The chapter deals with Daphne's convalescence and the stay by Shirley and the children for the last week of the Christmas 'hols'.
Dave anbd Blodwen meet an old classmate who proves to be sympathetic to Daphne.
Arfon also appears at the end.

The Welsh Mountain Ram 23.

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.

The Ram 23.

Machynlleth was living up to Blodwen’s description as she and Briony picked their way down the Forge Road that took them into Machynlleth. The rain was laced with wet snow flakes and the street glistened with a dull pewter hue as the interminable Welsh Weather reinforced the visitors view.

In addition to mobile phones, both Blod and Dave had CB radios in their land-rovers so they could chatter at will. The visitors became so excited at being able to chatter together that Briony and Blod had to surrender the mikes to Dave and Shirley as the children leaned over their shoulders.

“It’s no wonder your country is so bloody green,” Shirley declared as another gust hammered the sleet against the wind-screen. “This is like Manchester but with mountains. Does it ever stop?”

“We call this ‘Welsh Sunshine’ darling,” Blodwen chuckled. “Welcome to Wales Shirl’, Rain, sheep and mountains.”

“Yeah, I’m wondering now why I didn’t go back with Rachel.” Shirley grinned.

“Because we wanted to stay away from mum’s new boyfriend, that’s why.” Tara replied.

“Yeah. I suppose that’s as good a reason as any, point taken love.” Shirley conceded.

They pulled onto Heol Maengwyn and because of the miserable conditions, Dave and Blodwen offered to put the rest off by the shops while they took the sheep to market. Briony, Shirley and the young ones were all curious to visit a live-stock market. Blodwen warned them.

“It’s like I said, all sheep-shit, mud and waxed jackets. This sleet will only make it more miserable. D’you really want to come? The bidding doesn’t start until eleven.”

“We’ve got our coats an’ ats.” Briony offered.”

“Yeah, but no wellies.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.” Dave interjected. “None of you have got wellies. I’ll buy you each a pair in the market at Dick’s, the agricultural suppliers.”

“Oh Dave, I’m so disappointed with Daphne,” Blodwen scolded him. “Daphne would surely have the fashion sense to buy some nice girly wellies, flowers and stuff. Dick only stocks those God-awful black things. Look at mine.”

Blodwen pointed her toe to show off her pink wellies with bird and flower motifs. Dave grinned.

“Oh things have changed a bit Blod’. Welsh farmer’s wives have put their feet down. The market shop keeps some pretty stylish stuff there now since his daughter took a hand.”

“Oh! His daughter. Will that be Wendy from our class?”

“The very same, she's Machynlleth’s answer to Dior.”

“Yeah, she always had an eye. Old Evans the headmaster was always pulling her for those ‘fanny-pelmets’ she called skirts. She did things for Machynlleth Comp that Germaine Greer would have been pushed to achieve. Oh yes. I’m looking forward to meeting Wendy again. She was a right rebel. Is she still one?”

“Well she’s shaken up her dad Dick’s market shop. They carry a good range of stylish stuff and she’s up to London several times a year picking and choosing stuff. You don’t see much of Dick now, he’s more-or-less retired. He only appears on market Tuesdays when they’re busy and the farmers are in town. Other days the shop is more or less a fashion outlet and I might say one of the best in North Wales. However Wendy still carries the work clothes and stuff. I see her most Tuesdays when I’m in town. She’s expanded the space and made quite a go of it by providing a street front where the old livery stables were. It’s really quite smart; Machynlleth’s a very different town from our school days Blod.”

“Can’t wait to meet her again.” Blodwen grinned.

The little convoy pulled into the market entrance and waited its turn to discharge the sheep into a pen. When Shirley and Briony saw the Market shop, they immediately de-camped with Tara and Ellairy then dashed through the rain to look though the clothing range. Blodwen was left to manoeuvre both land-rovers and trailers up to the sorting gates but Dave accompanied her to the auction office to register.

“You just selling today Dave?” Arthur the auctioneer asked.

Dave nodded and signed the sale papers.

Sion and James stood with Dave for they wanted to see the live-stock market in full swing. Blodwen signed her forms and she parked up the vehicles before returning with the boys to the shop. Just then the heavens opened and they were caught in the downpour.
Twenty minutes later Dave and Blodwen stumbled into Wendy’s store with the boys looking like drowned rats. Dave explained.

“They were too curious to care about the rain. We’ve just got the sheep penned and listed for auction; the bidding will start in about half an hour. The boy’s need some waterproofs and wellies if they want to watch the bidding.”
Briony couldn’t help grinning at her little boy. His hair hung in lank tendrils down his head and the water was dripping off his inadequate clothes but the smile on his face said it all. James looked little better. Briony wagged her head in dismay.

“They’re soaked through and it’s bitterly cold out there! They’ll need a complete change of clothes! Really Dave sometimes you just don’t think.”

