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CHAPTER 1

‘Well, this is it,’ she sighed, ‘new home, new friends, new fellas.’
     The thought of the opposite sex sent shivers of excitement down her spine and brought the faintest suggestion of a smile to her lips.
     She was sitting by her bedroom window looking out at the old market town that her family had recently moved to. Nestling in a fertile green valley, the sombre grey houses and cottages fitted snugly round the river like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. The town projected the traditional Sunday – tranquil and serene.
     She brushed her shoulder-length, brown hair and turned to look at herself in the mirror. Her eyes, deep brown and sparkling with cheeky innocence, stared back at her. Satisfied that she could look no better, she slipped her shoes on and ran downstairs.
     It was May 1971, Sunday and 2 o’clock. Dixie MacFay left her house and called next door for her friend Jane Hanson. However, she had left a few minutes earlier, or so her brother Ricky told Dixie.
     ‘Won’t I do instead?’ he jested and tried to hide his seriousness. Ever since the MacFay family had moved in next door and he had first seen Dixie his thoughts kept returning to those inviting eyes. This was the first chance that he had had to change his dreams into reality, and he nervously hoped that she felt the same.
     ‘You might,’ she replied and looking over his small, lean figure with his straight brown hair even longer than her own and those lively eyes that never ceased to smile, she thought to herself that he’d do, at least for the time being.
     ‘Let’s go for a ride then,’ he suggested, indicating his Lambretta scooter parked in the driveway. Scooters were all the rage at that time and although Dixie shared his passion for them, she had never had first hand experience, even on the back of one, so naturally she jumped at the chance and soon they were riding through the town. Ricky kept pointing out places to her like the town hall where they held discos each week, the technical college where he was doing an O level course and Moor Cross Stables where his friend John Meyer lived. Most of his words, however, were lost in the wind and the noise of the engine.
     Ricky turned off the main road onto a rough cart track. He parked the scooter in a gateway and they continued on foot. The track soon petered out to a mere footpath which twisted its way up a steep hill. It was a warm, sunny day and the wind was nonexistent, so they had to stop several times to get their breath back and cool down before carrying on again. Reaching the top, Dixie collapsed on the ground, panting heavily and sweat pouring down her face. Ricky offered her a cigarette which, although she had no energy to smoke, she accepted.
     ‘What’s that over there?’ she enquired, noticing some sort of monument.
     ‘Oh that,’ Ricky said, turning to look in the same direction. ‘It’s the Jubilee Stone. There’s another monument over there,’ he pointed to a hill on the other side of the road upon which stood a stone cross.
     ‘What’s it for?’
     ‘To be quite honest, I don’t know and I’ve lived here all my life.’ He looked at her and grinned. ‘Do you like it here?’
     ‘Give us a chance, I’ve only been here a week,’ she replied, smiling back at him.
     ‘Well, what I mean is, do you think you’ll like it here?’
     ‘I hope so. The people seem friendly enough and that’s what really matters.’
     ‘Yeah, I suppose it is,’ he agreed, edging closer to her side. ‘Are you going to the disco on Friday?’
     ‘I might do if Jane is,’ Dixie replied, trying not to commit herself.
     ‘To hell with Jane!’ he shouted and then quietly he added ‘I’m going.’
     Without waiting for a reply he slipped both arms around her and gently pushed her back onto the dry grass. As their lips met her arms locked round his neck, pulling him closer to her. His kiss was both passionate and gentle and Dixie decided that she liked it, so she held on for as long as she could. He kissed her again and again, and not only was she afraid of him getting carried away, but he was too.
     It was about an hour later that they decided, both reluctantly, that they had better go back for tea.
     ‘I’ll race you to the bottom,’ Ricky challenged as he stood up.
     ‘OK,’ Dixie replied as she got up and started down the hill.
     ‘Cheat!’ he roared, setting off after her. But even though he ran his best he was no match for Dixie, who was sitting on the scooter by the time he got to the track.
     ‘You’re not fit,’ she said, laughing and panting at the same time.
     ‘I’m saving myself,’ but underneath his excuse he knew that he did not like being beaten, especially by a girl, and Dixie sensed that too.
     The ride back was silent. Ricky, despite his conquest of Dixie, was demoralised at having lost the race and was desperately thinking of how to show her that he was superior. Dixie was coming to terms with the fact that he was not as bad as ‘the boy next door’, an image that she had always associated with National Health spectacles, briefcase and ‘short back and sides’. Perhaps this strange, new town was going to change a lot of her opinions and ideals.
    

