Wendy Bendiger had just rounded the sharp bend on the A61 in her yellow Triumph, and she slowed for the 30mph signs on the approach to Harewood Village. She was in a foul mood. She'd just split up with her latest boyfriend - a chinless wonder called Francis - after seeing him snogging another girl at the Young Farmers' disco in Harrogate.
As she passed the Harewood Arms she became aware, too late, of a dark figure stepping out in front of the car. She swerved, trying to avoid the pedestrian, and slammed on the brakes. This was simply the worst possible ending to an awful day.
Getting out, she recognised the figure lying in the road.
"Steve! Are you alright?"
"Er - I think so!"
"No! You mustn't get up. You might have broken something. I ought to call an ambulance! What do you think you're doing, stepping out into the road like that?"
"I thought you were a taxi!"
"Well, I'm not. Now will you let me call an ambulance?"
Steve stretched his limbs and then raised himself painfully from the road. He'd probably got a few minor bruises, but nothing worse than when he'd fallen from a horse.
"Look - you're bleeding!" said Wendy.
Steve put his finger to his forehead and felt the blood. "It's only a small cut. I'll be OK! Now, you really ought to be off. I've got a taxi ordered for Leeds."
"Why don't you let me give you a lift, at least as far as Tockwith? I can't see any sign of your taxi coming - you could be waiting for ages! And you could do with a clean-up."
"I suppose so" said Steve, climbing into the passenger side of Wendy's little yellow car.
"Now, you've been quite a stranger lately!" said Wendy. "Funnily enough, I was thinking of you earlier today. My Dad said that he'd had a call from the Colonel."
"Oh?" asked Steve, mildly interested. He really wanted to get to the Queens Hotel and have a luxurious soak in the bath. "Do you know what they were talking about?"
"No, but Dad seemed to think it was something quite serious. He kept shaking his head and saying 'Poor Geoffrey', and he was fuming about a bloke called Douglas Bent. I'm not sure what it was all about, but I've never seen Dad so worked up!"
Steve smiled to himself. It sounded as if Minnie Foley must be making progress with her attempt to purchase the farm. He didn't want to tell Wendy what he knew, but he could probably get some useful information from her if he played his cards right.
"You're being very quiet" said Wendy. "Look, we're nearly in Tockwith. Why don't you come in for a clean-up and a drink, and then I'll call you another taxi."
Wendy parked the car and went around to open the door for Steve. He was still in pain and he flinched as he stepped out of the car. He put his arm around her shoulders and she supported him as they walked to the front door. "Well", thought Wendy, "this is a turn-up for the books. Perhaps the day hasn't been such a wash-out after all!"