Territory

"Get out my house." Bob glared at the taller man. Marek smirked. Bob seethed.

"You knew she was married."

"I admit I did. The day I met her I saw the wedding ring. I saw it and she said her name was Mrs Simms." Marek glared at the man. "Outside the public house. She had just left the church I believe when we met. She told me her name and I thought I hope Mr Simms, whoever he is realises he has a remarkable woman. I hope he knows just how lucky he is." Marek stepped closer. "Only now I see my hopes were miscounted and she had married you."

"Now you just wait here!"

"Wait!? You just told me to leave. Pat is too good for you and you k know this! It's why you do your best to drag her down to your level! If you had an ounce of decency you would walk out that door! Never to return!"

"So you could have her?" Bob scoffed. Marek narrowed his eyes.

"She is not a possession. She is a very interesting, intelligent and strong woman. She has a heart of gold and is beautiful. She is not a thing to be owned." Marek's eyes flashed in anger. "This is England. It is 1940! Not 1840! Women here have the vote, have power and dignity- us men we leave to fight Hitler or in your case to write about it and they hold together communities, families, businesses, farms. If they left us men would not survive the week!"

"What is this? You walk into my house? You."

Marek grabbed him by the shoulders, gripping tightly. The thinner man glared.

"Leave Patricia. I know you have a family in London. A daughter of ten and a boy of nineteen. Your boy is in the Navy? No?"

"What?"

"Joanna and Henry, daughter of Nancy and Bob Simms. Only they refer to you as Rob. Or Daddy. And I will tell Pat if you are here by the morning. Leave. Divorce her."

"On what grounds? Adultery? Make her the laughing stock she is!"

Marek clutched his hand into a fist.

"Your adultery. You can do this quietly or I can have Nancy's name all around town as the scarlet woman. You decide." He pushed him away, leaving the house before Bob could react.

Xxxxxxx

"Steph!" The farmer lifted the wheelbarrow as she ignored her husband. She loved him, still fancied the pants off him but right now Stan senior was annoying her. She didn't want to fight but she didn't want to listen to all the talk of German invasion. The War was affecting everyone and she'd got fed up with news reports telling of far off conflict when her battle - to keep head and home above water was ignored.

"Steph!"

"Oh what? Can't you see I'm busy? Oh for heavens sake!" She dropped the wheelbarrow as her husband ran to her. "Stan?"

"There's been an accident."

"What?" Steph felt her blood run cold. "What are you talking about?"

The former soldier caught his breath as he reached her. Steph rushed to him.

"What's happened?"

"Our boy. He's fallen."

"Is he ok?"

"It's his ankle." Stan winced. "The left one. Doesn't look ankle shaped to me. Poor kid is in agony."

Steph frowned. "Cmon then! We need to get him to the hospital. Although how much this is gonna cost! We've no money for doctors at the best of times." She marched away, feeling sick that her only child was injured. Stan caught with her.

"It might heal on its own. I've strapped it up."

"Don't be ridiculous- the money will be found. Somehow." She headed back in to the farmhouse.

"Oh love!"

"Sorry Mum." The teenager winced as he turned. "Worse than it looks."

"Is that so? You and your dad have medical degrees now? Trained surgeons are you? Thought not. Cmon." She manhandled the sixteen year old out to the car; praying for the engine to start.

Xxxx

Pat sat at the telephone exchange quietly as Jenny rattled on about something. She wasn't really listening to the catty girl. Jenny still had a lot of growing up to do as far as Pat could see. Her peace was broken as the door to the telephone exchange opened.

"Clare?"

"Mrs Simms. You need to get home. Now."

"Excuse me?"

"I just saw your husband leave with suitcases. He looked angry."

"Suitcases?" Jenny sensed gossip like the Luftwaffe sensed where to drop bombs. Pat frowned.

"You must be mistaken."

"I'm not. He's in a rotten mood too."

"When isn't he?" Pat mumbled before picking up her handbag. "Ok, ok. Show me." She left Jenny staring as she followed the postman's wife out of the exchange.

Xxxx