Read Online Calico Road by Anna Jacobs - Free Book Online

mother didn’t speak to her any more, gave her the worst of the food and made her life difficult in many little ways.
    One day, knowing Ben wouldn’t be able to get away on time because they’d had a late delivery of cotton, she waited for him instead, feeling nervous of making this unspoken declaration, wondering what he’d say.
    His whole face lit up at the sight of her standing by the gatehouse and he ran across to hug her. ‘Eh, lass, I didn’t expect to see you tonight!’ He looked down at her, his face solemn, and kept his arms round her as he bent his head to give her the gentlest of kisses on the cheek. ‘I’m right proud to have everyone see a lass like you waiting for me.’
    Meg linked her arm in his, feeling happy, and they walked slowly home.
    She had to put up with a lot of teasing about him from the women she worked with but didn’t mind that. She did mind the barbed remarks her mother made when Jack wasn’t around, though, and the lies Netta told. Only once more did her mother slap her and then Meg did as she’d promised and hit back.
    Jack was reproachful when he found out what had happened. ‘Nay, love, that was badly done of you. The Bible tells us to honour our mothers and fathers.’
    ‘Them as wrote the Bible hadn’t met our mother then. I’m not lettin’ her thump me any more, Jack, an’ that’s flat.’
    He shook his head then looked at her again. ‘You look different lately. Happier.’
    She nodded and couldn’t hold back a smile. ‘I am.’
    ‘Because of Ben Pearson?’
    ‘Yes. He’s a lovely fellow an’ he’s not had a single drink since we started going together.’
    ‘You’re still too young to get wed, love.’
    ‘I don’t feel young.’
    ‘And we do need your money. That’s why Mam’s so worried.’
    Meg could feel the smile fading and her face stiffening. ‘I’m not staying with her for the rest of my life, whether I get wed or not. She could have been married to Phil Gitten by now an’ taken the burden off you. Did she tell you that? No, I thought not. Or she could get herself a job in the mill. There’s some part-time work going, you know. Only she’d rather have you working for her, making her life easy. She’ll never let you go, Jack.’
    He sighed. He’d long suspected that, but if he left the children would be in trouble so he had to stay, whether he agreed with what his mother did or not. ‘You won’t run away with Ben, will you?’
    ‘He hasn’t asked me to wed him yet.’
    ‘He will.’ Jack had seen for himself the way the man looked at Meg.
    As the winter grew colder, Ben bought Meg a new shawl, soft and warm and of a dusky pink colour that suited her to perfection, with her dark hair and eyes.
    ‘You shouldn’t have.’ She stroked the wool, loving the feel of it. She’d never had anything brand new before.
    ‘I wanted to. I’ve seen you shivering.’ He hesitated, then said in a rush, ‘Will you wed me, Meg? You know how fond of you I am.’
    She’d already decided what her answer would be. ‘Aye, I will.’
    He nearly crushed her ribs, he hugged her so hard. ‘Eh, lass, lass! I’m that pleased. I don’t have much money, but I’ll work hard an’ you’ll never go hungry as long as there’s breath in my body.’
    ‘There’s just one thing. Could we leave Northby after we’re wed, go and live somewhere else, do you think?’
    He looked at her in surprise. ‘I thought you’d want to stay near your family.’
    She tried to laugh but it turned into a sob. ‘What I want is to get as far away from her as possible. I could never be happy in the same town even, because she’d be watching me, telling folk I’m no good. She spoils everything, makes it feel dirty. I want us to be happy together, you and me.’
    Ben suddenly guessed what lay behind this. ‘Has your mother been saying things about me?’
    Meg nodded.
    ‘What sort of things?’
    ‘Lies. I know they’re lies so I’m not repeating them to you.’ She knew he