Winny from 'The Bridle Path' demanded her own story, though it's yet to earn a title!
Here's the first couple of chapters, hope you enjoy, and thanks for dropping by.
The white cob cottage belonged on the lid of a chocolate box: Set back from a country lane, its gardens bounded by a river and woods.
A labourer balanced on a ladder propped against one of the gables, hammering in loose roof tiles. Twenty feet below, a lap dog yapped merrily in response to the rhythmic clammer of metal against metal, filling the valley with noise.
Stretching precariously, the tiler's preoccupation on the hammer's angle and swing rendered all other senses heedless of danger. So when the dog's joyful bark sharpened to a more challenging note, it went unnoticed. Anyone paying attention might have heard an almost inaudible crunch of gravel under boots placed stealthily as malice crept forward.
Jerking the ladder's feet mere inches caused a catastrophic effect. The top heavy ladder swung with pendulum like sedateness, describing a perfect arc. The dog's barking ceased as it skittered backwards to avoid the falling ladder. A dull thud and a sickening crackle of snapping bones invaded the sudden quiet.
Gravel crunched loudly as the intruder retreated back to their own world, satisfied with the day's work.
******
Raising both arms above her head and stretching on tip-toe Winny prepared to dive into the pool twenty feet below. From the corner of her eye she snuck a glance at the three figures watching from the sands with upturned faces. A quiver of anticipation ran through her. Before she could lose her nerve, she took a deep breath and held it, pushing off from the rock overhang. Her body described a perfect arc, rushing through the air for glorious seconds before hurtling through water cold enough to strip conscious thoughts away. Every molecule of blood scurried to the surface of her skin; air and water, ice and fire. Soaring to the surface, Winny expelled a gasp of pleasure, splashed to the nearest rock and clambered out. She grinned at the three boys. The blond one rushed over with her towel, the two ginger haired tykes raced each other to be the next to dive.
What they were doing was strictly forbidden. If they got found out it would be stern lectures on the dangers of tombstoning and grounding for weeks on end. That was adult hypocrisy for you, Winny thought. As though none of them had ever been young, and joyfully hurled themselves from a sheer height into the ocean below.
The rocks weren't that high, and formed a natural pool for the ocean, so long as they were careful, what harm could there be? 'Watch me Winny, watch me!' One of the twins shouted, Ricky or Benjy, she couldn't tell from here; they wore identical green shorts shot with neon orange stripes. Winny twisted her long dark hair into a loose plait, watching as first one then the other experienced the sensation of flying. Sebastian stepped forward next, and she watched with a more critical eye as her stepbrother pushed off from the diving rock. She nodded her approval as he splashed over, his face flushed with exhilaration.
Readjusting navy gym shorts over an ancient black swimming costume, Winny raced up to "The Perch" and took her turn again.
Once they'd all had a couple of dives, they settled down on sun baked rocks to eat pasties. Loud squabbles broke out over who had the better diving technique and best swimming style. They had the place to themselves, the small cove of coarse grimy sand deterred holidaymakers; while older kids were more daring and dived from further along the cliffs. A breeze got up while they were eating, the waves slapped against the rocks more insistently and Winny decided it was time to go home. She made all the decisions naturally, and having announced they were leaving she felt piqued when Ricky laughed and shouting 'One more go!' clambered back up the rocks. She shouted at him to come back, but he ignored her, wanting to show off and have the last word.
Standing up and shielding her eyes against the sun, Winny tipped her head back to watch Ricky raise his arms preparatory to his dive. She glanced down into the pool, approximately five feet below where they'd picnicked. The previously calm waters were swirling now and her unease grew.
Sebastian got to his feet, seeming to share her premonition, 'Ricky no don't do it!' He shouted up. But Ricky's twin Benjy laughed 'Leave off, you're two old women. Go for it Rick!'
As he swung into the air, Ricky's mop of red hair caught fire in the sun, then he rocketed into the pool and disappeared, only to bob up seconds later. Darkened with water, his hair clung to his face like mutant seaweed. Sweeping his fringe backwards, he struck out towards the rocks, laughing happily at sneaking an extra dive in. Benjy reached out a hand to tug him back onto dry land, their fingers actually touched, when a rogue wave swept into the pool. It snatched Ricky up and backwards and deposited him head first on the far rocky outcrop of the pool. Another wave swirled into the pool, and when they could see again, Ricky had disappeared.
