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AS ALWAYS, THE day was long and the work was hard, and on this particular August evening, the daylight lingered and the skies retained their clear blue lustre. Having drawn the horse and cart to a halt, Danny hurried across to the orchard, where Emily and her child were playing peek-aboo round the apple trees.

‘By! It were that hot in Blackburn town today, you could fry an egg on the pavement, so you could!’ he told them.

They came to greet him, Cathleen at full tilt in front, and Emily sauntering on behind. ‘It’s a wonder your milk didn’t go sour,’ she said.

‘I got rid of it all in good time,’ he explained, ‘though the churns do keep the milk cold, up to a point anyway.’

The child wasn’t interested in whether the milk had gone sour or not. She had bigger problems than that. ‘My swing’s broke,’ she told Danny. ‘Mam says she can mend it, but she can’t.’ She gave Emily a forgiving look. ‘It’s all right though,’ she promised, ‘’cause Danny will mend it now, won’t you, Danny? Please?’

Danny followed the two of them to the biggest, oldest apple tree in the orchard, where Cathleen’s broken swing hung down. ‘Let’s see now.’ Lifting the seat he examined the underneath.

‘Three times I’ve threaded the rope through the holes and tied the knot nice and big,’ Emily explained, ‘and it still keeps slipping through. It’s dangerous. I think the timber’s rotten.’

‘Aye.’ Danny slipped the seat off altogether. ‘You’re absolutely right. This wood is as soft as muck.’ He poked his finger through the holes. ‘That’s why the holes keep breaking open.’ He swung the child into his arms. ‘It can’t be mended. It’s not safe,’ he told her. ‘It needs a new seat.’

‘Can you make me one – can you?’ The little girl’s lips wobbled.

Danny chucked her under the chin. ‘Hey! We’ll have no tears, if you don’t mind. Tears make me sad, and I don’t like being sad.’

Cathleen smiled through her big wet eyes. ‘Will you make me a new seat, please, Danny?’

He laughed out loud. ‘I’ll make you the finest seat in the whole of Lancashire. I’ll even find a new length of rope in case that’s going rotten too. Now then, Cathleen, what d’you say to that?’

‘I say yes!’ And she planted a grateful smacker on his face.

‘While I’m doing that, you might go and ask your grandma if there’s a drink going for the workman.’

‘Do you want tea?’

He made a face. ‘I’d rather have a cool drink.’

‘Sarsaparilla?’

He shook his head. ‘Not if I can help it.’ It was too sweet a taste for his liking.

Cathleen’s eyes lit up. ‘I know what Grandma’s got, and she gives it to Grandad too. He likes it a lot, only she won’t let him have too much, because it makes him dizzy and he starts talking rubbish, that’s what Grandma says.’

Danny laughed so heartily at her having got it all out in one breath, Emily couldn’t help but laugh with him. ‘And what drink is that then, eh?’ he asked.

‘It’s called Ederber wine.’

‘Is that so?’ He tried hard not to smile. ‘Well, it sounds good to me, so you be a darling and tell your grandma that Danny would like a taste of her “Ederber wine”.’

At that, Cathleen ran off to the farmhouse.

‘You’re a terrible tease,’ Emily told him.

Danny was always happiest when in Emily’s company, but he was particularly happy when the two of them were alone, which to his mind, was not often enough.

‘I hope I’m right in thinking she meant elderberry wine?’ He feigned innocence. ‘Because if it’s not, I’m beginning to wonder what I’ve let myself in for. Y’see, if I get dizzy I won’t be able to mend her swing. And if I start talking rubbish, you won’t like me any more.’

‘If you started talking rubbish, I don’t suppose anybody would even notice,’ she joked. ‘You know very well what she meant, so behave yourself,’ she chided. ‘As for Grandad, it’s just that when he has his weekly measure of elderberry wine, it makes him a bit merry, that’s all.’

‘Quite right too!’ Danny exclaimed. ‘And why shouldn’t a man be merry from time to time, that’s what I’d like to know?’

The two of them sat on the bench. ‘Where will you get the rope for the swing?’ Emily wanted to know.

Danny had it all worked out. ‘I’ll borrow it from the horse’s haybag,’ he declared. ‘I’ve got plenty more at home.’

‘There’s some rope in the barn.’

‘We’ll take a look and see if it’s strong enough.’

Emily grew wary. ‘Let’s wait for Cathleen,’ she said.

Feigning indignation, Danny turned to regard her. ‘Well, o’ course we’ll wait for the child. What else did you think I was suggesting?’

Embarrassed, Emily was lost for an answer, except to say with a quick smile, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend!’

With smiling eyes, he enquired cautiously, ‘Dare I ask you to show me where the timber is?’

Emily pointed to the smaller of the two barns. ‘You’ll find some pieces piled up in there, behind the manger.’

He nodded his thanks. ‘Oh, and don’t go taking great gulps outta my wine when it comes, because I’ll know!’

At ease again, Emily grinned. ‘You’ll find a big coil of rope in there,’ she told him. ‘It’s lying right beside the timber.’

While he was gone, Emily sat, contentedly waiting. It was a quiet time when she could sit and think, and remember. Any time of night or day, John was never far away. He was close to her now, in her heart and mind, and every sense in her body.

