Katie's War Read Online Free

engine hissed by. Katie was reminded of the day she had come to fetch her father, but the vapour did not linger as it had on that cold December day. Doors swung open as the train slowed. Her father stood on tiptoe searching over the sudden bustle on the platform. Katie could sense that he was excited.
    â€˜There he is – that’s Griffith, with the cap – Mr Parry to you – and that must be Dafydd.’ He started thrusting his waythrough the crowd. Katie struggled after him. She could see the man Father had pointed to looking about him, but no sign of his son. A pale gawky lad was helping a lady, his mother perhaps, with a case that looked too heavy for him.
    â€˜Griffith!’ Father was pumping the man by the hand.
    â€˜Sergeant O’Brien, it’s good to see you again.’
    â€˜Call me Eamonn, or I’ll start calling you Captain.’
    â€˜There’s a threat for you!’ and both men laughed, still gripping hands, reluctant to let go.
    â€˜Now, where’s that son of mine?’ asked Mr Parry, looking around.

CHAPTER 3
Dafydd
    K atie stood frozen, eyes riveted on the boy who was now grinning amiably up at the two men. It was the sickly lad she had seen. He too wore a cap. His head was small, his ears large; he had a short body with long arms and legs. He seemed to alternate between big and small all the way down, ending in half-mast trousers and a pair of huge hobnailed boots. Katie found herself staring at him in disbelief. Where was the handsome Welsh boy she’d imagined waiting to sweep her off her feet? This boy looked pale and frail with black smudges under his eyes. Only that Father had told her on the way to the station that he was fifteen, she’d have said he was Marty’s age, no more. She thought of the picture she had built up of him that morning and felt foolish and resentful all in one. Then she realised theywere all looking at her. She tore her eyes away from where they had lodged, on his boots. She could feel a blush rising. It started at her neck and burst on to her face like a flame. The boy seemed to notice. He blinked, as if to adjust to a bright light.
    â€˜Pleased to meet you,’ he said in a funny sing-song voice, putting out his hand. Then he changed his mind and took off his cap instead. The men laughed. Mr Parry shook her hand and called her beautiful. Father scooped up a sack of tools of theirs, which was lying on the platform, with his hook.
    â€˜Your luggage is in the guard’s van?’ he asked. ‘Don’t worry about it now, the carter will bring it up this evening as long as it’s labelled.’ The crowd on the platform was thinning. The soldiers were beginning to file on to the platform. ‘We’d better relieve that young man of yours, Katie.’
    They found the soldier walking back from the other side of the yard with the trap. Thoughtfully, he had taken Barney away from the line as the train came in.
    â€˜You don’t like trains, do you, old lad?’ the soldier said, patting the horse’s neck. ‘I’ll hold him till you’re in, Sir.’
    â€˜Katie, you and Dafydd move up to the front, we’ll sit in the back and keep the weight off the shafts. Barney will be quiet now, you’ll be able to hold him.’
    Katie gathered up the reins, feeling a sudden rush of longing. She wanted to stay in Nenagh talking to the handsome soldier with the smiling face and teasing eyes. She knew that he was looking up at her from Barney’s head now but she felt too shy to look down. Perhaps he would see what she was feeling. Then she realised she was staring at the boots of the Welsh lad opposite and the two white sticks of his legs emerging from his trousers. She mustn’t blush again. She turned to look down at the soldier. He had his head slightly to one side, an eyebrow raised, smiling.
    â€˜That’s better,’ he said quietly, and he might have been saying it to