For an instant the ground beneath Winny's feet tilted and she clutched at Sebby for support. Before she froze to the spot, even before the thought of action could fully form in her mind, Winny took a running jump and flung herself after Ricky.
The expected coldness engulfed her, numbing her but somehow she managed to control an involuntary gasp and keep air in her lungs. Battling against a natural instinct to surge upwards she told herself fiercely: "Get Ricky. You can't leave him." Pushing hard against the dense salt water, she struck out towards the shadowy shape beneath her. But not fast enough, she moved in nightmare slow motion. Already her lungs demanded their next breath of air and her ears moaned in anticipation of the pain about to start. She was almost there, only two more strokes. She pushed harder, willing herself to move faster. But Ricky's dead weight sunk quicker than she could propel herself downwards. A second rescuer dived in, dispersing water which pushed Winny backwards and she wriggled frantically to make up lost ground. From the swirl of blond hair and glimpse of red shorts, Winny knew it was Sebby and hoped Benjy was running for help. She wasn't making any progress and already they'd been submerged far too long in this soundless world.
Ton upon ton of water pressed against delicate eardrums and Winny swallowed against the pressure, trying to keep the precious cupful of air inside her lungs. Somehow Sebby's descent seemed faster, already he clutched at Ricky's waist. Now Winny felt her own fingertips brushing against the ginger thatch, and managed to slip her hands under Ricky's armpits. Sick with the effort of keeping air in her lungs, hampered by Ricky's body against hers, Winny started kicking for the surface. Miraculously she'd reached the warmer blue lit by hazy sunshine and the world beyond this. They were going to make it!
Winny tightened her grip on Ricky's upper arms, tugging against the weight that wanted to drag her back down, feeling Sebby's corresponding push against Ricky's inert body. Oh dear lord--the last few inches shimmered hypnotically - fresh air was so tantalisingly close, but she couldn't open her mouth to suck at oxygen yet. More by effort of will she thrust her head above the surface feeling triumphant. Black spots danced before her eyes and she expelled the last squeak of stale air and allowed herself the luxury of breathing. Immediately her windpipe closed up and her ears keened. With an involuntary snort she took another breath, but slower. Ricky bobbed up then down again, a wave submerged her unexpectedly and she wanted to choke. Instead with a last effort she pushed Ricky away and up to the surface, trusting Sebby to keep his grip. Without waiting to get her breathing under control, gagging and spluttering, Winny struck out for the rocks. Behind Ricky's shoulder, Sebby's face emerged, his eyes bulging. Tendons stood out on his neck; his face flushed scarlet and with a superhuman effort he thrust Ricky in her direction. Curling an arm around a jagged rock, Winny reached out her other arm, twisted her fingers in Ricky's hair and yanked him towards her. Water streamed from her nose, her mouth even her ears, and harsh sobbing escaped her lungs; still struggling to inflate properly. She slipped her hand down, past Ricky's jawline and gripped his neck in a stranglehold. Pulling his body against hers, she turned them both into the rocks and waited for the next wave to smash into them and lift them both to safety. The water roiled beneath them, here it comes! Winny got ready to grab and snatch at any handhold offered by the rocks. Curling her arm even tighter around Ricky, she glanced behind. Sebby's head bobbed about three feet away, much further than she'd expected. The wave was already cresting, and he lifted his torso from the sea getting ready to ride the roller. Winny took a huge breath and held it in her lungs as the wave crashed forward, bringing Sebby with it. Dear lord, don't let go don't let go. The wave buffeted, lifting her body, scraping her against the rocks but she felt no pain and didn't care if she lost every inch of skin. Sebby banged against Ricky, and Ricky banged against her and when her rib cage snarled against a rock outcrop, Winny wedged her forearm tightly into the crevice. 'Hang on,' she screamed at Sebby, heedless of the spray filling her nostrils and mouth, blinded by the surf. The wave exploded against the rock with thunderous ferocity. Even with most of its power spent, it tugged at her with a horrible squelching as it rolled backwards, trying to claim the three of them for the ocean again. Half choking, half sobbing, Winny closed her eyes tightly and gritted her teeth, clenching her fist to wedge her arm even firmer into the unforgiving crevice, knowing she'd exhausted her strength. If she couldn't hold this position, they were all dead. When she opened her eyes again, Ricky's body rested against hers, and the ocean had dipped to four feet below her toes. They'd made it! Dislodging her arm, she pulled herself up, dragging Ricky along the slippery rocks towards safety with her. His body flopped heavily, flabby and unresponsive. Automatically Winny looked down to see why Sebby wasn't helping. Her heart skipped a beat and her mind gibbered with terror: Sebby was gone.