I still love you, John Hanley, she thought. Danny is a good man – a kind man. He wants to wed me and raise Cathleen as his own. He has a business, and money enough to help us be rid of Clem Jackson, and yet he asks for little in return. And still I can’t bring myself to say yes, because all I can think of is you.

It was odd, that she could still love him as much as ever, while he could go off with nary a qualm. I ought to hate you, but I can’t, and I never will.

Trying hard to shut him out of her thoughts, she listened to the familiar sounds of nature all around her. She could hear the birds singing, and not too far away the squirrels chased each other round the fields; the fruit trees were resting after giving up a wonderful harvest, and the skies were so clear you could almost see heaven.

‘It’s so beautiful here,’ she murmured. Through the overhanging branches, the sunlight dappled on her face, and just there on the log-pile she could see a jay, its bright eyes looking straight at her, its many colours made vivid by the sunlight. ‘What are you after?’ she asked, holding out her hand. ‘Hungry, are you?’

Nervous, the bird hopped away and was soon gone from sight.

Suddenly, and for no reason she could think of, Emily began to cry; soft, wet tears trickling down her face and her heart aching with memories of John and the way it used to be. Why did you leave me? Caught by the breeze, her words were soon gentled away.

Even now, after all this time, she could not bring herself to believe he had thrown her over for another woman, yet there it had been in black and white, in John’s own handwriting. We had it all, you and me.

Opening her arms to encompass the landscape, she said aloud: ‘We could have spent our lives together right here, in a place we both love. We had the chance of real happiness. What went wrong? Why didn’t you come back? Why couldn’t you have told me to my face how you’d fallen out of love with me? I might be able to understand, if only you’d had the courage to tell me yourself.’

Just then she saw Cathleen coming from one direction and Danny from the other; one going carefully with a small tray in her hands, the other covering the ground in long, easy strides, a bundle of timber under one arm, and a coil of rope in the other.

Quickly, before they could see, she wiped away the tears, put on a smile and ran to help Cathleen. ‘Let Mammy carry that, sweetheart?’ She held out her hands to take the tray, but the child was adamant. ‘I can do it.’ Balancing the tray, she picked her way over the ground. ‘It’s for Danny. Grandma sent him a piece of cake.’ And right there on the tray was a huge slice of Aggie’s best spongecake, with lashings of cream and jam oozing from each end.

Having reached the bench she set the tray down, at the same time telling Danny, ‘Grandma says you’re not to go just yet, ’cause she’s making us all a picnic.’

‘I’d best go and help.’ Knowing how her mother would do everything herself, given the chance, Emily went at a run to the farmhouse. Behind her, Danny enjoyed Aggie’s delicious cake, while Cathleen explained how she would like the swing to be a bit higher this time. ‘’Cause I’m older now, aren’t I, Danny?’

‘Old as the hills,’ he said, rolling his eyes to make her laugh.

Inside the farmhouse, Aggie was putting the finishing touches to the picnic. ‘Oh, Mam!’ Emily was amazed at the spread. ‘When did you plan all this?’ she asked.

‘When Danny told me he was hoping to get back this evening.’

‘Well, you’ve done him proud,’ Emily said warmly. ‘You’ve done us all proud!’ There were ham sandwiches, pork-pie chunks and small crispy apple-slices round the edge of the plate, hard-boiled eggs and potato salad, and in a small wicker basket were any number of little fairy cakes, some with chocolate icing, and others with dollops of cream on top.

A large, round apple pie twinkled with sugared pastry, next to a jug of cream for pouring. ‘You should have called me!’ Emily chided. ‘I would have helped.’

‘I didn’t call you because you were busy enough with other things, and besides, there was only a small amount of baking to do. Most of it was already in the larder from yesterday.’

Collecting the wooden apple-crate from the pantry, Aggie turned to pack the food. ‘Let me do that, Mam.’ And before her mam could argue, Emily lined the crate with the green picnic-rug and filled it with the good things. ‘I know what this is all about,’ she said.

‘Do you now?’ Aggie had her motive, and Emily knew it. ‘And what might that be then, eh?’

‘You think Danny will ask me to wed him again, and this time, you’re hoping I’ll say yes – is that it?’

‘Something like that.’ Bringing the two jugs of cold drink from the larder, Aggie packed them into the crate; the sarsaparilla at one end; lemon-barley water at the other. ‘That’ll balance the crate as we carry it. Now then, where did I put the napkins?’ She glanced round the room, relieved when her searching gaze fell on the pile of newly washed squares, folded on the sideboard.

In no time at all, Emily and Aggie were ready to carry the crate out, but first her mother had an errand for Emily. ‘Run upstairs and ask Grandad if he’d like to sit out in the sunshine for a bit.’ Aggie thought Emily would be able to persuade him where she couldn’t. ‘I asked him before, but he said no. If you recall, the doctor said he could sit out when the weather was warm, only the old devil’s being obstinate. Do what you can,’ she pleaded. ‘It’ll do him a power of good to feel the sun on his face.’

Thinking the very same, Emily started up the stairs. ‘And don’t you go trying to manage that crate all on your own!’ she warned.

