Wild Bay

By Llewelyn Pritchard

All is not as it seems to be!!! Wild Bay is a novel of historical fiction based on unique first-hand experience in Port Hope Simpson, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada that offers great lessons in how you can come to terms with something that really bothers you whilst simultaneously gaining great personal satisfaction and benefits along the way. The best of both worlds! Or, looked at in another way, how you can endeavour to resolve a series of coincidences, puzzles, mysteries or most grave, serious issues in such a way that your work will maybe benefit others.(Disclaimer This book is a work of historical fiction and is not to be taken literally. If the reader sees similarities between characters in this work of fiction and people in real life, they should be thought of as merely coincidental.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Llewelyn Pritchard
• Release date: Jan 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301556021

Llewelyn Pritchard

Llewelyn's collection of books include the Series: UK Travel and Tourism Travel Handbooks Photo Albums Illustrated Diaries about European Budget Short-Break Holidays The Port Hope Simpson Diaries 1969-70 Port Hope Simpson Mysteries The Voluntary Service Overseas in Labrador and "Hidden Gem" written in honour of the staff of an Oncology Unit within a General Hospital in the National Health Service (N.H.S) in the United Kingdom (U.K.) Llewelyn has worked with The Honourable Canadian Senator William (Bill) Rompkey, on writing the history of the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Labrador. This is what Bill wrote in his letter to the first get- together of the VSO teachers at Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire 1-3 August 2003, "...Labrador called to you and we are calling you now. I hope you will do what you can during these few days to fill in the Labrador record with your recollections and reflections. This too will be an important contribution to Labrador history. But mainly I hope you enjoy your time together. Llewelyn Pritchard has done a remarkable job in bringing you together. He is as shrewd as Holmes and as persistent as Poirot. He could even be a great Canadian! We owe him more than we can say. It's his event and I know it will be successful. All good wishes. Bill Rompkey"

Book preview

Wild Bay

Series Title: Port Hope Simpson Mysteries

Vol 6

By Llewelyn Pritchard

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010 Llewelyn Pritchard

Chapter 1 Coming back; Chapter 2 The tombstone calls; Chapter 3 More questions; Chapter 4 Background research; Chapter 5 Celebrations; Chapter 6 There is certainly a world of difference about achievement between an idea that happens in the blink of an eye and its realisation over time; Chapter 7 A warning shot! Chapter 8 God bless you! That would explain why we had to bury them in a concrete grave first of all and then later the tombstone was built on top of them, said Sam. Chapter 9 Let them rest in peace.Chapter 10 He was The Supreme Woodsman. Chapter 11 In Portugal Chapter 12 He’s like a timber wolf. He never gives up. Chapter 13 Early next morning they started off on the famous Portuguese train journey the length of the country. Chapter 14 He felt like the ball in the middle of a non– stop game of pinball. Chapter 15 He realised he was up against a master in his own backyard. Chapter 16 It was a well-known fact in the Dominions Office in 1936 that Wrigglesworth and Commissioner Pomeroy had behaved irresponsibly and improperly in the conduct of their official duties. Chapter 17 Did Sir James ever tell his family what was going on with his Manager at Wild Bay? Chapter 18 But hush it up they did. Chapter 19 Neither of the two young men suspected the other because they were the best of friends Chapter 20 It didn't take Dawson very long to decide that a trip to Portugal was necessary. Chapter 21 Shall we see you at the opening ceremony tomorrow morning?" Chapter 22 The Community Hall was once again packed out.

Chapter 1 Coming back

All is not as it seems to be!!!

The peace and quietness of Wild Bay in the early morning; as the water lapped and sparkled against the shoreline, was truly a medicine for Richard ap Meurig as he took his daily walk. The total ambience of the surroundings had a stillness that spread over him as his thoughts wondered from the past to the present. (Coincidentally, Richard’s name was derived from that of a Welsh merchant in Bristol, England: Richard ap Meurig who had appeared in the Customs roll as ap Meryke, who was supposed to have been the heaviest investor in John Cabot's expedition to America in 1498. It is, therefore, very probable that America had its name from the Bristolian version of this man's name: Richard Ameryk.)

Richard mused to himself. Is all this really happening? Am I actually walking the same shoreline after a 33-year absence from this community? So much of the physical aspect has improved and the warm- hearted, hospitable, sincere people still share their homes and lives with outsiders who visit.

Richard had come out all those years ago to work in Wild Bay as a young, 18 year-old V.S.O. teacher. His background in Wales had not prepared him for the adventure from 1969 to 1970 that was to play such a captivating part in his future life.

Does life give us a destiny or do we make our own he pondered. Why do things happen as they do?

This early walk was his routine and each day brought a new awakening in his soul and sense of purpose for his return. He felt so privileged to have been specially flown out to the Town’s Coming Home Celebrations.

Today, as his mind was revisiting thoughts of the past, he found himself by the old tombstone that as a young lad he had been curious about. But unbeknown to him, another’s eyes were watching his every move from behind a nearby lace-covered window. Shanolla was thinking about her Grandmother’s secret. Not to be shared with anyone she had made her promise before she left. Not even with her own Mother and Father. For Shanolla it had now become a secret she wanted to avenge. She had heard her friend Gail Richards say that Richard was asking questions about the tombstone. Maybe he could be brought to help her on her own mission. Maybe they could do more for each other than they realised?

Richard’s sense of peace, as if there was another guiding, benign presence within him had been disturbed however, by the suddenness of coming upon this ground. He was thrown for a few seconds. Then he started to take a good look at the old tombstone and surrounding area. In 1940, he recalled that a man had died apparently trying to save his wife and 18 month old baby girl. Only the wife survived.

As Richard was looking around, loving thoughts of his own daughter came to mind, and the anguish that the wife and mother must have lived with all her life. What ever became of her? Did she ever remarry and have more children? What’s it doing there? Richard said to himself as he stood before The Tombstone. It still looked as incongruous now as it did all those years ago. It simply shouldn’t be there. Why weren’t they buried in Wales instead?"

Richard ap Meurig was now once again out in the magnificent winter-port setting of Wild Bay at the invitation of Jessica Ermgratt Shepherd, Town Mayor, who had devoted her life to helping the town become a better place in which to live, on the amazing south - east Labrador coast of Canada. On another one of those adventures that he had seemed to make a habit of falling into over the years without really trying.

Chapter 2 The tombstone calls

The shiny - smooth, cold-to-the-touch, blue granite tombstone from the Preselli Hills back home had strangely drawn him back from Bryntoch, South Wales. This time he had left behind deep in The Black Mountain his wife and family of three sons, one daughter and his favourite hunting rifle that had killed so many rampaging lion, water buffalo and elephant far- away on the huge African plains. A carefully oiled, well-cared-for gun proudly displayed alongside his other trophies above the curved mirror over the fireplace. Its killing range was one mile and he could still hit three coins before they hit the ground