In Lonnie's Shadow by Chrissie Michaels Page A

lose you’ll have to stay clear of Rose, do you understand?’
    It gave Lonnie a smug satisfaction to think Crick considered him a threat. He couldn’t let it pass. ‘And if I win, will you promise to stay away from her?’
    ‘Take it or leave it,’ Crick snarled. ‘If you agree, I may forget about telling my father about this moonlighting job. Still, with all these apple sales you won’t have much need for a winner’s purse.’ He took a bite of the apple. ‘Although I dare say you’d need to upgrade your selection of fruit from this inferior quality.’
    Carlo was not known to react kindly to slights about his produce. Recognising his friend was ready to take a slog at Crick and being of a singular mind in this respect, Lonnie reluctantly shook hands over the deal.
    Once Lonnie had agreed, and thinking he had the upper hand, Crick made an effort to be less snarly.
    ‘The winner’s purse is about seventy pounds, more than you’ve ever seen I imagine. It would put you on the way to buying yourself a horse. Could even snap one up like Trident for a hundred guineas or so.’ Without another word he walked off.
    No sooner had he left than Carlo blurted out, ‘Are you mad? He’s setting you up good and proper.’
    ‘Don’t I know it,’ Lonnie answered.
    ‘One more word from him and I would have flattened him. He had it coming.’
    ‘He always has it coming,’ Lonnie said. He got to thinking. ‘So I’m on Lightning and Crick is riding Trident. According to Pearl, Lightning isn’t going to win, which means I’m on a loser. Then again, if I did win we’d have more cash in hand than we make in a year. Set us up for life.’
    Carlo wasn’t so optimistic. ‘Only if you win, mate. Besides Crick’s not the only mug you’ve upset. Stop giving free apples away to the customers. You’ll send me broke.’ He held out his open hand. ‘I reckon you need to square up for starters.’
    ‘Do you realise how good it was to get one over on Crick for a change? His sixpence more than paid for Rose’s apple and well you know it.’
    Carlo grinned. ‘So are you serious about coming in partnership with me? I’m not kidding you, mate.’
    ‘I’ve always fancied life in a saddle, or else I definitely would. I’m afraid that’ll have to do for now,’ Lonnie told him as he threw an arm around his friend’s shoulder. ‘So mate, do ya reckon Rose Payne’ll walk out with me?’

PERFUME BOTTLE

    Item No. 4

    A single decorative container divided into two compartments, one for perfume, the other for smelling salts. Dutch blue glass with gold caps on either end. Purse size.

    Rose Payne was only going through the motions as she paraded the length of the covered arcades that ran off the main street. Like all the daughters of her father’s friends, doing the Block was supposed to be her favourite pastime, but those two battling over a silly apple had gone and spoilt her day.
    The way they both boasted like babies about their horsemanship was thoroughly irksome, each trying to outdo the other while stealing looks at her. Rose sighed at the thought of two suitors vying for her affections. Taking little notice of anything in particular, she stared vacantly into a bow-shaped window displaying its range of feathery bonnets and imagined being swept off her feet. She was sixteen, flirtatious and longing for a declaration of love.
    It took her by surprise that Thomas Crick was not the one who came first to mind. It was that shock of ginger hair, that wicked curl of a lip, those green eyes flecked with tiny brown dares, the face full of mischief. It was how she had looked back into that bold stare from Mr McGuinness for longer than perhaps she should. How she felt his hand send a tremor along her arm when he so sweetly made a gift of the apple. A reckless rush of feeling at the possibilities washed over her until she could barely grab her breath. She leaned against the shop window to steady herself. Whatever was coming over her,