Dave grinned and shook his head as he indicated the racks of clothes.

“Look around you Bri, what d’you see?”

Briony frowned then looked at Dave as she wasn’t sure what he meant.

“D’you mean buy them some?”

“That’s what you girls are doing, what’s good for the goose ...”

As Dave was explaining, a familiar voice spoke behind him.

“Hello Dave, I" — The voice stopped short with surprise then exploded again.

“Oh my God! Blod! Is it really you? I haven’t seen you for what, nine years! What have you been doing with yourself? Why aren’t you married to this reprobate? Has the wrecker of ministers returned? Are you going to wed him at last?”

Wendy pointed a thumb to Dave as he stood grinning.

Blodwen recovered from the barrage of questions then accepted Wendy’s widespread arms as they fell into a hug. Blodwen and Wendy had been classmates with Dave all through the school years. The girls had been good friends, indeed, best friends. Wendy pressed.

“Why haven’t you kept in touch? I’ve not seen hide not hair since you finished uni. You just disappeared off the radar. The other girls often ask about you.”

“It’s a long story Wend’. I had to move away; you know; the big city and all that. Machynlleth was just too stifling for me. The truth is you see, I’m gay; end of.”

Dave smiled enigmatically as he admired Blodwen’s directness. In their teen years, Blod wouldn’t have dared admit to being gay; nor would he have revealed his transgenderism. Machynlleth was a small Welsh market town, all chapel and religion.

Dave was impressed by Wendy’s reaction. There was naturally a mild reaction but nothing of any censure or revulsion. Wendy continued hugging Blodwen even tighter and that spoke louder than words. Wendy was more sympathetic than anything.

“Well that’s a pity ... for Dave I mean. I always had you two down for the perfect couple. Tell you what, you lot look bloody soaked. I’ll make us all a cup of tea and we can catch up on all the gossip.”

Blodwen let out a burst of giggling.

“Shit Wendy, I thought what I just told you was gossip enough.”

“Well, yes, maybe for most people in Machynlleth, but I get up to London several times a year. Seen my fair share of gays in the rag trade. It’s old hat to me.”

Blodwen felt a soft wave of relief wash over her.

“I hoped it would be; that’s why I came out to you. You always were a good friend. Those skirts you wore, I think old Evans the headmaster nearly had a heart attack cos you had lovely legs.”

“I still have Blod, well my husband thinks so, he’s an incomer who came to manage the bank and ended up staying here. Now he’s area manager for North West Wales. So ... now that’s all the domestic gossip out of the way, these kids and these ladies need wellies if they’re to see the market. Are you buying any livestock?”

“No but I’ll enjoy shopping with these girls.” She indicated Briony and Shirley.

Wendy turned to serve Briony and Shirley while Dave joined Dick in to the little staff kitchen and started pouring tea.

Dave, Wendy and Blodwen went way, way back to infant-school days while their respective fathers had all known each other for decades. Since long before his father had died, Dave had shopped there as man and boy whenever he came to market which was about three times per month. Dick was well used to sharing a coffee or tea with him in the back room.

When he emerged with a tray Briony and Shirley were trying on wellies with Tara while the boys were looking at the guns chained into their armoured cabinet in the strong room at the back of the shop. Wendy and Blodwen were nattering away twenty to the dozen.

“Tea up everybody, can someone take this tray off me? My shoulder cast won’t let me reach out.”
Wendy took the tray and asked about the injured shoulder.

“When did you do that?”

“Oh last week.”

“He was shot!” Sion piped up.

Dave cursed silently. He couldn’t tell the boy off for revealing something Dave had wanted kept quiet. Sion would have had no idea of the implications; and there were many.

The news of the gangland war in Birmingham was reaching national level as various media pundits made programmes about the rising tide of violence and gun crime.

The ‘Gay Village Massacre’ had been used as a background scenario to support various media agendas associated with crime, drugs, gay lib, alcohol abuse and the clubbing culture. Wendy stared hard at Dave as her mind ticked over. She could sense his reticence.

“D’you want to talk about it?”

“Uhhm, not here, not now in front of the kids. We’ll need to talk though, now you know. I don’t want it spread abroad; I’ll explain after you’ve clothed these boys, they’re wet through.”

Wendy nodded and returned to her most important task, selling clothes. Eventually the whole party were fitted out. The boys from head to toe including thermal underwear while the girls invested in stylish waxed jackets and pretty girly wellies. Tara, like all fifteen year-year-olds, had indulged in some additional items for she was determined not to be outdone by her brother. The bill came to a considerable sum that caused Shirley and Briony to approach Dave. Briony asked.

“Are you happy with this? It’s a hell of an expense.”

“You’ll be thankful for them, believe me. If you’re going to marry me, I won’t see you ill shod or bare-backed.”

