Blood Brothers. Josephine Cox

at the village hall, I felt proud to be with you. I always will.’

      ‘Thank you, sweetheart.’ He smiled into those pretty brown eyes. ‘I’m proud of you an’ all, and I’m proud of our two sons. Different though they may be, they’re both good, fine fellows.’

      ‘Tom?’ There was something else playing on her mind.

      ‘What now, sweetheart?’ He so wanted to get back to his horses.

      ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I was wondering, what d’you think to Alice? Do you really think her and Frank will be happy together?’

      ‘Mmm…’ He chose his words carefully. ‘If I’m honest, I reckon she might be a bit young. She’s not yet twenty, and Frank is nearly seven years older. That said, she thinks the world of our Frank, and he adores her. So what do a few years matter, eh?’

      ‘So, you really think she’s the right one for our son?’

      Remembering what he had witnessed that night a year ago, Tom chose his words carefully. ‘Well now, I don’t have a crystal ball, but I would say Alice has the true makings of a farmer’s wife.’

      He paused, remembering how calm and helpful Alice had been when they had had a bad incident with a month-old foal. ‘D’you recall how that young postman ran to tell us how Alice was in trouble and needed help? Youngsters from the town had smashed part of the fence down at the far field, and one of the foals had got caught up in it?’

      Nancy recalled it vividly. ‘Its mother was running crazy, and wouldn’t let anyone near.’

      He reminded her, ‘I reckon that mad mare would have killed anyone who went near her young ‘un. The vet couldn’t get anywhere near until Alice calmed the mare long enough for him to tend the foal.’

      Nancy remembered it well. ‘She’s certainly got a way with animals. She’s not afraid of hard work neither. All in all, I think you’re right. Young Alice will fit in with the family very nicely.’

      She added reluctantly, ‘I’m not sure Joe approves of her though.’

      Tom was surprised. ‘What put that idea into yer head?’

      ‘I might be wrong,’ she replied thoughtfully, ‘only I got the feeling that he would rather she wasn’t here, that’s all.’

      Tom was quick to dispel her fears. ‘Honestly, Nancy. Fancy thinking our Joe would take a dislike to a girl who wouldn’t harm a fly! I expect he had his head so full of adventure, he didn’t even notice her!’

      Nancy seemed relieved. ‘Yes, that must have been it. Forget what I said.’

      Tom watched her as she ambled across the room. Leaning her elbows on the window sill, she gave a soft laugh. ‘Hey! Wouldn’t it be something if he turned up with a girl on his arm?’

      ‘I shouldn’t think our Joe will bring a woman home just yet,’ he told Nancy now. He then muttered under his breath, ‘Why would he do that, when the girl he fancies is right here?’

      Tom had long suspected that was why Joe had gone away: because he had fallen for his brother’s woman, and he couldn’t deal with it. Neither could Tom, for it was a terrible, shameful thing.

      All the same, Tom understood how sometimes love grabs you when you least expect it, and no one could control who they fall in love with.

      He didn’t blame Joe. He didn’t blame anyone; though he had secretly admired his son for doing the right thing in putting a distance between himself and Alice.

      He felt a sense of unease. ‘I hope to God our Joe’s over her. If not, it could really put the cat among the pigeons!’ he whispered to himself.

      ‘What was that you said?’ Nancy swung round.

      ‘What?’ Pretending he was deep in his newspaper, Tom looked up, ‘I didn’t say anything!’

      ‘I thought you said something about a cat among the pigeons?’

      ‘Naw. Yer must be getting old. Hearing voices in yer head now is it?’

      Sighing, Nancy ambled back to her chair. ‘I’m all wound up,’ she said, ‘I’ll be all right when Joe gets here.’

      As Nancy sipped her tea, Tom took a moment to look at her. As a girl she was much like Alice: the same long brown hair and inquisitive mind. She hadn’t changed that much, he thought. Yes, she was plumper, and the dark hair was sprinkled with grey, but when she smiled, the years flew away, and it was the girl he saw.

      Laying his hand on hers, he kissed her tenderly on the cheek, and never said a word. He didn’t have to, because she knew already.

      ‘You’re an old softie, that’s what you are.’ She smiled up at him, ‘And you’re right about our sons. They are different; I’ve always thought Joe took after you, and Frank is more in the nature of your father. He’ll see a lamb all caught up and rescue it, but it’s not the lamb he’s rescuing, it’s the money it’ll fetch at market.’

      ‘Well o’course! He’s a farmer, and that’s how any farmer would think, even though he’s not altogether conscious of it.’

      ‘I know that, but what I’m saying is, Joe would rescue the same lamb yes, but only because it pains him to see it caught up. The money it might bring at market wouldn’t even enter his head.’

      Tom nodded. ‘Aye well, there yer have it. You see, our Frank has the same attitude as my own father, and there is nothing wrong with that! It shows he’s a hard-headed businessman. He sees everything in black and white, while Joe takes time to see the shades and the colours.’

      ‘Oh, and you don’t?’ She smiled knowingly.

      ‘Give over, woman. I’ve no time for all that!’

      Embarrassed, he grabbed his newspaper and hid behind it. ‘I need some new specs,’ he grumbled. ‘The print on the pages gets smaller by the minute!’

      Gently, Nancy drew the newspaper away. ‘You don’t fool me, Tom Arnold.’ She knew him like she knew herself.

      Feigning anger, he wagged a finger. ‘Look! It’s hard enough to keep a family going if the crops are ruined or you lose an animal. Survival! That’s the thing, and don’t you be mekking any more of it!’

      Snatching his newspaper he again buried his head in it. ‘Go on! Away to the window and watch for Joe!’

      As she prepared to move away, he caught her by the arm. ‘I hope you know how much I love you, and how lucky I am to have yer,’ he declared stoutly.

      ‘Right, well just you remember that when you’re yelling at me.’

      Her comment made him smile. ‘When have I ever yelled at you?’

      ‘Hmm. Have you got all day?’

      Chuckling, he folded the newspaper and laid it on the arm of the chair,

      A few minutes later, after returning from her disappointing vigil at the window, she came to sit beside him. ‘It’ll be so good to have our Joe home.’

      Having settled herself into the chair, she sipped her lukewarm tea, while at the same time observing the state of the painted walls. ‘How long is it since these walls were painted?’ she asked.

      ‘Long time.’ Tom peeked over his newspaper. ‘Six or seven years…maybe more.’

      Tom had to agree the place was looking the worse for wear, but he would never admit it.

      ‘Folks might think it all a bit jaded, that’s all I’m saying,’ Nancy pointed out.

      ‘What folks think is no concern of ours.’ Tom declared. ‘You need to remember, this place doesn’t belong to us. I’m sure that tight-fisted landlord won’t be shelling out money if he can help it, and we certainly can’t