‘Teddy’s spirits are rather depressed. He’s lost the sight in one eye and the doctors say his legs will be permanently paralysed. He feels responsible for the crash as well, and the deaths of his comrades.’ She sighed. ‘I wish there was something more I could do to help him.’
‘The crash wasn’t his fault. All training flights should have been grounded until the fog lifted.’
‘I know, but he feels that way, all the same.’ She scowled. ‘And somewhere the squadron leader who was really responsible probably never loses a wink of sleep over it.’
Charlie smiled. ‘Oh, I’ve missed that scowl. Being angry suits you, Bob.’
‘No flirting please. Not allowed.’ But she couldn’t help a half-smile. The shepherd’s hut was in the distance, reminding her of the day they’d sheltered there from the storm and fallen asleep in one another’s arms.
‘I’ve got some news to tell you,’ Charlie said. ‘News that even Reggie and Mary don’t know.’
‘About Ruth?’
‘No, not about Ruth.’ He sounded impatient. ‘Not everything is about Ruth. This is about me.’
‘What is it?’
‘I’ve requested to be transferred. To finish my training as bomber aircrew rather than flying fighters. It’s bomber crews that are going to be needed now the blitzes are less frequent and the Soviets are holding the Luftwaffe at bay.’ He glanced at her. ‘It means I can come home to complete my training, Bobby. I’ve asked to transfer to the training school ten miles away, and I’ve been given every reason to believe that request will be granted.’
‘That ought to be nice for your family,’ she said vaguely. ‘Will Ruth mind a long-distance engagement, or is she able to request a transfer too? I suppose if you marry soon, that will make it easier for her to join you here.’
‘I wish you’d put Ruth out of your head for a moment. It really isn’t important where she goes.’
‘I imagine it’s rather important to her.’
There was silence for a while as they navigated the steepest part of the climb. As the ascent became easier and they neared the summit, Charlie slipped his arm around her waist. Bobby knew she ought to push him away, but she didn’t.
‘I remember you that night, Bobby,’ he said softly. ‘Striding ahead of me like a woman possessed, determined to save those men’s lives.’
‘There’s some of the wreckage.’ Bobby pointed out part of the plane’s fuselage where it had slammed into the rocks. ‘It’s funny, but it almost seems like a dream now.’
‘You told me that was the night you finally decided what answer you were going to give me.’ They were at the summit now and he turned her around to face him. ‘I never told you that I decided something that night too.’
He drew her into his arms. That wasn’t allowed either, was it? But Bobby found she had little power to resist. She felt light-headed, as if she was floating – perhaps it was the altitude. Everything felt like a strange dream. Was she really on top of a mountain with Charlie Atherton, wrapped tight in his arms, watching the sun go down?
‘What did you decide?’ she whispered.
‘I decided that there’d never be any other woman in my life but the one I was with that night. A woman who was kind, and as courageous as a lioness. One who never backed down when she knew she had the power to make a difference. One who showed me what bravery really meant and inspired me to be a better man just so I might be worthy of her.’
Bobby looked up at him. ‘Do you mean me?’
He laughed. ‘Well I’m not talking about Gil Capstick. I decided that night I wasn’t going to give up on you, no matter how long I had to wait. That was the decision I made.’
‘But… Ruth. What about Ruth?’
‘Ah, yes. Ruth.’ He flicked a strand of hair that had come loose from her headscarf out of her eyes. ‘I may have a small confession to make.’
‘What is it?’
He grimaced. ‘There never was any Ruth, Bobby. I mean there is, and she’s a nice, jolly sort of girl who appreciates the great outdoors and I really did invite her to come and visit us here if she wanted to. But she isn’t my fiancée – just a good friend. I’ve been twice to the pictures with her and some others only because she’s a pal of Smithy’s girl. She actually has her eye on a young flight lieutenant, if you must know.’
‘But Topsy told me you were engaged.’
‘I might have asked her to tell you that, yes.’
She shook her head. ‘Charlie, I don’t understand.’
‘Don’t you? It was simply that I wanted to drive you mad with jealousy so you’d realise just how in love with me you really were. Since the tales of all my dates hadn’t achieved the desired effect, I decided to take things a step further.’