Aggie laughed. ‘I might be able to do a lot o’ things,’ she answered, ‘but I know my limits. I’ll wait for you to come down. Don’t you worry.’

She watched Emily go, and raised her eyes to heaven. ‘Dear Good Lord, will You try and get her to say yes to Danny?’ She could see a future for Emily and the child in Danny’s loving care.

Taking Aggie by surprise, Emily was back in no time. ‘I knew it!’ Aggie stood with hands on hips and a look of consternation on her face. ‘He won’t budge, will he?’

‘At first he was stubborn as a mule, but when I told him Danny was waiting downstairs, he wanted to know why we’d neglected him, and why he hadn’t been asked before.’

Aggie smiled. ‘He’s a canny old bugger, that’s what he is.’

Emily laughed at the pair of them. ‘A bit like you then – eh, Mam?’

A few moments later, she and Aggie carried the box out to the garden, and laid it on the ground. Danny was horrified. ‘You shouldn’t be carrying that weight! Why didn’t you call me?’

‘We’ve a bigger job for you, son,’ Aggie informed him. ‘There’s a cantankerous old devil upstairs, who’s waiting to be helped down. The poor thing’s been that badly neglected, we thought we might give him a little treat by way of an apology.’

Danny saw the look on her face and knew her father-in-law had been up to his old tricks. ‘That’ll be the day, when I see you and Emily neglect him. What! You spoil him rotten, the pair of you.’

Aggie thanked him. ‘Happen you’d best tell him that,’ she said. ‘He seems to think he’s hard done by. Or he pretends to think it, so he can put us through hoops, that’s more like it.’

‘He’s entitled to,’ Emily chuckled. ‘I might do the same when I’m his age.’

While Danny and her mother went after Grandad, Emily and Cathleen returned to the house. ‘I’ll take the plates,’ she told the girl. ‘You can carry the salt and pepper.’ Handing her the two condiments, Emily gave her a cuddle. ‘You always want to help, don’t you, eh?’

That done, the two of them laid out the picnic rug. ‘You wait here, sweetheart.’ Emily sat her daughter on the rug. ‘I’ll go and get the cutlery.’ She was looking forward to the picnic, especially now Grandad was coming down.

Upstairs, Danny helped Thomas Isaac out of bed and held him upright while Aggie put on his robe and slippers. ‘Stand still!’ She almost toppled over, when he began his way towards the door. ‘Your slippers are not properly on yet.’

‘Hurry up, woman!’ he retaliated. ‘I’m hungry. It’s hours since I were fed.’

‘You ate soup and bread only half an hour since.’ By now she was puffing and panting. ‘Dad! Will you stand still? Or have I to ask Danny to put you back to bed?’

‘You’re a wicked woman, Aggie Ramsden.’

‘Not as wicked as I’ll be if you don’t keep still for a minute.’

‘You’re tekking too damned long!’

Sighing and groaning, Aggie straightened her back. ‘You’re an awkward old sod, that’s what you are.’

At which he gave her a smacker on the forehead. ‘And you’re lovely when you’re angry.’

Danny laughed. ‘Do I get a kiss too, then?’

‘What!’ The old man gave him a warning glare. ‘You’ll get a kick up the arse if you don’t get me down them stairs and into that garden sharpish, afore the sun goes down.’

Danny redoubled his efforts. ‘Come on, Aggie, me old darling,’ he said. ‘We’d best get this bundle o’ trouble out of here.’

It was no easy task. The stairs were narrow and winding and the old man cursed each and every step. ‘Damned things are too steep, they mek me dizzy. An’ why can’t they mek ’em wider, eh? I’m squashed agin the wall like a chop atween a bap.’

‘I hope you’re not blaming me?’ Danny remarked good-naturedly. ‘It wasn’t me that built the stairs, so do us a favour; stop your meithering and hold on.’ Inching the old man down the stairs was taking longer than he’d anticipated.

Thomas Isaac took not a blind bit of notice. ‘Yer not doing very well, are yer?’ he complained. ‘If we keep going at this rate, we’ll be here a month on Sunday.’

Panting from the burden of easing his legs one after the other down the steps, Aggie chided, ‘You’re not doing much to help yourself, are you?’

‘I’m doing me best, woman!’

‘You’ll do even better if you save your breath for the effort, instead of having a go at me and Danny.’

‘Danny’s not complaining.’

‘That’s because he has respect for old folks.’

‘I’m not old!’

‘No. Just cantankerous.’ Winking at Danny she bent her back and carried on regardless.

‘If I’m such a nuisance, tek me back to me bed then.’

‘I’ll do no such thing. We’ll get you down these stairs and outside if it kills us.’

Danny had an idea. ‘Stand aside,’ he told Aggie. ‘He’s right. We’re getting nowhere fast like this.’

In a minute, much to the old man’s horror, Danny had him in his arms and was carrying him bodily down the stairs. ‘Put me down, you great ox!’ The old man objected to being carried like a baby. ‘You’ll do me a damage!’

Ignoring the shouts and abuse, Danny took him all the way down the stairs, and out to the bench, where he gently sat him down. ‘Now, behave yourself,’ he said with a grin.

