The Oldest Trick

Chapter One
In the journey's of...Dave Penhaligan

     Dave Penhaligan’s injuries were luckily not that severe. The bullet passing right through his shoulder without severing any major blood vessels and missing bone by centimetres. Although discharged from the hospital, he was told he would be visited every day by the district nurse who would change the dressing on his wound.

     “Mr. Penhaligan…are you in...Mr. Penhaligan?”

     The female voice from outside his front door and the sharp knocking roused him from his slumber. Dave resented the disturbance of his sleep, he felt real cosy in the fireside chair. “The doors open, come in.” He grumbled. When the door creaked open and the face belonging to the voice peaked cautiously in, Dave forgot all about his annoyance at being so abruptly awakened.

     “Erm! Sorry, I - I was sleeping.” He offered.

     “That’s okay Mr. Penhaligan, you will still be feeling weak after losing blood. Now - let me just wash my hands and we’ll take a look at that shoulder of yours shall we?”

     Dave didn’t really hear her words; he was too blown away by her beauty. He felt he had never seen a creature as beautiful in his life. With her dark skin, she was probably of Caribbean extraction, he thought. The most alluring, almost black, almond shape eyes, framed by slightly arched eyebrows. Her jet black hair was half between afro and loose curls and hung down just past her shoulders in a neat pony tail; her lips, full and deep red.

     “Oh yes, that’s healing nicely, another few weeks and you should get full use back in your arm”.

     “Oh Yeah…but will I be able to play the Violin?”

     “I don’t see why not sir, apparently the bullet didn’t fracture any bones.”

     “So I will be able to play the Violin then?” furthered Dave. “I already said, no reason why not”

     “Well that is a miracle, coz I couldn’t play the violin before I was shot” chuckled Dave.

     “Oh now! Mr. Penhaligan, you are teasing me…” laughed the nurse, “…not nice.”

     “Well I’m sorry…” Dave half apologised “…but you do have a curious uplifting effect on my frame of mind; you and that lovely open face.”

     “Now - you’re making me blush! Oh yes, I blush, might not show it but I certainly can feel it Mr. Tease Penhaligan.” She grinned, eyes twinkling.

     “Please, call me Dave, what’s your name, if I am not being forward?”

     “Diana.”

     “That’s a nice name, and do you have a last name?”

     “Yes - Ross.”

     “Ross?…Diana Ross?…oh yeah!” They both burst into laughter simultaneously. “Well, I certainly deserve that.” Dave admitted sighing.

     “Yes you do Dave, teach you to tease a tease, now you’re all finished. I’ll pop round in the morning to fresh dress it. Take care now.” Dave smiled as she closed the door behind her, and then jumped a little as the door  immediately opened again.

     “And by the way…” grinned the nurse. “…my name is Jade - Jade Morgan. See you tomorrow, bye.” She finally closed the door leaving Dave staring into space, he turned his head to the right and scratched the back of his neck and caught his reflection looking back at him from the ornate wall mirror with the silliest grin imaginable on his face “You idiot Penhaligan” Dave chided himself out loud.

     As Jade started her car to continue on her rounds, she couldn’t stop thinking about Dave. His gentle teasing, the way he never flinched as she cleaned what must have been a very sore wound. She kept drifting back to thinking about him all through the day whilst going about her duties.

     “Ouch! Bloody hell girl, mind what yer doin.”

     “I...I’m sorry Mr. Gray.” Jade was brought to her senses by Mr. Grays protestations. “You ought to be more bloody careful, that ingrowed toenail is tender. Feels like you’re prodding down it with a damn dagger.”

     “I know Mr. Gray, there - all done now, that should be a relief.” Jade held the offending slither of toenail with the tweezers for Jim Gray to inspect. “Is that little bugger, all that was causing such pain?” Inquired the old man as if disappointed.

     “Fraid so Mr. Gray, you see because you have cut them so short the bits at the side are left to grow up through the flesh and…well it’s a bit like a needle being slowly pushed through the flesh and…”

     “Alright! All bloody right, too much information.” Interrupted Jim screwing up his face. “You’ll put me off me supper.”

     “Okay – I’m sorry.” Chuckled Jade as she finished drying her hands. “I’ll be off now, take care.”

