The Journey (16 page)

For what seemed an age, Lucy was speechless. “Aw, Joanne. It’s just … beautiful!” Now, as the tears threatened, she let them fall before discreetly brushing them away. “You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”

“It was no trouble at all.” Joanne slid an arm round her waist. “It’s our present to you,” she said, “to show how much we love you,
and
this little one.” She tickled young Jamie under the chin, laughing as he gurgled with delight.

The child’s response broke the atmosphere. Rushing forward, Barney took Lucy by the arm. “Tonight, you’ve been allocated my very own seat, at the head of the table.” And with no more ado he marched her there and sat her down. “And as for this little chap …” Lifting the child out of her arms, he sat him in the homemade high chair, which had been finished only that afternoon, with sturdy legs and straps to hold the little fella safe.

“He can sit with the rest of us, like a grown-up,” Ronnie declared with pride. “Father made the structure, Thomas made the legs, and I cut the leather straps to hold him in. We were still working on it up to half an hour since.” He groaned. “In fact, if you’d come down that much earlier, the babby might be rolling on the floor, because we only had the one leg fixed to it, and that would never have supported the fat little lump!”

Everyone laughed, with Susie protesting that Lucy’s Jamie was
not
“a fat little lump.”

As always before the evening meal, Barney stood before his chair and said Grace. Being farmers and working closely with the land, they all understood how, with one dark mood, Nature could devastate a whole year’s crop, and leave them desolate.

In all of Barney’s experience that had only ever happened once, soon after he’d taken up the post of Farm Manager here. He had never forgotten. Nor had he forgotten to always give his thanks.

He gave his thanks now, “For the food and warmth You send us. For bringing Lucy back to health, and keeping us all safe from harm.” Looking down on his wife, he stroked her hair. “And for this wonderful woman you blessed me with. Thank You, Lord.” His words were spoken with such quiet gratitude that there seemed nothing more natural in the whole world. And in equally quiet voice, everyone echoed his thanks.

When Lucy looked up to see Joanne taking a discreet hold of Barney’s hand, Lucy’s heart was both sore and joyous. That small significant gesture between husband and wife was unseen by everyone else, but Lucy thought it the most touching thing she had ever been privileged to witness.

It was obvious that, even after more than twenty years wed, and three children into the bargain, Joanne and Barney still adored each other, as much as on the day they first met. Theirs was a deep, everlasting love, and one which Lucy sensed that neither she nor countless others would ever experience in their whole lives.

The meal was wonderful, and so was the company. They chatted and laughed and drank the wine, and when the child fell asleep in his chair, Barney lifted him out and made him comfortable on the sofa. “Right!” Returning to the table, he told everyone to fill their glasses and raise them for a toast, and when that was done he stood for a moment looking from one to the other, until his gaze rested on Lucy. “We would have liked you to stay here with us,” he said, and Lucy’s heart rose, “but as you know, your being here meant that Susie had to sleep downstairs on the couch, and though she didn’t mind that …” he looked at Susie and she nodded in agreement. “… it isn’t a situation that could continue for any length of time.” He hesitated. “You do understand, don’t you, Lucy?”

Lucy understood, and even managed a bright smile. “Of course I do,” she assured them. “I never really expected that I could stay here. I’m just grateful for the time and help you all gave me. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

Barney smiled at her. “Look under your plate, lass.”

Lucy was confused. “Under my plate?”

“That’s what the man said!” That was Ronnie, being his usual comical self. But there was a certain twinkle in his eye. In fact, as Lucy glanced at each family member in turn, she saw a twinkle in
all
their eyes.

“Go on then, Lucy. Look and see what he’s put there.” Susie was excitedly bouncing up and down in her chair.

Gingerly, Lucy lifted her plate and moving it aside, took out an envelope that was folded there. She opened the envelope and dipping her fingers inside, withdrew a large, shiny coin. “A guinea!” Her eyes widened in astonishment. “What’s this for?”

