Here is chapter 12 of The Ram Happy reading,

The Welsh Mountain Ram 12.

Briony Betrayed wife and mother.
Sion Her eight-year-old son.
Ellairy Her nine-month--old daughter.
Arfon Brionys’ unfaithful husband.
Dave Cadwalloder Welsh bachelor hill-farmer.
Jenny and Lassie Daves’ sheepdog bitches.
Laddie. Daves’ sheepdog.
Jessica and Pansy Daves’ sows.
Angel Daves’ mare.
Gabriella (Gabby) Angels’ foal (Gift to Sion.)
Daphne Daves’ ‘girlfriend’
Cledwyn. Farmer further down the valley (Neighbour.)
Blodwen Cledwyn’s daughter.
Rachel Daphne’s TV friend.
Shirley Rachels’ GG wife.
Elspeth Brionys’ sister

As the Landrover picked its way through the darkened streets of Machynlleth, the rain started to drive against the wind-screen. In the street lights Briony picked out the salient points until she recognised her sisters’ house.

“This is it, the house with the white door.” Number fourteen.”

Dave pulled over, parallel-parked into a convenient slot and Briony jumped down as she told Sion to wait. Sion and the three dogs leant forward over Daves’ shoulder and they all watched Briony skipping around the puddles as she picked her way up the little garden path. She stood by the door with one of Daphnes’ coats over her head until Elsbeth answered. They chatted briefly then turned and waved ‘come in’ to Dave. Sion leapt out with the sheepdogs whilst Dave collected the sleeping Ellairy.

After introductions Dave was invited in still holding Ellairy in his arms. They went through to the back room and sat down as Elspeth prepared some tea and related events.

“Arfon’s been here looking for you. He came at eleven this morning and left about three-ish.”

Dave watched Sion stiffen fearfully as Brionys’ smile faded.

“You didn’t say where I was did you?”

“I’m not stupid sis,” Elsbeth replied as she turned to explain to Dave. “The man’s a pig. He beats her.”

Dave nodded diplomatically as he replied.

“Yes, Briony did say.”

Elsbeth poured the tea as she continued.

“I told him you weren’t here and you hadn’t called. Let him stew, I say.”

“He can stew all he wants,” Briony added, “I’m leaving him. He’s been screwing that bitch Nora who works behind the bar at The Bull in Trefeglwys.”

Dave stayed silent. He knew Nora, she was very pretty and she wasn’t a bad kid. She probably didn’t know that this Arfon guy was married. It often worked that way. He sipped his tea and simply listened as Briony related chapter and verse, the circumstances surrounding Arfons’ infidelity and betrayal. The more he heard the more he felt he’d better warn Nora next time he stopped over in The Bull. Dave regularly overnighted there between Manchester and home if he was tired and didn’t feel like facing the winding mountain road.

Eventually, Briony ran out of anecdotes and Elsbeth turned to Dave.

“Have you eaten?”

“We had sandwiches on the way.” Dave replied.

“Well I can order a carryout. What d’you fancy?”

Dave shrugged. “Anything’ll do. That Thai place down Heol Pen’Rallt is pretty good.”

Elsbeth nodded.

“Of course, you’ll know the town as well as me.”

“Yep, I come to market this way about once every two months and I shop this way about once a month. Let this meal be on me.
I’ll go and fetch it.”

Both sisters’ families argued about what to have and eventually Dave had to go to the Chinese and the Thai restaurants to please everybody. Sion elected to go with him, thereby establishing his prior rights to ‘Dave adventures’ with his cousins. Dave sensed the natural filial rivalries and invited Elsbeths’ boys to come as well. Finally Elsbeths’ second daughter attached herself to the party and Dave found himself with three boys and a girl accompanying him down to the restaurants. In the land-rover the children chattered away and bombarded Dave with questions. He felt tense as he wondered if Sion might inadvertently reveal Daphne but the boy didn’t and Dave found himself liking the kid even more for that. He splashed out on the food and the children chattered away twenty to the dozen as they returned.

The two sisters had laid the table when they got back to the house and a veritable feast ensued. Over the meal Elsbeth asked Dave about returning home.

“Uuhhm, not tonight girls. If it’s raining down here, it’ll be snowing up there. I’ll check with Cledwyn first.”

He dialled Cledwyns’ home number and Blodwen answered.

“Yes. It is, is it? Okay, I’ll stay here tonight and try in the morning. Meet me by Nant Teg switchback I’ve got the radio with me, so you can use your dads’ if we need to talk. D’you need any supplies, while I’m in town tomorrow?”

