Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 2: The Loner, Born Bad, Three Letters. Josephine Cox

years, closer than any brothers, and she knew he had mourned with her when Ted had died. She herself had supported Eli, writing to him often when his missus had become ill and passed away, two years ago now. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for him; he had a heart of gold.

      ‘Come and sit down and have your food now,’ she tutted. ‘You must be worn out with that long drive down. Where did you stay overnight?’

      ‘Oh, I stopped off in Coventry to take a look at the new Cathedral,’ he told them all. ‘My goodness, it’s a corker.’ Truth be told, the old chap had enjoyed his drive down, had found so much to look at and admire. He’d been too long in Blackpool, that was for sure. And Billy Joe’s Fairground had long since lost its attraction for him.

      ‘What are your plans, Eli?’ Frank asked, eyeing the visitor shrewdly.

      ‘Watch him, Eli,’ Maggie warned light-heartedly. ‘Next thing you know, he’ll be setting you to work on the stud.’

      ‘Not me,’ Eli announced. ‘I’m past all that. I’ve rolled up my overalls, and now I mean to see some of the world, before it’s too late. I’ve got a few bob in the Post Office, an’ me feet are itchy.’ He glanced out at the star-studded sky. ‘It’s a big old world out there, an’ I’m getting no younger. The sooner I get going, the more I’ll see of the Master’s creation, before He calls me home.’

      His prophetic words moved them to silence.

      But it wasn’t long before they were back in the thick of the celebrations.

      The evening was a wonderful success. Frank and Maggie danced almost every dance; Eli found himself a partner and made a happy fool of himself, while Dave and Lucy swirled about the floor in each other’s arms. At times, it seemed the barn almost shook at the foundations.

      Maggie was thrilled to see all the lovingly prepared food disappear in record time. The guests had brought hearty appetites along, which was just what she wanted.

      Towards the end of the evening, Frank took the stage and called everyone together. ‘I have an announcement to make,’ he said, and when they were all suitably attendant, he went on in grand voice, ‘As you all know, Dave Adams came to us a few years ago, recommended by our good friend, Eli Clements. He has proved himself to be an important part of my business here. He gets on with everyone, and everyone respects him. He has taken to this work like a duck to water, and with Seamus gone, sadly under a cloud, I’ve decided to hand his job of head groom over to Dave.’

      After the applause, there was more to come. ‘I reckon it’s about time that the new head groom had new quarters, so first thing on Monday morning, the builders are arriving to renovate Blueberry Cottage for him.’ Holding out his hands to a shocked and delighted Dave, he told him with a warm, proud smile, ‘Well done, son. Now, come and take your bow … you’ve earned it.’

      The applause this time was deafening, because as Frank so rightly said, everyone had quickly come to like and respect this young man who had come to them years ago and joined their community.

      Dave ran up onstage, knowing that, despite his shyness, he must acknowledge this announcement by Frank.

      ‘I really don’t know what to say,’ he told all assembled, and turned to Frank and shook his hand. ‘All I can tell you is, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’

      Suddenly, Lucy was by his side. A bit flushed and merry from the cider, she kissed them both, before addressing the gathering, ‘Like you, I’m thrilled for Dave, but I too have an announcement to make. You see, Dave and I are engaged to be married …’

      Both Frank and Dave were taken aback by this development, but the crowd loved it. Shouts of congratulations went up, and the clapping and stamping made a right old din.

      ‘I thought we weren’t going to say anything yet?’ Dave said in her ear.

      ‘I couldn’t wait,’ she laughed. ‘And anyway, I couldn’t let Daddy steal all the thunder.’

      Dave went along with it all, and when the crowd demanded that he kiss his fiancée, he gladly obliged; with Frank joking to the delighted folk, ‘Looks like my daughter and I have both acquired a groom – the same one!’

      The excitement was infectious, and everyone took their turn in congratulating Dave and Lucy.

      ‘I suspected all your smiling and singing was because of a certain young man,’ Maggie told Lucy smugly. ‘You’ve been bursting to tell us the news, and now all I can say is … be happy, the pair of you.’

       Lurking outside at the rear of the barn was one dark-minded creature who had only bad wishes for the couple. Although his ticket back to Ireland was already bought, and he was due to sail to Dublin from Liverpool in two days’ time, Seamus Macintyre had no intention of leaving this farm with his tail between his legs. Oh, there were no shortages of jobs in Ireland, where the cream of the stud farms were situated, but it was the principle of the thing. He ground his teeth at the thought of the wasted years, spent waiting for a certain fruit to fall into his lap, only to see that gypsy brat run away with it.

       He had taken his job, his girl – and the family fortune too, by the looks of it!

       His evil mind alive with thoughts of revenge, Seamus crept silently away.

      Inside the barn, people were beginning to leave. Everyone had an early start, the next day. The land never let you sleep for long; she was a hard taskmistress.

      ‘Good night, and thanks for coming.’ One by one, Frank shook the guests’ hands as they came up to him, while Maggie and her team of helpers bustled about, collecting bits and bobs of discarded rubbish from the tables.

      When everyone was gone, and the sound of car engines and merry voices had died away, Frank had a quiet word or two with Dave and Lucy, telling them how thrilled he was with their engagement, and promising to put on a wedding for them, that would be ‘the talk of Bedfordshire’.

      That said, he took Maggie by the arm, and announced that he was looking for a woman himself. ‘What d’you say, Maggie?’ he asked cheekily. ‘Are you ready to make an honest man of me?’

      ‘Ask me again in the morning,’ she laughed. ‘When you’re sober enough to know what you’re saying.’

      Slightly inebriated from the cider she had downed, and contemplating the exciting future ahead of herself and Dave, Lucy took to the stage, where she twirled and danced, and sang aloud. The musicians had gone home, leaving their empty pint glasses perched on the bales. Wisps of straw littered the floor.

      From the far side of the barn, Maggie and Dave looked on. ‘Bless her heart, she’s over the moon with it all,’ Maggie told him. ‘I’ve never known her so happy.’

      Dave smiled. ‘She’s a lovely girl,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘I only hope I can do right by her.’

      The Scotswoman was intrigued. ‘And why wouldn’t you do right by her?’ she demanded.

      ‘Love doesn’t always mean happiness.’ Dave said soberly. He paused, then added in a low voice, almost to himself, ‘You can’t know how it was – at home, with Mam and Dad.’

      Like Frank, Maggie had always wondered about the boy’s past, and once or twice she had almost raised the issue. But somehow Dave put up barriers and she never found the courage. Now, though, she spoke out.

      ‘Why don’t you tell me how it was?’ she suggested kindly.

      Seeing that Frank and Lucy were busy, Dave took a moment to consider and suddenly it was all tumbling out … how his father had