Read Online A Safe Harbour by Benita Brown - Free Book Online Page A

 
    ‘Not long.’  
    ‘What is it?’ Thomas’s smile faded. He must have sensed her agitation.  
    ‘I have to ask you something.’  
    He looked genuinely puzzled. ‘Ask away.’  
    ‘What were you talking about yesterday – you and the other lads, when you were sitting by the fire in the mission hall?’  
    She was sure she saw his eyes widen with consternation before he shrugged and said, ‘I can’t remember.’ He looked uneasy.  
    ‘I don’t believe you. You were planning something.’  
    He tried to smile but it came over as a grimace of embarrassment. ‘No, Kate, there was nothing like that.’ They stared at each other and Thomas reddened. ‘We were talking about some of the strange fish we’ve caught from time to time – and how the teachers at the College of Science like to pickle them and put them on display.’  
    ‘Yes, I heard that. But that was what you meant me to hear when you realized I was there. But I heard other things before that. Something about Adamson’s trawlers – about not being beat.’  
    Thomas began to shake his head. ‘You’re mistaken—’  
    ‘Don’t lie to me!’ Kate felt a surge of anger. ‘You were planning something. You said you must act together and that you mustn’t forget what Jos had said.’  
    ‘And what was that?’ Thomas said quietly.  
    ‘That you had to settle for the bastard. That’s what I heard and it’s no use denying it. You’ve got some kind of plan to cause trouble for Mr Adamson, haven’t you?’  
    Thomas stood up slowly and hoisted the lobster pot on to the roof of the coalhouse where several others were stored. The action gave him time to consider his reply and Kate clenched her fists impatiently. He made a show of checking to see that the pot was stowed properly and then turned to face her, but he couldn’t meet her eyes. Kate had never seen her brother look so perplexed.  
    Finally he said, ‘You know well enough how bad the herring fishing’s been lately.’  
    ‘Everyone knows that.’  
    ‘Some men have been forced to lay up their cobles and seek work crewing colliers out of Shields.’  
    ‘Yes. The coal ships.’  
    ‘Not long back a canny herring season would see us through the winter, but Adamson’s steam trawlers have put an end to that.’  
    ‘Thomas, the steam trawlers won’t go away. It’s . . . it’s progress, I suppose.’  
    ‘But, don’t you see, the trawls on his damn boats take more than a man’s fair share. He’ll finish it for everybody.’  
    ‘I know, but it’s not just Adamson’s trawlers, is it? What about the Scottish boats?’  
    ‘Aye, and damn them. I’m sure Jos would hev had a plan to fettle them as well! But we were going to start with Adamson. He’s supposed to be one of our own! Why, just a generation or two back the Adamsons were plain inshore fishermen and they lived in the village like the rest of us. Now look at them – living in that grand house and prospering while the rest of us scrape a living!’  
    ‘Thomas,’ Kate said gently, ‘that’s hard to swallow, I know it is, but the old days are over. Don’t you think we might all have to change?’  
    Her brother’s face flushed. ‘I’m glad Jos can’t hear you talking like that. He’d be ashamed of you!’  
    ‘I understand why you’re upset—’ she began.  
    ‘Upset!’  
    ‘No, listen to me. I don’t want to quarrel with you. Really, I don’t. I just want to know what Jos was planning to do.’  
    ‘Why?’  
    ‘Because I have a right to know. Jos and I were going to be married. Don’t you think he would have told me once we were man and wife?’  
    Thomas looked troubled. ‘I’m not so sure.’  
    ‘Of course he would! You know how close we were. You know he didn’t treat me like the other lads treat their womenfolk. We always discussed everything – we made all our plans together.’  
    ‘That’s true.’  
    ‘Well then, I’m sure that now . . . now he