to the friend who had a curious hair style with her brown hair worn short on one side and long on the other, and she had a silk scarf around her throat which he assumed was probable covering a love bite or a zit, as it was a warm day, certainly too warm for a scarf.

His eyes then settled on an absolute stunner in a floral dress and flat shoes who was peering at him from beneath her straw covered fringe.

They were then overtaken by two middle aged women who clearly didn’t understand the picnic dress code, one was wearing a smart jacket and a pleated skirt and the other had on a silver sparkling dress with long lace sleeves.

However as attractive as the assembled ladies were they didn’t hold his attention long, because none of them “rang his bell” and he doubted he would see anyone at the open day that would.

However, that all changed when he and his family settled on a picnic blanket on the grassy meadow.

As soon as the Nixon’s sat down, Henry was struck by the look of a girl with no bra who walked up and sat down on the neighbouring picnic blanket.

However, it wasn’t just the fact that she was braless beneath her blue vest top, nor was it just that she was beautiful, and she was very definitely that, with a seductive smile, and fine soft brown hair with flyaway strands which were turned gold by the summer sun.

It wasn’t even her short floral skirt and the remarkable legs that descended from it.

The combination of all of those attributes certainly blew him away, but it was the way in which she looked at him and then averted her gaze with a coy smile and a blush, when he caught her, that was what made her so incredibly alluring.

 

Henry found out from his mother, Sally, who was now on the staff at the Retreat in an admin role, that the girl was called Holly Mayston, and she lived and worked at St Adelaide’s as a yoga teacher and that she was 27 years old, and most importantly of all that she was unattached.

 

After the food was consumed, Donna and Elsie went off to play with the other children, Sally cleared everything away and small groups formed among the adults to chat, then Henry noticed Holly, the braless beauty had wandered off but hadn’t noticed where.

 

In fact, she had gone off alone towards the woods, because it was the hottest part of the afternoon and apart from anything else Holly was hoping to find a little cool respite beneath the dense canopy, and she was not disappointed.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (096) – Opening their Doors

July

 

July 1^st marked the official reincarnation of the former St Adelaide’s Convent with the opening of the St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat.

As a former Anglican Convent there was still going to be a strong spiritual element to the retreat, but it was not going to be exclusively Christian, despite the fact that there was an Anglican chapel on site, as all faiths and no faiths will be welcomed with open arms.

On top of the strong faith aspect, there was a variety of therapeutic support,

including individual therapy, group therapy, equine therapy, gardening therapy and holistic practices like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, in addition there are workshops on personal development, stress and anxiety management, and emotional healing, for the bereaved, burnt-out carers, and a place of peace for retired clergy.

The founders of the retreat Charlie and Toddy Phelps thought it fitting that the first guests should be Toddy’s former religious Sisters, Sister Margaret and Sister Lucy, as they had served their whole lives at the former Convent and would be living out the rest of their days in tranquility.

 

The spiritual head of the Retreat was to be forty-year-old Justyna Krajewska, who officially took up the role on July 1^st, wasn’t even on the mainland when she was supposed to be in post.

That was because she had spent the previous six months as locum at St Clara’s Church in Spaniards Creek on Beaumont Island in Pepperstock Bay.

It wasn’t too critical because although they were opening the doors to guests on the first, the retreat wouldn’t be fully up and running until the beginning of August.

But she wasn’t late starting her new job due to tardiness, it was at the behest of her new employer Toddy Phelps.

Toddy had requested that she delayed her arrival in order that she could escort Sister Margaret and Sister Lucy on the ferry.

The elderly Nuns had been staying on the neighbouring Island since the Convent closed the previous year at the St Giles retreat.

So, on the morning of July 1^st, after saying her goodbyes, Justyna boarded a Water Taxi, the Ocean Breeze, from the quayside in Spaniards Creek.

Proceeding along the river to the open sea then crossed the channel from Spaniards Point to Cabot Town on St Giles island.

 

When she disembarked in Cabot Town she was met by Reverend Henry Noble, who worked at the retreat and the Sister’s as the ferry was already approaching the dock.

Fifteen minutes later they said goodbye to the Reverend and boarded the Empress Victoria, skippered by Olivia Shaw and soon after they set sail, metaphorically, for Pipershaven.

 

When they disembarked at the ferry port they were met by two drivers from Percival’s Luxury Cars, the first was the younger of the two, Henry Nixon, whose job it was to collect the luggage.

