Chapter Nine
Ruth tried hard to forget her fiancé, Alex Waters, for he had told her that he wanted nothing more to do with her. She found it hard to accept, for he seemed to love her deeply. Perhaps he was doing it to avoid her having a life of hardship! Would she have enjoyed nursing him twenty four hours a day for the rest of her life? Ruth thought of nothing else till one day her mother was very outspoken.
“Look here my girl! I’ve stood aside and watched you for three weeks now and I’ve had enough. Pull yourself together! Alex was a nice boy, but there are others around. It is not the end of the world.”
Ruth looked at her mother and after a moment’s pause said, “You’re right mother! I’ve been a fool! Life goes on. I will never forget Alex but I must accept that he is never coming back.”
Mrs Rowden smiled, “That’s better! Now let’s get the food ready for tonight! Remember, we have to feed these hungry soldiers in the Church Hall.”
The two ladies carried the cakes over to the hall and soon were engrossed in preparing for the influx of soldiers who would be dancing the evening away. Ruth had taken more time than usual to her dressing and looked a picture. Soon the hall filled up and the dancing began, young soldiers in their heavy khaki uniforms and army boots serenaded the village girls. Beaming, perspiring faces looked down at the village maidens and tried to understand the Wiltshire dialect. Ruth had decided to join in the fun and so when she was asked to dance, she obliged unlike the previous few weeks when she stood apart, thinking of her beloved Alex.
So it was, that when Lieut. Fred Johnson came up, bowed, and said, “Please Ruth can I have the next dance?”
She smiled and said, “Of course, it will be a pleasure.”
Fred’s heart beat faster as he thought his prospects of winning over this lovely girl had improved. They danced, and they made a lovely couple as they swayed and swung around the floor, watched in admiration by many of the spectators. At the end of the dance Fred took Ruth back to her mother and said, “Here you are Mrs Rowdon! Here’s your lovely daughter.” He bowed and left to rejoin his friends.
Mrs Rowdon watched him leave and thought what a real gentleman he was. Why couldn’t her daughter see that? At the end of the evening the young officer came over and spoke to Mrs Rowdon. “I see you have a lot of dishes to carry Mrs Rowdon,” he said. “May I help you to carry them home?”
“I don’t see why not,” said Mrs Rowdon quickly, before Ruth could intervene.
“Good! Let me have them!”
He picked them up easily and followed Mrs Rowdon and her daughter home. At the door he handed everything over to Mrs Rowdon who said with a smile, “Thank you Fred! I will leave you two here to have a chat.” Mrs Rowdon left them with a smile on her lips.
There was an embarrassing pause, then Fred stood up straight and looking at her said, “Ruth, I have heard the story of Alex and I’m sure he has cut you out because he doesn’t want to inflict himself on to you. However, if you have finally decided to try and forget him, please let me help you. I would like to take you out, dance with you and help you to enjoy life again. Please will you consider me as a close friend?”
Ruth dropped her head for a moment, then looking at him said, “Alright Fred! I will regard you as my friend but you must understand that my heart at the moment belongs to Alex, so don’t expect too much from me.”
Fred smiled and replied, “That’s fine Ruth, that’s all I want for now! I have time on my side. I will say goodnight now and hope to see you next week.”
Fred shook her hand and strode away into the darkness leaving Ruth standing feeling unsure of herself. On entering the house Ruth was met by her mother.
“Well!” she said, “Did you enjoy your chat? Did he arrange to meet you again?”
Her daughter spoke briefly, “Yes, we are meeting next week.” She left to go to her bedroom. Mother looked after her hoping that Ruth had taken Fred as her friend, for no doubt he thought a lot of her daughter.
The following Saturday came too quickly for Ruth for, having promised to see Fred as her best friend, she was not too sure how she could handle the situation. She need not have worried for Fred was a gentleman and so made sure he did not embarrass the girl. He kept up a lively conversation and never mentioned Alex. They danced and Ruth had to admit to herself that he was a very nice chap, and a good dancer!
Fred was delighted as to how things were progressing but he knew that in her heart Ruth still thought of her first love, Alex. He was convinced however that given time he would win her love, providing he himself, was not posted away from Winterbourne. That would be disastrous. The weeks went by and although the pair met every week, sometimes twice a week, Ruth knew that Fred could never take the place of Alex! She was determined therefore not to get too close to Fred, although her mother was hoping that they would really get together.
One night, after a walk around the fields, and at the end of a line, Fred suddenly took Ruth in his arms and kissed her passionately. Ruth drew back, her mind a whirl, a little shaken by the sudden embrace by Fred.
Fred also drew back, a little ashamed by his sudden action. “Sorry Ruth! I shouldn’t have done that. I’m ashamed of myself, but I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks!”
