[Churchminster #3] Wild Things Read Online Free PDF Page B

competition, she thought it might be an ideal way to get Brenda back on her feet again.
    Her idea seemed to be paying off.
    ‘It’s going a treat!’ Brenda exclaimed. ‘I’ve put posters up in the shop and have been out seeing all my old mates, spreading the word. The first one is next week, should be a good turnout.’
    Clementine smiled. It was so nice to see Brenda getting back to her normal self. But there was one subject that she still had to broach. ‘I noticed you’ve still got your Santa and Rudolph decoration up on the roof.’
    Brenda chortled. ‘Great, isn’t it? Who says Christmas decorations are just for Christmas? Warms my cockles every time I see it.’ She gave a cackle of laughter. ‘Well, something’s got to warm me cockles since Ted put his back out!’
    ‘Hmmm,’ said Clementine. ‘As, er, nice as it is, I can’t help thinking it’s rather a distraction. Really rather out of keeping with the village, especially with the competition coming up.’
    Brenda looked at Clementine. ‘You’re asking me to take it down?’
    ‘I suppose I am,’ Clementine admitted.
    Brenda frowned, thinking. ‘You’re right,’ she said eventually. ‘It has been up there for six months. OK, I’ll get Ted up there when he gets back from work.’
    Clementine had been expecting more resistance. ‘Excellent,’ she said, pulling her driving gloves back on. ‘Well, I’ve got a mountain of things to do so, I must be off.’
    ‘Talking of changing things,’ Brenda said as she led Clementine back through the cottage. ‘I’m thinking of renaming ‘Hollyhocks Cottage’ ‘Hollyoaks Cottage’. What do you think? I mean, fresh start and all that, and it is one of my favourite programmes. I got the idea when I was watching it the other night.’
    Clementine had no idea what she was talking about. It sounded like a gardening programme. Why had she never come across it? It must be one of those dreadful satellite channels everyone seemed to have these days. At least Brenda could be applauded for keeping with the spirit of the competition. ‘Whatever makes you happy.’
    Brenda looked chuffed to bits. ‘Hollyoaks Cottage it is, then! See you, Mrs S-F.’
    ‘Goodbye, Brenda.’

Chapter 7
    CAMILLA AND JED were taking a walk around the Meadows, a peaceful fifty-acre woodland site on the edge of the village. For once, Jed had got home from work early, and they had decided to make the most of the lighter evenings.
    They walked in companionable silence for a while. Camilla never felt the need to fill the air with unnecessary chatter when she was with Jed; he had a depth and stillness she found very peaceful.
    Camilla found it bizarre to think that she’d spent all her life growing up in the same village as Jed, and yet, until three years ago they’d barely exchanged two words. She couldn’t imagine life without him now. For over two decades they’d existed in separate worlds: Camilla in a big happy family, her life full of boarding school and skiing trips, Jed more out on the land than in school or college. Mr Bantry had run off with another woman when Jed was little, and it had been just him and his mum for as long as Camilla could remember . From what she could gather, Jed had practically bought himself up, as Mrs Bantry had worked all hours at the Hall as a housekeeper to make ends meet. Jed had always been a loner, and Camilla had wondered if his upbringing was something to do with that, but he had brushed off her enquiries, only saying his dad was dead to him and a waste of space. Jed was so self-contained and self-reliant; she’d never seen him get upset about anything.
    Camilla had worried that he would feel claustrophobic in a proper relationship. She was his first serious girlfriend; in fact, make that his only girlfriend. She’d never asked him, but Camilla had the feeling there had been enough brief flings. A few whispers of gossip had floated her way over the years: an attractive divorcée from