That evening, the whole crowd, the OTC Cadets, the regular soldiers, the 2 Officers and Molly were on a coach heading into Salisbury. Normally on these weekends, there would be a formal dinner but, Captain James and Major Hopkins had agreed that this would be a better option, less formal and a better way for Molly to feel at ease at being in a position of responsibility. They both knew how she hated the formal dinners.
On the coach, Cadets were sat in amongst the section. Molly was sat with Mansfield and Lewis and Taylor from the Cadets were sat behind them. The two Officers were sat at the front of the coach arranging with the driver where to set them down and a pick up point for the end of the evening.
Captain James's phone started to ring and he answered it. "Hang on, I'll pass you over. Dawesy, Phone." and walked down the coach to hand over his phone.
"Who is it?"
"Qaseem, and don't call him back. The last call was over £70.00. Use email."
Molly took the phone trying not to laugh. Greeting the person on the other end of the phone in Pashto, she carried in the same language for a short space of time before reverting back to English. Mansfield mouthed to say hello and she passed the message on. The two Cadets, who were sat behind her, already slightly in awe leaned back to tell two others what had just happened. Molly was laughing at something the caller had said and told him to give Bashira a hug, and she'd pass on the message to her old man before ending the call and going to the front of the coach to return the phone. "Thanks Boss." Molly then returned to her seat.
Salisbury is a pretty city and a regular haunt for members of the army. With the number of them that evening, J D Wetherspoons seemed to be the best option as it is quite a big pub. Food had been arranged to be served buffet style and as they walked in the pub Captain James along with Major Hopkins made their way to the bar to order the drinks, the Major wanting to get the first round in for all the work that everyone had put in to making this a successful weekend.
Molly was talking to Dangles when a shout went up across from the other side of the pub. "Trouble's in town."
Molly turned and saw Jackie, her fellow medic from Bastion. They'd not seen each other since Molly's wedding and chatted for about 10 minutes, catching up on each others news. Molly introduced a few of the Cadets who were stood around her and Jackie said she come back over later, before going to rejoin her friends.
The evening was going great, drinks flowing and food continually appearing from the kitchen to replenish the buffet.
The Cadets were also joining in with some of 2 sections pranks on each other, being slowly welcomed into the family of Molly Dawes.
Cadet Peters was after a shaky start, the previous evening also being included. He'd tried to buy a round of drinks to say thanks, only to be told that 2 section were picking up the bar tab for that night. Standing off to the side to have a moment, Kinders saw him and wandered over. "You did well on the assault course." He told him.
"Thanks a lot, it's been an eye opener of a weekend, in more ways than one" Peters said. "Didn't expect all this though. Tonight and everything. Why is the section picking up the bar bill?" This trip into town was unreal, the camaraderie of the group, their Officer included.
"Molly and her husband, more Molly though, she just has this habit of bringing us all together. If you do sign up full time proper, then it's what you make it. Some sections don't get this close, but if you do, then your family. And families stick together."
"Has she been married long then?"
"Only since she got back from her second tour, the end of September, about a month before she started university." Kinders told the Cadet, still not saying who her husband was.
The fun had descended into drinking games and now it was shots. Molly was holding her own but every so often missing out on a round. She didn't want to get trollied in front of the Cadets.
Making her way back from the toilets a couple of local lads had managed to corner her and were trying to chat her up. One lad kept on stoking her arm until you heard her say in a very loud cockney voice that carried across the pub. "Touch me again wanker and I'll break ya fucking arm!"
Heads turned in the bar to see what was happening.
Brains had seen the guys corner her but had not managed to get to her in time before she started shouting at the bloke. "Boss!" he shouted at Captain James to get his attention and then tried to get to Molly.
The Captain had just managed to get to Molly, as she drew back her hand in a fist to throw a punch, grabbing her to get her away. Brains, Mansfield and a Cadet managed to get in front of her, in between her and the local lads, like a protective wall.