Elsbeth and Briony listened to Blodwen peel off a short list of items then Dave closed his mobile. They fell to talking about life up on the hills until Dave had to make his excuses. He booked into The White Lion Inn and settled down for the night. He had stayed there many times and the staff knew about him and the three dogs so they made him welcome and put the three dogs in the outhouse. In the morning, while he was filling the shopping lists, Briony phoned him.

“Arfon’s in Town. He’s been around but Elsbeth told him I wasn’t here.”

Dave sighed. He didn’t want to get involved in any domestic issues or worse be accused of something. He thought it best to finish the shopping and get out of town quickly. Elsbeth came on Brionys’ phone and described what Arfon was wearing.

“Watch out for him. Machynlleth’s a small town and lots of people know you.”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t. I’m safe.” Dave reassured both sisters. “What about Briony?”

“She’s leaving on the one o’clock train to Newtown and Shrewsbury. She’s staying with my sister in law until she can sort a lawyer. Then she’s coming back here.”

“That'll be expensive. What about the car. Has she done anything about that?”

“No. Arfon doesn’t know about the car so we’ve let it lie. Briony hasn’t gone out in case she bumps into Arfon. You know how small Machynlleth is.”

Dave sat in his Landrover thinking over the logistics. Then a warm thought struck him and it gave him an idea.

“Does this Arfon know about your sister in law?”

“Yes,” Elspeth replied, “he and Briony met them at my wedding.”

“Would he be likely to search further afield, you know, all the way to Shrewsbury.”

There was a thoughtful silence before Elspeth replied.

“Uuuhm, yes he might. He seemed pretty pissed off when he came here.”

“Listen Elspeth, I’ve got an idea, put Briony on.”

“Hello darling, what’s this big idea.”

“Who else knows about your having stayed at Plas Graig?”

“Just Elspeth and Cledwyn and his daughter Bronwen.”

“No, that’s Blodwen love, not Bronwen. Are you sure there’s nobody else who knows.”

“Well Elspethes’ children know but they don’t know your sir-name or where you live.”

“Has Sion mentioned anything?”

“Ah. I don’t know. He’s playing on their computers upstairs.”

“Can you go and check? Ask if they know my sir-name.”

“Why?”

“I was thinking. You could stay up at mine until things are sorted. It’s nearer, and you’re handy for your sister plus the lawyers. My solicitor and accountants are in Machynlleth. Also Sion will be able to attend the Welsh school. He did in Llanidloes didn’t he?”

“Yes. Thanks for this; I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Okay. Now please, impress upon the children how important it is. I don’t think Sion will need much persuading to keep shtum. he seemed terrified of his father every time the name Arfon is mentioned.”

"He is," Briony confirmed then she went on. “Thank you Dave, Thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel so much happier with a man to protect me.”

It was Daves’ turn to let Briony down gently.

“Uuuhm, I’m not much of a man Briony, leastways, not a man who could offer physical protection. I’ve been on hormones for a few years now; you’ve seen my body. I'm physicakky a wimp. I couldn’t put up much resistance if a man got violent. If he found out you where staying with me and came around with violent intentions, I couldn’t do much to stop him. It’s imperative he doesn’t find out. Well until legal proceedings are apace and you can get a court restraining order or something. You’ll have to talk to my solicitor about that.”

“When can I do that?”

“Well the sooner the better obviously. I’ve finished the shopping for me and Blod’ and I’m going to get some fuel. I’ll phone Gareth and see what can be done. Call me when you’ve sorted out the children and make sure they know not to reveal anything.”

Because Dave was one of Gareths’ oldest and valuable clients, they arranged a quiet meeting over lunch in the back lounge of the White Lion Inn. After a convivial chat and a brief phone-call to one of the other partners Gareth told Dave to get Briony over to his office for four o’clock.

“I don’t do divorce and family stuff. Jennifer handles that side; she’ll see Briony at a quarter past four.”

Dave nodded and cautioned Gareth.

“The husband Arfon is in town right now, looking for his wife. Apparently he’s got form for ABH and GBH. Briony’s terrified and I’ve seen the little boys’ fear with my own eyes.”

“Well until he actually commits an offence, there’s nothing to be done. However, I’ll have a word with the Police inspector at the station. He’s my second cousin.”

Dave grinned. ‘Small Welsh towns were like small towns everywhere.’ Dave also knew the inspector well but only through farming affairs at the livestock market. They separated and Dave phoned Briony.

“The lawyer will see you at a quarter past four today. It’s a special favour cos’ I’m one of his best customers. I’ll pick you up now and we can get out of town for a few hours.”

