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leading his horse. It had been the horse’s heavy clops and rattle of the harness that she’d heard and not wild animals after all. Relieved, Ellen waved to Leo.
    When Leo drew closer to Ellen it became obvious to her that he had been drinking. Disgusted she turned back to her daughter. Amy had sat down again on one of the tree stumps. Exasperated Ellen called out to her. ‘Come on, Amy. Hurry up.’
    Amy stood reluctantly and made up her mind to come back on Sunday. She would bring Lillian and her brother, Harry, and have a picnic, she decided. When Leo came into view Amy gaped and sat down again, quickly straightening the bodice of her dress.
    Leo returned Ellen’s wave with an incoherent greeting. He staggered slightly and used Storm for support. Tethering the horse to a low branch Leo stumbled over to Amy in her fairy ring and knelt down on the ground in front of her. ‘We meet again, Amy,’ he hiccupped, and he reached out to grab her hand.
    Amy took his hand in hers, pleased and excited to see him again. With her bonnet off, Leo began to stroke her long hair, twisting burnished strands around his fingers. Amy listened to his compliments spellbound, oblivious to his unpleasant drunken condition.
    Seeing how Amy was pleased with Leo’s attention, Ellen drew closer, perplexed as to what she should do. She watched in dismay when Leo slid his hands around Amy’s slim waist and, frightened by what his intention might be, Ellen found her voice and stepped forward. ‘Leave her alone please, Leo,’ she said sharply. The urge to push him away was strong, but his status as the son of her family’s employer held her in check. Uneasy, Ellen clasped and unclasped her hands.
    Leo leered at Ellen with a sly smile and waved her away with a hand. Then to Amy he said, ‘Just a little kiss, you would like that, wouldn’t you Amy?’
    Ellen moved back a step but watched fixedly. She wondered where her husband, John, was. Could he still be working in the wood somewhere? Would he hear her if she shouted for help?
    Holding Amy firmly, Leo pulled her head towards him and kissed her gently on the lips. Amy responded and closed her eyes and felt a tingling sensation flush through her body. She let out an involuntary giggle and Leo kissed her again, harder this time, pulling her down beside him on the rough ground. He felt for her small breasts and feeling the tiny buds harden under his fingers, he squeezed. Startled, Amy cried out and tried to push his hands away from her.
    Leo laughed, delighted. ‘Like to play rough, do you?’ he sniggered, and he sat astride Amy, pinning her beneath him. He tore open her bodice, revealing pale skin.
    Ellen rushed to protect her daughter. ‘Get off her’, she shouted as loudly as she could, hoping someone would hear. But Leo was ready for Ellen and backhanded her hard. He shoved her away from him, and as she stumbled he grabbed her ankle, causing Ellen to fall headlong onto one of the tree stumps where she lay dazed.
    ‘Are you jealous, Ellen?’ Leo leered. He seized the hem of Ellen’s skirt with one hand while his other clutched Amy’s neck. ‘I like your lovely daughter and she likes me, don’t you Amy?’ he said, glancing at Amy’s frightened face. Tears spilled down Amy’s cheeks as she tried to cover her small naked breasts.
    Ellen stood up. Frustration and anger gave her a strength she didn’t realise she possessed. ‘Leave my daughter alone, you bastard,’ she shouted. Then, determined to overbalance Leo and get him off Amy, Ellen threw her full weight at him, grabbing a handful of his ginger hair. Twisting its coarseness around her fingers she tugged with all her strength. A clump of Leo’s hair came away in her hand and he yelled in pain.
    Leo released his hold on Amy to pull Ellen’s hands away, and taking her opportunity Amy shuffled away along the ground, frantically trying to button up her bodice with one hand.
    Awkwardly, swaying slightly, Leo stood and stepped away.