Previews Haunting Echoes by Mai Griffin | Page 9

Mai Griffin up to our Ruby wedding soon and we wouldn’t live anywhere else,” he laughed. “It isn’t as quiet as it used to be but folk can still let their kids out to play without too much worry.” Clarrie was aware that he had been trying to catch a glimpse of the painting as she continually tried to hold it away from her flapping coat, so when they turned the corner into the terraced street, where it was much calmer, she wasn’t surprised when he asked if he could please see it. What did surprise her was his look of astonishment and his words… “Well, I can see why everyone is talking about it,” he said. “I don’t think there has been anyone in the shop today, over the age of fifty who hasn’t described it to us. I see what they mean. It’s amazing. I thought it was your first visit to the village. What made you decide on this view?” “Well,” she replied, not quite sure how to take his remark, “I was actually planning to drive on to Greater Peasey – I didn’t know there was a Lesser Peasey and was intrigued when I saw it signposted so decided to stop for coffee. It seemed such a pretty place that I couldn’t resist walking around, always being on the lookout for interesting subjects.” A gust of wind almost took the canvas from her grip and she was relieved to find her lodgings were within sight. By the time she was safely inside, there was no necessity for further conversation and her neighbour departed with the hope that he would see her later in the Wench’s Arms. Clarrie recalled her impressions of the Pub on her first drive through the village – a picturesque old building with a thatched roof. She had stopped to ask if she could stay there but there was no accommodation for visitors because it was a family home where the publican employed his three married sons. Presumably they and their families all lived-in. 8