Barney told her fondly, “It’s your first month’s wages. Me and my Joanne have discussed it with the family, and we all agree there’s enough work on this farm for all of us. When harvest comes there’s no time to catch your breath; then there’s the carting and stacking, and any number of other tasks that could do with another pair of hands … especially for Joanne, who’s always rushed off her feet. This house is too much when she’s needed outside. That’s where you come in, Lucy. So, the job’s yours, if you want it?”

In a minute Lucy was out of her chair; running round the table she threw her arms round Barney’s neck. “Oh Barney … all of you! You don’t know what this means to me.” Going from one to another, she kissed and hugged them in turn. “Instead of passing this house every morning, and trudging all the way onto the Hall, I’ll be turning in at your gate.” The excitement was all too much. “I’ll be working with you all. Oh, it’s wonderful!” She laughed through her tears. “I can’t believe it!” She was sure that no one apart from Dorothy would miss her at Haskell Hall.

At that moment there came a knock on the door. “All right, matey, come on in.” Barney appeared to know who it was even before the door opened.

The door inched open and a man appeared; small of stature, with a kindly face and smiling eyes, he greeted everyone in turn. “Hello, Lucy,” he finished. “I hope you’re fighting fit after your accident?”

Lucy was not surprised to see him. “Hello, Arthur,” she answered. “Yes, I’m well, thank you.” A kindly man in his early thirties, Arthur Chives was well-known throughout the village of Comberton-by-Weir. In fact, there wasn’t a single house that he had not been into at some time or another, for he was the local handyman, tried, trusted and greatly respected by one and all. Lucy always suspected that he had a soft spot for her, on the quiet. However, he was far too much of a gentleman to say anything.

“Come on then, m’laddo!” Barney held out his hand. “I trust you’ve brought it with you?”

“I have,” came the proud reply. “I’ve done everything you asked of me, and more besides.” He handed something to Barney, winked at Ronnie, and said, “I expect there’ll be a bonus in there somewhere for me, will there not?”

Barney took up the tease. “There certainly will be—in the shape of a roast dinner with all the trimmings … if you want it, that is?”

Arthur didn’t need asking twice. “That’ll do me,” he told Joanne, who was chuckling at the pair of them. “In fact, I could think of nothing else all the way here.”

“Right then! You sit down and fill your plate while I have a quiet word with Lucy.”

“Whatever you say.” In fact, Arthur was already privvy to the reason for Barney’s need to talk with Lucy in private.

Arthur had known Barney for many years; in their childhood they had learned the times-table together; ridden side by side across the fields on whatever horse they could borrow; shot rabbits for the pot, and later sat many a while on the porch, exchanging tales of when they were lads. They knew each other as well as any brothers might, and loved each other the same.

Leaving the others to chat, Barney rounded the table and taking Lucy by the hand, led her out to the back porch. They sat on the bench and there, Barney spoke his mind. “There’s summat you need to think about.”

Lucy asked him what he meant. But she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams what he was about to say.

Barney continued, “I know it’s none of our business, but well … Me and Joanne have been talking and what we think is this: it’s not good to bring a child up in a house of women—if you know what I mean?”

Lucy had no doubts. “You mean women who entertain?”

Sucking in his lips he took a deep breath. Afraid she might have taken him wrong, he answered sincerely, “It’s not for me to judge other folks. All I’m saying is this: for little Jamie’s sake, and yours, it won’t be a bad tying when you move out of there.”

Lucy gave a wry little laugh. “It’s easier said than done.” She shrugged her shoulders. “For a start, where would I go?”

He smiled. “So, you would leave if you only had somewhere to go. Is that what you’re telling me, Lucy?”

“Oh, yes.” Lucy was aware of her environment and knew as well as did Barney, that it was not a suitable place to raise a child. “If I had somewhere to go, I’d leave—though I have to say, I would miss Bridget and the girls. They’ve been such good friends to me.”

“I know that,” he agreed. “Haven’t they visited you time and again since you’ve been here? And haven’t I heard you laughing with them, when only hours before, you were fit for nothing? Believe me, Lucy, after you being so poorly, it did our heart good to hear you. Now then, lass, I want you to take this.” Opening his hand, he revealed a heavy iron key lying in his palm. “Take it!” he urged. “There’s no rush. Just give it some thought and let me know what you decide.”

