'Call me Grandma Emmie. I'd like that.'

Beth's face broke into a huge smile. 'I'd like that too... Grandma Emmie!'

Ellie placed the receiver back in its cradle. She had been speaking to Harvey and promised to meet him later that night at the cabin. She wanted to visit Emmie first.

'Dear Harv,' she thought. 'He's so concerned for Mum. I'm lucky to have a man like that. There's not many men like him around. We should never have parted, we could have had a lovely family between us.'

'Who was that on the phone?' Win asked, coming into the room.

'Harvey. He wanted to know how Mum is. He also wants to see me tonight.'

'I really wish things would work out for you two. Surely he could sort it out with Mary and get a divorce. You could get married then.'

'It would be my dream come true, Win, but he insists he can't do anything about that just yet. I don't want to push him. I don't want to sound like a nag.'

'Well I think he should do something definite soon! It's not fair on you,' Win said with a tone of severity.

Ellie laughed at her. 'Yes ma'am!'

Win laughed at herself as well. Pausing, she then took on a more serious tone. 'I wonder how Beth got along with Mum.'

'I bet Mum was thrilled to bits when Beth told her she'd move in!'

'Isn't it strange how Mum took to Beth so strongly? The girl's a complete stranger; Mum's treating her like she's family, don't you think?' Win sounded almost cross at the situation.

'Yes, but you know Mum, she has such a soft heart, and you must admit Beth is a lovely girl. Just ask Francis!' Ellie replied.

'Oh yes, Francis is really smitten, anyone can see that! Beth just might become one of the family. Wouldn't that be nice... a wedding to cheer up the valley. Speaking of cheering the place up, do you think we should go ahead with the Christmas dance after all that's happened?' Win asked.

'Oh yes, Win, definitely! All the more reason to hold the dance this place needs some cheering up. I'm sure Mum'll want everyone to go.'

Ellie was adamant that the dance should go ahead as planned. It was an event the whole valley looked forward to every year.

'Mum might not be up to the excitement and she won't be able to go this year.'

'Win,' Ellie put her arm around her sister. 'Mum'll be alright. If I know her, as we all do, she'll insist on us going to the dance. We still have several weeks. She won't allow us to miss that night for anything!'

Emmie settled against the pillows. Beth had gone back to work. She was feeling content. She had enjoyed Beth's visit and now she knew what was on Beth's mind. It was what she had suspected.

Beth had agreed she would wait to begin her search for her natural mother until Emmie was home and well again. Emmie was pleased as it gave her time to work out the best way to handle this situation.

'It will be nice having another young person in the house.' She smiled contentedly.

Beth was also smiling as she hurried back to work.

'What a darling old lady Emmie is,' she thought. 'Oops... I should say Grandma Emmie!' Her smile broadened as she remembered Emmie asking her to call her that.

'Hey sn.o.b, what's the hurry?' called a voice behind her.

Beth slowed her pace and looked around in the direction of the voice.

'Oh Francis, hi. I've been to see your grandma and I'm a bit late getting back.'

'How is she, Beth?'

'She seems really good. Her colour looks good. She brightened right up when I told her I would move in to Kia-Ora, just like you said she would. She asked me to call her Grandma Emmie... isn't that nice?'

Francis took in Beth's pretty, happy face. He noticed the affectionate tone in her voice when she mentioned Emmie and thought it wasn't only 'Grandma Emmie' who was happy. 'Well, kid, this calls for a celebration. When're you moving in?'

'Well... I don't have much to pack... tonight, do you think?'

'Sounds good to me. I'll take you to Hilary's after work and we'll collect your things and then I'll take you home to Kia-Ora.'

'Home to Kia-Ora'... 'Sounds good!' She smiled, liking the sound of the word 'home'.

'Beth.' Francis stepped closer to her, bent down and placed a kiss on her soft mouth. 'See you later.' He walked away with a smile on his handsome face.

Beth watched him go. 'He's so nice,' she said quietly, wiping away happy tears.

Francis and Beth had no idea another person was also listening to their conversation..

'Well wha'dya know, goody two shoes has found himself a sheila. A good looker too. And moving into his place... Man, he's got it made. Won't have far to go ta get a bit. They act so b.l.o.o.d.y righteous and here they are with it goin' on right under their own roof! b.l.o.o.d.y hypocrites, the lot of 'em. I hate 'em all!'

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

'To be honest, Simmo, I don't know where to go from here.' Detective Bennett's brow creased.

'I know, I know. There's nothin' to go on. This b.a.s.t.a.r.d's b.l.o.o.d.y clever. You'd think he'd slip up somewhere. What the h.e.l.l are we're missin' here? Everyone's sayin we're hopeless.'

'Look, Simmo, burnin' Arthur Mason's house just proves he's not adverse to burning homes. His clever way of settin' the fires are one of the main stumbling blocks. How the f.u.c.k do we know when he's gonna set one? We don't have a f.u.c.kin' crystal ball.' Bennett pounded his fist on his desk in frustration.

'I've never been so stumped on a case like this before. h.e.l.l, if he's gonna start burnin' houses, they could be occupied. Think about it, the old people who can't get out because they're disabled, kids... pets... s.h.i.t, I hate to think!' Simmo frowned and shook his head, adding, 'We could have one disaster after another on our hands!' He ran his fingers through his hair, looking desperate.

