Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

Well, you sit tight while I fetch the doctor.’

      ‘Didn’t I already tell you, I don’t want no doctor!’

      ‘Now look here, Lizzie.’ He tried to reason with her. ‘You’re not well. Let him look you over, that’s all I’m asking.’

      ‘No.’ She spelled out her words slowly and deliberately. ‘NO DOCTOR.’

      ‘Oh, what am I going to do with you, eh?’

      ‘Fetch Aggie.’

      ‘Is that what you really want?’

      ‘It’s what I said, isn’t it?’

      He was relieved that at least she was admitting she needed somebody, if not the doctor. ‘And will you be all right while I’m gone?’

      Reaching out, Lizzie placed her hand in his. ‘You’re a lovely man,’ she said gratefully. ‘You’ve brought me home just as you promised, and you’ve made me warm and comfortable. I thank you for that, but now, I’d be obliged if you’d please fetch Aggie.’

      Lizzie was fond of Danny. In her heart she believed she had done him a terrible wrong, just as she had wronged Emily, John and Rosie, for they were all caught up in a mess of her making.

      That was what she truly believed. And that was what she must confess, God help her! For some reason, it seemed vitally important that she did it this day – this minute, even.

      Before he left, Danny made her promise that she would not move, or try to do anything, until Aggie got there. Once he had secured that promise, he was on his way, running across the fields as though his own life depended on it. Stubborn as a mule, she was. Didn’t want a doctor … wanted Aggie instead. He chuckled to himself. The old dear certainly knew her own mind.

      When he burst in through the kitchen door, Aggie almost leaped out of her shoes; as it was she dropped the cabbage she was slicing, and the knife with it. ‘Danny! What’s wrong, lad?’

      ‘It’s Lizzie,’ he answered breathlessly. ‘She collapsed near the top field. I carried her home and made her comfortable.’ For the moment he said nothing about Clem Jackson and the dog. ‘She really ought to see a doctor, but she won’t. It’s you she wants. “Fetch Aggie”, that’s what she said, and if I were you I’d get up there a bit sharpish. The poor old dear doesn’t look at all well.’

      Running to the door, Aggie took her coat from the hook and, throwing it on, began doing up the buttons as she went. ‘I’ll make my way up there now,’ she said. ‘You’ll find Emily in the barn sorting out the cabbages. Ask her to put the stew on, and I’ll be back soonever I can.’ She gave a swift look around, then grabbed a can of milk, a pan of stewed apples, a couple of eggs and a small loaf of freshly-baked bread. ‘Happen she’s got no food in.’ She quickly stowed them in her brown basket and set off.

      Danny followed her out. ‘I’ll see Emily, then I’ll come up to Lizzie’s. You might need me.’

      ‘That’s a good idea,’ she said, ‘but give us a minute or two. Lizzie’s a very private person. I don’t know why she’s asked for me, unless it’s to stay with her until she feels better, but it might be best when you get back, if you don’t come into the cottage straight away.’

      Danny nodded. ‘I understand. But I’ll not be far away, you can be sure of that. If you need me, just yell and I’ll be there in the wink of an eye.’

      While Aggie hurried to the cottage, Danny went in search of Emily and Cathleen. He looked in the barn and they weren’t there. He peered into the other buildings and there was still no sign of them, not even when he called their names across the yard.

      Growing anxious, he went in search of them further afield. And there they were, the two of them, playing in the orchard. Little Cathleen was running round the trees, screeching with delight, while her mammy came after her, making animal noises. Just then, Emily swept Cathleen into her arms, pretending to bite her. ‘No, Mammy! NO!’ Cathleen was in fits of laughter.

      On seeing Danny she squirmed out of Emily’s grasp and ran to him. ‘Don’t let Mammy get me!’ She clung to his leg. ‘She wants to eat me all up!’

      ‘You’d best run then!’ Dropping her carefully to the ground he watched her run and hide behind a stack of straw, her little face peeking out and her eyes shining with merriment.

      While she hid, Danny told Emily what had happened. ‘I’d best go up there,’ Emily said. ‘It might be that we’ll need to get the doctor after all.’

      Danny persuaded her otherwise. ‘No. Your mam said to give her a few minutes then I was to go after her. I’ll go up there with Cathleen, my love. We’ll be back soon enough. Don’t worry.’

      For the sake of the child, Emily agreed. ‘All right, but if you need me, come and get me.’ She felt guilty about Lizzie. It was rumoured in the village that she had not been too well of late, and yet she had still gone to visit John, though no one was sure where John was these days.

      ‘She’s had letters postmarked Liverpool,’ the postmaster had gossiped, but that was all anyone knew. Apart from something Lizzie had let slip to the man. ‘She said as how John had sent her the money to go and see him – some special event, from what I can make out, but she wouldn’t say no more than that. She only told me that much because she wanted me to take care of the stray cats while she was away, and she gave me a key to open the windows so the cottage wouldn’t get too damp.’

      Emily had thought about John ever since. In the long, lonely years since he’d been gone, Lizzie had made her so unwelcome, that in the end she had given up trying to visit. But now the old woman was poorly, and she wanted to help if she could.

      Apart from that, she needed so much to talk with Lizzie. In the morning, if all was well, she would go and see her, and maybe this time, John’s aunt would give her news of him at dear last. Emily hoped so, because for a long time now, she had been desperate to know how he was.

      By the time Aggie arrived at the cottage, Lizzie was sound asleep. At first when there was no answer to her knocking, Aggie feared the worst, and when she inched open the door to find Lizzie slumped in the chair her heart sank to her boots. ‘Lizzie?’ She gently shook her. ‘It’s Aggie, come to see you.’ She shook her again. ‘Lizzie!’

      Startled out of a deep sleep, Lizzie opened her eyes. ‘About time an’ all!’ To Aggie’s great relief, she sat up straight. ‘You took an age getting here, lass.’

      ‘I rushed over as quick as I could,’ Aggie told her. ‘But never mind that, I’m here now. So what have you been up to, eh? Travelling to God knows where and wearing yourself out. And why won’t you let the doctor come and see you?’ She was pleased to see how Lizzie had some colour in her cheeks and her eyes were bright enough, she thought. But there was something about Lizzie that worried her. ‘Where do you feel ill, love? Do you hurt?’ Waiting for an answer, she held Lizzie’s hand.

      The other woman shook her head. ‘I’m just tired. Me every bone aches.’ Her old eyes twinkled. ‘And me feet are terrible sore. By! It was a long hard trek to get home.’

      ‘You shouldn’t have walked across the fields,’ Aggie chided. ‘Old Tom only lives a stride from the tram-stop. He’d gladly have brought you home on his cart. All you had to do was ask.’

      Lizzie managed a laugh. ‘I’ve seen his old cart, and I wouldn’t fancy being jolted down the lane on that. It wouldn’t have been me feet that hurt, it would have been my poor backside. And you know how he likes to josh with the women. No, lass. I’m too old for all that.’ She pointed to her empty cup. ‘Is that milk you’ve got there, Aggie love? Ooh, I’d love a cup of tea! Get yourself one, while you’re at it.’

      Aggie was puzzled. ‘Is that all you wanted me for, to sit and drink tea with you?’ she asked. ‘I ran all the way here when Danny told me you were badly. Lizzie, are you sure it’s me you need,