The second was the owner of the business, James Percival, who was there to collect the ladies.

He wouldn’t normally make himself available for a simple taxi job, but he had a soft spot for Charlie and Toddy Phelps.

It was James who drove Toddy from the Vicarage to the church in a Vintage 1936 Bentley on their wedding day, and as the starting point and the destination were so close together, he took a turn around the Village so she would get the maximum from the experience.

After the ceremony they he drove the happy couple to the reception, Toddy confided in him that he made her feel like a princess.

After helping Sister Margaret and Sister Lucy into the car and getting them settled his attention was drawn to their companion, a tall willowy woman, with shoulder length brunette hair, intelligent green laughing eyes, a broad toothy smile and a warm open manner.

He was overwhelmingly and instantly captivated by her remarkably pleasant demeanour and took to her immediately.

 

Justyna had already noticed the tall sandy-haired Chauffeur and his kind nature, while he settled the Sisters, and though she had never been one for instant attraction, she was smitten.

 

Justyna sat in the front passenger seat for the journey to St. Adelaide’s and she and James chatted amiably all the way and by the time they pulled in through the gates and along the drive the luxury car chauffeur and the spiritual head of the Retreat had a dinner date for Saturday night.

Nobody was more pleased than Toddy, who always knew they’d make a perfect couple, she just needed to make sure they could be encouraged into each other’s orbits, which was why she asked Justyna to travel over with the Sisters and she ensured James would meet them off the ferry.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (095) – Independence Day

July

 

Stephen Lucking and Jeri Robertson were American’s and newly arrived in Downshire and were part of the therapeutic team at the St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat.

After being there for a month, they were invited to an Independence Day party at the home of an American Businessman who had a grand house that backed onto the dunes at the Northern end of Sharpington in the shadow of Whitecliffe Hill.  

Stephen and Jeri travelled together in his car, which suited Jeri because she wanted him all to herself. 

 

It had been a frustrating time for her, she had tried everything to get him to react to her, and she knew he fancied her because she had caught him looking at her more than once when he thought she hadn’t noticed, but he did nothing more than look, and she didn’t understand why, he was single, she was single, he fancied her, she fancied him, so what was holding him back?

 

That wasn’t the only thing that was frustrating her as they got on the Expressway, the weather was also conspiring to upset her plans.

Ever since she got the invitation to the party and heard about its location, she had been fantasying about getting Stephen alone in the sand dunes.

However, it was turning into a very frustrating day, as they drove beneath ink black skies and the rain beat down on the car roof, as thunder boomed overhead, and lightning flashed in the gloom, and she audibly sighed.

“The rain should let up by the time we get to Sharpington” he said brightly, and she smiled

“If the weather does clear” she thought to herself “I might still get him in the dunes”

 

The rain continued to hammer down all the way to the coast and Jeri thought he was being extremely optimistic about the weather clearing.

They parked on the promenade facing the sea and sat in the car waiting for a glimmer of brightness and she sighed again.

“Don’t worry” he said “it will brighten up”

But Jeri was still unconvinced and sighed again so he gave her hand a squeeze, and she thought things were brightening up already, but then he became self-conscious and took his hand away again.

 

Twenty minutes later the rain stopped, and he said

“Come on then Jeri, let’s go and find the party”

“Ok” she agreed and got out of the car

“I don’t know where it is from here” he admitted

“The email said to walk past those beach huts” she said pointing “and then follow the path through the dunes”

“Ok then” he said enthusiastically “Let’s go”

Jeri’s frustration had turned to confusion after he held her hand, there had never been any physicality before, and he was embarrassed by it as if he had overstepped a mark that she was unaware of.

 

They walked to the end of the promenade and then followed the path that led past a row of brightly coloured beach huts, and halfway along, encouraged by the small, yet significant, moment in the car, Jeri took decisive and drastic action.

A few paces ahead of them was a garish Barbie Pink Beach Hut, which she gambled was empty, based on the fact that the door was swinging freely in the sea breeze so when they got level with it, she yelled

“Oh no it’s starting to rain again” and pushed him into the hut

“I think its only spit…” he began but was prevented from further comment as her mouth was over his, and she kept it there for a full five minutes.

“God Jeri I wasn’t expecting that” he said and then he pushed her again the wall and gave her a taste of her own medicine.