With her feet slipping and scrabbling for purchase against the rocks she twisted her head upwards, astounded to see Benjy still standing in the same place.
She screamed at him 'Benjy move! Help me! Help Ricky.'
Ricky's chest heaved and creaked; a stream of warm watery bile splattered over Winny's shoulder as she rolled him onto dry ground. 'Benjy - your brother - look after him.' Lowering herself onto her backside she slithered down the rocks, scanning the pool of raging foam below her. How had this happened so quickly? On the peripheral of her vision another roller formed, ready to come smashing onto the rocks again. Only seconds remained to spot Sebby, help him onto the rocks and scrabble back up to solid ground.
Her head swum with vertigo watching the boiling cauldron below, her lungs felt unnaturally swollen, still struggling to catch their rhythm; the easy in out always taken for granted. The wave grew closer now, sparkling white diamonds forming at the very top edge, rapidly thickening. Part of it broke off and folded gently into the wider ocean. The remainder only gathered strength, towering even higher as it swept into land, drawn towards the pool like a magnet. She had to get off this rock now, she'd stand no chance! Then she saw him. Sebby's blond against the dark greeny blue of the ocean, bobbing in the residue of the wave's subdued portion. Somehow Winny's back rubbed up against the edge of dry scrubby land, the new wave crashing inches from her toes and splashing up her calves. Her scream was lost in the mounting crescendo of sound. Impatiently she waited for the Atlantic to withdraw again.
'Sebby! Seb! It's a rip tide. Don't try to swim against it.' Oh dear lord, he'd never hear her. 'It's a rip tide!' Stretching her hand above her head she circled her arm widely. 'RIP TIDE!' she bellowed from the bottom of her diaphragm. Had he heard? Through a spasm of coughing and retching, she peered between tendrils of hair splattered against her face, hoping against hope. Thirty feet out to sea now, Sebby turned on his back and began swimming parallel to land. From the searing noise below, Winny knew that waves still smashed against rocks, but she kept her eyes fixed on Sebby. Her lips moved and her teeth chattered as she tried to mutter a prayer. For the first time she became aware that goose bumps pimpled her skin, which shimmered a ghastly blue white tone. Wrenching her gaze from Sebby's progress, she turned to scramble off the rocks. Ricky lay prostrate on his back. Apart from slumping to his knees, Benjy hadn't moved.
'Ben - quick phone for help, call the coast guard and an ambulance.' Winny wanted to reach for her towel and wrap herself in its comfort. Instead hiccupping helplessly, she crawled over to Ricky, and turned him on his side. Pulling his arms up and over his head she managed to get him onto his front. Cradling his head, she placed his right cheek against the ground, and tilted his chin up to ensure his windpipe stretched open. Straddling him, she gripped her hands together and placing them in the small of Ricky's back began pumping up and down.
'Benjy! Please!'
Beneath her hands Ricky groaned, then spasmed and retched again before going still and quiet. Winny stared at the briny mess, still pumping automatically, trying to decide if Ricky had brought up enough water.
She glanced over to Benjy, thank goodness, he'd found her mobile and was talking to someone on the phone. Despite the loud humming in her ears she heard him grizzling. 'Mum, come quick, Ricky's dead, Mum, come and get me.'
'Bring that phone over here, and help me turn Ricky over!' Winny shouted, furious with the arsehole. Without looking to see if he obeyed, she flumped Ricky over onto his back, pinched his nose and leaned in to cover his mouth with hers and began giving the kiss of life.
