This chapter deals with the outcome of the incident. The issue is not resolved yet because Arfon is still at large and now even more dangerous having been humiliated. Future scenarios and hopes are also described. Daphne is now 'out' to the police in Machynlleth. It seems she will have to come out fully in short order.

The Welsh Mountain Ram 28.

Briony... Betrayed wife and mother.
Sion... Her eight-year-old son.
Ellairy... Her nine-month--old daughter.
Arfon... Brionys’ abusive and 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.)
Elsbeth... Briony’s sister.
Daphne... Daves’ ‘girlfriend’
Cledwyn... Farmer further down the valley (Neighbour.)
Blodwen... Cledwyn’s daughter.
Rachel... Daphne’s TV friend.
Shirley... Rachels’ GG wife.
Fajita... The maid.
James & Tara... Rachel’s teenaged children (16 & 15)
Billy and Janet... Manager and accountant at Daphne’s club.
Terry... New Zealand Shepherd.
Wendy Blodwens best friend at school. Also Dave’s friend.
Jane Policewoman at Machynlleth.
Jack Davies Sergeant in Machynlleth.

The Ram 28.

Sion watched fearfully as the Sergeant picked Daphne up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

“Is she alright?”

“She will be bach. The question is are you alright?”

“My shoulder hurts where my dad crushed it.”

“Let me see.”

He studied the bruising and noticed several other bruises that caused him to look further. Finally he noticed the lump just behind Sion’s ear.

“When did you get that lad?”

“Dunno; must have been when my dad hit me.”

“Hmmm,” Jack Davies frowned and radioed Jane.

“Is it clear out there?”

“Yes Sarge’, no sign of his car.”

“You’d best come in rather than freeze your tits off. I noticed the makings in the kitchen. I’m not being sexist but could you make a pot of tea? I think we could all do with one.”

“What’s the situation in the house?” Jane asked as she stepped cautiously into the kitchen.

“I’m in what looks like the lady’s bedroom. There’s been a shooting incident but there’s no blood. I don’t think anybody’s been hurt. The lady’s fainted though.”

Jane had to check herself ‘Jack still didn’t know about Dave and Daphne.’

“I’ve put the kettle on, I’d better come up and check her over; you know, woman’s touch.”

“Aye. She’s out cold.”

A minute later Jane appeared in the doorway to find Jack knelt down reassuring the boy while Daphne lay peacefully unconscious on the bed.

“I’ve called an ambulance, on the land-line in the kitchen now I’d better phone the mother our radios seem out of contact with base out here. Do we have Briony’s number?””

“Daphne’s got it on her phone but mobiles don’t work up here either,” Sion offered.

“Where does she keep her phone?”

“In her fancy black handbag, the one with all the jewels on.”

“D’you know where it might be love?” Jane pressed.

Sion shrugged his shoulders, “I dunno’ miss she didn’t have it when she came in with the gun.”

Sergeant Jack exchanged a knowing look with his WPC.

“Which way did she come in?”

“She didn’t come in through the kitchen,” Sion observed, “she would have to have passed my dad and me.”

“Is there another entrance to the house?” Jane checked.

“There’s the main door in the front hall, the glass doors onto the lawn by the big stone steps and there’s the side door. That’s on the other side of the house.”

“Show me lad, Jane can you stay with Daphne?”

Jane nodded and Sion led Sergeant Jack Davies through the house. They found the door ajar but no handbag. Jack stood thoughtfully trying to work out Daphne’s most likely route through the house then it struck him.

‘Daphne had the gun when she challenged Arfon didn't she?’

"You said she already had the gun when she challenged your dad."

"Yes," Sion replied, "it was the pump action and it was loaded.

“Where does she keep the gun Sion?”

“With the others in a big steel locker down in the cellar.”

“Lead on son, you’re being very helpful. Good Lad.”

Sion grew another inch as he basked in the praise. In the cellar they found the broken gun cabinet. He explained to Sergeant Davies.

“He used that sledge hammer and those chisels to break the lock. It took him about five minutes. He took the double barrelled gun but couldn’t find any ammunition. He couldn’t use the rifle cos’ that’s got no ammo and Daphne must have hidden the firing pin.”

Sergeant Davies frowned as he looked around for the handbag when his radio went off.

“Sergeant Davies.” Her answered.

“Sarge, It’s Jane, she’s come around and she says her handbag is in the vegetable store room further along the passage — the green door.”

Jack found it immediately and within minutes they had contacted Briony who collapsed with relief as Elspeth and Blodwen comforted her. After letting Sion speak to his mother, Sergeant Davies then contacted the station and informed his colleagues of the situation.
“- and send a car to bring the mother up here.”

