Josephine Cox Sunday Times Bestsellers Collection. Josephine Cox

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ who could blame him? ‘It’s you I’m concerned about. Twice now, over the course of the past week, I’ve seen you from a distance, standing up here, on the edge of this very hill.’ He frowned. ‘Today, I thought I might come and chat awhile.’

      Barney couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘You thought I might throw myself over the edge, is that it?’

      Dr Lucas shook his head. ‘I would never think that of you, Barney. Whatever obstacle life puts in your way, I know you’ll face it head on.’ He smiled. ‘Given the same disturbing news, some people might well throw themselves over the edge. But not you.’

      Looking down, Barney nodded. ‘Don’t think I haven’t considered it,’ he said truthfully, kicking the ground. ‘Because I have.’

      The other man said nothing. Instead, he walked back to the cart with Barney, and listened to what he had to say.

      ‘It’s the family I fear for,’ Barney confided. ‘I don’t know how to prepare them. I know I should tell them, but I don’t want them to know. We’ve allus been close – too close, mebbe, because that makes it all the more painful. As for my Vicky …’ He sighed heavily. ‘She’s been my reason for living ever since the day I first saw her.’

      When his voice began to waver, he stopped, composed himself and when he was ready he looked up at Dr Lucas. ‘I’ve searched my heart and I’ve turned every which way, to think of how I might break the news. Then I imagine what it will do to them, and I can’t … I just can’t do it!’

      They walked on in silence for a moment, the doctor filled with sadness, and Barney hurting like he had never hurt before. ‘I’m not sure yet how to deal with it all, but I will,’ he said softly, as though talking to himself. ‘I’ll find a way!’

      Not for the first time, Raymond Lucas felt helpless. In latter years, there had been significant strides forward in medicine, but as yet, there was no way to renew a heart that was damaged beyond repair. ‘I’m sorry, Barney. I hope you know that.’

      Barney slowly nodded his head. ‘So am I,’ he said, and then he had a question. ‘If I had come into the Infirmary like you wanted, could you have made me healthy again? Would I have come home, being able to do all the things I’ve allus done?’

      The other man shook his head decisively. ‘No.’

      Barney smiled. ‘Thank you. That’s what I thought.’

      Dr Lucas had heard the exciting news, about how the Davidson family were off to America. ‘Have you decided what to do about Mr Maitland, and his offer of taking you all to Boston?’

      ‘I’m working on it.’ Barney climbed onto the cart, took up the reins and reminded the other man about his promise. ‘Don’t you worry your head about that,’ he said firmly, but not disrespectfully. ‘It’s my business and I’ll deal with it my way. Your part is to say nothing. That’s our agreement as I understand it. Am I right, Dr Lucas?’

      ‘Yes, you are, Barney. But you mustn’t leave it too late before you tell them. It would not be fair – not to you, or to them.’

      That said, he waved goodbye and took the path to the forest, while Barney went the long way round, through the valley and down by the river.

      He wasn’t ready to go home just yet.

      He had a lot to think about.

      By the time he got back to the farmhouse, Barney was his usual self. ‘What’s all this then?’ The dining-table was piled high with all manner of things – clothes and papers and odds and ends he had never seen before; even a leather football he had bought years back to teach his young sons the game.

      ‘I’m clearing out what we won’t be taking to Boston with us.’ Flicking the dust from her hair, Vicky gave a muffled sneeze. ‘You would not believe the things that have turned up,’ she chuckled. ‘I even found that cowboy hat you wore to the first barn-dance we ever gave.’

      Grabbing the hat from the table, Lucy plopped it on Barney’s head. ‘It suits you,’ she laughed. ‘You should wear it when you’re bringing in the sheep.’

      ‘Why don’t I wear it to the celebrations?’ he suggested cheerfully.

      ‘Great idea!’ Smiling, she turned to Lucy. ‘I’m glad you decided to have the child christened the day before his second birthday.’ Having both celebrations on the same day would have been too much.

      Lucy was looking forward to it all. ‘There you are, Barney,’ she cried. ‘Two parties in one. You’ll never have a better excuse to wear that hat.’

      Barney took it off and placed it on the pile. ‘Look at this!’ Certain articles had slid to the floor and there wasn’t a single spare inch on the table. ‘It looks like a rag-shop in here,’ he said jokingly. He picked up a pair of trousers some two sizes too big for him now. ‘I hope you’re not expecting me to wear these an’ all,’ he said, making a face.

      ‘I might, if you don’t stop complaining,’ Vicky answered with a click of the tongue.

      Seeing the garments and artefacts piled high on the table was like the remnants of their lives together, and it shook him deeply. ‘Why you felt the need to clear out wardrobes and such just yet, I’ll never know,’ he declared. ‘The ship doesn’t sail until the sixth of November … that’s still well over two weeks away.’ If things had been different he might have been helping but now, it was too frightening how fast the days were rushing by.

      ‘That’s not long,’ Vicky argued. ‘Not when I need to sort every drawer and cupboard, throw some stuff away, give some to the church for the needy, and get the rest washed and ironed to come with us. It can’t all be done in five minutes.’

      ‘Vicky’s right.’ Lucy had been helping all morning and still they had hardly started. ‘Then there’s the whole house to be gone over – floors so well-scrubbed you could eat your bacon and eggs off them, cupboards washed and lined with fresh newspaper, and every window-pane polished to a brilliant shine …’

      ‘And that’s only the inside!’ Vicky was beginning to panic. ‘You men haven’t got a clue, have you?’

      ‘I’ve got a thirst though.’ Barney made his way to the kettle. ‘I expect you could both do with a cuppa?’

      ‘You two sit yourselves down.’ Bringing him back, Lucy sat him in the chair. ‘I’ll mash the tea.’

      Tired and weary, Barney didn’t argue. ‘I wouldn’t mind a piece o’ that fruit-cake, if there’s any left?’

      There was, and when Lucy brought it in along with the tea, Barney wolfed it down. ‘By!’ He washed it down with a gulp of hot tea. ‘I reckon my girl is the best cook in the whole world,’ he said, smacking Vicky’s bottom as she walked by.

      ‘Enough o’ that, Barney Davidson,’ she reprimanded. But there was a twinkle in her eye, and the twitch of a smile on her lips as she turned away.

      ‘I wouldn’t mind another piece o’ cake if you’re going to the kitchen?’ he called out hopefully.

      ‘I am going to the kitchen,’ she called back, ‘but it’s no cake for you.’

      ‘Aw СКАЧАТЬ