‘Or he’ll have to carry you all the way back again,’ Aggie chipped in. ‘Now then, Dad, do you want lemon-barley or sarsaparilla?’

‘I’ll ’ave a drop o’ the good stuff.’

‘If you mean elderberry wine, you’ve had your ration already.’

‘Well! It’s a picnic, in’t it? What good’s a picnic if yer can’t ’ave a drop o’ the good stuff, that’s what I’d like to know?’

Emily agreed. ‘It won’t hurt just this once, will it, Mam?’

Aggie gave a long, noisy sigh. ‘Aw, go on then. But only this once,’ she warned her father-in-law. ‘And don’t think you can try it on again, ’cause you can’t.’

Aside to Danny, she explained, ‘If he has too much, he’ll be singing and shouting and thinking he can dance the night away. Then he’ll get dizzy and fall over. A small measure is good for him, but I have to be careful, y’see? Like the doctor says, he’s just not well enough to take a full glass.’ She saw how, even now, the old fella looked pale and drawn, and her voice grew soft with affection. ‘He might swear and groan and make me want to pull my hair out, but deep down he’s a darling, and I love him.’

Danny understood that. ‘Well, who couldn’t help but love him, eh?’

While Emily went to fetch the elderberry wine, Aggie gave out the pork pie and sandwiches. ‘Eat up. There’s plenty more where that lot came from,’ she said, tucking into her own helping.

When Emily returned with the wine, the old man was given a reasonable enough measure. ‘That’s only a quarter of a glass!’ He thrust it back at Aggie.

‘Sip it slowly and it’ll last all the longer,’ Aggie answered. ‘And it’s no good you moaning and complaining. Just remember what the doctor said.’

‘I don’t reckon he knows what he’s talking about.’ Mimicking the whining voice of his ageing doctor, he went on, ‘“Don’t let him have too much; a small measure once or twice a week, that’s quite enough in his condition”.’

‘Aye, and so it is.’ Aggie was taking no nonsense.

‘Anyway, I don’t know what condition he’s talking about,’ Thomas Isaac grumbled. ‘Me poor old bones are weary, that’s all what’s wrong wi’ me.’

‘Don’t try it on, Dad.’ Aggie wagged a finger. ‘You’ve got all the wine you’re getting.’

He gave her a beckoning wink. ‘Aw, come on, lass.’ He held out his glass yet again. ‘Fill it up t’top. It’ll help me sleep well tonight.’

‘The answer is still no,’ she replied firmly. ‘You shouldn’t even be having that much, and besides, the fresh air will help you sleep far better.’

‘You’re a mean woman.’

‘That’s right, and I’ve got my eye on you.’

‘I love you all the same.’ Reaching out, he patted her on the shoulder. ‘Even if you are a bossy bugger.’

‘I love you too, Dad. So now eat up and enjoy the evening, eh?’

While all this good-natured bantering was going on, Danny thought how wonderful it was, to be in the midst of this family and feeling such contentment. Now, as he glanced at Emily, his heart was brimful of love for her.

As for Emily, she gave him a quiet smile that said, ‘Don’t expect too much.’ And knowing how she felt, he merely nodded and looked away.

Just then, Cathleen tugged at his hand. ‘Here’s a cake for you, Danny.’ She held up the fairy cake with its melting chocolate on top, and he took it graciously. Already he felt he belonged. All it needed now was for Emily to say she was willing to wed him, and he would be the happiest man on God’s earth.

Inside the converted outhouse some distance away, Clem Jackson was blissfully unaware of the family gathering. Busy entertaining, he had his arms full of a woman, and his belly full of ale. Lying naked on the bed alongside her, he had been pleased and satisfied and now he was ready for more.

Turning his head he saw that she was sleeping. She wasn’t bad for somebody who sold her body to any Tom, Dick and Harry, he thought, his eyes roving the ample curves. As his gaze fell to where the mass of dark hair curled in between her thighs, a thrill ran through him and he became aroused.

In a minute he was on her, the force of his weight startling her awake. ‘For God’s sake, we’ve been at it all night,’ the woman complained. ‘Don’t tell me you’re still not satisfied.’

He laughed – a rough, raw laugh that betrayed the animal in him. ‘It’ll tek more than you to satisfy the likes o’ me.’

Trying her best to throw him off, she pleaded with him, ‘I never thought I’d say this to any man, but you’ve worn me out. I’m bone-tired.’

Struggling to get from underneath him, she found herself trapped by the sheer mass of his body. ‘Get off!’ Punching at him with her fists, she continued to struggle, until he slapped her hard on the mouth.

‘Keep still, damn it! You should be used to men taking what they want, and why should you complain, eh? You get well paid at the end, don’t you?’

The hard slap on the mouth sent her into a sulk. Knowing how he was strong and nasty enough to hurt her if he wanted to, she lay there while he satisfied himself. The fact that she didn’t respond to his amorous advances was of no concern to him at all. In fact, it excited him all the more.

He was right in what he said, she told herself bitterly. She did sell her body to the highest bidder and in the past he had paid her well. But there was something about him that frightened her, and this time, she had come to loathe him more with every passing minute.