“Wow that was some kiss” he exclaimed afterwards

“If you like it so much, why has it taken so long for you to kiss me?”

She asked

“You’re my boss” he said

“Is that all?” she asked in amazement

“Yes”

“Well, that’s easily remedied because I don’t care about that”

She said and they kissed again

 

As they stepped out of the hut they heard someone shout

 “Oi! What do you think you’re doing?”

When they looked in the direction of the shouting, they saw a red-faced man in his thirties running up the beach towards them, who they took to be the owner of the Barbie Pink Beach Hut.

“Better make a run for the dunes” she said, “What do you think?”

“Oh yes” he agreed taking her hand and they ran off giggling like children.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (094) – Natural Hobbies

 July

 

Throughout Downshire and the Finchbottom Vale there is an abundance of quaint and picturesque villages and hamlets, but Pepperstock Green is particularly picturesque, with evidence of the thousand years since it was first settled everywhere.

Notably its 12th century Church, two Tudor Inn’s, a Victorian Schoolhouse and Cottages representing every era, spread almost haphazardly, amidst the craggy woodland, around the green that gives the village its name and at the center of the large rambling village, both geographically and spiritually, is St Agatha’s Church where Tara Eggleton, amongst other things published the Parish Magazine, but she was also a Chorister like her cousin Roger.

However all the time she spent working for the Church was unpaid, so she had to work as well.

She was fortunate enough to have found a job at Burbage Farm, or more precisely the Burbage Barns which were both large and numerous, too numerous for the needs of the farm, so many of them had been converted into storage spaces, popular with companies wishing to house their archives off site, theatrical and film companies storing sets and costumes, and St Agatha’s church who stored a variety of things there, Santa’s Grotto, all the stalls for Fete’s and Bazaars, processional items, the nativity scene and costumes of all shapes sizes and uses.

 

Had she not had her faith she would just have thought herself fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time, but as it was, she was sure that a divine hand had been at work.

She had travelled the four miles from the village with her cousin Roger, and Sandra Emmett in the latter’s car, in order to locate the St Agatha’s props and paraphernalia which were required in order to prepare for the Church’s Community Event over the following week.

It was not her first time there, but it was the first occasion on which she met Jed Burbage, and she was instantly smitten.

He was about five years older than her, tall, blond, and tanned, and Tara thought he was a six-foot-tall hunk of gorgeousness.  

 

Jed managed the storage side of the farms business, and he only had one full time employee to assist him, and he had just quit, he led them to the appropriate barn and unlocked the door.

“You’ll have to manage on your own today” he said

“Why? Are you short staffed?” Sandra asked

“No, I’m no staffed as on twenty minutes ago”

“I’m looking for a job” Tara blurted out

“Do you live in Pepperstock Green?” he asked

“Yes”

“So did the last person and he was always late” Jed stated

“Well, I can vouch for the fact that she’s annoyingly punctual”, Roger said “in fact she is punctual to the point of obsession”

“She will never ever be late” Sandra added “Because she is half an hour early for everything”

“I am still here you know” Tara said and blushed

“And what can you do when you get here?” he asked with a smile

“Whatever she’s asked to” Sandra answered

“Thanks mum” Tara said

“Ok come and see me before you leave and we can have a chat” Jed said and headed back to the office.

Sandra, who had another motive for being at the barns, namely ensnaring Roger, had just entered the barn when a thought occurred to her, which was that getting Roger alone in the barn might give her the chance she had been looking for, so she said

“Tara! Why don’t you go and talk to Jed now?”

She opened her mouth to protest but Sandra quickly continued

“Strike while the irons hot, I’m sure Roger and I can manage to locate the bits we need while you’re busy with Jed”

“Oh ok, if you’re sure” Tara said

“Absolutely” Sandra assured her

 

Tara was feeling apprehensive and excited in equal measure as she walked across the yard, she knew only too well why Sandra had urged her to go and find Jed and it wasn’t to help her get a job.

But then she wasn’t entirely sure if that was her primary reason for it either.

When she left Pepperstock Green that morning she had no expectations about the trip other than to assist with Church business.

But when she first laid eyes on Jed Burbage, who she thought was gorgeous, she quickly forgot the reason she was there, which was why she remarked impulsively that she was looking for a job.

Not that she thought that she had any chance with him, after all he was buff and she was just ordinary, and she was five years younger and less worldly wise.

