A Safe Harbour (59 page)
Authors: Benita Brown
Tags: #Technology & Engineering, #Sagas, #Fisheries & Aquaculture, #Fiction
‘Course I will.’
‘Go and tell Jane I want to talk to her. Just Jane. You must stay with Josephine.’
Betsy rose swiftly and ran towards the farmhouse. Kate watched her deliver the message and plonk herself down on the bench in the place Jane vacated.
‘What is it?’ Jane asked a moment later.
‘Sit down. I have something for you.’ Kate took an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to her friend. ‘It’s from William. I’ll leave you alone while you read it.’
Kate looked back and saw that Jane’s hands were shaking as she tore at the envelope. She could guess what William had to say and she wondered what decision her friend would make. She would soon know.
The letter for Jane had arrived enclosed in the latest missive from William. Her Aunt Winifred had also enclosed a letter – and a money order. She had been offended when Kate had sent the original money order back and now she begged her to cash this one and buy something for the bairn when it arrived. Kate had written to inform them of Josephine’s birth but the letter would not have reached Canada yet.
Her mother saw Kate coming and looked up and smiled. ‘I’ll come and visit whenever I can,’ she said. ‘Me and Mary will come together – that is if Mary’s brother doesn’t mind.’
‘Of course he doesn’t,’ Mary Linton said. ‘Kate’s been a grand help while she’s been here. Joe says that she’s been like a daughter to him and Hilda. It’s nice for Hilda to have a lass living here she can have a bit gossip with. Her four big lads never say much – just eat them out of house and home.’
‘I’m not much help at the moment,’ Kate said.
‘Never mind that, pet,’ Jos’s mother assured her. ‘Hilda says it’s a joy just to have a new baby in the old place. Her sons don’t show much sign of bringing wives home!’
‘Mebbes she makes them too comfortable,’ Nan said and the older women smiled at each other.
Kate had suckled Josephine before they came out and she was sleeping peacefully in her grandmother’s arms. A movement under the apple tree made Kate look over to see Jane waving to her.
‘I’m going to see what Jane wants,’ Kate whispered to Betsy. ‘Come and tell me if Josephine wakes up.’
Betsy looked up at her and smiled. ‘I’ll sing to her,’ she said. And as Kate walked away she heard the girl begin to chant softly, ‘To and fro . . . to and fro . . . I’ll rock the cradle to and fro . . .’
‘Well?’ Kate said to Jane.
‘You knew what he was going to say? To ask me?’
‘I guessed.’
Jane smiled. Folding the letter, she put it back in the envelope, then clutched it tightly to her body.
‘Well, aren’t you going to tell me what your answer will be?’ Kate asked with a flare of her old spirit.
‘Kate who always knows everything. Can’t you guess?’
‘Stop trying to annoy me. You’ll curdle my milk!’
‘Well, I’d better tell you my answer, then. It will be yes. It seems I am going to be a fisherman’s wife after all.’
‘So he’s told you?’
‘Yes. Your aunt’s husband offered him a job in the cannery and William tried it for a while. But the call of the sea was too strong. He’s working for a skipper at the moment but he’s saving up to buy his own boat. That’s his dream. And do you know what, Kate? When I sell my business I think I might just have enough to make his dream come true.’
‘Jane, I’m so pleased. But . . . I have to say this . . . what about your parents?’
Her friend’s smile faltered. ‘They won’t be happy that I’ll be going so far away. But they won’t stop me. And William has thought of that too.’
‘What does he suggest?’
‘Apparently your Aunt Winifred has never forgotten how much she enjoyed designing shoes. She says that if my father wants to set up business as a cobbler and shoemaker in Steveston, she’ll back him.’
‘Do you think he would agree?’
‘I’m not sure. My mother loves her home and they’re happy living in Cullercoats. But you never know. If William and I were to present them with a grandchild . . .’ Jane’s eyes filled with dreams and the moment was so intense that Kate had to look away.
Then, ‘Kate,’ Jane said, ‘I don’t suppose you have any notepaper and an envelope, do you?’
‘Of course I do.’
‘Good. Because I think I’d like to sit down and answer this letter straight away.’
At the end of the visit Betsy could only be persuaded to leave when Kate assured her that every time her mother or Mrs Linton came to visit they would bring Betsy too. Then, before they set off for the station, Jane took Kate aside.
‘You didn’t answer my question, you know.’
‘What question?’
‘I asked you if you were happy here.’
‘And I told you I was.’
‘No, you didn’t. You said that Joe and Hilda were very good to you. That’s not quite the same thing.’
‘Josephine makes me happy.’
‘Of course. But I believe there’s someone who could make you happier still.’
‘Jos is d—’
‘I don’t mean Jos. I mean someone who came to see me knowing that I was your friend and hoping that I would know where you were. He came to see me and begged me to speak for him. I think you know who I mean.’
Kate’s eyes widened but she didn’t answer. She saw Jane’s eyes go to the wedding ring she still wore on a ribbon about her neck.
‘Maybe it’s time to put that away?’ Jane said.
‘Maybe. But I’ll keep it for Josephine.’
‘Of course.’
Jane bent down and kissed the brow of the babe in Kate’s arms and then hurried to catch up with the others who were already walking up the track. When they reached the top of the rise Jane looked back and saw that Kate still stood at the gate, watching them.