Now as he finished and rolled away, she snatched the opportunity to scramble out from beneath him. ‘I’d best get dressed,’ she said, grabbing her clothes. ‘Me and my sister are travelling to Manchester tonight.’ It was a lie, but all she could think of. ‘Dad’s not been well, and we need to be there.’

‘Liar!’ She was halfway dressed with her blouse on and her skirt round her ankles, when he was on her again. ‘Wherever you’re off to, it can wait,’ he grunted. ‘I ain’t had my money’s worth yet.’ With that he pushed her against the wall and pinning her arms out wide, he took her again, this time more brutally, and with deliberate cruelty.

Even now, in the middle of pleasuring himself, he couldn’t resist adding insult to injury.

Wiping his wet lips over hers, he whispered spitefully, ‘You’re a bit jaded for my taste, so I won’t be after you again, you can be sure o’ that.’ He took her quick and afterwards threw her aside.

Lying on the floor where he’d thrown her, she cried openly, while he continued to insult and degrade her. ‘Get dressed and get gone. I don’t want to see you again.’

‘I need my money.’ She had never been used like he’d used her, and she felt ashamed and angry. ‘I’m not leaving without my money.’

‘Oh, you’ll get your money all right. I won’t have it said that Clem Jackson doesn’t pay his doxies.’ Quickly dressing, he then flung open the door and stepped outside.

‘Where are you going?’ Frantic, she fell over herself trying to get dressed before he disappeared.

‘To check on my animals. They’re better company than you are.’ He spat on the ground. ‘Whore!’

Now he was out of the door, she couldn’t get dressed fast enough. ‘Wait!’ She ran after him. ‘WAIT!’

‘Look, Grandad.’ Seeing the woman running towards the field, one shoe on and the other in her hand, the child was curious. ‘There’s a lady, and she’s only got one shoe on.’

The old man turned his head to see. He had already noticed Clem striding away and suspected the woman wouldn’t be far behind. ‘Don’t worry about it,’ he told young Cathleen. ‘I dare say she’ll be gone soon.’

As with all children her attention soon wavered. Looking to where Danny and Emily were working on the swing, she asked hopefully, ‘Do you think Danny’s finished my swing yet?’

‘Go and see, why don’t yer?’

‘I can’t – Danny told me not to go near until he called.’

Welcoming the idea, he answered with a hug. ‘Quite right too, lass. You could likely get caught with one o’ them timbers and we wouldn’t want that now, would we, eh?’

He glanced across to where Danny was putting the final touches to the swing. ‘I reckon it might be all right now, though,’ he observed. ‘Why don’t yer go and see? I’m sure it would be safe.’

She slid her tiny hand in his and, tugging hard, entreated him to go with her.

‘No, lass. You go. I’ll just sit here and wait for your grandma to come back.’

‘Are you merry?’

He laughed at that. ‘Why d’you ask?’

‘’Cause Grandma said when you drink that Ederber wine, you get too merry and then you fall over.’

‘It’s true enough,’ he admitted. ‘I might well fall over if only she’d give me a big enough measure to mek me merry, but there’s no fear o’ that. So no, I’m not all that merry at the minute.’ He winked. ‘It’s grand to be out in the fresh air though, and I’m very grateful for that.’

‘Did Danny carry you all the way down?’

‘Almost.’

‘Did it hurt?’

‘Only my dignity.’

‘He’s nice, isn’t he?’

‘Yer right, lass, he is.’

‘I’d like him for a daddy.’

‘Would you now?’

‘Will you ask him, Grandad? Will you ask him if he’ll be my daddy?’

‘No, lass. It’s not for me or you to interfere, sweetheart. It’s for your mammy and Danny to decide.’ Thomas gave her a knowing wink. ‘I’ve a feeling they’ll work it out, lass.’

Leaping up, she threw her arms round his neck. ‘I love you, Grandad.’

Tears filled his old eyes. ‘Oh, an’ I love you, child. You’re a joy to be with.’ With great difficulty he lifted her down. ‘Go on then. See if your swing’s ready.’

‘If it is, you can have a go on it, Grandad. It won’t break. Danny says it’ll be strong enough to take an elephant.’

‘Are you saying I’m heavy as an elephant?’

‘No, but you can have a swing if you like.’

The old man chuckled aloud. ‘I’d best not, but thank you all the same. Now go on. Be off with yer.’

Just then Danny called her name. ‘Cathleen! Your swing’s ready if you want it.’

Thomas Isaac smiled as she chased over to try out her new swing. ‘By! You’re a lovely, bonny lass.’ Like everyone else, he had come to cherish the child. ‘I can’t even begin to remember what life was like afore you came.’

Wearied by the sun and his long conversation with Cathleen, he closed his eyes and let his mind drift.

When a moment later Aggie arrived from the kitchen with a brew of tea for him, he was dropping off to sleep. ‘Dad, here’s your tea.’ Her kindly voice gentled into his dreams.

‘Thank you, lass.’ Wide awake now, he sat up and took his tea.

‘Nodding off, were you?’ She sat beside him and leaned back, sighing. ‘I feel a bit like that myself.’

‘Aye well, it’s been a busy day for you and Emily, putting on the picnic besides all your other chores. You did us proud, lass. Everybody seemed to enjoy theirselves.’

