The Mansion - January 1st, 1944
Em headed over to the farm on New Year's Day morning to deal with the chickens and rabbits, leaving Amber to handle the boys. Actor had knocked his recovery back a little by his excursion the previous night and spent most of the morning sleeping. Goniff was recovering well however, and even managed to make it to the kitchen for some breakfast. Will was back at work in the Lieutenant's office, catching up on some of the paperwork that had built up over the last day or so and Molly would be doing both lunches and dinners, so the workload was almost back to normal.
"I'll keep an eye on Actor if you want to pop over and see Safi," the Sergeant-Major offered. It was only fair to give Amber a break. She'd born the brunt of the nursing, and it wasn't even as though it was her job.
Amber appreciated the change of scenery and a chance to stretch her legs and get some fresh air. She found Safi rummaging in one of the old sheds that doubled as storerooms, muttering obscenities to herself as she tried to disentangle the detritus that had been thrown there over the years.
Amber stopped in the doorway, and propped herself against the jamb with arms folded in front of her. "Are you looking for something specific or just taking your anger out on poor, defenceless rubbish?"
Sapphire straightened up and flipped her hair back out of her eyes. "Hiya Amb. How's things? Have you murdered either of your patients yet?"
"Not yet, but it's been a close call a couple of times." Amber smiled. It was hard to get really upset with Goniff, he always made you feel guilty for telling him off. "Should you be doing that, in your condition?"
"Amber, I'm 6 weeks pregnant and fit as a flea. I don't need wrapping in cotton wool, but I don't want the flu - so just stay outside the shed unless you're sure you're not infectious anymore, OK?"
"OK, point taken. So what are you looking for?"
"Pony harness. Mr McDonald says it's in here somewhere." Safi resumed her search. Moments later, a few bits of sacking and an old tin bath went flying to reveal a heap of tangled leather, wood and a couple of chains. "Bingo!"
"Sis, what do you want a pony harness for?"
"You don't think we're going to clear the walled garden by hand, do you when there's a perfectly healthy little cob eating its head off in the orchard."
"But Safi, you've never had anything to do with horses."
"True, but Millie has. Her dad was a costermonger in London and she said they always had a pony in the shed at the bottom of the garden until he died... her father that is, not the pony... she's sent a message to her mum asking her to send the collar since they don't need it anymore, thinks it'll fit the cob. Mr McDonald said they used to use a pony on the grounds at the Mansion - we've found a lawn mower, a plough and a little cart. We just need to get the rest of the tack cleaned and we're good to go."
A whinny just outside made Amber jump. She hadn't heard the approach of either Millie, one of the other Land Girls, or her charge - a rather woolly chestnut gelding with a white blaze. "Girls, meet Charlie our new one horse-power tractor."
"Charlie! You can't call him Charlie! Just think how confusing it'll be for Casino." Em had finished her morning chores and wandered over to inspect the new acquisition. "Where did he come from?"
"He's a rescue," replied Millie. "Belonged to a girl about five miles away who got tired of horses when she discovered RAF flyers and joined the WAAF. Her mother said the people they got him from said he'd been driven before they got him, so he should only need a refresher. Do you want to give me a hand, Em? No time like the present to learn what to do with him." The two girls wandered off towards the yard pump to start cleaning the mud off the animal.
Em gave a big sigh, pretending to be put upon, but actually quite looking forward to learning about the new 'tractor'. It would certainly beat milking cows.
Safi had put all the tack into the tin bath and was carrying it towards the yard pump. "Millie says to wash everything off, rub it with saddle soap then oil it with this stuff." She held up a can of Neatsfoot oil. "Want to give me a hand Amber?"
By the time for afternoon milking, Charlie's tack was ready to go and Charlie himself was installed into a newly cleaned stable and tucking into a small net of hay. The three land girls had gone to deal with the cows and Amber had made her way back to the Mansion. Work on the garden would start the next day, providing the collar arrived.
GG GG GG GG
Sunday dawned cold and sunny, perfect to start work on the garden. Everyone from the farm had turned up, including Mr and Mrs McDonald, their two male farm hands (both conscientious objectors) and the remaining two land girls. With ten pairs of hands and four hooves, work progressed quickly. Brambles, saplings and anything burnable was piled on the bonfire. Everything else was piled into the little cart and hauled away by the willing chestnut tractor.
"What do we do with him whilst we have lunch?" asked Em, feeling sorry for Charlie.
"Tether him on the lawn," suggested Millie. "He'll enjoy a bit of grass and a chance to relax."
