Josephine Cox Sunday Times Bestsellers Collection. Josephine Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ chair, where for a time he sat, lost in thought and deeply disturbed. Giving a long, shivering sigh, he instinctively placed a hand on his heart. ‘No, Susie lass, none of us knows what the future holds.’ A dark premonition rippled through his soul.

      He was startled when his wife came rushing in. ‘Barney Davidson, you could charm the birds right out of the trees!’ She threw herself into his lap. ‘One minute she’s refusing to go, and now she’s full of dreams. Somehow she’s got the idea into her head that she’s going to own a string of shops, right across America!’

      Barney smiled contentedly. ‘Let her dream,’ he murmured, drawing her into his embrace. ‘If we don’t have dreams, how can they ever come true?’ His own dream had come true, the day he met this darling woman.

      Content to be silent, husband and wife sat awhile together. It was a moment of quietness in a love that was both deep and fulfilling; one of those rare and precious moments that each of them would cherish to the end of their days.

      The following morning, when Lucy was told the news by an emotional Vicky, she didn’t know whether to be thrilled for the Davidsons, or sad for herself. ‘It’s a wonderful opportunity,’ she said, suppressing her fears. ‘You must go, Vicky, you and Barney, and the family.’

      While Vicky was explaining how it all came about, Barney strolled into the kitchen. ‘Hello, Lucy, love. Vicky’s told you then?’ He had been concerned as to how the young woman might take the news.

      She ran to hug him. ‘I’m so excited for you!’ she told him sincerely. ‘But I’ll miss you all so very much.’ The tears were close but she would not let them be seen, not now, not when these good folk were so looking forward to their new adventure. ‘Whatever will I do without you?’ At the back of her mind she couldn’t help but wonder where she and her boy might live.

      ‘We’ll miss you too – dreadfully.’ Vicky looked at Jamie and her lips quivered. She hugged him, then opened the kitchen cupboard so he could sit and play with the saucepans and wooden spoons.

      ‘Well, I’ll tell you one thing, Lucy girl.’ Barney sat her down. ‘You won’t need to worry about being out of work. I’ve just come from giving our answer to the boss, and I’ve spoken to him about you. He says you’ll have work with whoever buys the farm, he’ll make sure it’s written into the contract of sale.’

      It was a great relief to Lucy. ‘Oh Barney, how can I ever thank you?’ She felt quite weak at the knees. Without a job and a home, she and Jamie would be in dire straits.

      ‘Don’t thank me,’ he protested. ‘Thank the boss, and thank the fella who’s buying the farm. It’s good news all round. The Land Agent has already been out this morning to tell him he’s got a buyer, agent who’s been looking for such a property as this, and because he means to grab this place afore anybody else, and prevent it being split up and sold off he’s offered fifty guineas above the asking price.’

      Vicky was amazed. ‘Good Lord! And did Mr Maitland accept it?’

      ‘He most certainly did.’ He gave an aside wink to Vicky, who was thrilled to hear Lucy would not be put out of work. ‘What’s more …’ Barney’s smile grew wider as he looked at the two women in turn, ‘… Mr Maitland says Lucy can stay in the cottage,’ he told them, ‘ … it’s because he’s got such a good price, and I’m to tell you straight off, he’s not selling the cottage with the farm. Because it’s such a tiny place with so much that needs doing, it has little or no value so neither Mr Maitland nor the agent could see it as making any difference to the value of the overall holding. It’s all been agreed.’

      Unable to keep the news any longer, he blurted it out with a shout of triumph. ‘It’s yours, Lucy girl!’ he laughed with the sheer joy of it.

      He drew in a long breath and blowing it out through his nose he took hold of Lucy by the shoulders, his voice lower, more intimate. ‘Now then, what have you to say to that, eh?’

      For the moment Lucy could say nothing because not only had the news rocked her to the roots, but she was completely lost for words.

      Instead she stared at Barney with big shocked eyes, her lips quivering, and her heart pounding ten to the dozen. ‘I can’t … believe it,’ the words stumbled out. ‘The cottage … is it really mine?’

      ‘That’s right, Lucy girl … it’s yours. Mr Maitland says to tell you he’ll be along to see you shortly, and that you’re not to worry, because everything will be done legal.’

      ‘This calls for another celebration!’ Rushing to the cupboard, Vicky took out the best glasses and a bottle of her homemade wine.

      Barney raised his glass. ‘To our new life – and to Lucy, our dear friend who, along with young Jamie here, will never again be without a roof over her head.’

      It was the most bitter-sweet emotion for Lucy. She found it hard to believe her own good fortune, but while she was thanking the Good Lord, she paused again to think of how it would be when Barney and his family were gone.

      Even in the midst of her joy, the thought of losing them forever was a sad, lonely thought.

      ‘Are you all right, Barney?’ It was two o’clock in the morning when Vicky woke to find herself alone in bed. Half-asleep and bleary-eyed she rolled sideways, looking towards the window, where Barney’s shadowy figure was just visible in the dim light. ‘What’s wrong, pet, can’t you sleep?’

      Still breathless from the chest pains which had woken him, Barney sshed her. ‘Go back to sleep, love.’

      ‘I can’t. Not until you come back into bed.’

      In the past weeks, Barney had learned to hide his pain and put on a brave face; it had become like second nature to him. Taking a deep breath, he painted on a smile and managing the few paces to the bed, he climbed in. ‘Now will you go to sleep?’ He wriggled down the bed, avoiding touching her, having stood at the window for some time, he had become chilled.

      Instinctively, she turned and wrapped her arm around the girth of his belly. ‘Brrr!’ she shivered. ‘You’re freezing! How long have you been stood there at the window?’

      ‘Not long,’ he lied. ‘Now go to sleep.’

      Worry marbled her voice. ‘Are you all right?’

      ‘I’m fine.’

      ‘Are you worried about moving to Boston? Is that what woke you?’

      ‘No. I think it was a touch of indigestion.’ Before she could protest, he added, ‘I ate a bite from a cooking apple, and you know how sour they are.’

      ‘You shouldn’t eat them, then!’

      ‘I know, but they looked so tempting.’

      There was a groan. ‘Barney Davidson, will you never learn?’

      ‘Go to sleep now, Vicky. It’s only three a.m.’

      ‘And are you really not worried about moving to Boston?’

      ‘No, why should I be?’

      ‘No reason. I just wondered, that’s all.’

      ‘Are СКАЧАТЬ