Read Online The Bells of Scotland Road by Ruth Hamilton - Free Book Online
Authors: Ruth Hamilton
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order to get someone to take her off his hands?
Big Diddy Costigan breathed down Sam’s neck. ‘You shouldn’t have gone off like that after the wedding,’ she whispered. ‘And I’ve worked out what you and
Thomas Murphy have been up to. Why, Sam? What possessed you?’
The pawnbroker lifted his shoulders a fraction. ‘He wanted rid of her, I suppose. If anything had ever happened to him, her in-laws might have taken charge.’
‘He didn’t plan this out of love, you know.’
Sam nodded.
‘You shouldn’t have done it. It’s bloody evil. I mean, look at her. That girl could have got herself a younger man—’
‘He wanted her away from Ireland.’
Big Diddy dragged the shopkeeper out of the living room and into the small, lean-to scullery. ‘He wanted?’ she hissed through clenched teeth. ‘What the hell does it matter?
It’s her life, not his. She must have been desperate to get away – desperate enough to fasten herself to somebody she’d never even clapped eyes on. Well,’ she spat, ‘I
hope you get what you deserve, Sam Bell. I hope your horses never break into so much as a bloody trot.’
He pulled away from her. Diddy was not the sort of woman he wanted to cross. She was universally loved and respected. ‘I’ll look after her,’ he muttered lamely.
‘See that you do. Because you’ll have me and Billy to answer to if any harm comes to her or the children. Your card’s marked. We’ll be watching you.’ Her hand
raised itself and the index finger jabbed in his direction. ‘That dad of hers is a rotten bugger. He’s been warming Dolly Hanson’s bed for years – even before his wife died,
I’m sure. This poor girl’s not got a father – he’s more of an excuse. So you make her a good husband or I’ll break your puny little neck. And that, Sam, is a
promise.’ She flung open the door and marched out.
Sam returned to the kitchen-cum-living room. For several minutes, he lingered in his chair next to the range, watched the pretty young woman sleeping. This was his wife. He thought about Maria,
who had given him twin boys before slipping away quietly with pneumonia brought on by the exhausting confinement. He thought about Muth, who had stepped in immediately to raise the motherless Liam
and Anthony.
Sam Bell fixed his eyes on the dampened fire, wondered what the hell he was going to do with a child bride, two female youngsters and a couple of mad, scarcely broken racehorses. He
shouldn’t have listened to Thomas Murphy. The idea of taking on a resident nurse for Muth was sound enough, but marriage was a frightening step. As for horses – well – they had a
leg at each corner. Four-legged furniture was something he understood, but valuable animals were not his forte.
Bridie shivered, muttered something in her sleep. A tear made its way down her cheek. He hoped she wasn’t going to be a moaner. She had been advertised by her father as biddable, strong
and good-natured. The concept of a colleen wailing all over the house was not a happy one.
Silently, he crossed the room and turned off the gaslight. Bed was the best place for a man as exhausted and confused as he was. He checked that all was well in the shop, made sure that every
bolt was fixed. Muth would be asleep by now. A young woman from Wilbraham Street had been instructed to feed and settle the old lady.
Bridie opened her eyes and listened while the man climbed his stairs. She had felt his scrutiny. A proper wife would have followed him to the upper storey, would have been glad to spend the
night next to her husband. But Bridie was not a proper wife. Two horses had entered the bargaining arena. Mr Bell had required a great deal of persuasion, because he hadn’t really wanted to
remarry.
She struggled to her feet, dragged the coat about chilled shoulders. Tomorrow, her new life must begin. But for the rest of this night, she must remain in limbo.
Three
Cathy woke, discovered an elbow in her face. Where
Big Diddy Costigan breathed down Sam’s neck. ‘You shouldn’t have gone off like that after the wedding,’ she whispered. ‘And I’ve worked out what you and
Thomas Murphy have been up to. Why, Sam? What possessed you?’
The pawnbroker lifted his shoulders a fraction. ‘He wanted rid of her, I suppose. If anything had ever happened to him, her in-laws might have taken charge.’
‘He didn’t plan this out of love, you know.’
Sam nodded.
‘You shouldn’t have done it. It’s bloody evil. I mean, look at her. That girl could have got herself a younger man—’
‘He wanted her away from Ireland.’
Big Diddy dragged the shopkeeper out of the living room and into the small, lean-to scullery. ‘He wanted?’ she hissed through clenched teeth. ‘What the hell does it matter?
It’s her life, not his. She must have been desperate to get away – desperate enough to fasten herself to somebody she’d never even clapped eyes on. Well,’ she spat, ‘I
hope you get what you deserve, Sam Bell. I hope your horses never break into so much as a bloody trot.’
He pulled away from her. Diddy was not the sort of woman he wanted to cross. She was universally loved and respected. ‘I’ll look after her,’ he muttered lamely.
‘See that you do. Because you’ll have me and Billy to answer to if any harm comes to her or the children. Your card’s marked. We’ll be watching you.’ Her hand
raised itself and the index finger jabbed in his direction. ‘That dad of hers is a rotten bugger. He’s been warming Dolly Hanson’s bed for years – even before his wife died,
I’m sure. This poor girl’s not got a father – he’s more of an excuse. So you make her a good husband or I’ll break your puny little neck. And that, Sam, is a
promise.’ She flung open the door and marched out.
Sam returned to the kitchen-cum-living room. For several minutes, he lingered in his chair next to the range, watched the pretty young woman sleeping. This was his wife. He thought about Maria,
who had given him twin boys before slipping away quietly with pneumonia brought on by the exhausting confinement. He thought about Muth, who had stepped in immediately to raise the motherless Liam
and Anthony.
Sam Bell fixed his eyes on the dampened fire, wondered what the hell he was going to do with a child bride, two female youngsters and a couple of mad, scarcely broken racehorses. He
shouldn’t have listened to Thomas Murphy. The idea of taking on a resident nurse for Muth was sound enough, but marriage was a frightening step. As for horses – well – they had a
leg at each corner. Four-legged furniture was something he understood, but valuable animals were not his forte.
Bridie shivered, muttered something in her sleep. A tear made its way down her cheek. He hoped she wasn’t going to be a moaner. She had been advertised by her father as biddable, strong
and good-natured. The concept of a colleen wailing all over the house was not a happy one.
Silently, he crossed the room and turned off the gaslight. Bed was the best place for a man as exhausted and confused as he was. He checked that all was well in the shop, made sure that every
bolt was fixed. Muth would be asleep by now. A young woman from Wilbraham Street had been instructed to feed and settle the old lady.
Bridie opened her eyes and listened while the man climbed his stairs. She had felt his scrutiny. A proper wife would have followed him to the upper storey, would have been glad to spend the
night next to her husband. But Bridie was not a proper wife. Two horses had entered the bargaining arena. Mr Bell had required a great deal of persuasion, because he hadn’t really wanted to
remarry.
She struggled to her feet, dragged the coat about chilled shoulders. Tomorrow, her new life must begin. But for the rest of this night, she must remain in limbo.
Three
Cathy woke, discovered an elbow in her face. Where
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