Aggie thanked him. ‘It were worth it, just to see Emily and Danny in each other’s company. I’m hoping things might happen there, aren’t you?’

‘Aye, and so is young Cathleen from what she said.’

‘What did she say?’ Aggie sat upright.

‘She said as how she wanted him for a daddy, and would I ask him, please.’

‘Aw, bless her heart. She thinks the world of him. Danny and Emily getting wed would be by far the best thing for that little mite.’

‘I agree, but what about John Hanley? Emily still cares deeply for him, as you well know.’

Aggie did know, only too well. ‘It’s been too long,’ she replied thoughtfully. ‘If he were coming back, he’d have done so afore now.’ She turned to look at him. ‘Don’t you think so, Dad?’

He nodded. ‘You’re right, it has been too long. I reckon our Emily would do well to forget him. There’s the child to consider now.’ He smiled. ‘By! She’s a knowing little thing. Never misses a trick.’

He pointed to the field-gate. ‘Just now she saw one o’ Clem’s ladyfriends running across the field. She had one shoe on an’ one shoe off. I didn’t see her at all, until Cathleen told me.’

Aggie’s expression darkened. ‘I wish to God he’d go away and leave us alone. He’s a bad influence. Cathleen’s of an age now where she watches everything. It worries me, Dad. I want shut of him.’ Her voice dipped. ‘I hate him. I’ve allus hated him!’

Sensing her darkening mood, he said pacifyingly, ‘He’ll be gone soon enough, I expect. A man like that doesn’t put down roots and he knows he’s not wanted here. Nobody wants to stay for ever, where they’re not wanted.’

Aggie didn’t believe that, although it would be wonderful if one morning she woke up and he was gone. ‘He won’t leave without his blood-money, and we’ll never have enough to pay him off, so I shouldn’t count on him going if I were you.’

For a moment they lapsed into silence, quietly watching the girl as she swung high underneath the apple tree. After a while their moods lightened. ‘She’s a bonny lass, don’t you think, Dad?’

Grandad was already smiling at her antics. ‘Bonny and loving. And I’ll tell you another thing, lass. John Hanley caused an upset when he went away like that, but we can be grateful for what he left behind. God only knows we’ve had our troubles, and still have.’

His voice broke with emotion. ‘That little lass is like sunshine after rain. She’s the best thing that’s happened to this family in many a day.’

Aggie saw how emotional he was, and placing her hand over his, she told him softly, ‘You’re thinking of your own son, aren’t you?’

The old fella wiped away a tear. ‘Aye, lass. More to my shame. After what Michael did, I should wipe him outta my mind for ever.’

‘He’ll be back,’ she promised. ‘He’ll be back, and we’ll all be glad to see him.’

‘Not me! You’ll never see the day when I forgive him for what he did. He left you when you had nobody else to carry the burden. He’s a coward through and through, and I want no truck with him. Not ever!’

The sound of Cathleen’s laughter caused them to turn and look. ‘She’s happy enough,’ he said. ‘None of the troubles have touched her, thank God.’

‘No, and if I have my way they never will.’

‘Then you must pray that Emily puts aside her fondness for John, and takes Danny as a husband. That way they’ll both be safer.’

Some small distance away, Clem and his woman were also alerted by Cathleen’s laughter. In the middle of an argument about the money, he paused to look across to where Cathleen was sending herself higher and higher on the new swing. ‘She’s a pretty little thing, don’t yer think?’ he said proudly.

Lately he had enjoyed taking more notice of his bastard child. He took notice of her now; of the way her baby legs were now longer and finer, and how her skirt rose provocatively above her knees every time she swung downwards. He saw the sweet, laughing face and the long hair, and was moved to say out loud, ‘She’s a damned good-looking kid.’

The woman thought the same, and said so. ‘One of these days there’ll be men crawling all over this place, wanting to be with her, and showering her with presents.’

Watching Cathleen now, he was riddled with jealousy. ‘Over my dead body!’

‘It’s not up to you,’ she jibed. ‘It’s up to her father.’

‘Shut your mouth, bitch.’ He raised his fist. ‘Or d’yer want me to shut it for yer?’

Curious at his reaction, and realising she had touched a nerve, she laughed. ‘Got you on the raw, have I?’ she taunted. ‘Sorry you never had a child yourself, is that it?’

Enraged, he took her by the shoulders, his eyes boring into hers. ‘If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get on your way right now – afore I help you along with the toe of me boot.’

‘I’ll gladly be on my way!’ She held out her hand. ‘Just give me my money.’

Throwing her aside, he paused, his eyes drawn to the necklace round her throat. ‘Looks to me like you don’t need any money.’

‘What do you mean?’ His mood unnerved her. ‘I’ve earned every penny of what you owe me, and I want it. Now, if you please!’

‘If you’re so desperate for money, why don’t you sell that!’ His wicked gaze focused on the necklace; a sparkling thing with a single hanging jewel. ‘Looks to me like it’s worth a bob or two.’

Beginning to think he was entirely mad, she put her hand over her necklace. ‘It was a gift. I’m not selling it. I want the money you owe me. Just hand it over and let me go.’

