Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

her brave Danny so well, and knowing her mam and dad were reunited, thanks be to God, her heart was uplifted.

      The following morning, there were celebrations to prepare. Cathleen and Emily had already hung fancy decorations in the barn, and Aggie was rolling up her sleeves to get the food started. The meat had been cooked last night and the jelly moulds put to set in the cold larder. Now it was time to get the cakes mixed and put in the oven.

      Aggie had been up since early light, and now she was resting in the rocking-chair, a cup of tea in one hand and Mrs Beeton’s famous recipe book in the other. ‘I were thinking to make some of these fluffy pastry things,’ she said to her husband.

      ‘If you want my opinion, I’d stick to what you know best, lass.’

      That was Michael, who had got out of bed soon after her and now, tousle-haired and more content than he had been in an age, was pouring himself a brew. ‘If I were you, my love, I’d throw that Beeton book in the oven and bake it. Nobody makes cakes like you,’ he told her loyally. ‘You’re the best cook around.’

      Aggie laughed. ‘You allus were an old flatterer, Michael Ramsden,’ she said. ‘But you’re right. Happen I’ll stick to what I know best.’

      ‘That’s my woman,’ he murmured, coming to nibble her ear. ‘Listen to them as knows.’

      She looked up at him then, and she thought of how he had gone away and left her to pick up the pieces. But she had never stopped loving him, and never would. Smiling back at him now, she held out her empty cup. ‘Make yerself useful and fill that up,’ she said with a wink.

      Having done that he sat down with her and they talked of events just gone; mainly the demise of Clem Jackson. ‘He brought it on himself, but it’s a terrible way to go … being mauled to death by his own beasts.’ It would take Michael many a long year to forgive himself for leaving his elderly father and his womenfolk to the mercies of that warped and evil man.

      ‘He deserved every inch of what he got!’ Aggie had sworn her father-in-law to secrecy about her having been molested by Clem. But the bitterness and the loathing of that man, who had deflowered both her and Emily in their tender years, and then turned his eyes on the child … would live with her for ever. She thanked God for sparing young Cathleen any trace of a physical resemblance to that devil, and her heart ached for the lonely torment and public censure her poor daughter Emily had endured.

      Michael saw the dark loathing on her face but mistook the reason for it. ‘He’s gone now, lass,’ he said, holding her hand tight. ‘Thanks to you, our Emily was kept safe. What’s more, it’s only a matter of time afore we get the farm back, you see if we don’t.’

      ‘Why does it all have to be so legal-like?’ Aggie wanted to know. ‘Clem’s dead, so we don’t owe him owt any more, seeing as he’d got no family but us. Why can’t we just take the farm back? It’s our farm, after all.’

      For the umpteenth time, Michael explained. ‘When your brother first came here he did pay off all the debts, and so he had a hold on the farm. But then, as it turns out – and none of us knew this – he got into serious gambling. The debts piled up again. He then forged papers of ownership and such, and borrowed money against this place. It all has to be rectified, and it’s such a mess, the solicitor says it will take some considerable time.’

      Aggie was not given to understanding legal stuff, and right from the first, there was one thing that played on her mind. ‘Will we lose Potts End, Michael? Tell me the truth.’

      At the request of his aged father, Michael had taken on the responsibility of going through it all with the solicitor. ‘I have faith,’ he answered thoughtfully, ‘but we need to go about it in the right and proper way. In the end though, when rightful ownership is proved and the money’s paid back, thanks to the generous loan John Hanley has offered us, it should all come out right.’

      Aggie nodded. ‘Please, God!’ she murmured, hands in prayer. ‘This farm is all we’ve got.’

      Michael continued the conversation. ‘I only wish John’s loan was enough, but that evil bastard borrowed so much against this farm, we’ve had to take Danny’s offer of money as well. I know you’ve always refused it before.’ Ever an honest man, Michael was prepared to work his fingers to the bone to repay both men and with interest. ‘Both John and Danny say we’re to see their money as a gift, but I can’t do that.’

      Aggie knew what he was saying and she was proud of him. In spite of that, she harboured reservations. ‘It’ll take years to pay back.’

      ‘I know – but I’ll do it. First Danny, because he and Emily will need a place of their own one day. Then John. Oh, I know he insists he doesn’t want or need the money, but my pride’s at stake here. I need to pay my dues.’

      Aggie saw it differently. ‘Pride comes before a fall, or so they say.’

      Michael picked up on her doubt. ‘What – you want me to take their money and never give it back?’

      ‘No. All I’m saying is, there’s no point in breaking yourself to pay it back. If John and Danny say it’s a gift, then it’s a gift because they love you and want to help you.’

      ‘Yes, lass, I know that. But like I say, I have my pride to think of. God knows I haven’t had much to be proud of so far.’

      ‘Listen to me, husband. They each have a business and neither of ’em are short of a bob or two. All I’m saying is, you have your pride I know that, and it’s good. But to my mind, the gift of friendship is more important.’

      ‘In what way?’

      ‘Well. If someone thinks enough of you to give you a gift, what might they think, if you can’t wait to give that gift back?’

      Satisfied that her words had got Michael thinking, she deliberately changed the subject. ‘Come on!’ She clambered out of her chair. ‘I’ll get on with the baking while you get washed and changed. You look like the scarecrow outta the field. Besides, you’ve Danny to fetch home soon, don’t forget that.’

      ‘As if I could.’ He kissed her and went away, deep in thought. She had touched something in him, with her wise words about friendship and how Danny and John would feel if he threw it all back in their faces. ‘Happen she’s right,’ he murmured. ‘Happen pride doesn’t come before friendship, after all.’

      When Danny limped through the door, early that afternoon, the cry went up. ‘Welcome home!’

      Standing tall and straight, albeit throwing some of his weight onto the crutches, he beamed from ear to ear, his cheeks a slight shade of pink and a look of acute embarrassment on his face. ‘It’s good to be home,’ he said.

      Aggie hugged him; Grandad shook him by the hand. ‘By! Yer a sight for sore eyes, so yer are,’ he exclaimed happily.

      Cathleen held his hand and walked with him as he went to the armchair, and Emily watched the two of them with a strangeness in her heart. In her mind’s eye she could see John in her husband’s place and, for a little while, her thoughts were as muddled and painful as they’d ever been.

      That afternoon, while the celebration tea was being set out, Grandad fussed about, wanting to wear this shirt, now that one. Then: ‘Why do I need to wear a smart shirt anyway – strangling mesel’ when I’d much rather be comfy? It’s only a party, after all.’

      Aggie insisted he look his best. ‘We have company coming, Dad,’ she reminded him, ‘and I don’t want you showing me up.’ Throwing the clean shirt and trousers on the bed, she urged him to, ‘Get yourself washed and changed and make your way down the stairs. If you need any help getting ready, just give me or Emily a shout.’

      ‘I’ll do no such thing!’ he replied proudly. ‘When the day comes that I can’t swill my own face and put on a shirt, I’d sooner it was over.’ And so she left him to it.

      Danny, too, was of the same mind. Having been set up a bed in the back