Under the Bridges Read Online Free Page A

Nancy thought how pretty she was.
    â€˜I can’t remember if I told you I was to be out this evening . . . ?’
    â€˜You did,’ Nancy nodded. ‘Going somewhere nice?’
    â€˜I think so,’ Shona sounded vague. ‘There’s . . . I mean, someone will be calling for me . . .’
    â€˜Have a lovely time,’ said Nancy, wondering who the ‘someone’ was.
    Just then, the doorbell rang.
    â€˜That’ll be for me,’ Shona said hurriedly.
    She whisked out of the room and Nancy could hear a deep voice greeting her. She resisted the temptation to look out of the window, but she couldn’t help wondering . . .
    Walter came through the gate at the same time, and stood back to allow Shona to pass.
    â€˜Evening, Miss McAllister.’
    She nodded a thank you.
    My, but her boyfriend was doing well for himself, Walter thought, as he watched Shona settle into the passenger seat of a shiny new Hillman Minx. Her boyfriend was in a sharp suit. He glanced at Walter, but didn’t speak.
    Walter went indoors rather slowly, thinking how attractive Shona looked in that blue dress and jacket.
    â€˜Tea’s nearly ready,’ called Nancy, and he forgot about Miss McAllister. It had been a long day and he was hungry.
    That night the weather changed and the wind rose. Nancy woke several times during the night, hearing the rain beating against the window-panes.
    Next morning, the gale still hadn’t blown itself out.
    â€˜They’ll maybe halt the work on the bridge today,’ Joe said at breakfast.
    â€˜We lose a lot of days with the weather,’ Walter told him. ‘Better that than losing men, though.’
    * * *
    Joe glanced up sharply. He didn’t like to hear such remarks when Nancy was around, knowing how much she worried about Matt.
    Now Matt himself came thundering down the stairs, grabbing his jacket.
    â€˜See you tonight,’ Nancy called. ‘Take care of yourself.’
    He gave her a cheery thumbs-up sign.
    When she’d seen the family and the lodgers off to work, Nancy cleared the table. She’d put the washing on the line before she went to Jenny’s. She switched on the wireless for ‘Housewives’ Choice’ and set about her work, humming happily to herself.
    In no time the washing was on the line, billowing in a stiff breeze, and Nancy was ready to set off
    â€˜You’re early,’ Jenny greeted her. ‘Time for a cup of tea before we start work.’
    Towards two o’clock, Nancy finished the clearing up and took off her apron. ‘I’ll be on my way then,’ she said. ‘I’ll be . . .’
    She stopped in mid-sentence. As she opened the door, a police car, siren blaring, sped past, followed by a couple of ambulances.
    â€˜I wonder what’s happened,’ Jenny said anxiously, gazing up the road to see where the cars had gone.
    Before long, a small knot of people had gathered in the main road, looking up towards the giant towers of the bridge. A motorcyclist, coming from the opposite direction, stopped when he saw the small group.
    â€˜It’s young Kenny,’ said someone. ‘What’s happened?’
    â€˜Don’t know, but it’s on the bridge,’ the motorcyclist informed them. ‘An accident. Someone said it’s one of the welders.’
    Quickly, Jenny moved to put an arm round her friend.
    â€˜Oh, Jenny.’ Nancy’s voice trembled. ‘You heard what he said. Oh, what if it’s Matt?’
    * * *
    â€˜Suppose it’s Matt! You heard what he said. One of the welders.’ Nancy’s voice shook. Jenny put an arm round her friend.
    â€˜Now don’t start fretting till we know what’s happened. Come on, let’s find out. It’s better than waiting here for news.’
    Jenny draped Nancy’s coat round her shoulders, and the two friends made their way along the road.
    Above them, the huge girders of the bridge loomed,