CHAPTER 2
Natalie set out into the snow. She did not know what direction to head in or how far she might have to go to find civilisation but if she died trying so be it. Thinking about Blaketon spurred her on. With trembling hands she lit a cigarette and took a long drag. Her breath came out as a steamy cloud in the chill twilight air. She had not eaten for several hours and this made the going harder. She prayed to find a cottage, anywhere where she may be able to prevail on the kindness of strangers at least for a hot meal or even, if she was lucky, a bed for the night. A bed in which Blaketon was lying beside her would be even better and her cheeks flushed at the thought.
She struggled on for ten minutes until she found herself in a village. At last there was a sign that she was not to die in this god forsaken winter night. Just a few feet from the door of the Aidensfield Arms hunger finally overcame her and she fainted.
"Well, I think we'll call it a night Oscar!" Bernie Scripps placed his empty glass on the bar and turned to David Stockwell. "You ready David?"
"Yes Mr Scripps." They set out for the door and Blaketon turned his attention to Alf Ventress.
"Mr Blaketon!"" David called, rushing back into the bar. "There's a lady out there. She must have fallen."
"I'm coming!" Blaketon said. "Get a couple of blankets Gina. It's freezing out there."
In her semi-conscious state Natalie felt her heart pounding. She had heard Blaketon's name called. In moments he was crouching beside her in the snow, the tremor she felt as he brushed snow away from her face and hair went through her like a jolt.
"Natalie" He whispered, choked.
As he & David picked her up and carried her inside she fainted again.
When Natalie came to she found herself lying on a sofa, wrapped in a blanket. Gina sat beside her on a chair. For a moment Natalie hated her for not being Blaketon, the hatred quickly passing into worry that this young woman was Blaketon's wife.
"Here. Drink this!" Gina held a glass of dark golden liquid to Natalie's lips. She swallowed some and gasped as it burnt her throat.
"What is it?" She asked weakly.
"It's brandy." Gina said. "It will make you feel better."
There was a brief silence while she finished the brandy and as she handed the glass back to Gina she whispered.
"Mr Blaketon?"
"He's outside." Gina said. "I'll get him for you."
She left the room.
Blaketon came into the room and placed a tray on the table before occupying the chair recently vacated by Gina.
"Natalie." He said, his voice strained. Natalie sensed it was an effort for him to contain himself. She was confused. Why wasn't he in uniform? Why was he in the pub's living quarters? Was he angry with her for leaving without saying goodbye?
"Sergeant." She said. He had always been Sergeant Blaketon to her. She had never been invited to be less formal.
"It's just plain Mr Blaketon these days." He smiled.. "But you can call me Oscar."
"But you loved that job. It was a vocation. How come you gave it up?" She bit her lip suddenly feeling she had no right to ask him any questions.
"I had a heart attack." He said simply.
Fear clutched at Natalie's gut like an iron vice. He could have died and she would never have known. All because she had run away like a silly little girl instead of confronting her feelings like an adult. For years she had used Jack's death as an excuse but ten years on she knew that that would no longer hold
"I'm sorry." She said.
"What for?" He asked but she had fallen into an exhausted sleep.
Blaketon sat beside her long into the night. With no one else present he had no need to conceal his feelings. Her departure had devastated him but he had never spoken to anyone of his feelings for her. Why had she come back? He ached to hold her but did not. Instead he watched her chest rise and fall and in that instant he knew he would have to lay his heart on the line. He could not let her leave again. He decided to talk to Gina as she was a woman and may be able to give him some advice. Not normally a man to be ruled by his heart, Blaketon was experiencing a new state of mind. He was as confused as hell and the reason for his confusion took the form of the beautiful auburn haired girl sleeping on the couch beside him. Finally, at around 2 am he fell asleep on the chair.
"Oscar!" Gina had crept into the room to see if Natalie needed anything and was surprised to find Blaketon asleep on the chair.
"Sssh Gina!" He got up and stretched his aching muscles. Natalie was still sleeping when they left the room.