'I told them not to do it mum, he didn't want to do it, Winny made him do it. Mum what am I going to do? Ricky's dead. Mum please come and get ...' Flesh slapped against flesh and the whining broke off abruptly. Feeling sick with relief, Winny heard Sebby's voice. 'Mrs Bennett, Ricky isn't dead, he almost drowned and Winny rescued him. Ring for an ambulance, tell them we're on the road to Porth Gaverne.' Seconds later a heavy cotton towel dropped around her shoulders, and Sebby pushed her to one side to take over mouth to mouth.
Everyday sounds began to dribble back into her consciousness, the raucous cry of seagulls, soft lowing of nearby but unseen cattle and Benjy sobbing noisily. She watched Sebby's hunched form swathed in a black and pink stripy towel hovering over Ricky. Her eyes travelled up past the vivid red stripes on Ricky's neck, to his deathly white face, and the large swelling on his temple, deep blue clashing with his ginger hair.
'Oh dear lord, please, I'll do anything, give you anything only let Ricky be alright. Please lord please, let Ricky be okay.' She looked over to his twin, his face too was deathly white. Catching her eye Benjy pointed an accusing finger. 'This is your fault! You made him do it! If you weren't so bossy, ordering him to come back.'
Hot indignation filled her, clenching her fists Winny answered 'Shut your lying mouth. We all saw what happened.' Staggering to her feet she paced over to Benjy who cowered. 'He made a perfect dive. You saw him. It was just bad luck that wave came in at that moment. It could have been any of us, and we could have only jumped into the water.' Her rage left her, and she clamped her lips together, feeling desperately tired. Benjy mistook her silence for surrender. 'It's the truth. You killed him. You bitch! You whore.' He couldn't pronounce the word properly and it came out war hore.
Unable to believe her ears, Winny stared at him in astonishment. His lips were pulled back in a snarl, and his freckles gleamed greenly against a face now redder than his hair. She looked back again at Sebby, still puffing breath into Ricky. Her bones turned to liquid and a leaden lump settled in her stomach at Ricky's inertia. He could have been a wax model of Benjy. She knew this wasn't her fault, Benjy was talking shit. Feeling light headed, Winny experienced an out of body moment. This wasn't real, it wasn't happening, or it happened a long time ago, or in a film. She prayed again. 'Dear lord, make him breathe, let him live, and I'll give you anything.' Unaccountably, a vision of her dad riding Chanson flickered into her mind. Skipping the hunter over a five bar gate as though it were a fallen log, he turned, looked back over his shoulder and winked. Winny closed her eyes, if only dad was here.
'He's breathing.' Sebby announced in a matter of fact voice. Winny's eyes flew open. Sebby straightened up over Ricky, his towel sliding from his shoulders. Clutching a fold and hoisting it back, Sebby gingerly placed his weight over his knees, then stood and carefully stepped over Ricky. A fist sized graze marked Sebby's cheek, and his red shorts were torn at one leg from hem to elastic waistband, revealing the long slender thigh muscle. The material flapped as he walked over to Benjy, pausing at Winny's side.
'Don't you dare even think that name in your head. You stood there and watched. You did nothing. You couldn't even call an ambulance. So shut your mouth, or we're telling everyone exactly what happened and how you stood by watching while your brother drowned.' Sebby's hand rubbed at Winny's shoulder as he spoke. Although he faced away from her she knew he glared at Benjy, even though he sounded too exhausted to inject any emotion into his voice.
Winny couldn't take her eyes away from Ricky, watching his chest rise and fall, it was the most beautiful, welcome sight in the world. From the road above, an engine revved and a horn tooted.
'It's your mum. You remember what I said.' Squeezing Winny's shoulder he added 'Get your stuff together.'
A labourer balanced on a ladder propped against one of the gables, hammering in loose roof tiles. Twenty feet below, a lap dog yapped merrily in response to the rhythmic clammer of metal against metal, filling the valley with noise.
Stretching precariously, the tiler's preoccupation on the hammer's angle and swing rendered all other senses heedless of danger. So when the dog's joyful bark sharpened to a more challenging note, it went unnoticed. Anyone paying attention might have heard an almost inaudible crunch of gravel under boots placed stealthily as malice crept forward.