Lucy was confused. “It’s a key.”

He chuckled. “Well, of course it’s a key!”

“But where does it belong?”

“It belongs to the little cottage at the other end of the brook. The one where Leonard Maitland’s gardener lived afore he threw him out for robbing him.”

Realization began to dawn. “What? You mean, the pretty one with the thatched roof and the little garden which runs right down to the brook edge?”

“Aye, that’s the one.”

She took the key, which weighed heavy in her hand. “So, this is the key to that cottage?”

Barney nodded affirmatively. “That one opens the front door. I’ve another for the back. If you decide it’s what you want, I’ll let you have the other key an’ all.”

The merest smile trembled on Lucy’s mouth. “But I don’t fully understand. Why are you giving me this key?”

Smiling into her inquisitive eyes, he explained, “The boss, Mr. Maitland, and me had a little chat yesterday.”

“About me?”

“Sort of, yes. He was aware of your accident—you know how gossip flies around a village—and being the kindly gent he is, he took the time to ask after you. I told him the way things were, and he said if I thought it would help to offer you the vacant cottage, he wouldn’t mind one bit; though he would expect you to give him half a day’s work per week in lieu of rent … a bit of cleaning, that sort of thing. Besides, the cottage needed living in, that’s what he said, or it would fall to rack and ruin. Y’see, his new gardener has his own cottage and has no need of this one. In fact, the boss has a mind to sell it off with a parcel of land, but he never got round to it.”

He took a breath. “The cottage is of small interest to Mr. Maitland, so it’s yours if you want it.”

Lucy gasped. “I can’t believe this is happening!” Thrilled to her roots, she was astounded for the second time that evening. The cottage is mine? Really? Are you sure?”

Laughing out loud, Barney squeezed her hand. “Well, aren’t you the cloth ears,” he teased. “Isn’t that what I’ve just been saying?”

Lucy was speechless. And now the tears she had managed to hold back all day ran down her cheeks and all at once she was laughing and crying, and telling Barney, “I haven’t got a stick of furniture, but yes, oh, yes!” She was beside herself. “We’ll move in as soon as possible. Never mind a bed. We’ll sleep on the floor if we have to.”

“There’ll be no need of that. The cottage comes with its own furniture and such. Yon Arthur has cleaned and aired the place all ready for you and young Jamie. All you’ll ant is new bedding and certain silly bits and pieces a woman needs to keep her happy. And you needn’t worry about the bairn when you work the half-day for Mr. Maitland, because Joanne’s already said she’ll be more than happy to keep an eye on him. And it goes without saying that when you’re working here for the rest of the week, the bairn is welcome as the day is long.”

And so it was settled. Lucy would move in within the next few days, and while she was getting organized, Barney would make sure the garden was cleared and all was spick and span for her and the child.

A few days later, Lucy was saying her goodbyes in Viaduct Street. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you’ve done for me.” Emotion thickened her voice as she threw her arms round Bridget and hugged her so hard, the poor woman had to wrench her off.

“Be Jaysus, will ye get offa me! Are ye trying to strangle me or what?” Holding Lucy at arm’s length, she looked into those sincere brown eyes and thought how much she would miss this young woman; with her impromptu singing and bright, happy presence, the house would be all the poorer for her not being there.

“I’m truly sorry to see ye go,” she told Lucy now, “but I’m happy for you, so I am. You’ll have your own front-door key and Jamie will have his own little room, and when me and the girls come a-calling, you’ll have fresh baked muffins ready for us, and a big pot o’ tea waiting.” She gave a wink. “Unless o’ course you’ve a drop o’ the good stuff hidden away in the cupboard for an old friend?”

With the sadness lifted, Lucy laughed out loud. “Oi will,” she answered, mimicking Bridget’s strong Irish accent. “Sure Oi’ll have a little bottle tucked away and ye can drink to your heart’s content, so ye can.”