Read The Docklands Girls for Free Online Page A

ducking and diving at the sound of gun fire. Several hours later, they climbed wearily into trucks and were driven back to camp where, after a shower and hot meal, they tumbled into their bunks, ready for sleep.
    One of the men was heard to say, ‘If the damned Krauts don’t kill us, I reckon we’ll die of exhaustion!’
    Jackson curled up under the covers and thought of Belle. He wished she were here with him, he longed to feel her warm flesh against his and her arms around him.
     
    Belle was working, entertaining a Canadian firefighter, smiling, making him comfortable, seeing to his needs, her mind miles away – thinking of Jackson Butler.

Chapter Five
    A week later, Cora was sitting quietly in the Lord Roberts sipping her half pint of bitter, when the door opened and Hank walked in. She, delighted to see him, waved and smiled, but he just nodded, walked to the bar and ordered a drink before wandering over to her and sitting down.
    ‘Hank! How lovely to see you. How did the exercises go?’
    ‘They were hell, really. We were soaked to the skin, cold and miserable, to be honest. We were all glad when they were over and we could sit in a hot bath and eat a decent meal.’
    She was immediately sympathetic. ‘How awful, but I guess it was essential in preparation for the real thing.’
    ‘Yes, of course, we all realise that.’ He took a good swig of his beer. ‘So now, what I really want is to have sex with a woman until I’m exhausted – are you free?’
    Cora was so shocked she was speechless for a moment. Hank had never spoken to her in such derogatory tone, but now she knew he’d discovered her secret. She sat up straight and glared at him.
    ‘I never ever thought of you as being a callous person. You surprise me!’
    He raised his eyebrows. ‘ I surprise you ! How do you think I felt when one of my buddies told me what you do for a living? Yet you have never ever let me get near you! How do you think I felt?’
    ‘I didn’t exactly lie,’ she said quietly, ‘I just didn’t go into detail, but don’t you understand? You were different . I didn’t want you as a punter, with you I wanted to be me – as a person, just an ordinary girl, a girl you liked – as I liked you.’
    There was a certain vulnerability in her voice which Hank recognised and which quelled his anger somewhat. ‘Why do you do it, for Christ’s sake?’
    ‘Because I want a future! I have nothing. No one. I have to fend for myself and to do that I need money, money that will take me to London when I have enough. Enough to put all this behind me, to allow me to start a fresh life where no one knows me or anything about me. Can’t you understand?’ Cora was now the one who was angry.
    Hank was at a loss for words. What she told him made sense, but he couldn’t get rid of the images of this lovely girl in bed with other men. It was driving him crazy because to him, she was special.
    He shook his head. ‘I thought you were my girl. How wrong can a guy be?’
    Cora fought the tears which threatened to come and rose from her seat.
    ‘I’m really sorry, Hank, but that’s who I am – and that’s what I do.’ She walked out of the bar, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks. She took a few steps along the street, then broke down and sobbed until there were no tears left to shed.
    Inside the bar, Hank walked up to the counter. ‘Have you got anything stronger than beer, landlord?’
    Leaning closer so as not to be heard, the landlord said, ‘I have some bourbon under the counter, Yank.’
    ‘Fine, make it a large one, will you? And keep them coming!’
     
    Belle locked her front door and started to make her way to the Horse and Groom when, in the dusk of the evening, she saw Cora leaning against the wall near the Lord Roberts. She was clearly in distress.
    ‘Cora, whatever’s the matter, love?’
    ‘My lovely GI has found out that I’m on the game! Oh, Belle, I’m so miserable.’
    Seeing the state of her friend, Belle