Page 42 of Coming Home to Crumbleton

‘How long have you been waiting for me?’ she said, eyes wide - feeling like she should apologise for taking so long.

‘No clue,’ he said with an easy shrug. ‘You know what it’s like when you get lost in a good book!’

Ruby nodded and then froze. ‘Oh… it’s mine!’

‘Loving it so far,’ said Brian, grinning at her. ‘Amazing writing!’

‘Thank you,’ said Ruby with a shy smile. ‘I’m so glad you’re enjoying it.’

Then she paused, pulling herself up. Where was the usual discomfort? Where was the need to shudder and shiver and escape? It was gone, and in its place was a quiet kind of pleasure that someone she knew and liked was getting enjoyment from something she’d created.

‘Ruby?’ said Brian, watching her with interest from the window.

‘Oh - right, sorry!’ she laughed, shaking her head. ‘Do you have a clue for me - as the highest-ranking captain of Crumbleton?’

‘Nope, no clue,’ said Brian.

‘Oh,’ said Ruby, deflating. ‘You sure?’

‘Positive,’ said Brian, popping a bookmark carefully between the pages of the book and stashing it in the glove compartment. ‘But I am here to give you a lift!’

‘Where to?’ said Ruby, her excitement bubbling right back up.

‘That’s for me to know and you to find out,’ said Brian. ‘Hop in!’

Ruby let herself into the back seat and popped the heavy basket next to her. She was half expecting this to be a huge joke - for Brian to turn straight back up the steep high street and simply drop her off somewhere near the top. Instead, he turned out of Crumbleton, passing through the City Gates and joining the winding road that led across the salt marshes.

‘Let me guess… Crumbleton Sands?’ said Ruby, leaning forward to interrogate him.

‘Not very patient, are you?’ chuckled Brian.

‘Nope!’ said Ruby. ‘Okay, what about-’

‘I’m not telling you!’ said Brian in amusement.

‘Well… definitely not the beach,’ said Ruby, as Brian indicated and took a turn that led in the opposite direction. They rounded the base of Crumbleton hill and drove past the little wharf where the Marsh Ranger kept his boat. The road followed a winding path through the ever-changing landscape of the watery marshland, between the reedbeds, pools and rivers.

Ruby knew this route well. She’d taken it enough times as a kid on her bike. Ahead of them, as if in answer to her question, she spotted a little hill rising from the wetlands - a much smaller echo of Crumbleton. This one was covered in trees.

‘Crumbleton Clump!’ she said.

‘Maybe,’ hedged Brian, rather spoiling the mystery by coming to a halt at the tree line a few minutes later.

CHAPTER 18

OLI

This was the worst idea he’d ever had in his life!

Oli paced from one tree to the next, cursing himself for coming up with such an idiotic date… especially considering Ruby was such an epic flight risk.

It had all seemed like such a great idea when he’d roped Caroline in to help him set it up. Even when the pair of them had been busy running around town that morning - dashing into the various shops, calling in favours and leaving behind clues - he’d been convinced that Ruby would love it. He’d been so certain nothing could possibly go wrong.

Now, with far too much time on his hands to overthink it all, Oli had realised that there were a few fatal flaws in his genius plan. For one thing, he’d be repaying the various favours he’d called in for years to come. On top of that, by asking so many people for their help, he’d basically broadcast the fact that Ruby meant far more to him than a simple blast from the past. He wasn’t going to live it down in a month of Mondays!

Still… it’d be worth it if Ruby had fun… if she turned up, of course!

‘Shut up, brain!’ he huffed, letting out a little laugh.

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