"I've been thinking" Dempsey announced as the car sped round the twists and turns of the Welsh roads.

"Oh yes" Makepeace couldn't help but wonder what was to follow. Dempsey was slow to continue and Harry was forced to prompt him "About what?"

"Well I know you like to sleep on the right hand side of the bed..." he paused and threw Makepeace a glance to see how the topic of conversation was going down - her gaze was fixed firmly on the road ahead; she changed gear

"Either carry on Dempsey or keep quiet because I'm not sucking information out of you"

Dempsey kept his gaze on her and he knew Harry could feel it; she shifted down into second too late for the corner and swore. He grinned at her discomfort and continued "Even though I like the right side also I'm gonna let you have that side Makepeace"

"Why thank you!" Harry conceded sardonically

"I thought you'd like that"

"Very thoughtful of you Dempsey"

Dempsey grinned and leaned towards her "If I move across in the night you'll know it's just habit, I can't help what I do when I'm asleep"

"I understand Dempsey" Harry concentrated as the road followed a steep incline and Dempsey waited for more. As the road levelled out she turned to him full of self assurance "What you do in your sleep Dempsey doesn't concern me"

Dempsey felt slightly wrong footed, his smug grin faded "Are we nearly there" he grouched

"Makepeace and Dempsey" Harry notified the reception of the small hotel, the manageress welcomed them warmly and placed two keys on the desk front "Now both rooms are very nice but this one looks out over the river and this one towards the mountains – I'll leave you to decide who has which room"

"Thank you" Harry replied, taking charge whilst Dempsey stood dumbstruck as he now understood why his earlier provocations slipped by so easily.

Harry's progress towards the stairs jolted Dempsey into following "two rooms?" he questioned "I thought the deal was for a double room in a country mansion"

"I rang and changed it for something more suitable" Makepeace told him matter of factly as she opened the first door and looked around the room "I was under the impression it was the extreme sports you were wanting to try out Dempsey" she challenged whilst taking in the room and deciding she didn't want the road traffic running below. "Anyway you can have this room, I'll take the river view" she announced.

"You don't know what you're missing Sergeant" Dempsey challenged as he threw his bag onto the bed and slipped his jacket off.

"And I'm not likely to find out" Harry almost flounced out and across the corridor but before she closed the door behind her she said she had booked dinner for 8.00.

****

Harry greeted Dempsey with a cheerful 'good morning' and sat opposite him at a breakfast table. Dempsey made no reply but sipped his coffee. Makepeace looked at him trying to understand the underwhelming response

"I said 'good morning' Dempsey" she tried again

"I heard you" was the brusque retort

"It's usual to say something back" Makepeace prompted

Dempsey sipped his coffee again "Mornin'" he grouched

Harry stood and went and helped herself to coffee and breakfast. She returned to the table and as she sat she spoke "Ok so what's the problem?"

"Nothin'"

"Well that's blatantly not true"

"Nothin' that you'd want to know"

Harry decided to take him at his word; she started to eat. Dempsey watched her until she objected "If you're going to be sulking all weekend we're not going to have much fun"

"Ok, I'm sorry" he conceded "It's just that I didn't get much sleep last night"

"Don't mind me" Harry looked around the dining room, she couldn't see any likely candidates; now it was her turn to feel miffed. She considered it somewhat rude to come away together and take up with someone else; she had gone up to bed before Dempsey last night but she'd left him drinking with a couple of guys.

"I didn't pick anyone up" Dempsey enlightened her sarcastically as he read her wandering gaze. Harry looked back with open eyes and raised brows. James leaned forward "I think there's something going on here" he whispered

"Don't be silly Dempsey – this is the middle of nowhere"

"I'm telling you Makepeace I watched these two guys out the front"

"Don't you ever go to sleep?"

"It was too quiet to sleep! And then there was this humping and bumping and voices, so I watched out of my window. I'm telling you no innocent people have clandestine meetings in the middle of nowhere at 3.00am in the morning"

"It's Wales – the Welsh are different!" Makepeace dismissed Dempsey's theory slapping his hand as he took more of her toast.

Snapped out of his sulk Dempsey helped himself to breakfast and studied the day's itinerary.

A short Welshman put his head around the door and announced the minibus for Tryweryn River was here. Harry stood and moved forward; noticing Dempsey still tucking into the last of his sausage she coughed. Dempsey looked blank, then followed Makepeace's eyes to the driver "What did he say?" he asked (too loudly Makepeace thought)

"That the transport to the river is here" she enlightened

"I don't speak Welsh" Dempsey protested

"It was English" Harry hissed and then she noticed the lack of any bag or holdall belonging to Dempsey "You haven't packed!" she surmised

"Packed! I've not even finished unpacking" Dempsey protested

"But you need to bring spare clothes with you…" Harry picked up the itinerary Dempsey had supposedly read and pointed to the appropriate paragraph.

"I'll be two minutes – stall them" Dempsey kissed Harry's cheek causing a blush to rise. Harry carried her bag out to the driver and explained that Mr Dempsey was just bringing his bag down. She chose a seat in the half empty minibus and sat down acutely aware of the disapproval of two occupants to the right of her.

True to his word Dempsey was only two minutes; he perfected the art of tossing gear into a holdall over many years of running late. He threw his bag into the luggage rack and swung himself into the seat next to Harry "now the fun begins!" He spoke into her ear as he slung his left arm behind her "Are you ready to ride Sergeant?"