Like Radar, Wendy picked up the word ‘marry’ as she rang up the sale.

“Oh, so the eligible bachelor of Machynlleth town is finally taking the plunge then. Now this is gossip. Come on, spill the beans.”

Dave frowned and Wendy realised she might have said something out of turn as Dave replied.

“I need to chat to you after the market. Our Livestock should be sold by one o’clock. The others can go for Lunch then I’d like a chat. Will you do that?”

“If the shop’s not busy, yes.”

“Thanks Wendy til then, mum’s the word, okay.”

Wendy nodded thoughtfully and they left to watch the auction.

The sleet was persisting and only essential attendees were going around the pens, following the Auctioneer. Sion asked why the auctioneer spoke so quickly and Blodwen took him in her arms as she explained.

“Shhh. No talking, the man standing on the boards will think you’re buying a sheep and we’re here to sell.”

The Auctioneer stopped as he moved to the next lot and he grinned at Sion. Sion grinned back and waved. Again, Blodwen cautioned him.

“No talking, no waving don’t make any sign that might make him think you’re buying. Keep strictly silent okay. Just watch the men in jackets with the white tickets in their hats. They’re the ones buying. The other men are the farmers who want to see what price their sheep are fetching so they can decide if they want to sell sheep next week. The men in overalls are mainly the drivers and herders who handle the animals in the pens.”

The rest watched briefly until Dave and Blodwen’s stock came up. After the sale, Briony asked.

“Was it a good price?”

“Not bad,” Dave replied, “I’ve had worse and I’ve had better prices.”

“Can I ask?”

“It’s no secret Bri. It’s an open shout auction the prices couldn’t be more public.”

He told her the price per weight which wasn’t very informative to Briony so she asked bluntly.

“How much did you make?”

Dave grinned and wagged his head.

“Mine made one thousand four fifty; Blodwen’s made one thousand four eighty.”

“Why the difference? You both had a dozen sheep.”

“Who knows? Buyers might have preferred Blod’s sheep; a buyer might have been pressed to make his quota for the slaughter house.
It’s all the same. There weren’t many there today, no cattle just last year’s lambs and hoggets.”

“Hoggets?”

“Yearling ewes, breeding or slaughter, the old lambs are for the meat trade.”

“Will I be expected to learn all this?”

“It’s up to you. You’ll get phone calls from other farmers discussing stock prices at different markets. If you answer when I’m out on the hill, it’ll help if you know what’s what. Come on, market over I’m taking you for lunch.”

“What all of us?”

Dave nodded then added.

“I want to speak to Wendy first, Blod will take you. I’ll catch up. After lunch we’ll sort out your car at Brian’s.”

The group left the Landrovers and trailers in the market yard and walked into town to a cafe that Dave had pre-booked. Restaurant eats were sometimes scarce on market days but the weather had deterred many people from attending the market. It was mostly essential farmers with the occasional wife who’d come shopping. Blodwen took them to the restaurant while Dave dropped in to explain to Wendy. The shop was quiet now the market was over and most people were in town eating or shopping. Dave chatted to Wendy in the back room while Dick minded the shop.

“Just a few words Wend’ about my getting shot. I don’t want it spread around the town.”

“Well everybody will see you with your shoulder in plaster, people are bound to ask.”

“So, you just say I broke my shoulder, no need to embellish.”

“So what’s the big issue?”

“I was shot Wend’ that’s the big issue.”

“Well how, where, when. Everybody’s going to ask.”

“Just say you don’t know how it was broken.”

“Alright then, I won’t tell anybody but why the secrecy?”

“There are issues Wend’, the police are still involved with their inquiries. It wasn’t a farming accident; I was shot in that massacre thing in Birmingham.”

“Oh! You mean the gay massacre!”

“The very same.”

“What were you doing in a gay village; you’re not gay are you?”

“No, I’m not gay; would a gay bloke have a partner like Briony?”

“Well; no. I must admit she is quite attractive even after two kids. Are they yours?”

“No but that’s part of the issue. She ex husband is a brute and she’s run away from him, she’s suing for a divorce. He’s a very violent man. The little boy Sion is terrified of him; his own son mind!”

“So, how come you got tangled up in this gay village thing?”

“Oh it’s long story.”

Dave related the past events since he had rescued Briony and in the telling he had to explain his transgendered nature. This juncture brought a gasp from Wendy.

“What! You? Transgendered; you mean you’re a woman!”

“No. I’m partly a woman. It’s complicated and I don’t spread it around.”

“Does Blodwen know?”

“Of course she knows. I suspected she was gay in school, the year before she left for uni. She finally told me after I asked her bluntly during her first year in uni. I could spot things but I remained the only one who knew in all Machynlleth. We drifted apart after that because she thought I disapproved and I was too busy with the farms to work on our friendship. I didn’t see us drifting apart; I was just so-oo so busy.”