The pick-up went without a hitch and soon Briony, Elspeth, their children and the three dogs were enjoying a day out at the Alternative technology centre.

The curator knew Dave because of Daves’ self contained water turbine arrangement for generating his own and Cledwyns’ electricity on both farms. Sometimes the curator brought a busload high school children to see the turbine wheels that seemingly gave electricity for nothing. On occasion, Dave had accompanied the curator with the school party simply to answer any unexpected questions.

The turbines interested the school parties but more laughs and hilarity were occasioned when Dave activated the large ‘Pelton wheel’ and water splashed everywhere before the wheel reached full velocity. Often, in the summer, the children got drenched as the supply nozzle was opened and water erupted at force to strike the spoon blades and deflect outwards before the children realized the situation.

The familys' visit to the Alternative energy centre proved a highlight for the children and they consequently behaved themselves for Elspeth while Dave sat in on Brionys’ preliminary interview with Jennifer the family law partner.

An hour later, Briony emerged a much happier and reassured woman. She hung on Daves’ arm and rested her head against his breasts.

“I’ll be safe now.” She sighed as they clambered into the Landrover.

“Only if he observes the court order.” Dave advised. “Jennifer’s filing the documents tomorrow. You’ll have to attend the court in Aberystwyth tomorrow. Come on, let’s get you lot home.”

Dave picked his way into the traffic and was pulling up at traffic lights as Briony squealed.

“Shit! There he is!!”

Briony dived to the floor of the Landrover as Elspeth pushed Sions head below the window line in the back seat.

Arfon had not spotted Briony and he simply gave the Landrover a cursory glance until he recognised Elspeth. He moved to cross the street and talk to her but the lights changed and Dave took off at normal traffic speed whilst trying to resist the temptation to floor the pedal. Fortunately neither Dave nor Elspeth made eye contact with Arfon and they sped up the road to discharge Elspeth and her brood at her house before taking off for Aberystwyth. On the way out, Dave spotted Arfon again but Briony, Ellairy and Sion were well hidden under a large tarpaulin and the three sheepdogs were free of the cage in the back section. They were sitting on various seats and their heads were clearly visible above the windows. Dave behaved like a total stranger and the dogs added to anonymity of the image. The dogs also ensured their protection.

After a curious glance Arfon concluded that Dave was just some friend or acquaintance of Elspeths’ who had obviously given the single mother and her brood, a ride home.

As Dave drove out of town along the Aberystwyth road he checked his mirror several times to ensure he wasn’t being followed and finally, some several miles out of Machynlleth, he turned up a narrow mountain road in Tal y Bont and waited. After a wait of twenty minutes nobody appeared and Briony complained.

“I’m getting cramp under this sheet.”

Dave turned to look over his shoulder and agreed.

“Yeah. I don’t think anybody has followed us. Okay come on out and we can head for ‘Aber’. We’ll carry on up this road to Garth Penrhyncoch then down into Aber through Capel Dewi; it’s remote and we’ll easily notice anybody following us.”

Daves’ easy rattling off, of places unfamiliar to Briony, reassured her.

‘Obviously he knew his way around the area.’ She concluded.

Briony smiled and in the courtesy light Dave noted the relief evident in her expression. He smiled again to reassure her.

“It’s not far, we won’t be long. There’s a hotel number on my phone. The Royal on the sea front. Bell them and book a room. Tell them I’ve got the dogs. They shouldn’t be busy now; the turkey and tinsel weeks are over.”

Briony dialled and booked a room then settled back to relax. They arrived without any further problems and Briony slumped exhausted in the lounge as Dave confirmed the booking. The day and the fear of meeting Arfon had exhausted her. She was glad of a bed that night.

With the coming of dawn the cries of the gulls awoke her and by ten am, she was waiting with Jennifer in the county court to confirm the restraining order. Dave was down on the beach entertaining Sion, Ellairy and three excited dogs who were barking furiously at the waves and gulls as they rocketed along the water line. Sion tried chasing them but he soon learned the futility of his quest. He settled beside a groyne where Dave assisted his architectural endeavours. While Ellairy slept in the buggy. Briony and Jennifer found them at noon and they went for lunch as Jennifer explained the restraining order. Arfons’ previous record had counted against him and the judge had issued the preliminary order without hesitation.

“It now remains for the police to find Arfon and serve the order upon him.” Jennifer confirmed.

“That won’t be easy,” Briony added. “He can be violent when he gets angry. I wouldn’t like to be the copper who has to do it.”

“The police are already aware of things Briony,” Jenny reassured her,” they know where he lives and they know where he stayed last night.”