CHAPTER 2

Dixie was watching television later that evening with her parents and younger sister Lesley when there was a loud knock on their door. None of them were expecting visitors but Dixie half hoped that it would be Ricky who’d realised that he couldn’t last until Tuesday without her. She rushed to the door but was astonished to find not Ricky but a tall, handsome young man, dressed somewhat individually in navy cord jeans and black shirt, standing on the doorstep.
     ‘Is Andrew in?’ he asked politely.
     ‘No … er … yes … well … I don’t know,’ she stammered, quite unprepared for him wanting her brother. ‘Come in and I’ll go and have a look.’
     The last time that she had seen her brother was after tea when he had gone upstairs to get changed but after searching the house it was apparent that he had already gone to see his girlfriend Kelly Hardy.
     ‘I’m afraid he’s already gone out,’ she told him as she came back into the kitchen. ‘Was it something important?’
     ‘No, I just wondered if he wanted to come out for a drink, but it doesn’t matter,’ he answered, and turning to go out added, ‘Will you tell him that Billy Collins called?’
     ‘Yes of course.’ But Dixie had different ideas about his leaving. She was not one to let an opportunity like that escape, so quick thinking was required. ‘Billy Collins! Are you any relation to Zana?’
     ‘Yes, she’s my sister.’ For the first time he looked at Dixie properly and liked what he saw. ‘Know her, do you?’
     ‘I go round with her and Jane at school. The funny thing is she never mentioned you.’
     Billy laughed. ‘I think I’ll have to have words with my sister. Fancy not mentioning me. But surely Andy did?’
     ‘No.’ It was Dixie’s turn to laugh, because his face had assumed such a worried expression. ‘But I’ve not had a chance to talk to him this last week,’ she explained.
     ‘Say, why don’t I take you for that drink?’ he asked suddenly.
     ‘Well, I’m not doing anything,’ Dixie replied casually, but felt quite pleased because that was what she was hoping that he would suggest. She fetched a jacket and slipping it around her shoulders she followed him down the path to where a blue Ford Anglia stood.
     ‘Have you been anywhere in the town yet?’ he asked as they got in.
     ‘No, it’s taken us all week to get straight.’
     ‘Well in that case we’ll go to the Rose and Crown,’ Billy suggested. ‘It’ll be quiet there tonight.’
     ‘OK.’ Dixie was silent for a few minutes and then her curiosity got the better of her. ‘How do you know Andy?’
     ‘I work with him,’ he answered and then they lapsed into silence again. However they soon arrived at the pub and after parking the car they went inside.
     The Rose and Crown had two rooms, the Public Bar and the Lounge. Billy selected the latter even though, he explained, it was not much better than the other. On first glance Dixie wondered what could be worse. The coverings on the seats and the carpet were worn and threadbare in places, only half the wall lamps worked and the shades were so dirty, the ones that were lit hardly gave out any light. Both the bar and the table tops were badly soiled underneath the beer-soaked drip mats, and the walls and ceiling which had once been white were a nicotine-stained yellow. She sat down at a corner table and waited while Billy bought the drinks.
     Unintentionally she found herself comparing him with Ricky. Billy was just under 6’ and had hazy blue eyes. His hair, the colour of autumn leaves, was neatly cut just below his ears. So different to Ricky whose small, skinny frame looked as though it was held up by his long hair. Billy was good looking and lovable, but sensitive and unsure of himself. Ricky, who had few assets in his appearance, nevertheless did not lack charm and self assurance.
     They stayed there for over two hours, during which time they found that they had a lot in common. They both liked animals of any description, both were interested in cars and both were fanatics where football was concerned, although they supported different teams. However, they disagreed over music, and dancing was unthinkable to Billy, whereas Dixie enjoyed it, mainly because she knew that she was a good dancer.
     On the way home Dixie changed the conversation to somebody else. ‘Do you know Kelly, our Andy’s girlfriend?’ she asked.
     ‘Yes, I introduced them,’ he replied with a tinge of bitterness. He continued, ‘She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. They own a flat, Kelly and her brother, and she idles her life away at tech. Daddy owns a mansion in the country and a car firm where her two brothers work.’
     ‘Snobs, are they?’ Dixie interrupted.
     ‘You could say that but Doug and Kelly only went to school in town and I think they’re just spoilt. They’ve always had everything they wanted,’ he explained.
     ‘It sounds as though Andy’s got himself a good catch,’ she concluded.
     ‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Kelly’s love affairs don’t last very long. She’s always on the lookout for something better.’ He laughed unsteadily and Dixie began to wonder if there had been something between Billy and Kelly. However, she decided not to dwell on the matter as they were approaching her home.
     When they stopped outside the house, Billy switched off the engine and turned to face her. He made as if to say something but stopped and blushed slightly as though he had rehearsed a speech, but at the last moment he could not go through with it. Instead he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips.
     ‘Thank you for your company,’ he said.
     ‘It’s been a pleasure,’ Dixie replied and added with more sincerity, ‘I’ve really enjoyed it.
     ‘I’m glad,’ Billy answered a shade flippantly as he started the car. ‘Well, Goodnight Love.’
     Rather disheartened, Dixie got out of the car and as Billy drove away she walked in. More then anything else she was intrigued by Billy Collins. True he was good looking and he did have a very likeable personality but it was the way in which he had talked about Kelly that attracted Dixie. She never could resist a challenge and it seemed to her that there was one here. She went to bed working out her strategy to win Billy Collins.

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