She was in truth however looking for another job, as her part time position at Stephenson’s Supermarket wasn’t paying enough, but on the plus side the shop was only a five-minute walk from her home, whereas Burbage Farm would be a four-mile bike ride.

 

He asked her about her work experience, qualifications and other skills she might have, and he seemed happy with her replies and nodded as he took notes.

“So how are you going to get here every day?”

“By bike” she replied

“Oh that might be a problem, the job does involve some driving”

He said

“Oh I can drive” she said

“I just can’t afford to run a car”

“Good that’s another box ticked then”

“I can see straight away that you’re really fit” he said “I mean, in good shape”

He flushed and took a drink before continuing

“What I meant to say was that you are clearly physically capable of doing the manual work, but Paperwork and good record keeping are key to what we do here”

“I understand” she said and smiled, she thought it was cute when he got all flustered, and it made her like him even more.

“Right well I’ll explain to you the basics on the documentation and then you can do the transaction with St Agatha’s so I can see if you’ve grasped the essentials”

“Ok” she replied brightly

 

After checking and logging the reference numbers on the advice note, one for the box that Sandra had returned and one for the boxes they were taking with them, she handed it to Sandra for signature, and when she got it back, she tore off a copy for Sandra and handed the other one to Jed.

After perusing the paperwork he nodded and said

“When can you start?”

 

Sandra sat in the car while Roger loaded the boxes into the back and Tara was finalising the details with Jed.

When she emerged from the office, she said goodbye over her shoulder as she got back into the car, and she was feeling very pleased with herself on the drive back to the village.

 

Tara liked working at Burbage Barns and over the weeks that followed she enjoyed it more and more, but she also found herself falling deeper and deeper in love with Jed with each passing day.

But the one thing that didn’t alter with the passing of time was her belief that she had any kind of chance with him, after all what would a buff, intelligent and worldly older man, possibly see in a nerdy girl on the geeky side of ordinary who spent most of her spare time out in the wilds of Downshire photographing wildlife, as far as she could see they had absolutely nothing going for them and nothing in common.

 

In the middle of June as they neared the summer solstice the days were longer and the evenings brighter with twilight pushed back to 10 o’clock so when the weekend arrived she was up before first light on Saturday and set off on her bike, she already had her backpack ready, with everything in it she needed to last her the day, her camera, food and drink, while the wooded slopes of the Pepperstock Hills would provide the rest.

She cycled about two miles and secured her bike to tree and proceeded into the woods on foot.

The Pepperstock Hills National Park stretches from the bare, and often barren crags of Oxley Ridge in the North to the dense wooded southern slopes on the fringe of the Finchbottom Vale and from Quarry Hill, and the Pits in the West to Pepperstock Bay in the East.

It is an area of stark contrasts and attracts a variety of visitors who, thanks to its closeness to the Finchbottom Expressway and the park was open to everyone for a variety of recreational pursuits but there were certain designated areas did not permit vehicles of any kind and even horses were restricted and dog walkers had to keep their pets on a lead within the confines of those areas.

She really liked the fact that all but those interested in the flora and fauna of the woods were permitted free access to them, as her greatest passions were Wildlife and Photography.

Within the reserve there were a good number of hides which enabled, with a combination of time, patience and a good camera, those who possessed all three virtues to capture perfect images.

The hides were many and various, some were at ground level while others were high beneath the canopy and other that were somewhere in between.

The differences in locations were such because of the differences in the people who used them, if you were primarily interested in birds, then the high hides best suited your needs, while if you favoured large mammals then the low ones were for you, but for Tara she had no preference and she had used them all at some time or other, she was interested in all Wildlife, large or small, furry or feathered.

She switched from hide to hide, depending on the time of year, or the conditions or just a whim, it was the latter on that Saturday, and she chose the one sat on the top of a low hill and was a medium height location offering a view across a large meadow and the tops of the trees that surrounded it.

The hide was buried under a grassy bank, which always reminded her of the Teletubbies, which made her smile, but she knew even on a hot day it would be cool in there, she just hoped that she would have it to herself.

She didn’t want to have to engage in conversation with anyone, she was just there to indulge her passion for Wildlife and Photography.

She quietly opened the door and stepped inside and closed the door behind her and then she turned around and her heart sank, as someone had got there before her, but then her fortunes changed as her companion turned their eyes on her and she was surprised to see it was Jed Burbage, and when he recognised her, he smiled.