 

     That evening in the Tinners arms Dave sipped his beer while chatting with the landlord. “Yes the shoulder’s not too bad now, the nurse says it’s mending nicely. She’s a pretty girl and such a lovely s...”

     “My ears are burning…someone talking about me?”

Dave almost spun around. “Jade...I...I was just er saying to-…”

     “I know.” laughed Jade.

     “I didn’t know you drank in here.” Dave commented, still surprised by her presence.

     “First time I’ve been here to be honest, cozy isn’t it?”

     Dave seemed lost for words as she caught him staring at her hair. “Er! What’ll it be...erm to drink?

     “Oh just a coke for me please, I don’t really drink that much alcohol, makes me giddy and too giggly.”

     “Coke it is then, make mine another beer please.” Dave ordered turning to the landlord and draining his glass. “I’ll find us a table shall I?” Jade wondered off before Dave could reply.

     “You’re in there son.” Grinned the landlord winking with a nod her way. Dave just smiled shaking his head and making his way over to the open fire where Jade had found a table for them.

     “You’re gonna roast this close to the fire.” Dave began, seating himself opposite of Jade, pushing her drink toward her.

     “Oh I love the heat of an open fire.” She replied hunching up her shoulders and rubbing her hands together. “Nothing like it to warm the blood on a winter’s night.”

     “PENHALIGAN” The voice rang out from behind Dave. He turned in time to see the large frame of Dan Steward lunging toward him.  “You bastard – Penhaligan; you lost me my job with Jack Drago when you got him arrested! How am I gonna get work round here now?! I’m gonna rip ya’ bloody head off.”

     Before Dave could get to his feet Steward was upon him; grabbing him by his bad shoulder; digging his nails into the wounded flesh while pummelling his head with his free hand. The sound of breaking glasses and shouts filled the air. Jade screamed out loud as she hurled herself toward Dave’s attacker “Get off him! Get off him! He’s been shot…get off him!”

     Steward reacted by swatting Jade like a fly; the back hand to her face sending her reeling into the panelled wall. He then turned his attention back to Dave whose blood-soaked shoulder was causing him more pain than when he was initially shot. With his last bit of strength he managed to twist from the madman’s grip. Turning painfully, to at last try to defend himself he saw a hand appear on Stewards shoulder spinning him around! In a flash he saw a huge fist crack Steward under his chin, snapping his head back and propelling him across the pub. Steward came to rest half way across the stone floor - out like a light. Still grimacing from the searing pain in his shoulder Dave couldn’t believe his eyes, there before him, rubbing the knuckles of his right hand stood the Reverend Ifor Davis.

     “…and some fell on stony ground Davy boy.” Dave tried to muster up a smile “Well Steward certainly has Rev, and looks like he’ll be there some time. You know you won’t have much of a congregation left if you go around knockin’em out. Where’d you learn to hit like that?”

     “Oh - don’t want to boast Davey but I was All Wales schoolboy champion longer ago than I care to remember.”

     “So…” replied Dave trying to keep joking “…you went from being a man of the canvas to being a man of the cloth.”

     “You just can’t resist a joke can you Davey” laughed Ifor. Chuckling Dave looked around for Jade, he hadn’t registered her being hit during the commotion. Just then he caught a glimpse of her at the bar with her back to him. There were women all around her and arms over her shoulders. As he rushed over to her he knew something had happened to her. “Jade…Jade!” He barged his way through the crowd to her side and when he saw her face his heart sank. “Oh I am so sorry you had to get mixed up in all this, oh - look at your eye!”

     “Now Mister, if I could do that I would truly be worried that my injury was much worse than a black eye.” Dave was impressed by this beautiful woman standing before him, laughing off a painful encounter with one of the more vicious members of society. “Jade Morgan, you really are something else.”

     “Well thank you sir, you really know how to show a girl real excitement on the first date.”

“Our...our first date?” blurted Dave “ You mean we are…”

     “Well hel-looo?! What do you think I mean silly? Now come on, let’s get you back home and see to that shoulder.”

     With Ifor Davis at one side and Jade at the other Dave was helped toward the door and passing the now coming too, Dan Steward. Jade could not resist the temptation of digging the heel of her stiletto into his hand. Stewards scream echoed around the pub and could be still heard as the three slowly made their way out of the doors and into the street.

 

To be continued.