Jerking the ladder's feet mere inches caused a catastrophic effect. The top heavy ladder swung with pendulum like sedateness, describing a perfect arc. The dog's barking ceased as it skittered backwards to avoid the falling ladder. A dull thud and a sickening crackle of snapping bones invaded the sudden quiet.
Gravel crunched loudly as the intruder retreated back to their own world, satisfied with the day's work.
******
Raising both arms above her head and stretching on tip-toe Winny prepared to dive into the pool twenty feet below. From the corner of her eye she snuck a glance at the three figures watching from the sands with upturned faces. A quiver of anticipation ran through her. Before she could lose her nerve, she took a deep breath and held it, pushing off from the rock overhang. Her body described a perfect arc, rushing through the air for glorious seconds before hurtling through water cold enough to strip conscious thoughts away. Every molecule of blood scurried to the surface of her skin; air and water, ice and fire. Soaring to the surface, Winny expelled a gasp of pleasure, splashed to the nearest rock and clambered out. She grinned at the three boys. The blond one rushed over with her towel, the two ginger haired tykes raced each other to be the next to dive.
What they were doing was strictly forbidden. If they got found out it would be stern lectures on the dangers of tombstoning and grounding for weeks on end. That was adult hypocrisy for you, Winny thought. As though none of them had ever been young, and joyfully hurled themselves from a sheer height into the ocean below.
The rocks weren't that high, and formed a natural pool for the ocean, so long as they were careful, what harm could there be? 'Watch me Winny, watch me!' One of the twins shouted, Ricky or Benjy, she couldn't tell from here; they wore identical green shorts shot with neon orange stripes. Winny twisted her long dark hair into a loose plait, watching as first one then the other experienced the sensation of flying. Sebastian stepped forward next, and she watched with a more critical eye as her stepbrother pushed off from the diving rock. She nodded her approval as he splashed over, his face flushed with exhilaration.
Readjusting navy gym shorts over an ancient black swimming costume, Winny raced up to "The Perch" and took her turn again.
Once they'd all had a couple of dives, they settled down on sun baked rocks to eat pasties. Loud squabbles broke out over who had the better diving technique and best swimming style. They had the place to themselves, the small cove of coarse grimy sand deterred holidaymakers; while older kids were more daring and dived from further along the cliffs. A breeze got up while they were eating, the waves slapped against the rocks more insistently and Winny decided it was time to go home. She made all the decisions naturally, and having announced they were leaving she felt piqued when Ricky laughed and shouting 'One more go!' clambered back up the rocks. She shouted at him to come back, but he ignored her, wanting to show off and have the last word.
Standing up and shielding her eyes against the sun, Winny tipped her head back to watch Ricky raise his arms preparatory to his dive. She glanced down into the pool, approximately five feet below where they'd picnicked. The previously calm waters were swirling now and her unease grew.
Sebastian got to his feet, seeming to share her premonition, 'Ricky no don't do it!' He shouted up. But Ricky's twin Benjy laughed 'Leave off, you're two old women. Go for it Rick!'
As he swung into the air, Ricky's mop of red hair caught fire in the sun, then he rocketed into the pool and disappeared, only to bob up seconds later. Darkened with water, his hair clung to his face like mutant seaweed. Sweeping his fringe backwards, he struck out towards the rocks, laughing happily at sneaking an extra dive in. Benjy reached out a hand to tug him back onto dry land, their fingers actually touched, when a rogue wave swept into the pool. It snatched Ricky up and backwards and deposited him head first on the far rocky outcrop of the pool. Another wave swirled into the pool, and when they could see again, Ricky had disappeared.
For an instant the ground beneath Winny's feet tilted and she clutched at Sebby for support. Before she froze to the spot, even before the thought of action could fully form in her mind, Winny took a running jump and flung herself after Ricky.
The expected coldness engulfed her, numbing her but somehow she managed to control an involuntary gasp and keep air in her lungs. Battling against a natural instinct to surge upwards she told herself fiercely: "Get Ricky. You can't leave him." Pushing hard against the dense salt water, she struck out towards the shadowy shape beneath her. But not fast enough, she moved in nightmare slow motion. Already her lungs demanded their next breath of air and her ears moaned in anticipation of the pain about to start. She was almost there, only two more strokes. She pushed harder, willing herself to move faster. But Ricky's dead weight sunk quicker than she could propel herself downwards. A second rescuer dived in, dispersing water which pushed Winny backwards and she wriggled frantically to make up lost ground. From the swirl of blond hair and glimpse of red shorts, Winny knew it was Sebby and hoped Benjy was running for help. She wasn't making any progress and already they'd been submerged far too long in this soundless world.