Eager to be gone, she was half-tempted to leave without her money, but her pride kept her there a moment too long, because suddenly he snatched at the necklace and ripped it from her neck.

‘If you value this trinket so much, you’ll have to go fishing for it.’ And to her horror, he threw it as far into the field as he could, laughing when it landed face-up in a boggy dip. ‘You’ll need to get your feet wet, though.’

‘You bastard!’ Pummelling him with her fists she was taken by surprise when he merely smiled and walked off.

For a moment she stood there, her attention divided between him and the necklace. ‘GET IT BACK, YOU BASTARD!’ When he took no notice but kept right on walking, she made to go through the gate, but finding it locked had to scramble over, unaware that he had stopped only a few feet away, hidden behind the trees, out of sight yet able to see everything.

The bulls were lazing not too far away. Now, sensing that their territory was being invaded, the larger of the two rolled over and up, to emerge agitated, from the thicket. The other looked on, but made no immediate move.

The woman was only a short distance from the gate when she saw the beast regarding her with its bright, angry eyes. ‘Oh, dear God!’ The bull held her gaze for that split second before she turned to run, and then it was after her, its long strides covering the ground with amazing speed.

She had managed to make it to the gate when its thick short horns jabbed at her body, mangling her dress and slicing her leg from knee to ankle. Terrified and bleeding badly, she forced herself upwards, loudly yelling for help, and fearing for her life as the bull prepared to come at her again.

As she clung on, her senses beginning to slip away, she saw Clem looking across. ‘Help me!’ Sobbing, more afraid than she had ever been in her life, she implored him: ‘Please help me!’

With a hostile stare, he coldly abandoned her.

Only feet away now, the maddened creature pawed at the ground for a second or two before charging towards her, intent on finishing her off. Weakening by the minute, she summoned every ounce of strength, trying to pull herself over the top of the gate. It was too late. She felt the butt of the bull’s head against her leg, the sharp sear of pain, and a feeling that it was all over for her.

‘Hang on to me!’

Hearing her cries, Danny reached down and snatched her away. ‘It’s all right,’ he told her. ‘You’re safe now, miss.’

In the farmhouse, Aggie set Cathleen a task in the bedroom. ‘You fold the towels and put them in a neat pile,’ she instructed, ‘while I find the lady a suitable dress to wear. It won’t be as fine as her own, but it’ll get her home with dignity.’

‘What’s dignity?’

Aggie thought on that for a moment. ‘It’s when you feel right, and you know others feel the same about you.’ That was as far as she could explain it.

‘Who hurt the lady?’ All Cathleen knew was that when they heard the cries, Danny had run to help. ‘Was it the bull? Did she go in the field?’

‘Yes, she did!’ Aggie wagged a finger. ‘It was a foolish thing to do, and now you know why I’m allus telling you never to go anywhere near that place.’

‘I don’t, Grandma.’ The child’s eyes grew big with fright. ‘I don’t want the bulls to get me.’

‘That’s right, lass. So you think on. Stay well away from there.’

Downstairs, Emily washed and cleaned the wound. ‘It could have been worse,’ she observed. ‘If you hadn’t been so near to the gate, that bull would likely have finished you off in minutes.’ Going carefully, she dabbed at the wound and staunched the bleeding. ‘Whatever possessed you to go into that field?’

‘It was him.’ Grateful for all they had done for her, the woman, whose name was Ruby, couldn’t help but wonder why decent folks like these allowed a man like Clem Jackson to live anywhere near. ‘He deliberately threw my necklace into the field, then watched while I tried to get it back.’ It was hard to believe, even of him, but, ‘He hid behind the trees and watched while that beast tried to kill me.’ She started to cry.

Emily and Danny exchanged glances. It was a hard way for this woman to find out what Clem was really like, Emily thought. God forgive her, but she herself still harboured murder in her heart for what he had done to her.

On hearing what had happened, Danny went out looking for Clem. He searched the outhouse and the barn, and walked the whole way round the perimeter of the farmyard. But there was no sign of him.

Passing the field for the second time, he saw the necklace glittering in the mud; not too far away, the bull was keeping watch. ‘Hmh! I’m certainly not going in there to rattle him again,’ Danny said aloud. He knew if he did, he would be taking his life in his hands.

He thought it out, noticing two things in the meantime. Firstly there was a tree whose branches overhung a small area close to the bog. And secondly, the overhanging branches appeared stout enough to hold his weight.

Convinced he had found the answer, he made his way over there, collected a fallen, sturdy branch, climbed the tree and going as far out as he dared to the edge of the thicker branch, he reached down and hooked up the necklace. He managed to get it halfway up to him, when it slipped off again.

Cursing, he hooked it again and this time he had it in his grasp. ‘Gotcha!’ Climbing down from the tree, he saw Aggie coming towards him. ‘I’ve managed to get the necklace,’ he told her. ‘It needs a bit of a wipe, mind.’ Handing it to her, he said, ‘I’ve been round here God knows how many times and I can’t catch sight of him. I’ll have another look. I shan’t let him get away with this.’

‘No. Leave it, Danny! I don’t want you messing with him.’

Though he respected her wishes, Danny found it hard to understand. ‘The man wants telling,’ he replied, his eyes burning with anger. ‘What he did was shocking! That poor woman might have been killed.’

