Chapter 1

She entered the lively public house with an air of caution, and as she made her way to the bar she was aware of attracting more than one curious – or interested glance.

She climbed onto one of the tall stools, and leaned on the counter for some much needed additional support.

"Hey there ... what can I get for you?" the big man asked in a friendly voice.

She licked her dry lips. "Are you still serving food?" she asked as she suddenly realised that she was absolutely starving.

"Aye ... I'm sure that we can fix something for you ... as long as you're not too fussy." He turned around and mumbled something through the hole in the wall, which obviously led to the kitchen area.

"Cook says she's got some casserole left and a nice bit of apple pie?"

She smiled gratefully. "That sounds just heavenly," she sighed.

"Food won't be but a minute ... what can I get you to drink?"

She paused for a moment. "Can I have a glass of white wine please?"

"Sure thing ... if you want to go and find a table, I'll bring it over to you."

She scrambled down off the stool, and walked over to a small table just under one of the large windows.

The darkness outside meant she couldn't see anything, but it kept her a little apart from the rest of the – curious clientele.

She looked out into the darkness, not yet recognising the reflection of the lovely young woman with the beautiful blue eyes.

"Ere you go love!" the glass was placed carefully in front of her and she smiled up at the bar man.

"Thank you."

"Food will be right with you."

The girl had been very shy and awkward looking, and unable to meet his gaze, when she'd first entered his establishment; but as she looked up suddenly, her eyes met and locked with his.

He felt like a thunderclap had roared inside him, like the world suddenly sucked in a breath, and then waited ... like someone had just clipped him round the back of the head.

He forced himself to swallow, and his shoulders relaxed.

"I'm George ... the owner of this 'ere place ... you look new to these parts?"

Her smile wavered ever so slightly. "Yes I am," she whispered softly.

"Got a name? A place to stay? Do you know anyone from around here?" he prompted lightly.

"My name is ... Lucy, and no I don't know anyone ... and no I've not had a chance to find a place yet..."

He opened his mouth to speak but someone shouted from behind the bar, and he walked back the way he'd come with a resigned shrug, but without speaking to her again.

Sitting there with a glass in front of her, and a meal on its way ... and a need for a roof and a bed; it suddenly occurred to her to worry about how she was going to pay for any of it.

'Everything you'll need for a new life is in this bag... '

The voice of the witch echoed back to her, and Lucy slipped the little backpack off her shoulder and dumped it down next to her on the curved, padded seat.

She opened it up slowly, and the first thing she saw was a black wallet like purse – long and fat looking, almost like it was bulging.

Lucy took it out and keeping it under the table so that anyone who might be watching could not see, she opened it up.

Inside was a serious looking wad of cash, all in a variety of larger and smaller notes. There were also two credit cards, and a bank debit card.

As Lucy looked at each card, a series of numbers flashed behind her eyes, and she realised with a little gasp that those numbers were the security 'PIN' numbers for each card.

Lucy clipped the purse too and put it down next to her, so that she could take another look inside the bag.

An envelope caught her attention, and again she cautiously took it out, making sure that it was kept out of sight under the table.

She flipped the envelope open and just contented herself with peeking inside.

Some folded papers; a little red book which she realised was a passport, and a couple of bank books.

Lucy pressed the lip of the envelope together again and shoved it back into the bag.

She picked up the purse and pulled out a couple of the smaller notes, and then shoved that inside her little backpack as well.

"Ere's your food luv!" George placed a plate in front of her and Lucy took an appreciative sniff.

"Oh that does smell good!" she exclaimed with a smile.

She picked up the knife and fork and conscious of George standing over her, she took a cautious bite of the food.

As the casserole melted in her mouth, Lucy closed her eyes for a moment simply to savour the taste of it.

She chewed for a second and then swallowed.

"Delicious!" she sighed opening her eyes again.

George beamed at her. "I'll be sure and tell the cook ... it'll make her day, and keep her temper sweet for when we get home."

"She's your wife?" Lucy guessed with a little chuckle.

George laughed with her.

"That she is ... for twenty years now!"

He hesitated for a moment, looking a little awkward.

"You said that you'd not had a chance to find somewhere to stay yet?" he asked carefully.

Lucy nodded as she loaded her fork for another bite.

"I'm assuming that you can pay for somewhere to stay though?" he asked in a low uncomfortable voice.

Lucy looked up at him in surprise for a moment, but then her smile was warm, sincere and reassuring.

"Yes ... of course."

George looked more than a little bit relieved, but his tone when he spoke again was friendly enough.

"There's a woman just over the road ... she runs a bed and breakfast ... I could give her a quick call and see if she's got any rooms vacant?"

Lucy was in the middle of enjoying another mouthful of food, and so it took her a moment to reply.

"That would be really ... helpful..." she murmured with a shy little nod.

George smiled and patted her shoulder. "I'll go and give her that call."

Left alone to enjoy her meal, Lucy did just that ... conscious of the occasional curious look from some of the other patrons.

She had finished the casserole, and was sitting enjoying her wine, by the time he got back.

"Mrs Bates says that she has a room going spare at the moment..." he said jovially as he walked across the room.

Lucy blushed as the murmur of voices suddenly cut off, and she just knew that all eyes were now on her.

"Thank you," she mumbled quietly as she nursed her glass awkwardly.

George, picked up her empty plate, and grinned at her cheerfully. "No worries ... an' I'll just get you that apple pie ... that's if you're ready for it?"

"Please..." she nodded.

As George left; the hum of conversation resumed and Lucy sat back with a relieved little sigh.

"So ... you'll be staying over at Mrs Bates's then?" a chirpy male voice suddenly boomed over the muted sounds of the pub.

Lucy looked around in surprise, to see a nice looking young man, standing just a little away from her.

"I hope so yes," she nodded shyly, not quite meeting his eyes.

"Do you know where to find her?" he persisted cheerfully.

Lucy looked up at him, catching his eye and locking on. "I'm not sure but..."

The young man blinked as though he'd suddenly been struck, his eyes ever so briefly went blank, and then his shoulders seemed to drop a little as he swallowed as if his throat had gone dry.

"I can show you easily enough..." he offered slowly.

"Thank you ... that would be kind of you."

He met her gaze again and his smile was warm and friendly. "No worries..." he shrugged.