So, it seemed that they did have something in common after all and so

It appeared she would be enjoying all three of her passions on one glorious day.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (093) – The Community Event

July

 

Throughout Downshire and the Finchbottom Vale there is an abundance of quaint and picturesque villages and hamlets, but Pepperstock Green is particularly picturesque, with evidence of the thousand years since it was first settled everywhere.

Notably its 12th century Church, two Tudor Inn’s, a Victorian Schoolhouse and Cottages representing every era, spread almost haphazardly, amidst the craggy woodland, around the green that gives the village its name and at the center of the large rambling village, both geographically and spiritually, is St Agatha’s Church where Sandra Emmett worked in the office, and she had an admirer in the shape of Chorister Roger Eggleton.

Sandra was a bright bubbly girl with a delightful giggle, at least in Roger’s opinion, he however was neither bright nor bubbly, he was shy and withdrawn, apart from when he was with his closest friends, or when he was singing in the choir where he would come alive and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

If only he was able to come alive when he wasn’t singing just long enough to ask her out.

 

Sandra was a busy beaver around the church and was heavily involved in all aspects of Church life and was always the first to volunteer for everything.

So, it was not an exaggeration to say that the church was her life, and its people were her family.

There were of course some people she liked more than others and although she was on the face of it the bright bubbly girl, she was in reality a quivering jelly beneath her confident façade, and one of the things that made her quiver was Roger Eggleton.

So, when the time came to prepare for the St Agatha’s community event, she had no hesitation in co-opting Roger on board to help her with the task.

The first was to go to Burbage Farm, or more precisely the Burbage Barns which were both large and numerous, too numerous for the needs of the farm so many of them had been converted into storage spaces, popular with companies wishing to house their archives off site, theatrical and film companies storing sets and costumes, and St Agatha’s church who stored a variety of things there, Santa’s Grotto, all the stalls for Fete’s and Bazaars, processional items, the nativity scene and costumes of all shapes sizes and uses.

So, they travelled in her car, the four miles from the village, with Roger and his cousin Tara, in order to locate the St Agatha’s props and paraphernalia which was required in order to prepare for the Church’s community event over the following week.

 

Before they left Roger noticed Sandra was wearing heels and a skirt, which was unusual, he didn’t know the reason why, but he liked it.

He may not have cared why she wasn’t wearing her usual flats and trousers but Sandra’s reason for the change was to show off her legs, with the intention of getting Roger’s attention.

It was beginning to rain, so she walked fast, but in her heels, it made her lean forward from the waist and consequently it made her thrust her buttocks backwards as she moved.

But when she reached the car, she turned and saw the look on his face, and she knew she had him.

Sandra was two years old than he was and more experienced with the opposite sex, but that counted for nothing.

She found it infuriating that she could flirt with people she wasn’t attracted to, but not with him, so she would have to try a different tack

 

When they reached their destination they met Jed Burbage, who managed the storage side of the farms business and he only had one full-time employee to assist him and he had just quit, so he led them to the appropriate barn and unlocked the door.

“You’ll have to manage on your own today” he said

“Why? Are you short staffed?” Sandra asked

“No, I’m no staffed as of twenty minutes ago”

“I’m looking for a job” Tara blurted out

“Do you live in Pepperstock Green?” he asked

“Yes”

“So, did the last person and he was always late” Jed stated

“Well, I can vouch for the fact that she’s annoyingly punctual”, Roger said “in fact she is punctual to the point of obsession”

“She will never ever be late” Sandra added “Because she is half an hour early for everything”

“I am still here you know” Tara said and blushed

“And what can you do when you get here?” he asked with a smile

“Whatever she’s asked to” Sandra answered

“Thanks mum” Tara said

“Ok come and see me before you leave, and we can have a chat” Jed said and headed back to the office.

Sandra had just entered the barn when a thought occurred to her, which was that getting Roger alone in the barn might give her the chance she had been looking for, so she said

“Tara! Why don’t you go and talk to Jed now?”

She opened her mouth to protest but Sandra quickly continued

“Strike while the irons hot, I’m sure Roger and I can manage to locate the bits we need while you’re busy with Jed”

“Oh ok, if you’re sure” Tara said

“Absolutely” Sandra assured her

 

While Sandra was busily getting Tara out of the way Roger had located the mobile steps and was wheeling them down the appropriate aisle.