Back in the house, Goniff and Actor were both up and about and taking their ease in the Common Room waiting for the Sergeant Major to deliver their lunch. Goniff drifted to the window. Now he was feeling better he wanted the other guys back. It was just too boring here with only a still-fragile Actor for company. Even the girls had deserted him. He suddenly realised that the lawn wasn't the same as the lawn normally was. "Hey, Actor, what's this?"
Actor put his book down and pulled himself to his feet, to join Goniff at the window. "It's a horse Goniff, haven't you seen one before?"
"I know what a horse is, but what's a horse doing there?"
"Eating grass, from what I can see." The conman was curious too, but not about to show it to the irritating little Cockney.
"Ugh, it's left us a present too." Charlie had lifted his tail and deposited a pile of dung that was steaming gently in the cold air. "Good thing Chiefy's not here. What if he stood in that when 'e went out for his run?"
Two girls were heading towards the horse. "Hey Actor, who's that?"
Actor had turned away from the window and was about to return to his chair by the fire, but turned back out of curiosity. "Emerald."
"No, not 'er, the other one, the redhead."
"One of the other land girls I assume. Actor really wasn't interested, although he had to admit she was quite pretty, just not his type. "Why don't you go down and say hello." And give me some peace and quiet, he thought.
"Well I just might at that," muttered Goniff to himself, heading down the stairs. He grabbed his coat from the hall and ran down the outside steps. The two girls were well on their way, walking one either side of the docile pony. He rushed across the grass. "Hey, Em, wanna introduce me to your friend?"
Emerald turned her head and stopped, forcing Charlie and Millie to stop too. "Hi Goniff. You're looking better, nice to see you up and about. "Goniff this is Charlie, Charlie this is Goniff although his mum calls him Rodney."
"Not the 'orse, Em. Your other friend."
"Oh her, that's Millie. Comes from your part of the world, I believe."
"Aya Goniff, nice to meet ya."
Millie wiped her hand on her jodphurs in a vain attempt to clean it then reached under Charlie's nose to shake the proffered hand. "Wanna give us a hand?"
Any thought the little thief might have had of accepting had to be put on hold though, as a bellow from the sergeant-major 'requesting his presence at the dining table', couldn't be ignored. Goniff gave a wry smile, making Millie giggle.
"E's cute. 'E one of the Leftenant's con's?" asked Mille, looking back over her shoulder at the slim man now racing back to the house. He tripped on the first step, but recovered his balance miraculously. On the top step he turned back, gave an ornate bow then disappeared inside.
"'E do that on purpose?" asked Millie, curiously. She'd gasped at the near fall, before she realised it had been a trick.
"Best second-story man around, they say," confirmed Em. The immediate interest between the two had been obvious. What would come of it she didn't know, but she wouldn't be surprised if the little pickpocket showed a new interest in gardening over the next day or so.
She wasn't wrong. Amber had gone back to the hospital the next day, having been pronounced non-contagious by the doctors. Actor's breathing had improved sufficiently that he was able to take short excursions outside, although he didn't stay long - the cold air irritated his lungs, but he knew he needed to push himself if he was to be ready for the next mission by the time Garrison returned.
Having dealt with their morning chores, the girls were back in the garden at about eleven, intent on trying the plough for the first time. Mr McDonald had come too to give the demonstration. He wasn't sure how it would go - he'd been a lad last time he'd used a horse plough, and this was new to the pony too. Millie would lead the animal whilst he got the hang of things. They wouldn't try for too much on the first attempt - he didn't want to scare Charlie, nor did he want him to overheat in his thick winter coat.
Hearing the voices from the garden, Goniff had donned his coat and made his way over the wet grass to see what was happening. He arrived just in time, and sidled up to Emerald and Sapphire who were standing close together, watching. "Cross your fingers, Goniff, the experiment could end here," advised Safi, showing the Cockney that she had hers crossed on both hands. He did the same, but it was Millie he was looking at, seeing the concentration on her face and the way she was biting her bottom lip.
The farmer clicked his tongue, encouraging the pony to walk forward. The plough started to bite and Charlie stopped, confused by the unexpected drag, but leaned his shoulder willingly into the collar when encouraged by Millie.
A few minutes later they had their first (not very straight) furrow, a pony that was breathing quite hard and a very happy set of humans.
"Your turn, Millie. Em, you can lead the pony, then we'll stop for the day."
It took Millie a few goes to get the angle of the blade right, but eventually the second furrow was complete. "I'll rub Charlie down and put him away Millie, why don't you take our guest for a nice cup of Rosie Lea."
"Well if you insist..." Goniff was only too happy to walk back to the farm with the girls. It certainly beat watching Actor read.