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

‘That’s what he said, right enough, lass. But I reckon it were more a sore heart than sore eyes. Ask him all the same,’ he reminded his daughter. ‘Joseph is still the best player we ever had. You tell him that, lass, will you?’

‘’Course I will.’ Judy took the dirty crockery to the sink, where she scraped the few leftover scraps into the special bowl: a treat for the pigs later on.

Leaving her parents chatting over the latest gossip from Tom’s milk-round and Beth’s recent visit to town, Judy went upstairs to get ready for the trip to Derwent Street.

When half an hour later she returned downstairs, her long hair brushed to shining, and her face scrubbed softly pink, Beth commented on how lovely she looked in her new cream-coloured dress. ‘You made a good choice in that frock.’ She noted how the calf-length skirt swung easily about Judy’s slim legs, and she liked the way her waist was accentuated by the broad brown belt. ‘Mrs Gregory is right to value you,’ she remarked proudly. ‘You have a natural instinct as to what suits and what doesn’t.’

‘You didn’t say that last year when she came home in a pair of trousers and a flat cap,’ Tom reminded her. ‘You said she resembled a scarecrow from out the field.’

‘And so she did!’ Beth declared. ‘Whatever Mrs Gregory was thinking of, when she dressed our lass in black flapping trousers and a big flat cap, I will never know!’

‘We were just trying out the new fashions,’ Judy grinned. ‘And if you didn’t like what I was wearing, it’s as well you didn’t see what Mrs Gregory had on.’

‘And what was that?’ Tom was intrigued.

The girl tried to describe it as best she could. ‘It was a long red coat with split tails, a wide floppy hat with a bow, and a pair of high-heeled boots.’

‘How ridiculous – especially for a woman her age!’ Beth was not impressed. ‘High heels indeed! I shouldn’t think she was at all comfortable.’

Judy laughed at the memory. ‘I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want to be mean about her.’

‘So, you can tell us now.’ Though content in her old knee-length coat and a sturdy pair of shoes, Beth was always interested in what other women were wearing.

‘Well, you know she took me shopping in Manchester, and she wanted us to come home in what she’d bought … said it would open folks’ eyes?’

‘Oh, yes.’

‘Well, when we got back, we parted company at the Boulevard. I got on the tram and she walked over to the train station. It was pouring with rain and the wind had really got up. In a matter of minutes, the big hat was sailing down the gutter, her coat was up over her head, and she caught her shoe in a grating. Whipped the heel clean off, it did.’

‘Well, I never!’ Beth’s face melted into a grin and Tom laughed out loud. ‘No doubt she had summat strong to say about all that, eh?’

‘She said it was all a matter of experience.’ Judy shrugged. ‘Nothing seems to ruffle her feathers.’

‘Aye, well, fashions change and Mrs Gregory has to keep up with it all.’ Looking at his daughter now, Tom was immensely proud. ‘You look pretty as a picture, lass.’

‘Well, it’s a good job she doesn’t tek after you, isn’t it?’ Beth was teasing again.

Tom would have none of it. ‘Give over, woman. It’s me she gets her looks from. My daughter comes from good stock.’

Judy giggled. ‘You could be talking about one of your farm animals,’ she said. ‘Next thing, you’ll be wanting to fatten me up for market.’

‘Aw, my pet, you’re the best thing me an’ your mam’s ever been blessed with,’ he answered with a warm smile.

‘You’re just an old softie, Dad.’ The girl gave him an affectionate hug, and the same for her mam. ‘I’d best be off now,’ she said. ‘I’ll be going straight on to Annie’s when I leave Derwent Street, so I won’t be back till teatime.’ As an afterthought, she asked her mother, ‘Is it all right if I bring Annie back for some dinner?’

‘’Course it’s all right. I’ll make a big shepherd’s pie with enough for plenty more people, in case they all want to come.’ Then, as always, Beth warned her to be careful about the traffic. ‘The streets get busier by the day.’

With a decisive nod of his head, Tom agreed. ‘We should consider ourselves fortunate to be living in the countryside.’

‘The countryside isn’t all that safe neither,’ Beth said sadly, then: ‘Not with you racing along the lanes in that rattly old milk-wagon and a horse that’s going senile.’

‘He never is!’ Tom was shocked. ‘That old horse has more sense than you and me put together.’

‘That’s not saying much then, is it?’ Beth was determined to have the last word.

‘Mam?’ There was something else on Judy’s mind in that moment, as in every moment throughout the day. ‘D’you think Don might have got any news of Davie? Has he been trying to find out where he is?’

Beth could not pretend; it was not in her nature. She was not optimistic. ‘I don’t know, lass. You see, I reckon it’s early days yet. Since he’s been back, Don’s had enough to cope with. He’s found that new job, and he’s also been taking care of Joseph. Five long years, he’s been away, and there were a lot of things to put right. But don’t worry, I’m sure he’s got plans where Davie’s concerned.’

Tom added, ‘If Don had any news of the boy, we’d be the first to know.’

‘I’d best get going,’ Judy sighed.

‘And don’t forget to take your coat,’ Beth reminded her.

As she set off down the lane, coat over her arm, the thought of Davie was strong in Judy’s mind. Life was not the same without him. Day and night, she missed him so very much.

The tram was already at the stop, so she ran the last few hundred yards and clambering aboard, went quickly to her seat. The tram started forward and the conductor was soon round collecting the fares, and when he was gone Judy’s thoughts returned to her favourite subject – Davie. She had never forgotten his face, nor his voice, and even now, she expected him to appear round every corner, but he never did.

Preoccupied with her thoughts, and oblivious to the other passengers, the girl was amazed when the conductor called out, ‘Preston New Road … all off that’s getting off!’

As the tram shuddered to a halt, Judy made her way to the step. ‘Mind how you go now,’ the driver called out. Having worked this line for the past six years, he was familiar with Judy and her friend, Annie. And like everyone else throughout the whole of Blackburn, he knew the story of Rita Adams and the family.

Judy disembarked, and made her way to the top of Derwent Street and down to Joseph’s house. She knocked on the door and in no time at all, could hear him coming up the passageway.

‘Aw, Judy lass, come in … come in,’ the old fella said. He opened the door wide and allowed her to pass. ‘I’ve just made a brew. There’s plenty in the pot for two.’

Highly pleased to see her, he busied himself in the kitchen while she followed him around, merrily chatting and asking about everything; other than what she really wanted to know.

But Joseph sensed what was on her mind, and as they returned to the parlour, he bade her sit down. Handing her the cup and saucer, he sat himself facing her. ‘I’m sorry, lass, but there’s still no news of our Davie,’ he said.

The girl’s heart sank. ‘What’s happened to him, Joseph?’ she asked quietly. There were tears in her eyes. ‘Why haven’t we heard from him, in all this time?’

Joseph shook his head. ‘I only wish I knew.’

‘Do you think he’s all right?’

The old man took a moment to answer. ‘I reckon so, yes,’ he said at length. ‘I’ve thought and thought, and deep down inside I’ve got a good feeling about him. Y’see, lass, our Davie were allus a sensible lad – made to grow up afore his time, what with his mammy behaving the way she did an’ all.’

‘So you really think he’s alive and safe?’ She trusted Joseph’s instinct.

‘I do, lass, yes, I promise.’

‘And do you think he’ll ever come home?’

‘Well now, young Judith, your guess is as good as mine on that score.’

There were times when Joseph gave up hope of his grandson ever again setting foot in this house, and then there were other times when his heart and bones felt him walking down the street, tall and accomplished and grown into a man, ready to forgive those who had hurt him the most.