“Do you want to go up and hand the boxes down to me or vice versa?” he asked

“Well as I’m wearing a skirt and heels, I think in order to preserve my modesty and dignity I should stay down here” she said

“Yes, good point” Roger agreed and made his way up the steps and very quickly located the two dozen boxes they had come for, and began handing them down to her, none of them were particularly heavy, but some of them were awkward sizes.

They were making steady progress between the two of them, but Sandra knew that if she was going to do something it had to be soon, or Tara would be back, and the chance would be gone.

“The weight of this one is a bit lopsided” Roger said as he handed it to her

“Ok I’ve got it” she said and watched him as he turned to get the next box.

“Ahhhh!” she exclaimed and when Roger turned to look, he saw Sandra lying prone on the floor with the box on top of her.

“Sandra! Oh my God Sandra” he shouted and rushed down the steps

“Are you ok?”

He removed the box and cast it aside and knelt beside her and asked

“Are you hurt?”

There was no response to his question, she just lay there.

“Even unconscious you look gorgeous” he thought but then grave dark thoughts filled his mind about how he might lose her before he got the chance to tell her how he felt about her, so Roger took her hand in his hands and said

“Darling Sandra, please don’t leave me, I don’t….”

“Did you call me darling?” she asked, and he gasped

“Yes, I did”

“I like the sound of that” she said

“Are you ok?” Roger asked with concern still holding her hand

“I like this too” she said and squeezed his hand.

“Are you hurt?” he asked

“I’m fine, but why are you holding my hand and calling me darling?” Sandra asked

Roger was really concerned that she was delirious and might lose consciousness again at any moment and he didn’t want to lose her without telling her what was in his heart

“Because I love you, Sandra Emmett” he said “I have loved you since the first moment I saw you, and I always will”

“Good” she said “Now help me up”

“No, you might collapse again” he said

“I didn’t fall to the floor” she confessed and giggled “I arranged myself seductively, so help me up off this cold floor, and then you can kiss me”

“There’s no need for you to get up for that” he said and kissed her where she lay.

 

So, the trip from the village to Burbage Farm was a very fruitful one, St Agatha got the Community Event decorations, Tara Eggleton got a job and Sandra and Roger got each other. 

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (092) – The Summer Solstice

June

 

Throughout Downshire and the Finchbottom Vale there is an abundance of quaint and picturesque villages and hamlets, but Pepperstock Green is particularly picturesque, with evidence of the thousand years since it was first settled everywhere.

Notably its 12th century Church, two Tudor Inn’s, a Victorian Schoolhouse and Cottages representing every era, spread almost haphazardly, amidst the craggy woodland, around the green that gives the village its name and running through the center of the large rambling village was the River Oxley.

The river, like so many in Downshire, was the life blood of the Vale and as such it had particular significance to the spiritual well-being of the land and its people.

Because of that, for generations the Wiccan community had held a secret ceremony at the time of the Summer Solstice, where they would make offerings to the river goddess, chant incantations and then bathe naked in the waters.

By the 21st century however they were no longer having to perform the ceremonies in secret, as a result the St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat played host to a small group of visiting Wiccans, even though they weren’t officially open until July 1st, and they were joined by some locals.

Afterwards when the sun had set on the longest day, 28-year-old Gillian Lawrence had to rush home and change as she was expected to attend her Cousin Sara’s 21st Birthday Party at the Village Hall.

She didn’t particularly want to go, it wasn’t her kind of thing, and as she was unattached, and content to be so, she didn’t really think there was much point, but her mother wouldn’t have let her hear the end of it if she’d stayed away.

When she finally arrived at the party she was instantly urged to get up on the dance floor, which was where her life changed forever.

Gillian had never been the most coordinated girl, in fact she was inclined to be clumsy, so it was no surprise to anyone that after a matter of minutes she had tripped over her own two feet.

As a result, she fell headlong into the arms of Scott Newman, at which point her flailing arms instantly went round the neck of her saviour like a sprung trap and then she kissed him wetly on the mouth, which he reciprocated, and that was a surprise to all assembled including the couple themselves.

From that moment on they were inseparable, and they danced the night away and when the night was over he walked her home, and they shared a passionate good night kiss on the doorstep.

