Page 55 of A Year at Appleyard Farm
Cora got up from the table, her face anxious in the dimming light. ‘That doesn’t make any sense…unless…unless the bridge is somehow blocked. That might explain it. Did you take a look at it, Tom?’
‘Only from the car. The water’s high, but I couldn’t see any obstruction.’
‘Then might I suggest you get down there again and have another look. At the very least we ought to warn the folks who live down by the pond. Perhaps Merry could ring Bill at the pub in the meantime; he and his wife know everyone in that row of cottages. They’ll know what to do. And if you know of anyone with big strong muscles who could give you a hand, I suggest you ring them too. There might be a bit of furniture that needs moving.’
Merry nodded as she watched Tom shrug his coat back on. By the time he reached the door, she had already picked up her phone.
* * *
‘Don’t be so ridiculous,’ argued Freya, ‘you’re completely overreacting.’
‘Oh am I,’ snarled Sam, his eyes blazing. ‘Put yourself in my shoes, Freya. You go and see my brother behind my back, in an attempt to convince him to do the very thing I’d already asked him to, and yet you claim to have every faith in me. It doesn’t look like it from where I’m standing. You’ve questioned everything I’ve said today, so go on, admit it, you’re still not sure I’m man enough for the job, are you?’
Freya stared at Sam, her mouth hanging open. ‘Oh for goodness’ sake, how many times, Sam? How many times do I have to tell you—?’
A shrill noise interrupted her, and it threw her for a moment as she tried to work out where the sound was coming from. She tried to ignore it and remember what she was saying, but the noise was accompanied by a harsh vibrating that made everything on the table shudder. Freya fished her phone out from under some papers and tutted in exasperation. She was about to silence the call and switch off her mobile when she caught sight of the name on the display. She held up a hand to Sam.
‘Merry, what is it, is Robyn okay?’ she asked in a panic, all thoughts of their argument forgotten. ‘Oh thank goodness for that.’
Sam was standing right in front of her, and she saw his shoulders relax at her words. She listened to Merry’s anxious voice, her thoughts racing away from her at what she heard. After a moment, she gave a swift nod and ended the call. She looked down at the phone in her hands and then back up at Sam.
‘We need to get over to Lower Witley as soon as possible,’ she said. ‘So go and get your boots and your mac on, we’re going to get wet.’ She turned to go and fetch her own from the hall closet. ‘And no arguments, go and ring Stephen, we need his help too.’
27
‘Can you see anything?’ shouted Sam, his voice snatched away by the wind as he leaned out over the bridge.
Below him, Tom edged gingerly down the bank beside the road. One hand grabbed a bush as he tried to lower himself further, and the other inched its way down the wall, loath to let go of the parapet. The noise was ferocious.
The thick bushes thrashed in the wind, and it was impossible to tell what he was looking at. Tom knew he would have to get lower still if he was to see what was going on. He swung his body round for a moment, throwing his weight forward into the bush as he sought to get a firmer grip with his feet. He let the bush take his weight as he braced himself against it, and slid one hand down to grasp a thicker branch. His feet moved further down the bank and there was now nothing to save him if he fell, but a tumble of grasses and low lying shrubs which would part easily if any weight were put on them.
His feet met water as he strained forward, finally seeing what had caused the river to rise so dramatically. A small tree had become completely wedged under the bridge, its trunk stuck fast against the walls with a tumult of debris straining behind it. Several smaller logs and branches were bouncing about the water seeking an escape. He shook the rain off his face and tried to lever himself backwards, his feet slipping in the sodden mud.
A hand reached down to pull him the last few steps as he neared road level once more, and Sam’s concerned face came into view. ‘Did you see anything?’ he shouted again, shuddering as a fresh draught of rain trickled down the back of his neck.
Tom motioned towards Sam’s pickup where they could talk a little easier. He climbed inside, passing a hand over his face to remove a curl of hair that dripped water over one eye.
‘The bridge is partially blocked,’ he said. ‘Right in the middle. A tree has come down stream and wedged itself against the bridge walls. The weight of water and other rubbish behind it is only pushing it tighter. Some water is getting through, but it’s acting like a dam. If we don’t move the tree, the river will flood further back for sure.’
Sam nodded, a grim expression on his face. ‘Any ideas how we get the tree out?’ he asked.
Tom shook his head. ‘Not one. Not yet anyway. How is everyone else doing?’
‘Bill has rounded up as many folk as he can to help, and so far Freya and Stephen have a team in each house, shifting what they can of the furniture upstairs. There are six houses down by the pond altogether, it’s not going to be a quick job.’
‘Okay, I need to ring Merry and let her know what’s going on. Then I suggest we get our heads together to see what we can do about that tree.’
* * *
Merry pushed the plate towards Cora. ‘It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I feel so helpless up here, while they’re all slogging their guts out down there. I can’t think of a single thing to do except eat cake and drink tea.’
‘Well, I for one am very grateful,’ replied Cora, helping herself to a chunk of the fruit cake. It’s fiendish out there. These old bones have seen a few rough storms in their time, but this is up there with the best of them, that’s for sure.’
Merry picked at a crumb on her plate. ‘I’m scared, Cora,’ she said with a small smile. ‘What if something happens to any of them?’
‘I think perhaps we need something to do while we wait,’ she answered, neatly sidestepping the question. ‘It’s not good to dwell on our fears. Why don’t you show me all the wonderful plans you have for your shop? Robyn is fast asleep and now would be as good a time as any.’
‘Or you could tell me about Christopher…you did say you would,’ replied Merry, refilling her friend’s teacup.