Ton upon ton of water pressed against delicate eardrums and Winny swallowed against the pressure, trying to keep the precious cupful of air inside her lungs. Somehow Sebby's descent seemed faster, already he clutched at Ricky's waist. Now Winny felt her own fingertips brushing against the ginger thatch, and managed to slip her hands under Ricky's armpits. Sick with the effort of keeping air in her lungs, hampered by Ricky's body against hers, Winny started kicking for the surface. Miraculously she'd reached the warmer blue lit by hazy sunshine and the world beyond this. They were going to make it!
Winny tightened her grip on Ricky's upper arms, tugging against the weight that wanted to drag her back down, feeling Sebby's corresponding push against Ricky's inert body. Oh dear lord--the last few inches shimmered hypnotically - fresh air was so tantalisingly close, but she couldn't open her mouth to suck at oxygen yet. More by effort of will she thrust her head above the surface feeling triumphant. Black spots danced before her eyes and she expelled the last squeak of stale air and allowed herself the luxury of breathing. Immediately her windpipe closed up and her ears keened. With an involuntary snort she took another breath, but slower. Ricky bobbed up then down again, a wave submerged her unexpectedly and she wanted to choke. Instead with a last effort she pushed Ricky away and up to the surface, trusting Sebby to keep his grip. Without waiting to get her breathing under control, gagging and spluttering, Winny struck out for the rocks. Behind Ricky's shoulder, Sebby's face emerged, his eyes bulging. Tendons stood out on his neck; his face flushed scarlet and with a superhuman effort he thrust Ricky in her direction. Curling an arm around a jagged rock, Winny reached out her other arm, twisted her fingers in Ricky's hair and yanked him towards her. Water streamed from her nose, her mouth even her ears, and harsh sobbing escaped her lungs; still struggling to inflate properly. She slipped her hand down, past Ricky's jawline and gripped his neck in a stranglehold. Pulling his body against hers, she turned them both into the rocks and waited for the next wave to smash into them and lift them both to safety. The water roiled beneath them, here it comes! Winny got ready to grab and snatch at any handhold offered by the rocks. Curling her arm even tighter around Ricky, she glanced behind. Sebby's head bobbed about three feet away, much further than she'd expected. The wave was already cresting, and he lifted his torso from the sea getting ready to ride the roller. Winny took a huge breath and held it in her lungs as the wave crashed forward, bringing Sebby with it. Dear lord, don't let go don't let go. The wave buffeted, lifting her body, scraping her against the rocks but she felt no pain and didn't care if she lost every inch of skin. Sebby banged against Ricky, and Ricky banged against her and when her rib cage snarled against a rock outcrop, Winny wedged her forearm tightly into the crevice. 'Hang on,' she screamed at Sebby, heedless of the spray filling her nostrils and mouth, blinded by the surf. The wave exploded against the rock with thunderous ferocity. Even with most of its power spent, it tugged at her with a horrible squelching as it rolled backwards, trying to claim the three of them for the ocean again. Half choking, half sobbing, Winny closed her eyes tightly and gritted her teeth, clenching her fist to wedge her arm even firmer into the unforgiving crevice, knowing she'd exhausted her strength. If she couldn't hold this position, they were all dead. When she opened her eyes again, Ricky's body rested against hers, and the ocean had dipped to four feet below her toes. They'd made it! Dislodging her arm, she pulled herself up, dragging Ricky along the slippery rocks towards safety with her. His body flopped heavily, flabby and unresponsive. Automatically Winny looked down to see why Sebby wasn't helping. Her heart skipped a beat and her mind gibbered with terror: Sebby was gone.
With her feet slipping and scrabbling for purchase against the rocks she twisted her head upwards, astounded to see Benjy still standing in the same place.
She screamed at him 'Benjy move! Help me! Help Ricky.'