Ruth had by this time recovered her composure and assured Fred that his apology had been accepted. She did not however warn him against doing it again, for she had, after all, enjoyed the kiss! They continued to meet but Fred never again attempted to embrace and kiss her. Ruth was a little disappointed because he didn’t kiss her, but blamed herself for that.
Two weeks after the incident, Fred came to the house to see her. “I’ve come to tell you that I have been posted. I am off to Barton Stacey in two weeks’ time. I would like to thank you for being so nice to me during my stay here. I would also like to hope that Alex will come back, for I know that you are still in love with him. I will still, however, call in to see you when I can.”
Ruth was very upset; she had lost her lover and now had lost her friend. Thank heaven, she still had a job she loved and which kept her so busy that it would help her to forget Alex and Fred. When she told her mother, Mrs Rowden was very downcast, she had been hoping for weeks now that Fred would be accepted as a replacement for Alex and she told her daughter so in no uncertain terms.
“Fred is a very nice chap and I think a lot about him, but he hasn’t yet become really close to me,” said Ruth.
“Of course he hasn’t because you haven’t let him get close,” retorted Mrs Rowden, “given half a chance and he would be delighted to be your number one friend.”
Ruth turned away, tears in her eyes, dropped her head and said, “Alright mother! I don’t want to hear any more about him or about Alex.”
“Look dear, you have to face up to it! Alex is not coming back. He may think he has a perfectly good reason for not returning, and he may be right, but you can’t go on just waiting and hoping. Come on! Start a new life and when you hear from Fred again, then encourage him. I’m sure you won’t regret it.” Ruth looked at her mother then quietly left the room, her mind in a whirl.
Fred called into the village hall a few days later and was met by Mrs Rowden. “Hello Fred! How are you? Are you all set for your move?” said Mrs Rowden, smiling at him.
“Yes, Mrs Rowden, I am all packed to go! It’s not far only about thirty miles or so,” replied Fred looking around, “isn’t Ruth here tonight?”
“She is finishing some work at home but she shouldn’t be long!” Fred’s face looked so disappointed, that Mrs Rowden took pity on him. “Why don’t you go over to see her at home, she will hurry it up then?” said Mrs Rowdon, hiding her delight.
Fred needed no second bidding. He rose quickly, grabbed his cap and with a nod of thanks, rushed out of the hall. Soon he was knocking on the door of Number 6. He waited impatiently, then the door opened and there stood a surprised Ruth, rooted to the spot.
“Oh, it’s you! This is a surprise! Did mother sen
d you over?” stammered Ruth.
“Yes, she said that you had some work to do but you would be nearly finished, so I came over. I hope you don’t mind?”
“No, come in! I’ve done enough work for tonight. I’ll get ready and we can join mother in the hall!” replied Ruth.
“Do we have to go back over there Ruth?” said Fred, “I would much prefer to stay here and talk!”
Ruth looked at him and said, “Alright! We can stay here and talk and at 9.30 we can go over to help mother bring the utensils back.”
Fred beamed, sat down again and leaning back in his chair gazed at Ruth and his heart beat quickened. She looked lovely. Blow Alex, he thought, I’m going after this girl. I haven’t met one like her. His thoughts were interrupted by Ruth.
“Are you looking forward to going to Barton Stacey?” I hear that there is little to do outside of camp,” she said.
“That is as may be,” he replied. “I don’t mind that! I will find plenty to do in camp. There’s sure to be lots of table tennis.”
“Oh, are you a table tennis player too? Alex was very good at it. I remember him thrashing me!” She smiled at the thought, then just as quickly it disappeared. Fred cursed himself for bringing up the subject. He would take care he didn’t mention it again. There was a lull in the conversation while Fred desperately tried to think of something he could talk about without bringing up Alex.
“I can come over from Barton Stacey to see you if you would like me to,” ventured Fred.
“Yes, of course, that would be nice, but it is a long journey,” replied Ruth, “just to see me.”
Fred stood up, reached out, took hold of her hands and quietly said, “I would travel much further that that just to see you!”
Ruth blushed, “Be off with you! I’m just a plain village girl!”
Fred grasped his opportunity. “You’re a lovely girl, the nicest in the village and I think very highly of you! Please say that you will be my girlfriend.”
Ruth looked at him, “I can’t do that yet, but we can be good friends and perhaps later things may change.”
“That’s fine,” said Fred, “that’s good enough for me, but I warn you I will be chasing you from now on. Now look at the time! Come on let’s go!” He took her hand and they walked slowly towards the hall. Mrs Rowdon was waiting, but she was not displeased when she saw them walking towards her, hand-in-hand.