"For God's sake Mum, stop fussing I'll be fine, I'm twenty years old for christ sake," said Molly irritably as she carried her bag out to the car.
"You heard what they said on the weather forecast, they've given heavy snow and it's the day before Christmas Eve, the roads will be really busy," warned her Mum, following her in and out of the house, "besides, I think you're being very selfish not spending Christmas with your family."
"I'm sorry Mum but I'm not going through another Christmas like the last one, It's the same every year," the young girl moaned, "all we do is eat too much, drink too much, bicker and argue and then sit there bored stiff, watching whatever crap they've put on the telly while Grandad sits in the corner surrounded by brown ale bottles, snoring and farting, it does my bloody head in Mum."
"Oh come on Molly, it's not that bad."
"Yes it is Mum, I need a change."
"Can't you talk some sense into her?" asked her Mum, turning to her Dad.
"Nope, I've already told her that rust heap of hers won't make it all the way to bloody Cumbria," he grumbled, giving his daughter a stern look.
"Yes it will," she sighed, rolling her eyes as she checked her blonde bobbed hair in the hallway mirror.
"Huh, we'll see," her Dad chuckled, "I'll bet I get a phone call off you in a couple of hours in floods of tears wanting me to come and get you."
"Dad, it'll be fine."
"Can't you leave it a couple of days love? Just till after Christmas and then see what the weather's like?"
"Mum, I'm going," Molly said firmly, "it's only for a few days; I'll be back the day after Boxing Day."
"Well I still think you're being selfish," said her Mum as she watched her putting on her hooded jacket.
"Why? I'm spending New Year with you aren't I?" replied Molly.
"Hmm, you just make sure you ring me as soon as you get there."
"Yes Mum."
"And don't get too drunk."
"No Mum."
"And don't get yourself into any trouble; I know what you and Gemma are like when you get together."
"Alright Mum, Jesus!" the young girl snapped, getting into her battered old blue Nissan Micra.
Turning the key for a fourth time, the car burst into life. Easing out of the driveway, she waved at her parents who were perched on the doorstep, beeped the horn and pulled away.
"Off we go then," she smiled to herself, turning up the radio.
She had a long drive ahead of her but it would be worth it, she hadn't seen Gemma since she moved up there two months ago. The pair had first met at school and had been friends ever since, getting into all sorts of mischief over the years; but a few months back, Gemma had decided to quit college after she got a job offer with a firm up North that was too good to pass up. Although she was pleased for her friend, Molly really missed her, so when she invited her up for Christmas, she jumped at the chance, long drive or not. Despite considering herself to be quite a good driver, well, for a twenty year old at least, she didn't feel confident enough yet to drive on the motorway; so she was going to have to make the journey on the normal roads, which would take even longer. 'No matter, it'll take as long as it takes,' she thought.
She had been on the road for just over two hours when the first flakes of snow started to fall, but it was only light so she wasn't really that worried. What was causing her a little more concern was the car; every now and then it kept misfiring and juddering.
"Come on, we can make it," she muttered to herself, turning the speed up on the wipers as the snow began to fall a little heavier. It was now getting quite dark and the visibility was really poor. Seeing what she thought was her turning, she indicated and turned off down the lane. Suddenly the back end of the car slid out.
"Fuck!" she gasped, turning the wheel frantically.
Luckily, she managed to regain control; with her heart pounding, she slowed right down and gripped the wheel firmly, her insides churning as the old Micra misfired and juddered again.
"Oh no please, come on." she groaned.
The car lurched along through the worsening blizzard for about another mile or so before finally cutting out and rolling to a halt.
"Oh shit...come on...come on...pleease!" Molly panicked, turning the key over and over, but to no avail.
"You bastard!" she screamed, thumping the wheel; reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her mobile.
"Brilliant, no fucking signal!"
Now starting to feel scared, she began to get a little tearful as she looked out of the window into the gloom watching the snow beginning to pile up. Her Dad had always told her that if she ever broke down anywhere remote or in bad weather to stay in the car. Pulling up the hood on her jacket, she folded her arms and huddled down in the seat; resigning herself to being stuck there until at least morning, shivering as the howling wind buffeted the car....
She guessed she had been there for about a couple of hours when in her half awake state, she thought she could hear another vehicle approaching. Blinking as the headlights lit up the car, Molly could make out the shape of a large 4x4. Pulling up just in front of her, a figure in a hooded jacket holding a torch got out, came over and knocked on the window.
"Hello? Are you okay?" asked a female voice.
'Oh thank God,' thought Molly, "No, I've broke down!" she yelled back through the glass.
"Need a hand?"
"Please."
"Grab your stuff and come with me; you'll freeze out here luvvie," said the woman.
Hesitating for a moment, the young girl accepted the stranger's invitation.
"Okay."
Grabbing her bags, she got out of the car and trudged over to the jeep, the woman walking alongside her.
"Where were you heading?"
"Emmsford," replied Molly.
"Emmsford? This isn't the road for Emmsford, that's miles away, I think you've taken the wrong turning." said the stranger as they got in the jeep.
"Oh, right," said the young girl, checking her mobile again.
"Huh, you won't get a signal out here on that thing luvvie; my names Kathy by the way," said woman, holding out a gloved hand and pulling down her hood to reveal her flowing red hair with silver grey streaks in the fringe. Molly guessed she was around late forties with brown eyes and a warm friendly smile.
"Molly," the girl replied, taking the hand and smiling nervously.
"Oh, that's a nice name," Kathy smiled, "why don't you come back to my place? I've got a landline, you can phone from there if you like."
"Erm...okay, thank you."
"No problem," Kathy chirped as they slowly pulled away, "poor little thing, you must be bloody frozen, how long have you been there?"
"About a couple of hours; the stupid thing just cut out and then wouldn't start again," replied the young girl, pulling down her hood and unzipping her jacket as she started to warm up a little.
As they drove along chatting away, Kathy discreetly studied her young passenger; she was quiet short, barely five feet, she guessed. She was quite chubby and had a cherub like face with soft features and a cute smile, all crowned by her blonde hair that was cut into a bob style. Although she was a little on the young side for Kathy's taste, it would at least be nice to have some company for a little while; turning off the lane, they arrived at Kathy's cottage.
