Preparations at Grange Farm

Brenda and Soppy were run off their feet. For some reason Steele had stopped coming. No explanations were given. It was Charlie Davey who replaced him. Arriving first thing in the morning he would shout at them, demanding that the dogs were taken to the training track.

He would collect Willis and follow them up the pasture. The two of them watched Soppy's every move. They yelled at him to get the 'bloody dogs moving'. Soppy glanced at Brenda in despair. His precious dogs were running as fast as they knew how.

Willis checked Brenda's records and tutted. "It's not good enough, darlin', not good enough. Redbourne'll do his nut, if you don't do better than this. 'ave you seen the track best times?" She shook her head. "Thought not! We'll just 'ave to give them little doggies something to chivvy them up a bit!" He laughed. He took all the record books under his arm then he and Willis went back to the farmhouse.

"What are they goin' to do, Brenda? They'll hurt the dogs, 'specially Midnight, if they 'chivvy them up'."

"I don't know what they're going to do, Harry! It doesn't sound good. But it's you and me in control of the dogs, remember that. I'll try to see no harm comes to them." Whatever she said, she didn't feel confident that the actuality would be what she told him.

Mrs Hannaford was beside herself with irritation. Her kitchen, once her stronghold was now an endless passageway for Willis and Steele and now for Willis and Davey. Somehow, Davey was not quite as threatening as Steele but she hated him just the same.

No more chats with Harry in peace. Even Brenda kept away. Mrs Hannaford saw no way out. However, one morning after they had come down from the training session, Willis managed to persuade Davey to take him to the village. Steele had never agreed to this however hard Willis nagged him. Davey was more amenable and saw no harm in having a pub lunch.

"Thank God, Charlie, if I stay cooped up with these village idiots any longer I'll shoot myself or them!" He grinned at Mrs Hannaford.

"Hope it'll be alright with the Boss." Davey said.

"Bugger the Boss! He'll never know anyway!"

Soppy and Brenda were coming back with the four dogs they'd been training. They saw Willis and Davey driving away. A look of relief flooded across Soppy's face.

"Let's put the dogs back quickly then go to Mrs Hannaford. We can have a chin wag while they're away. We need to make plans." Brenda quickened her pace towards the barn, then paused. "Harry, can you take the dogs? I want to check to see if there's a note?" He nodded, and she ran back up the hill. Lifting the stone, she found the note. What she read filled her with anxiety for the future.