Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

      Jack appreciated the praise. ‘If there’s any chance of them using us to store and deliver their merchandise, we can’t let them slip through our fingers.’

      That was Luke’s thinking also. ‘You never cease to amaze me, Jack,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘You’re a born businessman, if ever I saw one. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if one of these fine days, you’ll be up and away to start your own company. Am I right?’

      ‘I won’t deny it, Mr Hammond,’ Jack answered cautiously. ‘It’s allus been my ambition to have my own factory. But I reckon it’s a long time away yet.’

      ‘I wouldn’t be too sure of that if I were you. You’re not a man to sit on his backside while the competition takes over,’ he told Jack. ‘You’ll want to be up there with the best of them. I’ve no doubt about that.’

      Suspicious that Luke Hammond was preparing to be rid of him, Jack assured him, ‘It all teks money, as you well know, so I dare say you’ll not see the back of me for some time yet.’

      Luke nodded. ‘You’re right about the money. You’ll get nowhere without it, that’s for certain, but it isn’t everything. If a man’s got drive and commitment enough, he’ll always find a way. That’s why I know you’ll do it, and when that day comes, it’ll be a bad one for me, I’m aware of that.’ He smiled warmly. ‘Happen the customers will move over to you. Then again, happen they’ll stay loyal to me. We’ll have to see who’s the better man, won’t we, eh?’

      Made nervous by Luke’s last remark, Jack asked pointedly, ‘Now that you know I mean to have my own business one day, I expect you’ll be wanting me out now.’

      Luke looked him in the eye. ‘The fact that you have a mind to be your own boss has only strengthened my faith in you. If I were to get rid of a man like you, I’d be the biggest fool this side of London town.’

      Jack was astonished. ‘How’s that, Mr Hammond?’

      Luke took a moment to observe the younger man: that tall, confident stance and the aura of conviction. ‘You remind me of myself when I was that bit younger.’ He laid a hand on Jack’s shoulder. ‘You know what you want and you’ll not rest until you get it. You work hard and plan hard, and head towards your dream until it becomes hard reality.’ His face crinkled into a deep smile. ‘I admire that in a man.’

      ‘You’ve got me bang to rights,’ Jack admitted. ‘I’ve allus known what I want. And even if you were to send me on my way now, I’ll never lose sight of my ambition, nor will I ever give up!’

      ‘Do you think I don’t know that?’ Luke went on to explain his thinking. ‘I’ve no intentions of sending you on your way. I want you here with me, where I can keep an eye on you.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Think about it, Jack. I’d be sending you straight to the competition, and that would be the act of a very naïve and stupid man … which I hope I’m not.’

      Jack nodded. ‘I see what you’re getting at.’

      ‘Good man! But that’s not the only reason I want you here.’ He paused to formulate his words. ‘I’m sure you’ve already realised how fast we’re expanding. Work is taking off at such a rate; the orders are pouring in and it seems before too long, I’ll have need of another warehouse and a couple more wagons. That means I’ll have more management work than a man can handle on his own, and that’s where you come in.’

      Jack was intrigued. ‘In what way?’

      ‘I have plans for you, Jack,’ Luke replied. ‘Plans that will give you a free hand, and put you in good stead for the day you captain your own company.’

      Jack was secretly delighted. ‘You seem to have a lot of faith in me, if you don’t mind me saying.’

      ‘I have,’ Luke confirmed, ‘but only because you’ve earned it.’

      With that he moved away. ‘Best start closing up.’ Glancing up at the clock he saw it was already ten minutes to six. ‘It’s been a long day. Happen tomorrow will be a bit easier.’

      ‘Good night, Mr Hammond.’

      ‘Good night, Jack.’

      Having secured his own office, Luke made his way out to the car, leaving Jack to close up the factory.

      ‘I hope she’s in a better mood than when I left her this morning,’ Luke said aloud, speeding his way home.

      Lately he’d got into the habit of talking to himself, which wasn’t surprising when he had no one else to confide in. Even Edna could never understand what was in his heart … all those futile hopes and dreams and broken ambitions, of raising a family and growing old with the woman he had loved and married.

      Now they were all gone. And there were times when he felt like the loneliest man in the world. Having drawn up to the house, for a minute he was tempted to turn the car round, drive away and never come back. For too long now, his life had been a roller-coaster ride. There were times when he could hardly bear to leave Sylvia behind in the mornings. Other times he wished himself a million miles away. Or at least in the cabin in the woods – starting a new life, more peaceful and possibly less lonely …

      Knowing he had no alternative but to face the certain chaos Sylvia’s mood this morning foretold, he nosed the car into the driveway and drew it to a halt. For a long, aching moment he folded his arms across the steering wheel and, resting his head on them, briefly closed his eyes. He was tired, drained, devoid of energy.

      He consoled himself with the knowledge that tomorrow was Tuesday. Out there in the wilderness he could breathe, and smile, and feel the weight of his burden slip away.

      He locked the car and went inside the house, his feet like lead, and his heart too.

      He braced himself for what was coming. He had never shirked his responsibility, and he would not shirk it now.

      ‘I’m glad you’re home, sir.’ On her knees, beginning to clear away the crumbs of an apple pie, Edna looked frazzled. ‘She’s been unsettled all day.’

      He glanced around the kitchen. There was no sign of Sylvia, but the oven door was wide open and there were pieces of broken earthenware scattered from one end of the room to the other. He was very familiar with the results of Sylvia’s rages.

      ‘What happened, Edna?’

      ‘It’s all right,’ she answered, ‘I’ve managed to persuade her upstairs. She took her medication and I watched her until it was all gone. She’s getting sly about it again – says it makes her too tired, and I suspect she’s been pouring it away although she swears not. I’ve tucked her in. I expect she’ll be sleeping like a babe when you go up.’

      With an inward sigh of relief, he thanked her. ‘You look all in, Edna. Go home and put your feet up. I’ll take over now.’

      Edna did not argue. It had been one of those days when she would be glad to get home.

      ‘Thank you, sir,’ she said. ‘If you need me, you know where I am.’ Sylvia was like a child to her and, weary or not, she would remain on call, any time, day or night. Then she was quickly gone, though not to ‘put her feet up’, as Luke had suggested. Instead she would cook the dinner and clear up behind her, before starting that enormous pile of ironing. By then her joints would be aching and her feet swollen like new-made bread.

      Sylvia slept quietly throughout the night.

      Occasionally checking that she was all right, Luke alternately paced the floor and slept fitfully.

      On Tuesday morning, he couldn’t wait to get out of the house. No factory, no noise or people, no fretting over Sylvia, just peace and quiet in the heart of God’s creation, where he could think straight and not be disturbed.

      That humble cabin in the heart of the woods was his only sanctuary. If he didn’t have that, he believed he might go out of his mind.

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