Ricky's chest heaved and creaked; a stream of warm watery bile splattered over Winny's shoulder as she rolled him onto dry ground. 'Benjy - your brother - look after him.' Lowering herself onto her backside she slithered down the rocks, scanning the pool of raging foam below her. How had this happened so quickly? On the peripheral of her vision another roller formed, ready to come smashing onto the rocks again. Only seconds remained to spot Sebby, help him onto the rocks and scrabble back up to solid ground.
Her head swum with vertigo watching the boiling cauldron below, her lungs felt unnaturally swollen, still struggling to catch their rhythm; the easy in out always taken for granted. The wave grew closer now, sparkling white diamonds forming at the very top edge, rapidly thickening. Part of it broke off and folded gently into the wider ocean. The remainder only gathered strength, towering even higher as it swept into land, drawn towards the pool like a magnet. She had to get off this rock now, she'd stand no chance! Then she saw him. Sebby's blond against the dark greeny blue of the ocean, bobbing in the residue of the wave's subdued portion. Somehow Winny's back rubbed up against the edge of dry scrubby land, the new wave crashing inches from her toes and splashing up her calves. Her scream was lost in the mounting crescendo of sound. Impatiently she waited for the Atlantic to withdraw again.
'Sebby! Seb! It's a rip tide. Don't try to swim against it.' Oh dear lord, he'd never hear her. 'It's a rip tide!' Stretching her hand above her head she circled her arm widely. 'RIP TIDE!' she bellowed from the bottom of her diaphragm. Had he heard? Through a spasm of coughing and retching, she peered between tendrils of hair splattered against her face, hoping against hope. Thirty feet out to sea now, Sebby turned on his back and began swimming parallel to land. From the searing noise below, Winny knew that waves still smashed against rocks, but she kept her eyes fixed on Sebby. Her lips moved and her teeth chattered as she tried to mutter a prayer. For the first time she became aware that goose bumps pimpled her skin, which shimmered a ghastly blue white tone. Wrenching her gaze from Sebby's progress, she turned to scramble off the rocks. Ricky lay prostrate on his back. Apart from slumping to his knees, Benjy hadn't moved.
'Ben - quick phone for help, call the coast guard and an ambulance.' Winny wanted to reach for her towel and wrap herself in its comfort. Instead hiccupping helplessly, she crawled over to Ricky, and turned him on his side. Pulling his arms up and over his head she managed to get him onto his front. Cradling his head, she placed his right cheek against the ground, and tilted his chin up to ensure his windpipe stretched open. Straddling him, she gripped her hands together and placing them in the small of Ricky's back began pumping up and down.
'Benjy! Please!'
Beneath her hands Ricky groaned, then spasmed and retched again before going still and quiet. Winny stared at the briny mess, still pumping automatically, trying to decide if Ricky had brought up enough water.
She glanced over to Benjy, thank goodness, he'd found her mobile and was talking to someone on the phone. Despite the loud humming in her ears she heard him grizzling. 'Mum, come quick, Ricky's dead, Mum, come and get me.'
'Bring that phone over here, and help me turn Ricky over!' Winny shouted, furious with the arsehole. Without looking to see if he obeyed, she flumped Ricky over onto his back, pinched his nose and leaned in to cover his mouth with hers and began giving the kiss of life.
'I told them not to do it mum, he didn't want to do it, Winny made him do it. Mum what am I going to do? Ricky's dead. Mum please come and get ...' Flesh slapped against flesh and the whining broke off abruptly. Feeling sick with relief, Winny heard Sebby's voice. 'Mrs Bennett, Ricky isn't dead, he almost drowned and Winny rescued him. Ring for an ambulance, tell them we're on the road to Porth Gaverne.' Seconds later a heavy cotton towel dropped around her shoulders, and Sebby pushed her to one side to take over mouth to mouth.
Everyday sounds began to dribble back into her consciousness, the raucous cry of seagulls, soft lowing of nearby but unseen cattle and Benjy sobbing noisily. She watched Sebby's hunched form swathed in a black and pink stripy towel hovering over Ricky. Her eyes travelled up past the vivid red stripes on Ricky's neck, to his deathly white face, and the large swelling on his temple, deep blue clashing with his ginger hair.
