Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

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