The mild weather held, the sun warmed the little valley, and the apples ripened on the tree. Kate was walking across the grassy patch in front of the farmhouse towards the orchard with Josephine cradled in her arms. She noticed that some of the fruit had fallen. A June drop they called it. Joe had told her that it was just nature’s way of thinning the crop so that the remaining fruit could reach full size. She looked down at the small green apples lying in the grass then moved on towards the gate. She thought she might walk up the track a little way.
The sun was in her eyes as the track climbed and at first she didn’t see the figure walking towards her. And when she did make out the outline of the man, she thought it was one of Hilda and Joe’s sons returning from the village. She smiled a greeting. And then a cloud covered the sun and she saw him more clearly. She saw his face. Her smile froze.
He had seen her coming up the track towards him. Even though she was carrying an infant her graceful stride had not changed. Except that now she walked more slowly, more circumspectly, her arms enfolding the child protectively. She looked more beautiful than she had ever looked before. Instead of her workaday clothes she was wearing a soft green summer dress that clung to the lines of her body and fluttered behind her as she walked into the slight breeze. This was her colour. She should always wear pale green; the colour of the new tender shoots on an apple tree.
And she had smiled when she saw him. Richard would swear later that his heart almost stopped when he saw that smile. But then a cloud moved across the sun and her smile disappeared to be replaced by an expression of shock and dismay. At first he thought she was going to turn and run. But then something, probably concern for the child in her arms, made her stay. He had stopped in his tracks when her expression changed.
‘Kate?’ he said. She didn’t move so he began to walk towards her.
When he was within arm’s length of her she spoke. ‘Who told you where I was?’
‘Will you hate that person for ever?’ He smiled, but there was no answering smile.
‘Probably,’ she said and the corners of her mouth almost turned upwards.
‘Then I can’t tell you.’
‘You must.’
‘Must?’
‘Otherwise I shall turn round and go back to the farm, shut the door and ask Joe and Hilda’s four big sons to keep you out.’
‘The person who told me did it because she loves you and wants you to be happy. For some reason she thinks you will be happy with me.’
‘Do you mean my mother?’ She sounded disbelieving.
He shook his head. ‘No, it was Jane.’
‘And here was I thinking the girl was a friend of mine.’
‘She’s never been a better friend, believe me.’
Kate looked at him askance and while she stared at him he came closer and looked down at the baby in her arms. ‘She’s beautiful,’ he said. ‘Jos would have been proud of her.’
‘You know?’
He would have liked to have said that he had never doubted it. But he couldn’t because his love for her and his jealousy of his cousin had blinded him to the truth. So he had to content himself with saying, ‘Yes, I know.’
‘There’s something else you should know,’ she said. ‘My brother William did not sink the
Tyne Star
.
’
Tyne Star
.
’
‘I believe you.’
‘And whatever happens now, I do not want to speak of it again.’
‘So be it. As far as I’m concerned the matter is ended.’
She smiled and the tension that had lain between them ebbed away.
‘I love you, Kate.’
He saw her eyes fill with joy as she replied, ‘And I love you. You can have no idea how much I have longed to tell you that.’
At last she had said the words he had despaired of ever hearing and his heart was filled with elation.
They stared at each other, overwhelmed by the knowledge of the happiness that could be theirs at last.
And then, ‘It won’t be easy,’ he said. ‘There will be many who oppose our marriage.’
‘Our marriage? I don’t believe you’ve asked me to marry you yet. You really shouldn’t take me for granted.’ Her voice hinted at laughter.
‘I’ll never do that. Not for as long as I live.’
‘I hope I don’t have to remind you of that some day.’ She was teasing him now, and he felt a surge of desire.
‘Where do you want to live?’ he asked her. ‘Here in the country? I could find us a comfortable house. A family house.’
‘No, I want to go home to the village where I was born. I want to be able to look out over the bay and watch the boats coming into the harbour as they have always done. And be joyful that you and I are living there together.’
Richard could hardly conceal his emotion. ‘Kate . . .’ he breathed.
‘What is it?’
‘I want to kiss you but I’m afraid of disturbing the baby.’
She smiled and turned her face towards his. ‘You’ll have to be gentle, then.’ And there, on the hillside, he leaned towards her and covered her mouth with his. He kissed her softly, tenderly, with an achingly sweet passion. Neither of them knew that Josephine had opened her eyes and was looking up at them in wonder.
‘Kate’s coming home,’ the strange child had told her. ‘It won’t be long now.’ And Sarah smiled in her sleep as if she had heard and understood.
It was a fine summer’s morning and the men would be back from the fishing. It was time she went down to the beach and helped Rob beach the coble and unload the catch. She stirred her bones and was confused for a moment by a cruel twinge of pain, but she knew her duty and she got out of bed. Her bones which somehow had got shrivelled and twisted seemed to grow and strengthen as she bent down to kiss the sleeping bairns. The Lord would keep them safe until her return.
She tied her long copper-coloured hair back with a ribbon and left the cottage to hurry through the quiet streets. Then halfway down the slope she stopped; the beach was deserted. There were no cobles, no men, no women come to greet them. She closed her eyes and stood for a moment letting the sun warm her face. Had she made a mistake? Was it not yet time?
But when she opened her eyes again she saw him standing waiting for her by the shoreline. As tall and as fine and as bonny a lad as he had ever been, wearing the new gansey she had just finished knitting. The light faded a little. When had that been? When had she put away her needles? But it didn’t matter. The light grew strong again and she began to run across the glistening sand. He looked up and smiled at her. Her heart leapt as it always had at the sight of him.
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