With this done he started pouring mugs of tea and smiled when a very pale looking Daphne appeared on Jane’s arm.

“Here love, this’ll set you up.”

Daphne smiled and slumped into the other chair. Once comfortable, she motioned her head towards the larder and Sion immediately understood the signal, - biscuits. He produced the Cookie tin and handed it around.

“Chocolate I think,” Daphne smiled wanly, “it’ll give me a sugar boost.”

Jane nodded and smiled as the sergeant sighed with overall relief.

“Well, so far, so good; nobody hurt.”

“I’m not sure sergeant, when I fired the gun, some wadding might have hit him in the face, there was a mark on his forehead and a tiny drop of blood.”

“A pellet maybe?”

“Doubt it; even a single pellet at that range would have made quite a hole with lots of blood.”

“How far was he from you?”

“’Bout ten to fifteen feet, I fired over his head, well above it.”

“Yes the holes in the plaster indicate that. Anyway, it’s a crime scene now; we’ll have to wait for forensics. I’m just wondering what Mr Cadwalloder will say when he returns home; where is he by the way?”

Daphne exchanged a nervous glance with Jane who nodded and smiled to reassure her.

“You’ll have to tell him Daphne’”

Daphne hesitated, swallowed then sighed with no little trepidation. She could never be sure of men’s reactions.

“Uhm, Sergeant Davies, David Cadwalloder won’t be at all surprised by this mess. You see, I’m David.”

There was a deafening silence as Sergeant Davies digested the information and struggled momentarily to make sense. Eventually he cursed mildly.

“Bloody hell! Is that really you Dave? Under all that — make-up and stuff.”

Daphne nodded and sipped more tea as Jack continued shaking his head.

“Dare I ask? Are you a woman then?” Jack asked, wondering if his question might offend.

Daphne wagged her head and sighed.

“To tell the truth, I’m not sure what I am. I go around as Dave in Machynlleth and Newtown, but further afield I go around as Daphne.”

“Is that because you’re afraid?”

Daphne nodded dejectedly.

“In Machynlleth, yes. If I wanted to come out as Daphne down there, everybody would have to know, the bank, the auctioneers, the other farmers, everybody, my doctor even; Doctor Llewellyn.”

“Your doctor!” Jack gasped. “Doesn’t she know?”

Daphne wagged her head.

“No. I’ve been meaning to tell her for several years, but, well, what with everything, I never found the courage.”

“But she’d have to keep it confidential.”

Dave gave Jack an ‘old look’.

“This Machynlleth were talking about Sarge.”

“Oh call me Jack, Dav- sorry, Daphne. You’ve known me for thirty years.”

“Thank you Sarge or better still, thank you Jack. Thanks for calling me Daphne when I’m like this.

“They told my colleagues about this on a course in Aberystwyth but I missed it, My wife Megan broke her arm and I didn’t go. The main feedback I got was that we should treat you as we find you, man or woman.”

“Well that’s good Jack, thanks again. I suppose we’d better get on with my statement.”

“I’ll take Sion’s first but I’ll have to wait until his mother gets here, by that time it’ll be swarming with police. There has to
be a responsible adult but you were a party to the incident so I can’t use you.”

“There’s plenty of warm quiet rooms to interview him.”

“Yes I noticed the house is lovely and warm and it’s a huge house. You did the right thing persuading your dad about the water turbines. Cledwyn shares it as well doesn’t he?”

Daphne nodded as she stared reflectively into the Aga sight glass, then the sound of an ambulance siren distracted her.

“Is that for me?”

“You and Sion, he’ll need to be checked.” Jane observed.

Then the additional wail of the police siren sounded and Sergeant Davies nodded with satisfaction.

“With any luck, we’ll be able to take your statements before they take you to Newtown A&E.”

“Do I really have to go?” Daphne pleaded.

“They’ll want you to, you fainted when I arrived, you were unconscious for a while.” Jack confirmed. “Then Sion will require a hearing test and whatever else.”

“Health and safety I suppose,” Daphne mused ironically.

“What else?” Jack grinned sympathetically.

As the vehicles sloughed into the yard, doors slammed and Sion sprang up from the settee at the sound of his mother’s voice. They fell into each-other's arms and only then did the boy break down in tears. The paramedics did their stuff and seemed at first to Daphne, to be disappointed that there hadn’t been something more serious, then they grinned and the lady driver explained.

“When we got the call, there was talk of a shooting. Truthfully, we’re glad there wasn’t.”

“Do I have to go in?”

“Well we advise yes after any unconscious incident.”

“I just fainted, that’s all; stress probably.”

“Stress can do funny things.”

Briony overheard Daphne’s reluctance and she scolded him mildly.

“You’re going in to be checked and that’s that!”