 

The following year Gillian didn’t participate in the Wiccan ceremony in the River Oxley as they had a different kind of ceremony to attend when they were married at St Agatha’s Church.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (091) – Good Intentions

June

 

Diminutive blonde, Taryn Milner was a makeup artist, primarily at the Heartstone Theatre in Pipershaven, but she also did private clients for special occasions, like weddings.

 

As a former pupil of Barnabus school she also made herself available, when possible, to help with the make up for school productions. 

Which was what she had been doing one summer evening at the end of June when she had been helping out at the dress rehearsals.

She left before the end and began walking home a little after 8.30pm, and she was apprehensive about walking along the quiet lanes at dusk, but she was late for another appointment, so she didn’t feel she really had a choice.

Her brisk pace was as a result, in equal measure, of her tardiness and her growing unease.

The appointment she was rushing to the village for was a book club with friends.

 

Claudio Cappelletti was heading in the opposite direction to Taryn on his way to the school to pick up his niece and couldn’t help but notice the girl in the pink shorts, he always noticed pretty girls, especially blondes. 

As he passed her in the lane she reached into her bag for her mobile phone and as she pulled it out, she also pulled out a small manila envelope with it, which fell silently to the floor.

As Taryn strolled purposely on, totally oblivious of her loss, Claudio hurried to the point where he had seen the envelope fall.

He picked it up and saw it was addressed to Miss Taryn Milner, 15 Church Lane, Pepperstock Green.

“That’s interesting”, he thought, as she only lived one street away from him.

He didn’t look at the contents of the envelope but thought quite understandingly that if she was carrying it in her handbag, it must be of some importance, so he set off to close the distance that had opened up between them.

 

She was a small young woman, but she covered the ground quite quickly regardless, Claudio was a foot taller with longer legs and yet he was still struggling to catch her.

Taryn had noticed the man as they passed by, and she thought him quite handsome, and was at the time disappointed they weren’t going the same way, but as soon as she noticed that he was following her she didn’t think him so handsome anymore. 

As pretty as she was from the front, Claudio had to say she had a very nice rear aspect and those busy little legs of hers were really very attractive.

As she walked faster so did he, but she was walking as fast as her little legs could carry her and she thought she would easily reach the end of the lane before he caught up with her, but then her legs began to tire and it was like she was walking through treacle, and he was gaining on her with every stride.

Claudio called after her as he got closer but she had earpieces in so she couldn’t hear him and when she glanced over her shoulder she was alarmed to see he was muttering to himself as he got closer.

Taryn was in sight of the lane, just as Claudio got close enough to put a hand on her shoulder and she turned around and maced him.

“Get away you pervert” she screamed.

“What the fuck did you do that for?” he shouted as the spray began to burn his eyes. 

“Because you’re a pervert” she said.

Claudio was rubbing his eyes while still clasping the envelope.

“I was trying to give you this” he said waiving it in her direction “It fell out of your bag.”

“What?” she exclaimed and snatched the envelope from his hand; she quickly read the address and then the full realization dawned on her.

“Oh God” she said “I’m so sorry I thought you were…”

“A pervert?” he said, “yes you did mention it.”

“Don’t rub them you’ll just make them worse” she advised and then produced a small bottle of water from her bag.

“This will help” she said and splashed water in his enflamed eyes “It also helps if you blink a lot.”

“What helps most of all is not getting sprayed in the first place” he corrected her.

“Yes, sorry again” she said, “but I was scared, it looked like you were chasing me, and I’m a defenseless female.”

“I had to chase you; you were like a whippet” he said, “And defenseless you most certainly are not.”

Taryn pulled a face and then said defensively.

“And you were muttering to yourself.”

“I wasn’t muttering to myself” Claudio said “I was trying to speak to you, but you had earphones in.”

“Oh dear” she said, “I really did get it wrong, didn’t I?”

“That will teach me to mind my own business in future” he said.

“Oh, don’t say that” she implored “It was really sweet of you to try.”

And then she gave him the most dazzling smile which made up to him in part for the discomfiture.

“Let me make it up to you” she said, “let me buy you a drink.”

“I can’t go to the pub” he said, “Not looking like this.”

“Well, that’s true” she said with a giggle.

“And I’ve got to pick up my niece from the school.”

“We’d better make it tomorrow instead then” she suggested.

“Ok I’ll meet you outside the Squirrel tomorrow at 8” he said, “I’ll be the one with the pink eyes.”