Read Online The River Folk by Margaret Dickinson - Free Book Online Page A

glared at her and then, with a sudden movement, dodged around Bessie and made for his own door.
    ‘Oh,’ Bessie shouted after him, almost as an afterthought but in fact it was calculated as a barbed parting shot. ‘If you’re interested where your daughter is, she’s in our house. And that’s where she’s staying till her mam gets home. And even then, well, we’ll see, won’t we?’
    From the doorway of his own home, the man turned and, feeling safer now, sneered. ‘Yer welcome to the little bitch. Yer can keep her as far as I’m concerned.’
    He slammed the door and Bessie heard the key turn in the lock.
    ‘Aye, you lock yasen in, Sid Clark,’ she bellowed. ‘That’s the only place you’re going to be safe from now on, and even then, I wouldn’t be too sure, if I was you.’

Eight
    Dan returned home late that same night.
    ‘I hope you don’t mind, lad,’ Bessie said, almost as soon as he stepped through the door, ‘but I’ve put that little lass in your bed.’ Then she explained to him what had been happening during his absence.
    ‘’Course I don’t, Mam. I’ll sleep on the couch tonight. It’s only for one night anyway. We’ll be off again on tomorrow afternoon’s tide.’
    ‘It might be a bit longer than that,’ Bessie pulled a wry face. ‘I daren’t let her go home until her mam’s out of the hospital.’
    Dan shrugged his broad shoulders and smiled at his mother’s anxious face. ‘I don’t mind. When I’m home for a longer stretch while she’s here, me and the lads can play musical beds and all take turns on the couch.’
    Bessie nodded, relieved. ‘You’re a good ’un, Dan. You all are. I just can’t let mesen send her back to be on her own with ’im.’
    Dan patted her round cheek with a display of affection. ‘And you’re the best of us, Mam. You and that big heart of yours.’
    ‘Go on with you.’ Bessie smacked his hand away playfully, but the flush on her face showed her pleasure at his compliment.
    The following morning, Mary Ann was up early and much to Bessie’s surprise and delight was soon trotting back and forth between the back scullery and the kitchen carrying the plates from Bessie to the table for the men’s breakfast. Then, when all were tucking in to bacon, egg and fried bread, Mary Ann stood beside Dan’s chair watching him eat.
    ‘Aren’t you going to sit down and have some breakfast, love?’ he asked.
    Mary Ann nodded and pulled her chair close to his. She looked at him coyly out of the corners of her eyes and then reached out to take a piece of bacon from his plate.
    ‘Oi, I didn’t mean take mine,’ he laughed, amused by her audacity.
    Bessie appeared from the scullery, carrying two more plates. ‘What’s going on?’
    ‘She’s nicking our Dan’s breakfast,’ Duggie spluttered.
    Bessie placed a plate of food in front of Mary Ann. ‘There’s no need for that, lass. Here’s yours.’ Then she sat down herself and picked up her knife and fork.
    But Dan only grinned and winked at the young girl, to be rewarded with the most dazzling smile that Bessie had seen from her yet, the dimples in her cheeks deepening prettily.
    By heck, Bessie thought, she’s going to be a stunner, this one, when she’s older. She’ll break a few hearts before she’s done. Just as long as it isn’t one of my lads. Aloud, she said, ‘Eat up, love, time you were setting off for school. Give my love to Miss Edwina if you see her.’
    The brown eyes widened. ‘Aren’t you going to take me?’
    ‘You know the way. You’re big enough to go on your own.’
    Mary Ann’s lower lip trembled. ‘I’ll get lost.’
    ‘No, you won’t,’ Bessie said, gently but firmly. ‘You turn left at the end of our alley on to River Road and keep going until you get nearly to the bridge and it’s the big red house with the white pillars on the right hand side of the road.’
    ‘It’s all right, Mam, I’ll walk along with her. I’m going to see Susan.’
    Bessie