The bar staff had also seen it and had called the Police. As Salisbury has a large military contingent nearby Military Police (aka red caps) were also called. Unlucky for them, the Military Police had only been down the street and were there before the phone had been put down and managed to see the tail end of the altercation where the local lads were pushing and shoving the 3 men in the protective wall, who never once retaliated. Local Police walked in and were informed by the red caps that the locals had been taunting the soldiers to try to get them to throw a punch. The local lads did not know that Molly was military though and kept saying that a 'slapper ' had been a bit of a cock tease and had decided the soldiers were a better option, trying to deflect the blame.
By this point, Captain James had managed to speak to a red cap, showing his and Molly's ID and told them that technically they had assaulted his wife, who didn't take kindly to being pawed and though she had told them she wasn't interested, maybe not in eloquent words, had not encouraged them. The red cap informed the local coppers and the local boys were escorted out of the pub.
Molly was beside herself. She thought she'd let the Captain down by her behaviour, but after that guy had been stroking her arm, she'd flipped. Totally mortified and had a few tears threatening to fall. A few did start at the corner of her eyes and she looked so vulnerable. Captain James walked to where she was stood, took his face between his hands and wiped the tears away with his thumbs. A few Cadets were looking over, not knowing whether to go and see if she was okay. Molly lifted her hands and placed them over the Captain's, it was then, that they saw her rings on her left hand. She'd been wearing them the entire weekend apart from when she'd been on the assault course, but, none of the Cadets had noticed. Speaking quietly to her, he lifted her face, a finger under her chin. "Time to let the cat out of the bag, eh Dawesy?" and leaned down to give her a kiss, tender and comforting.
2 section had been watching, and started to cheer. As Molly and Captain James broke apart Molly started to laugh. Captain James put his left arm around Molly and she moved her hand up to hold his. It was now obvious who her husband was. The matching wedding bands catching the light.
Peters was stood watching all this next to the Major, "How's that possible Sir. I didn't think you could marry and serve in the same chain of command."
"Did you not see the section's tactical badges?" the Major said, "Lance Corporal Dawes is Med Regiment, not the under 5's. And away from here the Lance Corporal is Molly James at university or Mrs James if she's with the Captain until she tells you otherwise."
"Yes Sir, Do you think I should go and speak to them?"
"Leave them be, the Captain and section will have her right in no time. And Peters, a word of warning, not only has she a husband, but a group of men that would walk over water for her. She already told us last night that you apologised, see that you don't misplace her trust."
"Yes Sir."
Peters walked to the bar, watching as the members of 2,3 and 4 section along with the Captain managed to cajole a few smiles from Molly and after a few minutes joined the rest of the party, trying to regain the atmosphere from before. Peters asked the barman if he knew the preferred drink of the lady with the section. As this was one of their regular hangouts when Molly was in the area, the barman came back with a large glass of vodka and bitter lemon. The barman wouldn't accept payment and also said it wasn't going on the bill.
Peters approached Molly who was starting to get back to her normal self.
"Excuse me, er, thought you might like this." And passed the drink over.
Molly looked at it, taking a sip she smiled, and said "Peters, ya a gent," standing on tip toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Peters was dumbstruck, The Captain smiled and Kinders slapped him on the back muttering under his breath "family." Peters got it.
The time was drawing near to return back to the camp, Molly went to the bar, asking for the bill, only to be told it had been settled. When she asked who by the barman pointed to the Cadets. Molly in full Molly Dawes mode stormed over to the Cadets and said "right you fuck muppets, hand over the bill, this was our night and ya not paying for it."
Captain James was stood talking to the Major. Hearing Molly he said "here we go again, excuse me Major."
He walked over to Molly throwing her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift and carrying her away saying, "say goodnight Dawesy" to open mouths in astonishment, cheers from the section and applause and laughter from the Major, out of the pub.
As the group returned to the coach they found the Captain and Molly already sat there waiting to return to camp.
Once everyone was on and they were on their way back the Captain stood at the front taking the microphone from the driver. "Fellas!" the coach fell silent "thanks for tonight, not how we wanted it to go but….. To the Cadets, the bills not yours, so do me the favour of one of you handing it over. And 2 section." Now he had an evil grin on his face "lovely..., Monday..., full kit inspection."
Laughter and groans were heard around the coach.
Molly waited a full 10 seconds before shouting "He's kiddin' you Cockwombles!"