Ralph Watkins looked up from his work at the sound of branches being trampled underfoot.
He waited to see if his son might finally emerge from the woods looking sheepish and full of apologies for leaving his father on his own all morning, while he had doubtless overslept in some girl’s bed.
Ralph scoured the surrounding trees and brush, but there was no sign of Toby.
Something must have made the noise. “Toby be that you?” he called out. “Stop messin’ about an’ get over ‘ere an’ pull yer weight, yer lazy sod.”
Still there was no sign of him.
It had not been the first time that his son had failed to arrive home after a night at the inn. Toby was a handsome lad, and very popular with the local girls, so if he had met someone last night after Ralph left it would not be surprising if after
