'Steve!' yelled Slugger. Steve put Jeff in his cot and rushed outside.
'What happened?'
'Dora pushed Milly and it looks like she's busted her arm!'
'It was an accident, she didn't mean me to fall!' said Milly
'Let's get you indoors and get a sling on that arm then Slugger had better take you to casualty.'
As gently as he could Steve dealt with Milly's arm using a bandage from the first aid box.
'Steve- please, don't shout at Dora when she gets back. I don't want to cause no trouble'
They put Milly into Steve's estate car as it was a smoother ride than the landrover and Slugger drove carefully away with instructions to ring when he had any news. Unusually for him Jeff was yelling loudly when Steve went back inside and he took the unhappy baby onto his lap and spoke to him gently. 'Oh Jeff, what am I going to say to your mum eh?'
Dora meanwhile had ridden Copper hard for an hour then stopped to give them both a rest.
She had come away without anything to eat or drink. Copper was okay, he was grazing happily near a stream. It was the sort of place Dora and Steve would stop at in the days before they married but there always had some refreshments in their saddlebags. She felt really fed up and knew she'd behaved badly towards Milly. Steve would probably be really angry. When Copper was rested she re-mounted and turned towards home. As she neared Tockwith she saw Ron riding towards her. He cut the engine and she reined Copper in, Ron was looking serious. 'What's wrong?' she asked. When he'd finished telling her what had happened she burst into tears. 'Oh Ron, what am I going to do? I didn't mean to hurt Milly.
I'm just in such a muddle. I don't want Slugger to change, I want him to be the same as he's always been- always there for me. ' The usually jovial Ron took her by the shoulders.'You got to snap out of this girl. You've got Steve, he should be the one you turn to.'
'I do, of course I do, but I want Slugger too!'
'I'm sorry girl, but unless you stop this you'll lose Slugger's friendship. '
'I've probably done that already, and Milly's. I can't face Steve- I can't face any of them.'
'You can and you will- now let's go get a cup of tea then I'll phone Steve and see if Milly's back from the hospital.'
Dora felt slightly better after a drink and a sandwich, luckily Ron had some money for a change. 'Milly's a bit shook up, she's got to have her arm in plaster and they're keeping her in over night. Steve says you'd better get home and look after Jeff so he can go and visit.'
Dora didn't go straight home. She found herself outside the village church and tying Copper up went inside. She sat down in a pew and once more the tears came. Rev. Alan Banks who had baptised Jeff just before Christmas came out of the vestry and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. 'Mrs Ross- Dora, I don't want to pry but you're obviously upset- can I help?' Dora poured out her heart to him and he listened without comment. When she'd finished he said 'Earlier today I had the pleasure of talking to Mr. Jones and Miss Robinson about their wedding plans. They are so happy together and I believe they will be a perfect couple. They both talked about you and Steve and Jeff and how close they both feel to you. I don't think you need have any worries about your relationship with Mr. Jones but now you'll have another confidante too.'
'Milly's Steve's aunt!'
' That doesn't mean she can't be your friend too.Are you and Steve happy?'
'Yes'
'And would you really want to deny Slugger and Milly the kind of happiness you have?'
'No but- it's too soon. They shouldn't be rushing into marriage they should just-'
'Live together?'
'Well, no!'
'Dora- didn't you tell me how sorry you were that you and Steve wasted a lot of time before you finally got together?'
'Well that was different?'
'Yes- you were young.'
'Everyone keeps coming back to their ages. They're not that old, they should have many years left.'
'Indeed we hope so, but nothing is ever certain my dear.'
'Milly has to have her arm in plaster, how can they get married on Valentine's day now?'
'I'm sure they'll find a way, Steve will help them' he paused 'will you?'
'Oh my goodness, Steve, he wants to go to the hospital. I should have been home ages ago.'
'Take care my dear. Your husband and son need you.' Dora mounted Copper and rode away.
Alan walked across to the vicarage, looked in the directory and picked up the telephone.