Dave sighed wistfully then continued.

“My God how shit buggers with our lives. When I finally realised she’d more or less gone out of my life, I thought I’d lost a wonderful childhood friend forever. We only saw each other when she came home to visit her dad. I was still uptight about my transgenderism and I just couldn’t come out until after my own dad died. Then I spread my wings. Talk about serendipity and coincidences. She found out about me when I was dressed one weekend in the village.

We bumped into each other completely by accident in a gay club. She didn’t recognise me in the dark surroundings but she was spooked that I knew her and so much about her. I thought I’d have a bit of fun and play with her mind but it was a stupid thing to do. She became frightened and thought I was some sort of stalker so I came out to her. I couldn’t apologise enough and she fell apart crying with relief, then she hugged me tighter than she ever had before and we cried for what seemed hours in each other’s arms. We’ve been best friends ever since. That’s why I was up in Birmingham during the New Year.”

“You were partying!”

“It’s what I do Wend’. Machynlleth is too small for me as well. Blod is right, small town life is worse than the big city for LGBT people.”

“So does Briony know?”

“Yes, everything, you must have heard how we met.”

“Oh yes. She’s got a sister, Elspeth living here. It’s all around the town about your ‘Knight in Shining Armour’ exploits.”

“Damn. The silly bitch should have shut her mouth. If Arfon finds out, the shit will hit the fan.”

“I think it was her children who spoke of it, in school, you know what kids are. Is Arfon the man with the fair-haired crew cut?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never met him.”

“Well there was a heavily built man asking about Briony just after Christmas. I don’t know how much he knows but Briony’s story wasn’t much known about just then.”

“Shit! Has he been back since?”

“Not to my knowledge. I think he’s up in Birmingham looking for her. Her face was splashed all over the news after the shooting. Fortunately, she’s not well known in Machynlleth, she’s a Llanidloes girl.”

“Yeah, but it’s a small country, when he comes back he’s bound to find out. He’s got form for GBH.”

“Best thing you can do is let the police know. Ask them to inform you if he’s in town asking.”

“I’d best get my solicitor onto it as well. A court order might be in order, if not for me then for Briony. He’s beaten her up a couple of times, hence the divorce.”

Wendy nodded then smiled.

“So you cross dress then?”

“Amongst other stuff. I’m sort of transgendered as well as transvestite.”

“How d’you mean?”

“Well there’s parts of me that want to stay a man, at least until I’m a father. I want kids to hand on the estate.”

“That says a lot about you. You value family and stuff over your gender and sexuality.”

“Sex was never that big an issue for me. I don’t have a monstrously powerful sex drive, I never have. I think that’s one of the reasons Blodwen was so fond of me at school. She realised she was gay in her early teens and she liked me because I didn’t much push the sex thing. I wasn’t the typical teen-aged ‘gland’ looking to inseminate everything and anything.

If anything, my gender issue is slightly more important but I do want kids to hand on the torch.”

Wendy smiled then asked.

“What do you do to buy clothes?”

“I shop online occasionally, but that’s one of the reasons I go to Birmingham.”

Wendy’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Ahh! Now I realise! That’s why Briony kept asking your advice about coats and I noticed even that girl, what’s her name? The teenager.”

“Tara,” Dave confirmed.

“Yes. Even she asked you occasionally. I suppose if you were in Birmingham you’d give advice.”

“If I was in Birmingham Wend’ I’d be dressed and comparing clothes. It’s what Blod and I do every time I go up to town. We meet and go shopping.”

“So you walk around the city in daylight.” Wendy confirmed wonderingly.

Dave took out his mobile phone and selected his gallery page. After studying the pictures Wendy swore.

“Bloody hell Dave, you pass! You could be a model with those hips and shoulders. What size are you?”

“Twelve, sometimes fourteen across the shoulders. I can get into a ten sometimes if it’s stretch material and of course boy hips ... so my panties are tiny.”

“Shit I’m jealous, shut up. I’m a fourteen, and you’re what; five ten, five eleven?”

“Five ten,” Dave grinned.

“And legs that go up to your arse. D’you have a female name.”

“Of course, every tranny does. Mine’s Daphne.”

Wendy wagged her head then added thoughtfully.

“You could buy stuff here, after the shops are closed. You could come here alone. Dad goes home about three.”

“Nice offer Wend’ but I’ve got to sort out Briony’s car and Shirley will have to drive my Landrover home.”

“There’ll be other Tuesdays.”

“Yes I’m sure and yes I will. You’ve got some nice stuff here.”

Wendy preened herself as she replied.

“I try. Dragging Machynlleth into the twenty-first century is not easy.”

With that, Dave’s mobile rang.

“Hello Bri’ I’ll be there shortly.”

“Arfon’s in town!” Briony whispered fearfully.