'Nothin' apart from mosquito coils were found at Arthur Mason's place. By the way, what did you think of him? Bit off hand about it all, don't you think?' Simmo continued.

Bennett looked up sharply. 'Arthur Mason?'

'Yeah, he wasn't all that perturbed at what was left of his house. h.e.l.l, if that'd been me I'd have been beside myself. He just shrugged and said, 'Oh well, what's done is done.'

'I dunno mate, maybe he's gone a bit queer with all that religious jargon he's into. I wouldn't think he'd have anythin' to do with the fires. Anyway, he doesn't look fit and athletic enough. The bloke we're after can jump six foot fences. I can't see Arthur Mason doing that!' Bennett answered, then added, 'Maybe his son. But why would he burn the house down? Anyway, he's in the army and he'd have an alibi. No, I think we can rule Robert Mason out!'

'You're right, mate. I'm graspin' at straws!' Simpson grimaced as he stood up, frustration plain on his face.

'Our break'll come, Simmo. He's got to slip up somewhere.'

'How's it going, Tam?' Kathy flopped down on her sister's bed.

Tammi looked up from her school books.

'I'll be glad when it's all over, Kath. Only two more exams to go and it'll be all over, then I can throw the d.a.m.n books away.'

'You applied to the television station for that receptionist job, didn't you?'

'Yep. I hope to hear from them any day now.'

'Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. That'd be a great job. Never know where it will lead once you're in the door!'

Kathy got up and went to Tammi's dressing table. She began fiddling with her hair. Tammi watched her for a few seconds. 'What's up? You seem a bit edgy lately.'

'Oh, nothing really. I'm just a bit confused. Anyway, what would you think about me buying a little car?'

Tammi was instantly excited. 'Oh yes Kath, what a great idea! What sort? Have you picked it out yet?'

Kathy laughed. 'Not yet. Although there are a couple of little minis I have my eye on at that car yard in North Albury.'

'Well, what are you waiting for? Get Dad to go with you tomorrow on your lunch break.'

'I've mentioned it to him and he's already agreed to come and have a look with me.'

'Oh Kath, won't it be fun with transport of our own? Well, your own.' She laughed, then added, 'Have you told Eddie?'

'No, I'll show him once I've got it. Do you want to come to the sporties club tomorrow night?'

'Yeah, for sure. Johnny's band's great, isn't it? He's got a terrific voice.'

'Good looking too. Well, I'd better let you get back to those books. Night, Tam.' Kathy planted a kiss on her sister's blonde head.

'Kath, before you go... Don't forget to ask Francis and Beth.'

'It's a bit strange having her live here. What do you think, Tam?'

'She seems very nice. I s'pose if we were in her shoes, we'd like someone like Gran to come to our rescue, wouldn't we? I don't find her a bother at all really.'

Kathy smiled and nodded, closing the door behind her. 'Beth...' Kathy thought. 'Need to find out more about you, Beth. You're a bit of a mystery.'

Emmie made good progress growing stronger each day. The doctors were pleased and she was told she would be able to go home the following Tuesday if she kept improving.

During dinner Friday night, the family was discussing Emmie's improvement.

'Well, isn't that the best news ever,' Francis said.

'I think we should celebrate with some bubbly tonight at the club. They repaired the fire damage there already.'

Kathy laughed at Francis. He loved an excuse to open the bubbly. 'I'm just in the mood for a bottle of bubbly, Cuz.' She grinned across the table at him, then added, 'I'm so glad Gran's alright and finally coming home.'

'Me too. It's not the same here without her around,' Tammi agreed.

'She's such a kind lady. I'm so glad she's going to be ok,' Beth added softly.

'She has a soft spot for you, Beth. It helped a lot when you told her you would move in,' Win said seriously.

Francis reached across and squeezed Beth's hand. 'Good judge of character, our Gran.' He winked at her.

'Well, eat your dinner children; you can't go out drinking bubbly on empty stomachs,' Ellie joked.

The news about Emmie had lifted everyone's spirits. After they had satisfied their appet.i.tes, the girls excused themselves and went upstairs to change for the evening at the club. Francis lingered over his coffee.

'What do you think of her, Mum?'

'I gather you're referring to Beth?' Ellie smiled. 'I think she's a very lovely girl.'

'She is, Mum. She's the nicest girl I've ever met. She's pretty and sweet.'

Ellie was taking particular notice of her son as he spoke about Beth. It was obvious that Francis had very strong feelings about the girl. She just didn't want to see him get hurt again. He'd had strong feelings for a young woman a few years ago and she had let him down badly.

'Just take things easy, love.' She put her arm around his broad shoulders and squeezed him.

He looked up into her face and smiled. 'I'd better get upstairs and shower and change. See ya, old girl.' He planted a kiss on Ellie's cheek as he stood up.

She flicked him with the tea towel as he walked away, grinning.

'What's this 'old girl'?' she laughed ***

'Will you look at this place!' remarked Kathy in awe. 'You'd never believe it had ever been damaged!'

The auditorium had completely been redone. There was absolutely no reminder of the recent fire.

'They must have worked day and night to restore all this,' Tammi said, looking around.

Eddie eyed the place as well. 'Fantastic job! It looks better than ever.'

Eddie was also thinking how he was going to entice Darcy out to the Weir for a drag after the club. He'd worked on his engine through the week and was bound to leave Darcy for dead.

'Well, if I hadn't heard about it, I'd never believe there'd been a fire,' Beth said, coming up behind them.