'Oh dear lord, please, I'll do anything, give you anything only let Ricky be alright. Please lord please, let Ricky be okay.' She looked over to his twin, his face too was deathly white. Catching her eye Benjy pointed an accusing finger. 'This is your fault! You made him do it! If you weren't so bossy, ordering him to come back.'
Hot indignation filled her, clenching her fists Winny answered 'Shut your lying mouth. We all saw what happened.' Staggering to her feet she paced over to Benjy who cowered. 'He made a perfect dive. You saw him. It was just bad luck that wave came in at that moment. It could have been any of us, and we could have only jumped into the water.' Her rage left her, and she clamped her lips together, feeling desperately tired. Benjy mistook her silence for surrender. 'It's the truth. You killed him. You bitch! You whore.' He couldn't pronounce the word properly and it came out war hore.
Unable to believe her ears, Winny stared at him in astonishment. His lips were pulled back in a snarl, and his freckles gleamed greenly against a face now redder than his hair. She looked back again at Sebby, still puffing breath into Ricky. Her bones turned to liquid and a leaden lump settled in her stomach at Ricky's inertia. He could have been a wax model of Benjy. She knew this wasn't her fault, Benjy was talking shit. Feeling light headed, Winny experienced an out of body moment. This wasn't real, it wasn't happening, or it happened a long time ago, or in a film. She prayed again. 'Dear lord, make him breathe, let him live, and I'll give you anything.' Unaccountably, a vision of her dad riding Chanson flickered into her mind. Skipping the hunter over a five bar gate as though it were a fallen log, he turned, looked back over his shoulder and winked. Winny closed her eyes, if only dad was here.
'He's breathing.' Sebby announced in a matter of fact voice. Winny's eyes flew open. Sebby straightened up over Ricky, his towel sliding from his shoulders. Clutching a fold and hoisting it back, Sebby gingerly placed his weight over his knees, then stood and carefully stepped over Ricky. A fist sized graze marked Sebby's cheek, and his red shorts were torn at one leg from hem to elastic waistband, revealing the long slender thigh muscle. The material flapped as he walked over to Benjy, pausing at Winny's side.
'Don't you dare even think that name in your head. You stood there and watched. You did nothing. You couldn't even call an ambulance. So shut your mouth, or we're telling everyone exactly what happened and how you stood by watching while your brother drowned.' Sebby's hand rubbed at Winny's shoulder as he spoke. Although he faced away from her she knew he glared at Benjy, even though he sounded too exhausted to inject any emotion into his voice.
Winny couldn't take her eyes away from Ricky, watching his chest rise and fall, it was the most beautiful, welcome sight in the world. From the road above, an engine revved and a horn tooted.
'It's your mum. You remember what I said.' Squeezing Winny's shoulder he added 'Get your stuff together.'
Will to Win
Thanks for reading the opening chapters of the follow up story to "The Bridle Path", which is set a couple of years after Winny and Sebastian's respective parents marry.
Greg and Matilda are sailing the seven seas, leaving Aunt Gina in charge of the teenagers. Naturally they're doing their best to stay away from trouble, but then an old enemy threatens to destroy everything Winny loves. In order not to lose her world, she'll need to summon every ounce of self belief and courage. Luckily for Winny and her family, she's never had a moment's self doubt. Is Winny's unshakeable confidence in herself misplaced? One thing's for sure, the gal's got gumption!
The Celtic Cousins' Adventures lent themselves very readily to titles themed around the word time. The Bridle Path's sequel is still waiting to be christened. If anyone has any suggestions ... I'm all ears. Tweet @Tinksaid
Greg and Matilda are sailing the seven seas, leaving Aunt Gina in charge of the teenagers. Naturally they're doing their best to stay away from trouble, but then an old enemy threatens to destroy everything Winny loves. In order not to lose her world, she'll need to summon every ounce of self belief and courage. Luckily for Winny and her family, she's never had a moment's self doubt. Is Winny's unshakeable confidence in herself misplaced? One thing's for sure, the gal's got gumption!
The Celtic Cousins' Adventures lent themselves very readily to titles themed around the word time. The Bridle Path's sequel is still waiting to be christened. If anyone has any suggestions ... I'm all ears. Tweet @Tinksaid
