Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

‘While I’m doing that, you might go and ask your grandma if there’s a drink going for the workman.’

‘Do you want tea?’

He made a face. ‘I’d rather have a cool drink.’

‘Sarsaparilla?’

He shook his head. ‘Not if I can help it.’ It was too sweet a taste for his liking.

Cathleen’s eyes lit up. ‘I know what Grandma’s got, and she gives it to Grandad too. He likes it a lot, only she won’t let him have too much, because it makes him dizzy and he starts talking rubbish, that’s what Grandma says.’

Danny laughed so heartily at her having got it all out in one breath, Emily couldn’t help but laugh with him. ‘And what drink is that then, eh?’ he asked.

‘It’s called Ederber wine.’

‘Is that so?’ He tried hard not to smile. ‘Well, it sounds good to me, so you be a darling and tell your grandma that Danny would like a taste of her “Ederber wine”.’

At that, Cathleen ran off to the farmhouse.

‘You’re a terrible tease,’ Emily told him.

Danny was always happiest when in Emily’s company, but he was particularly happy when the two of them were alone, which to his mind, was not often enough.

‘I hope I’m right in thinking she meant elderberry wine?’ He feigned innocence. ‘Because if it’s not, I’m beginning to wonder what I’ve let myself in for. Y’see, if I get dizzy I won’t be able to mend her swing. And if I start talking rubbish, you won’t like me any more.’

‘If you started talking rubbish, I don’t suppose anybody would even notice,’ she joked. ‘You know very well what she meant, so behave yourself,’ she chided. ‘As for Grandad, it’s just that when he has his weekly measure of elderberry wine, it makes him a bit merry, that’s all.’

‘Quite right too!’ Danny exclaimed. ‘And why shouldn’t a man be merry from time to time, that’s what I’d like to know?’

The two of them sat on the bench. ‘Where will you get the rope for the swing?’ Emily wanted to know.

Danny had it all worked out. ‘I’ll borrow it from the horse’s haybag,’ he declared. ‘I’ve got plenty more at home.’

‘There’s some rope in the barn.’

‘We’ll take a look and see if it’s strong enough.’

Emily grew wary. ‘Let’s wait for Cathleen,’ she said.

Feigning indignation, Danny turned to regard her. ‘Well, o’ course we’ll wait for the child. What else did you think I was suggesting?’

Embarrassed, Emily was lost for an answer, except to say with a quick smile, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend!’

With smiling eyes, he enquired cautiously, ‘Dare I ask you to show me where the timber is?’

Emily pointed to the smaller of the two barns. ‘You’ll find some pieces piled up in there, behind the manger.’

He nodded his thanks. ‘Oh, and don’t go taking great gulps outta my wine when it comes, because I’ll know!’

At ease again, Emily grinned. ‘You’ll find a big coil of rope in there,’ she told him. ‘It’s lying right beside the timber.’

While he was gone, Emily sat, contentedly waiting. It was a quiet time when she could sit and think, and remember. Any time of night or day, John was never far away. He was close to her now, in her heart and mind, and every sense in her body.

I still love you, John Hanley, she thought. Danny is a good man – a kind man. He wants to wed me and raise Cathleen as his own. He has a business, and money enough to help us be rid of Clem Jackson, and yet he asks for little in return. And still I can’t bring myself to say yes, because all I can think of is you.

It was odd, that she could still love him as much as ever, while he could go off with nary a qualm. I ought to hate you, but I can’t, and I never will.

Trying hard to shut him out of her thoughts, she listened to the familiar sounds of nature all around her. She could hear the birds singing, and not too far away the squirrels chased each other round the fields; the fruit trees were resting after giving up a wonderful harvest, and the skies were so clear you could almost see heaven.

‘It’s so beautiful here,’ she murmured. Through the overhanging branches, the sunlight dappled on her face, and just there on the log-pile she could see a jay, its bright eyes looking straight at her, its many colours made vivid by the sunlight. ‘What are you after?’ she asked, holding out her hand. ‘Hungry, are you?’

