Authors: Patsy Collins
Kate gently tugged her away.
'Where are we going?' Alice asked.
'I have to help you change into your going away outfit.'
'But, I don't... Oi!' She span round to see who'd pinched her bottom. Before she could tell Jeff that rescuing her still wasn't, and never would be, an excuse to do that, Kate interrupted.
'Jeff, shouldn't you be somewhere else?'
'The girls told me to clear off.'
Alice grinned. She'd warned Emma and Lucy about him.
'Well do it then.' Kate gestured to the exit.
'Oh!' He left at speed.
'Thanks. I just hope he doesn't bump into Louise. She's been putting on a brave face, but I don't think she's having a great day.'
'You're kidding? Seen your new brother-in-law lately?'
'No. Where is he?'
'Dunno, but Louise is with him. Donald might look just like his brother, but I think his personality is better suited to Louise.'
'So do I. Where is Hamish? He went off with Devon somewhere and other than Jeff I've not seen any of Red Watch since. They wouldn't have gone on a shout today, would they?'
'No. Now come on!'
'Kate, you know I haven't got a going away outfit to change into.'
'I know, but it's traditional. I'm probably supposed to tell you about the birds and the bees or something.'
'Ah! Then lead on. This should be good.'
Kate led her up the hotel stairs and into a small bedroom.
'I'd try getting some of the confetti out the front of my dress but people will just throw more when we leave.'
'I expect so.' Kate handed Alice a wrapped gift. 'Devon asked me to give you this.'
'That's sweet of him. Red Watch have already given us a pile of things. I don't think they're all fire extinguishers. This definitely isn't.'
'Go on, open it.'
'I can't do that without Hamish.'
'You can, it's just for you.'
A fire engine shaped gift tag confirmed that. Alice opened the package and found a coil of soft white rope. 'I don't understand.'
'You will in a moment.'
Kate opened the curtains allowing a blue light to fill the room. Alice looked out and saw a fire truck below. The ladder was raised to her window. Hamish, now wearing his uniform trousers, climbed up.
'Mrs Mustarde, woman of my dreams, I want to be the man in your fantasies.'
He put her over his shoulder, waited for Kate to wrap the rope round Alice's dress to stop it getting snagged on the ladder, and carried her down.
Alice covered his face in kisses as their guests cheered and rained confetti down on them.
About the Author
Patsy Collins has had over 350 short stories published, mostly in magazines in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Australia and South Africa. Firefighter is Patsy's fourth novel, following Escape To The Country, Paint Me A Picture and A Year And A Day.
She lives in Hampshire with her photographer husband Gary Davies. A lot of their time is spent in their campervan, which they use as a mobile office. Much of Patsy's work is written in the locations at which her stories are set. That was the case with Firestarter, although the van had to double as the cute Welsh cottage and doesn't have a bath big enough for two!
Patsy enjoyed studying the birds and seals mentioned in the book, eating all Alice's favourite food and was absolutely forced to talk to firemen to check a few facts. She's not saying how thorough her research was for the scenes set inside the cottage.
If you'd like to learn more about the author and her writing, please visit, patsycollins.uk
You can also read many of Patsy's short stories via www.alfiedog.com
Short story collections
by Patsy Collins
Up The Garden Path
Over The Garden Fence
Through The Garden Gate
(coming spring 2016)
Gardens, plants and people all have their story. Come
into my garden and let me tell you a few.
Not A Drop To Drink
Seven stories each with a liquid theme. Available free
at Alfie Dog fiction and from Amazon.
Novels by Patsy Collins
Escape To The Country
Leah is accused of a crime she didn't commit. Dumped by Adam, the man she planned to marry, she escapes to Aunt Jayne's smallholding in the Kent village of Winkleigh Marsh. Heartbroken and homeless, she strives to clear her name and deal with her emotions.
Jayne treats Leah's unhappiness with herbal remedies, cowslip wine and common sense in equal measure. In return Leah works hard for the delicious home-cooked meals they share. She wrestles with sheep, breaks nails and gets stuck in the mud – learning as much about herself as she does about farming. Soon Leah is happy milking cows, mucking out pigs and falling halfway in love with Duncan, a dishy tractor driver.
Back in London, steps are being taken to investigate what's happened to the missing money. It looks as though the real embezzler must soon be unmasked and Leah will have to choose between resuming her old life or starting a new one.
That's when her problems really start.
A Year And A Day
Despite Stella's misgivings her best friend Daphne persuades her to visit a fortune teller. Rosie-Lee promises both girls will live long and happy lives. For orphaned Stella, the fortune teller's claims include a tall, dark handsome man and the family she longs for. Stella doesn't believe a word, so Rosie-Lee produces a letter, to be read in a year's time, which will prove her predictions are true.
Stella remains sceptical but Daphne is totally convinced. She attempts to manipulate Stella's life, starting by introducing Stella to her new boss Luigi, who fits the romantic hero image perfectly. In complete contrast is Daphne's infuriating policeman brother John. Despite his childhood romance with Stella ending badly, he still acts as though he has a right to be involved in her life.
Soon John is the least of her worries. Daphne's keeping a secret, Luigi can't be trusted, romantically or professionally and both girls' jobs are at risk. Worse still, John's concerns for their safety are proved to be justified.
John, and Rosie-Lee's letter, are all Stella has to help put things right.
Paint Me A Picture
Mavis Forthright carefully rehearses her jump from Portsmouth's Round Tower. She's existed for over five decades. Lived hardly at all. Will end her misery with a few seconds' fall into the cold sea. Except she's not quite ready to die. A half day's delay to try a bacon sandwich from the cafe won't matter; Mother's no longer there to disapprove.
She delays another day to lend Janice a book. Then a week to use her new paints. A month. Until the end of term. Mavis makes new plans: to live, to create paintings full of emotion, perhaps even make friends.
As if to balance her survival a number of people connected to Mavis die. At first that doesn't matter. They're people she dislikes. Mavis continues painting, tending her garden, feeding the birds and keeping her home properly clean, without additional concern. Then people who've been kind to Mavis are killed or injured. That shouldn't happen.
Why are people dying? Is it because of charming Norman who's back from her past, or is that strange boy Jake her mistaken guardian angel? Perhaps Mavis herself is to blame. She must learn the truth, stop the deaths and protect those she's learned to care about before she can enjoy the new life she's making for herself.