Natasha placed her hand over her mouth and stifled a burp. There was so much fizz in the Alco-pops Nadine had been continually supplying her with.
"What about him?" Nadine asked leaning forward in her chair and nodding towards a group of men standing at the bar.
"Which one?" Natasha asked in reply.
"Tony." Nadine said, rising to her feet. "Come on. I'll introduce you."
She was at the bar almost before Natasha had risen to her feet. Nat followed, conscious of the eyes of at least half a dozen men on her.
"Nat. This is Tony," Nadine made the introductions, "and this is Mike and Jem."
Nat noticed Jem's hand was on Nadine hip then it moved behind her back out of sight. Nadine smiled.
"Do you want to dance?" Tony suddenly asked, placing his bottle of beer on the bar.
Nat handed her bag to Nadine and found herself following him onto the area below where the MC's were playing the tunes. It was crowded with gyrating bodies. Tony was moving in front of her and she automatically began her own steps. The tune ended and she stood still for a moment listening to the announcer and his friend discuss what they were going to do in bed later. Then the next tune started. It was a slow one. Tony's hands were on her, pulling her towards him. He was moving his hips, grinding himself against her hips and pubic area. He was nuzzling her hair with his face. She could feel him becoming hard. His hands were moving on her back. One was moving down to one of her buttocks. She reached behind her back and pulled his hand away.
"Let's go back to the others." She said, stepping back from him.
Without waiting for a reply she turned and left the dance area not really caring if he followed or not.
"We're all going to Jem's flat for a drink." Nadine told her as she got back to where they were standing at the bar.
"Not for me." Nat replied, picking up her bag from the counter.
"Come on." Nadine urged. "It will be fun."
"No." Nat shook her head. Suddenly the room was stiflingly hot. She needed some air. "I think I'll go home. I'll give you a ring next week."
Nadine's reply was lost in a sudden increase of sound as the music changed again. Nat made her away to where they had been sitting and picked up her coat then made her way to the entrance. The bouncer opened the door for her and she was outside. She suddenly felt cold and quickly put on her coat. It was starting to rain. She needed a taxi.
"Nat?" A voice behind her made her jump. "Is that you?"
She looked over her shoulder. An old Land Rover had pulled into the kerb-side. Trevor Watkins' head half protruded from the open window.
"Hello." She said, pulling her coat tightly about herself.
It was staring to rain in earnest.
"Where are you going?" Trevor asked.
"Home." Nat replied. "If I can get a Taxi."
"I'm going out on a call." Trevor said. "I can take you home afterwards. It's on Lord Lucktails estate."
"If you wouldn't mind." Nat brushed the rain off the top of her head with her hand. "I'm getting drenched."
"Climb in." Trevor told her, reaching across and opening the passenger door.
Nat stepped out into the road and got in. She pulled the door shut.
"That's better." She said, stifling a burp. "Thank you."
"That's ok." Trevor put the vehicle into gear and pulled away. "I'm not sure how long I'll be mind."
"I don't mind."
"Weren't you enjoying your evening?"
Nat opened the front of her coat and shook some raindrops from it.
"It was all right." She said, catching Trevor's quick glance down at her thighs.
She pulled the hem of her dress down before continuing.
"A friend talked me into going out. She was looking for a man."
"You weren't?"
"Not at the moment."
"I read about what happened in Holland and Germany last summer."
"A year last summer."
"Was it that long?"
"Yes."
It was that long. Nat peered out of the front windscreen. The wipers didn't seem to be making any impression against the rain.
"I thought you were going to become a pop star like David." Trevor wiped at the condensation that was forming in front of him as he spoke. "It can be like driving in a fog in this thing sometimes."
"That wasn't for me."
"Oh."
They drove on in silence with Trevor occasionally wiping at the windscreen in front of him.
Nat leaned against the doorframe and closed her eyes. She didn't feel like talking. It was warm in the front of the Land rover. Something was rattling gently in the back. She could almost fall asleep.
"We're here."
She jerked herself upright.
"Are you alright?" Trevor asked, a note of concern in his voice.
Nat's mouth suddenly felt very dry and she could feel the first thumps of a headache forming.
"Hmm." She mumbled.
They had stopped in front of a large barn. There were bright lights inside it.
"One of Lucktails rare breeds Ewe's." Trevor explained as he opened his door. "Having a difficult pregnancy."
Nat climbed from the land rover and quickly followed him into the barn. It was still raining heavily.
She recognised Lord Lucktail and his wife Julia. Pearson, the farm manager was kneeling beside an Ewe in a stall. A young man was kneeling on the other side of the animal. It took her a few seconds to recognise him as the Lucktails son and heir, Jonathon.
"Hello Natasha." Julia said. "We haven't seen you in ages. How are your parents? We hear there is to be an addition to your family"
"Hello." Nat replied. "Yes. David's wife is due to give birth in two months."
Nat watched Trevor kneel by the side of the Ewe and take a thermometer from his bag. The Ewe groaned slightly as he inserted it into her anus. Nat felt her own tighten involuntarily. She suddenly thought about the girl in the pub toilet earlier in the week.
Trevor removed the thermometer, looked at it and said something in a low voice to the two men. Pearson said something in return and Nat watched as Trevor took an ampoule and syringe from his bag. He fitted a fresh needle from his bag, pinched a piece of the Ewe's flesh between two fingers and injected her.
Jonathon stood up as Trevor cleared away his things.
"It shouldn't take long now." He said, joining the two women. "Hello Nat."
"Hello Jon." Nat replied. "What won't take long?"