Nervous, the bird hopped away and was soon gone from sight.

Suddenly, and for no reason she could think of, Emily began to cry; soft, wet tears trickling down her face and her heart aching with memories of John and the way it used to be. Why did you leave me? Caught by the breeze, her words were soon gentled away.

Even now, after all this time, she could not bring herself to believe he had thrown her over for another woman, yet there it had been in black and white, in John’s own handwriting. We had it all, you and me.

Opening her arms to encompass the landscape, she said aloud: ‘We could have spent our lives together right here, in a place we both love. We had the chance of real happiness. What went wrong? Why didn’t you come back? Why couldn’t you have told me to my face how you’d fallen out of love with me? I might be able to understand, if only you’d had the courage to tell me yourself.’

Just then she saw Cathleen coming from one direction and Danny from the other; one going carefully with a small tray in her hands, the other covering the ground in long, easy strides, a bundle of timber under one arm, and a coil of rope in the other.

Quickly, before they could see, she wiped away the tears, put on a smile and ran to help Cathleen. ‘Let Mammy carry that, sweetheart?’ She held out her hands to take the tray, but the child was adamant. ‘I can do it.’ Balancing the tray, she picked her way over the ground. ‘It’s for Danny. Grandma sent him a piece of cake.’ And right there on the tray was a huge slice of Aggie’s best spongecake, with lashings of cream and jam oozing from each end.

Having reached the bench she set the tray down, at the same time telling Danny, ‘Grandma says you’re not to go just yet, ’cause she’s making us all a picnic.’

‘I’d best go and help.’ Knowing how her mother would do everything herself, given the chance, Emily went at a run to the farmhouse. Behind her, Danny enjoyed Aggie’s delicious cake, while Cathleen explained how she would like the swing to be a bit higher this time. ‘’Cause I’m older now, aren’t I, Danny?’

‘Old as the hills,’ he said, rolling his eyes to make her laugh.

Inside the farmhouse, Aggie was putting the finishing touches to the picnic. ‘Oh, Mam!’ Emily was amazed at the spread. ‘When did you plan all this?’ she asked.

‘When Danny told me he was hoping to get back this evening.’

‘Well, you’ve done him proud,’ Emily said warmly. ‘You’ve done us all proud!’ There were ham sandwiches, pork-pie chunks and small crispy apple-slices round the edge of the plate, hard-boiled eggs and potato salad, and in a small wicker basket were any number of little fairy cakes, some with chocolate icing, and others with dollops of cream on top.

A large, round apple pie twinkled with sugared pastry, next to a jug of cream for pouring. ‘You should have called me!’ Emily chided. ‘I would have helped.’

‘I didn’t call you because you were busy enough with other things, and besides, there was only a small amount of baking to do. Most of it was already in the larder from yesterday.’

Collecting the wooden apple-crate from the pantry, Aggie turned to pack the food. ‘Let me do that, Mam.’ And before her mam could argue, Emily lined the crate with the green picnic-rug and filled it with the good things. ‘I know what this is all about,’ she said.

‘Do you now?’ Aggie had her motive, and Emily knew it. ‘And what might that be then, eh?’

‘You think Danny will ask me to wed him again, and this time, you’re hoping I’ll say yes – is that it?’

‘Something like that.’ Bringing the two jugs of cold drink from the larder, Aggie packed them into the crate; the sarsaparilla at one end; lemon-barley water at the other. ‘That’ll balance the crate as we carry it. Now then, where did I put the napkins?’ She glanced round the room, relieved when her searching gaze fell on the pile of newly washed squares, folded on the sideboard.

In no time at all, Emily and Aggie were ready to carry the crate out, but first her mother had an errand for Emily. ‘Run upstairs and ask Grandad if he’d like to sit out in the sunshine for a bit.’ Aggie thought Emily would be able to persuade him where she couldn’t. ‘I asked him before, but he said no. If you recall, the doctor said he could sit out when the weather was warm, only the old devil’s being obstinate. Do what you can,’ she pleaded. ‘It’ll do him a power of good to feel the sun on his face.’