“The sergeant here would prefer statements first, while they’re still fresh in our minds.” Daphne protested.

The paramedics agreed to that and the statements were given. Daphne gave hers to Jane in the kitchen and Jack took Sion’s while his mother and a paramedic accompanied them in the drawing room.

Sion brightened up considerably at the prospect of an ambulance ride with Daphne and Briony while Blodwen recovered Daphne’s Landrover and the dogs. When she returned to the house Jack Davies approached her about Daphne.

“Have you known about Dave and Daphne?”

“Yes Sarge, for nearly ten years. He came out to me when I was at uni.”

“So you’ve known all this time. My gosh, you were good to keep it under your hat. Is that why you never married each other; everybody thought you two were a match made in heaven.”

“No that’s not the reason Sarge. Daphne and I are the best of friends; we love each other as brother and sister; or more correctly, sister and sister. If I wasn’t gay I would have married her years ago, her transgenderism is no problem to me.”

Jack’s eyes widened briefly, just enough to betray his surprise. Blodwen grinned.

“Surprise, surprise Sarge! As they say in Yorkshire Sarge; ‘There’s now’t so strange as folks is’n there?”

Jack smiled as Jane grinned and Blodwen suppressed her amusement.

“So what has Briony got to do with all this? I know about the rescue but little else.”

“Well it was ‘Knight in Shining armour stuff,’ Dave put her up for several days because they were snowed in. The relationship developed while they were thrown together.”

Jack nodded thoughtfully.

“I see, I see.”

Blodwen could see Jack’s cogs grinding so she elaborated a bit.

“They are not sleeping together, if that’s what you’re thinking. Dave’s an honourable guy, a very rare bird.”

“Oh we all know that Blod,” the sergeant replied. “Everybody in Machynlleth market knows how he kept this huge estate going when he was still but a lad and then he helped your dad out. He did you a massive favour.”

“Nobody knows that better than me Sarge, that’s why we’re such firm friends.”

“So how is it going forward then? Is Briony going to marry him? I’m presuming she’s divorcing her husband.”

“Oh yes. You’ve seen what the man’s like. I think divorce is a given.”

“Well that’s probably a good thing. I see the young lad worships Daphne, does he know about the transgender stuff?”

“Oh yes. That’s the first thing he learned. Sion’s got no problems with it. He likes Dave as much as he likes Daphne. Dave can’t but mention tractor without the boy rushing to get dressed to go out with him. Next time he’s in town at the market just check them out. The boy loves Dave and absolutely adores the dogs. Oh by the way, Wendy at ‘Y Siop Marchned.’ knows about Daphne so don’t be surprised to see Daphne shopping there in future. It’ll be half-day closing like today. She’ll be shopping as Daphne, you know, frocks, tights and the usual lady clothes. The shop will be closed but Wendy welcomes Daphne’s custom, you well know Daphne’s not short of a bob or two.”

“Yes, this estate and the forestry.”

Blodwen debated telling Jack about Daphne’s successful club in Birmingham but decided against it.

'The less people knew about Daphne’s success and subsequent prosperity, the better. Plas Graig Las was such a remote house, somebody might consider robbing it or kidnapping the children or ransoming Daphne’s friends or relations. Blodwen had huge respect and affection for Daphne because the tee-girl had overcome huge issues to make something of her life. Now she had a genuine shot at marriage and children by a loving and sympathetic wife, Blodwen was determined to move heaven and earth to forward Daphne’s circumstances. All this she kept back from Sergeant Jack, it was Daphne’s business and nobody else’s.'

“Yes, and she’s prepared to buy our farm off my father if I choose to sell it. Though to tell the truth, I fancy keeping it as my country retreat while Daphne farms the land.”
Sergeant Davies’s eyes brightened.

“Oh so you might be moving back with us then?”

“Probably Sarge. I can run my practice at arm’s length these days; maybe two or three days a week in Birmingham and long four or five-day weekends up here.”

“Oh, that’s good, so it won’t be a holiday home,” Jane observed.

Blodwen smiled but she wasn’t revealing all her plans. Her own personal, ideal scenario was to live on the farm most of the time with her lesbian partner, have children by Dave and let Dave and Briony care for his children during the brief midweek days when she was in Birmingham. She would work with her own partner and Briony to care for the children during weekends when Daphne liked to go to Birmingham. In truth, the two houses would be ringing to the sound of children’s laughter then, in ten years the hills would be ringing to the shouts of those same children on horseback. Blodwen savoured these images in her head for the probability of such a scenario was not just likely but almost certain. Whatever else might have been deemed to have turned out wrong for her and Daphne, their mutual childhoods had been idyllic ones. Blodwen’s clock was ticking.