Read Online The River Flows On by Maggie Craig - Free Book Online

range, combing out her hair, her father stooping to lift her into his embrace...
    The expression on Lily’s face was unreadable. She drew her arm further back, ready to deliver the blow. Jessie gasped when she saw her mother’s hand go up.
    Robbie took two rapid strides across the room. ‘Now, now Mrs Cameron. You’ll not be doing that. You might regret it later.’
    Lily turned on Robbie then, eyes flashing. ‘Do you know what he’s done? Do you know?’
    ‘I think I can guess,’ murmured Robbie, ‘but hitting him won’t help anybody, now will it?’ He put his hand on her elbow. She drew in a breath, staring at him. Then, suddenly, her whole body seemed to relax and she allowed Robbie to lead her to the rocking chair on the other side of the range and push her into it, gesturing to his mother to come and stand by her.
    ‘Has he drunk all his pay, Lily?’ asked Agnes, her good-natured face lined with anxious enquiry.
    ‘Aye, he’s drunk his pay, the rotten, no-good bloody bugger! There’s only half a crown left.’ She dug into the pocket of her apron and threw the coin onto the floor. ‘And there’s no work anywhere along the river. None o’ them has got any orders.’ She sank her face into her hands. Just as suddenly her head snapped back up and her eyes fixed on Kate..
    ‘There’ll be no more school for you,’ she said. ‘That’s you finished wi’ that. Come Monday, you’re out knocking on doors, looking for work.’
    ‘The lassie’s staying on at school!’ They had all been focused on Lily and hadn’t noticed Neil getting to his feet. He stood there, swaying, dwarfing the kitchen with his height. He repeated it, bellowing the words out. ‘The lassie’s staying on! To make something of herself!’
    Pushing Agnes Baxter’s restraining hand aside, Lily rose to her feet and squared up to her husband.
    ‘Like you’ve made something of yourself, Neil Cameron?’ she demanded. ‘You’re a waster, that’s what you are.’ She poked him in the chest with one finger to emphasize her point. ‘Och, you were handsome enough. Still are, when you’re not guttered, but you’ll never amount to anything.’
    Like a balloon pricked by a silver pin, the fight went out of Neil Cameron. ‘Don’t be like that, Lily. It was the war, Lily, that’s what did for me ...’
    His voice tailed off in the face of his wife’s contempt. ‘Other men came back from the war and made a go of it. What happened to you? Nae backbone, that’s your trouble.’
    His eyes, terribly, filled with tears. ‘Och, Lily ...’
    Kate, stunned with the horror of it all, stood frozen. She should do something, but what? She had no idea. She only knew she wanted it to end.
    Agnes Baxter took control. She gestured to Pearl and Jessie to climb down from the bed and ushered them towards the door. ‘Girls, away ben to the front room and get your wee brother and go down to our house. Jessie, fetch Barbara from the back court and tell her to give everyone a scone. They’re new baked.’
    Jessie and Pearl looked anxiously to Kate for reassurance as they left the room. She couldn’t seem to find any words of comfort to offer them. She couldn’t even manage a reassuring smile.
    ‘Neil, sit down here and I’ll make you and Lily a cup of tea.’ Agnes pulled Neil back to his chair. Once she had him settled in it, she straightened up, turned round and took in Kate’s rigid form and white face. She exchanged a glance with her son. ‘Robbie, why don’t you take Kate out for a wee while?’
    Robbie shot Kate a glance, then gestured to Neil. ‘Are you sure you can manage him, Ma?’ he asked in a low voice.
    ‘Aye, son. The worst’s over.’ She was right. Both Neil and Lily were slumped in their respective chairs. Agnes lifted a hand to pat her son on the shoulder.
    ‘There’s some money in the silver tea caddy on the sideboard. Why don’t you take Kate to the pictures? Take her mind off it, like.’
    ‘Aye, Ma. We’ll do that.