Strawberry Red

Chapter 11 Ruby

Before she could reach the small porch out back, she was pulled down into a seat. She couldn't even react it all happened so fast. "What the hell?"

"Little Davies. The rumours about you are true then. You are back," said David. He was wearing a RAF uniform. Based on his uniform, Ruby could make out that he was promoted and now a Major.

"Obviously. Is that why you violently grabbed me?" Ruby's tone was filled with annoyance. "Don't you have something to do? Like bombing innocent people?"

"That's rich coming from you." David leaned forward in his seat. More RAF men started to sit down at the long table. Ruby knew most of them from her childhood. "Didn't you poison over a dozen men during your time in Germany?"

"How do you know about that?", asked Ruby. She looked like she had seen a ghost. Over the years she had tried so hard to hide her secrets. But living in a small town made it incredibly hard to hide certain things.

"I know people who like to gossip," answered David. "And I know all of your secrets, little Davies."

"So, you want a prize for that?" Ruby laughed and hid the fact that her heart was pounding. "Why did you want to talk to me?"

"Just some friendly small talk between old childhood friends, that's all." David took out a cigarette and lit it.

"Why don't I believe you? You're always causing trouble," said Ruby and glared at the man. "I don't think you've changed much."

"Always so direct, as usual." David's friends laughed at this. "Hey, you, Americans! Join us."

A couple members of the 100th were walking past the table. They stopped when they heard David calling them out. Hesitantly, they sat down. Ruby recognized Curt. He had taken the seat next to her.

"What does that RAF prick want from us?", whispered Curt in her ear. Thankfully, the RAF members were too busy talking to the new arrived members of the 100th.

"I have no idea. But certainly nothing good," responded Ruby. "Is Buck still outside? I don't really feel like sitting here and waiting until one of them does anything stupid."

"I'm here," said a husky voice behind Ruby. Ruby turned her head and saw Buck standing behind her. She let out a breath she didn't realise she had been holding. Buck had put his hands on the back of her chair. She was grateful for his calming presence. Otherwise, she would have probably ripped out David's throat.

"Buck, I'm glad you're here." Ruby smiled at him. Buck pulled a chair over to the table and sat on Ruby's other side. He placed his arm around the back of her chair again.

"Found a new victim that soon, little Davies?", addressed David her. He looked back and forth between them.

"Stop it, David," demanded Ruby with gritted teeth. She nervously tapped her fingers onto her thigh. If he spilled more about her past, she didn't know how she could explain it to Buck. She had intentionally put off that conversation until she was ready to talk about Germany. And having David try to pry it out of her, wasn't the way she wanted it to go.

"Ashamed of your work?", question David and smirked. "I thought you were proud to be a whore to those high-ranking German officers."

"At least I knew who my targets were. I didn't kill innocent civilians while hiding in the safety of the dark like you do," hissed Ruby.

"It's a question of philosophies. We fly at night because it doesn't matter what we hit as as long as it's German," said one of the other RAF pilots.

"Daytime bombing is suicide," added Victor. He had a drink in his hand and sat down next to David. He didn't even look at his sister. "It's just simple maths. You're losing many men for nothing."