Sinners and Shadows by Catrin Collier Page B

foal than you are with your new sister, young man.’
    â€˜All Edyth does is eat, sleep, cry and fill her nappies,’ Harry said with the frankness of a child.
    â€˜So did you at her age,’ Sali laughed. ‘But you grew up to be more interesting.’
    â€˜I’m going to get myself a six-gun like Broncho Bill, and race Toffee round the fields, lassoing the other horses and ponies and chasing off the Indians.’
    â€˜Not that there are many Indians in Pontypridd,’ Sali said practically. ‘I think two visits to the Wild West Exhibition was one too many for you, Harry.’
    â€˜Do you want to stroke Toffee again before I go to clean the car, Master Harry?’ Robert asked.
    â€˜Yes, please, Robert.’
    Joey continued to stand, taciturn and self-contained, after he lifted Harry from his shoulders.
    â€˜Time you two were on your way if you want to get a good seat at the exhibition,’ Sali hinted.
    â€˜I have booked the best seats,’ Joey snapped.
    â€˜So did Lloyd, but they aren’t numbered and there are six rows in the section. The one nearest to the ring gets filled first because it has the best view.’ Sali leaned over the half-door and watched the foal nuzzle Harry’s hand.
    â€˜He already knows you, Master Harry.’ Robert freshened the water bucket and set it beside the mare.
    â€˜Thanks to your tutoring, Robert,’ Sali said gratefully.
    Feeling as though Sali couldn’t wait to get rid of him and Rhian, Joey buttoned his coat, pulled his gloves from his pocket and put them on. ‘Do you have to go back into the house?’ he asked Rhian.
    â€˜No. You?’
    â€˜No,’ he answered emphatically.
    â€˜Why don’t you come back here for tea after the exhibition?’ Sali invited, aware that Joey was annoyed with her for suggesting they leave.
    â€˜I have to call into the Pontypridd store.’ Joey adjusted his hat.
    â€˜It’s your day off.’
    â€˜We’re missing an order of men’s boots. They may have been delivered to Market Square by mistake.’
    â€˜Surely you could have sorted that by telephone.’ Sali held out her hand to Harry when Robert opened the stable door.
    â€˜If I sort things personally, I know they’re done. Thank you for the lunch, Sali. Say goodbye to Mari for me. See you soon, Harry.’ Joey pretended to shadow-box Harry but even that was a half-hearted gesture. ‘Bye, Robert.’
    â€˜Thank you for lunch and the talk.’ Rhian kissed Sali’s cheek. ‘See you soon.’ Drawing strength from Sali’s look of sympathy, she shook Harry’s hand and said goodbye to Robert before following Joey down the drive.
    â€˜If you don’t want to sit next to me at the exhibition, you don’t have to,’ Joey snarled when she drew alongside him.
    â€˜That would be childish.’ Braving rejection, she took his arm. ‘I talked to Sali.’
    â€˜About us?’ He gave her a withering look.
    â€˜I needed advice. I don’t have anyone else to turn to except Mrs Williams. And we both know what she thinks of you.’
    â€˜And Sali’s view of me is so different to your Mrs Williams’s?’ he said acidly.
    â€˜Sali loves you like a brother and you know it.’
    â€˜I bet her love didn’t extend to recommending that you accept my proposal.’ Shaking her hand from his arm, he adjusted his muffler.
    â€˜She suggested that I try talking to you, but I can see it’s useless while you remain in this mood. And the longer you do, the more convinced I’ll be that I’ve made the right decision.’ She finally allowed her own anger to surface. ‘You’re behaving like a small boy who’s throwing a tantrum because he can’t have all the sweets in the shop.’
    â€˜I have a right to be upset.’
    â€˜With me, but not with Sali, Harry, Bella and Mari. You were unbearable at