Chapter seventeen

Sherwood house

Thump, I punched John's punching bag hard with my right fist. That felt good, it really was the perfect way to vent my anger. I just had to picture George Baxter's face on the punch bag and I couldn't control myself, this defiantly helped.

"Whoa Robin, steady on love, you'll brake it." Said Jhon unable to keep an impressed tone from his voice at how I was laying into his punch bag.

"Sorry Jhon." I said. And went back to venting.

The best thing though about venting my feelings this way, was that I wasn't crying. I'd tried that already today and I had been extremely embarrassed by the whole thing. I never cry, so I was disappointed by myself especially since I'd let a Baxter do that to me. It was stupid to have let him upset me like that; he was after all nothing to me, just a lying, deceitful, pig headed, insensitive, unthinking son of my enemy. Absolutely nothing to me.

I thumped the punch bag as Pinks 'so what' came to a close on the radio. I banged my head against the punch bag as I thought of earlier, I cant believe I did that.

Earlier that day

Hudson Farm house

I didn't barricade myself in my room for long, just for five minuets to try and compose myself. Warily I let myself out of my room, the house was silent it always was at this time, mum was picking Alice up from school, grandma and granddad were at the market in town and Dad and Joey were on the farm. As I headed to the landing a heard a knock at the door, wiping a tear from my eye I ran down the stairs. I grabbed the door handle and looked in the mirror, it would have to do, I opened the door and found Jhon there a big pile of timber behind him.

"Hi Robin shall I just take it on to the farm…..Robin what's wrong?" he asked half way through his sentence I began to brake down.

Suddenly, taking Jhon completely by surprise, I buried myself in John's arms and cried into his chest. Reacting well my poor friend hugged me back and told me everything was going to be ok, even though he didn't know what was wrong, bless him for trying though.

Im not sure how long I stood there crying in the arms of my dear friend, but when I finally managed to switch off the leaky tap behind my eyes I apologised and told him everything.

Now

I swung my foot round and booted the punch bag and it rocketed sideways, I looked around at the others: Mark was scribbling on a scrap piece of paper and pacing the room, Will was aiming balls of paper into the recycling bin, Jhon was eating his dinner it being about six o'clock in the afternoon, and Jack was flicking through a medical text.

I lent back against the punch bag and tilted my head back, I closed my eyes and let my mind roam, calmness spread through me and I began to relax this was a good sign. Filling slowly with peace and tranquillity I smiled, George Baxter who? Suddenly the bubble burst and reality returned, The Sugar Babes 'Denial' played from the radio and I immediately felt like crying again.

"Will someone turn that off?!" I snapped, but it didn't matter anyway the phone rang and Mark switched off the radio as Will pressed the speaker button.

"Hello is this Sherwood Designers?" asked a familiar voice, we froze in horror.

"Conner?" we all said in unison.

"Who?" asked Jack who was fortunate enough not to have met him.

"Not someone we want ringing us." I murmured to her and she nodded.

"Hello? Is someone there?" asked Conner unable to hear us speak.

Will pushed the button and said.

"Hello how can I help you?"

"What do you think I want? You are a decorating business after all! Not a good start to the job really." The insufferably rude man said, we all breathed a sigh of relief, he didn't know.

"Of course sir I apologise." Said Will putting on his posh voice "would you like to give me the details?"

"That's better" sniffed Conner " My name is Michel Conner, as im sure you already know, the right hand man to Robert Baxter and so I expect the job to be done properly, not some half an hours rip off. I live at number 13 Nottingham Road and I expect you present at that address at half past six sharp" We knew better than to say that was too short notice "no excuses."

"Yes sir." Said Will rolling his eyes.

"I hope your writing this down." Snapped Conner.

"I am sir." Said Will making eye contact with Mark who scribbling down the details on his bit of paper.

"Like I said I expect you present and punctual at half past six, however late you are after that time I will deduct the number from your pay check is that clear." Said Conner.

"Yes." Said Will mimicking Conner's talking with his hand.

"Achem." Said Conner.

"Yes sir." Said Will grudgingly.

"Better, that is all." He said and hung up.

"He's hung up on me!" Said Will putting down phone "Who taught him manners?"

"Robert Baxter." Said Mark.

"Well." Said Will nodding in agreement.

"This should be fun." I said getting back to punching, the sudden mention of the Baxter name wound me up again.

"I know" said Will "I fell sorry for you guys."

"Us guys?" asked Jack "you not going?"

"Nope" said Will "Babysitting."

I envied him Wendy Spencer was an absolute angel, and as Will's younger sister she adored him, I wonder if I could teach our Alice to be like that.

"Oh well you'll miss out on all the action then." Said Jhon standing up, springing out his staff and waving it about, he smashed a vase and put it away.

"What action? Your painting Conner's house, not robbing the Bank of England." He said with a smile, he was clearly going to have the better night.

"He's right" said Jack "it's hardly the most exciting thing we've done."

"Maybe" I said turning back to face them " But that doesn't mean we cant spice it up a bit."

"Oh I know that face" said Mark "that's your scheming face, what you thinking Robin?"

"Well you'd say Conner's wealthy wouldn't you?" I asked.

"He's gotta be, I can't think of any other reason he's working for those Baxter morons." Said Will, he hadn't been best pleased with what I'd said about George.

"Well when we decorate his house, what if some of that vast wealth happens to go missing and oh I don't know, end up in the pockets of Locksdale's poor?" I asked grinning, the perfect distraction, in more than one way.

"Im sure Conner will sleep better at night knowing his charitable donation is benefiting the town." Said Will.

"Exactly." I said.

"Wont he notice this extremely generous contribution?" asked Jack " and trace it back to us since we were in his house?"

"Not if we play our cards right." I said "so what do ya say?"

"Were in." Mark said "we've got abit of work to do if were gunna get their for half six."

"I'll go get the van." Jhon said heading out the door.

"I'll find out the paint and stuff." Said Jack.

Mark started talking to his self and scribbling on his paper again.

"I best be off" said Will "I'll tell our Wendy you said hi."

Wendy and Alice were best friends and I'd gotten to know her well.

"Ok, see you later Will." I said gathering my stuff.

"See you." He said and walked out of the door.

As excited as I was I couldn't shake this strange feeling, dread, fear, exhaustion its like I knew already that tonight was going to be a long night. But I was being stupid, it was just a standard job, what was the worst that could happen?

Author Note: sorry I haven't been updating very often, im just swamped with work at the moment, I will try to update as often as I can. Please keep reviewing and telling me what you think, I value everyone's opinion.