‘All the same, I’d rather you didn’t go after him.’

By nature Aggie was a private person. Although Emily had probably told him all about it, she could not bring herself to explain the way it was with Clem – the huge amount of money they owed him; the terrible hold he had on all of them; the fear of eviction they lived under day after day.

Then there was the other thing. The thing that gave her nightmares. The thing she could never talk about to anyone.

All she could say was, ‘I know how you feel, Danny, but it’s best to leave him be. I want no trouble. None of us do.’

He was surprised at her stand, but the last thing he wanted to do was to go against her. ‘If that’s what you really want,’ he said. ‘Only remember I’m here for you if you need me.’

‘I know, and I thank you for that.’ Danny had long been like a son to her.

He gave a reluctant nod. ‘How’s the woman?’

‘Yon Ruby will have a pretty scar for some long time, but she’ll be all right, thanks to you.’

They walked back to the farmhouse together, talking more easily now – about Emily mostly. ‘She’s a grand lass.’ Aggie never lost an opportunity to sing Emily’s praises to him. ‘I’m hoping to see the day you and her get wed.’

‘You know how I feel about that, Mrs Ramsden.’

‘Aggie!’ she corrected. ‘Haven’t I allus told you to call me Aggie?’ Lightening the mood, she told him, ‘I think I might just manage to find a new hat for the occasion. The last time I treated meself was for me own wedding – and Queen Victoria still ruled over us all then, God bless her. I should think the moth’s got to it by now and it’ll be riddled with holes. Would be handy to stick me feathers an’ hatpins in, though, wouldn’t it?’

They were still laughing when they arrived back at the house.

Emily was putting the finishing touches to Ruby’s bandage. ‘I’m about finished,’ she said as the others came into the room. ‘I’ve done as much as I can.’

Grey-faced and still shaken by her experience, the unfortunate woman was sipping tea, while Cathleen dutifully stood by with the dress which Aggie told her to look after.

‘You’re welcome to use my bedroom to get changed,’ Emily told her, and that was what Ruby did, emerging some short time later looking far more splendid than Aggie ever did in the blue flowered dress. ‘By! It’s been years since I wore that dress,’ Aggie sighed. ‘I were younger and slimmer then, but even at that I never looked like you do now. You’re a pretty thing, Ruby, an’ no mistake. So what in God’s name are you doing messing with a scoundrel like my brother?’

‘I didn’t know he was such a scoundrel,’ the woman replied in self-defence. ‘If I had, I’d never have gone with him.’

Aggie had been showing the necklace to Emily and now, as Emily fastened it round the woman’s neck, she said, ‘It’s a beautiful thing. I don’t blame you for trying to get it back.’

‘Take it,’ the older woman said. ‘You’ve been so kind, it’s the least I can do.’

Emily graciously refused. ‘What!’ she smiled. ‘After you’ve very nearly been killed trying to rescue it? No. It’s kind of you, but I couldn’t accept. I’m just relieved you came to no real harm.’ She had told no one that, ever since losing her small gold locket containing a lock of John’s hair, she would never wear a necklace again.

She was startled when Ruby threw her arms round her neck. ‘I won’t forget your kindness,’ she said, and there were tears in her eyes. ‘I’d best go now.’ She hadn’t got her money, but she still had her life – and that was thanks to all of these lovely people.

They walked with her towards the horse and cart, for Danny had insisted on taking her back to Blackburn town himself. ‘You’re very lucky,’ Ruby told Emily, her gaze shifting to Danny. ‘I can see how much he loves you. Few women ever know such devotion.’

With that they set off, with Ruby waving to them all the way.

‘She’s a fortunate woman,’ Aggie said soberly. ‘Another minute and that bull would have had her off that fence and trampled under his feet.’ She had a hankering to go after that bastard Clem with a shotgun, and make him pay for what he had done.

Later, when Danny had returned, and he and Cathleen were trying out the swing again, Emily sat on the grass nearby and watched. The woman’s words echoed in her mind, and she thought: You are right, Ruby. I am lucky to have the love of a good man.

Dropping her gaze to the wild flowers at her feet, she plucked one and lightly brushed it against her lips. The sensation was wonderful, reminding her as it did of the day John had picked a flower and traced the contours of her mouth with it, before kissing her for the very first time.

Closing her eyes, she asked silently, ‘What shall I do, John? I can never stop loving you, but now I have Cathleen to consider. Should I do what Mam and Grandad want? Should I wed Danny for my daughter’s sake, and make his life a contented one in return? Or should I wait a while longer, in case you decide to come home?’

It was the most difficult decision, and as always she was torn two ways.

Just then, when Cathleen came to throw her arms round her neck, it almost broke her heart. ‘I love you, Mammy,’ the little girl said.

Emily held her so tight. ‘I love you too, sweetheart,’ she murmured. But did she love her enough to make that one great sacrifice?

From where he stood, Danny saw the love between those two, and he was deeply moved. ‘Aw, Emily, the child needs me, you know she does,’ he murmured lovingly. ‘Let that make up your mind, my darling. I swear, neither of you will ever want for anything while I’m alive on this earth. If only you could find it in your heart to put your trust in me.’