Megan dashed to collect her things and run out to join her. Bethany was being left behind yet again with Mum and Dad. The day suddenly seemed greyer and flatter than it had done half an hour before. ‘Don’t worry love’ said Mum as they heard Rachel’s Citroen drive away, ‘we’ll think of something fun to do today.’ Bethany stared glumly into her cornflakes, pushing them around with her spoon. ‘So do you think we’ll find out something useful?’ Megan asked Rachel eagerly as they bumped up the track that led to the main road. The older girl was wearing a light cotton dress and cowboy boots and had a scarf in her hair. Megan’s Dad would have said she looked like a hippy, but Megan thought that Rachel was cool. Megan herself was dressed in her habitual shorts and T-shirt and felt very young in comparison. Rachel shot her a winning smile. ‘Well we’ll soon find out won’t we? Don’t build your hopes up too much though Megan’ she went on. ‘Maybe the mice have eaten through the Rev’s papers already.’ They chatted about this and that as Rachel drove down the quiet hedge-lined lanes towards Merwater.
