The Broken Man (41 page)

Authors: Josephine Cox

BOOK: The Broken Man

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Adam thought of the horses at the fairground, and how they could sense whether they would be safe with a particular person. Just now, he felt the same way with Mick.

In that precious moment he could see his mother’s smile; he could hear her voice. And now, having read her heartfelt letter, he knew she would be content if he were to accept this man who was his father.

In answer to Mick’s request, Adam smiled and nodded, and his future was sealed.

Later, Phil made him aware of Carter’s downfall.

He told Adam of a recent report, detailing how Carter had tried to install himself as the big man inside prison. Unfortunately for him, he had set himself against hard and dangerous men, who meant to teach him a lesson.

Edward Carter earned his comeuppance.

After a fierce and bloody skirmish between the prisoners, the officers found Carter, crouched in a corner, badly injured and mentally unstable.

After treatment in hospital, he was transferred to a mental institution, where he was destined to spend the rest of his days.

Phil said it was an eye for an eye; despite all the pain, fear and suffering he had heaped on others, his innocent victims had grown stronger, while Edward Carter was now a broken man.

CHAPTER TWENTY

T
HROUGHOUT HIS RECOVERY,
Amy was never far from Adam’s side.

Amy’s grandfather, also, was a constant visitor and had neglected his work duties to be there for Adam. Throughout Adam’s painful recovery, Seamus had yet again proven himself to be a loyal friend.

When Adam was strong and able enough, he was determined to return to the fairground, of which he had wonderful memories, alongside his darling Amy.

Also, it gave him a measure of pride and satisfaction to repay their loyalty and love.

One evening, after a busy day, Adam made his way across the yard to check that the horses were all put away safely.

Having checked around the buildings and grounds, he then went over to the young colt’s stable. The colt had only recently been separated from his mother, and like other young horses weaned from their mothers for the first time, he was somewhat fretful and jittery.

Inside the stable, Amy pacified the colt. ‘Ssh … you’re a big boy now, and you can’t cling to your mummy for ever. You have to learn to be on your own at night-times, but don’t worry, you’ll see her tomorrow in the fields.’

She nuzzled its face. ‘I think I know how you feel, though,’ she confessed. ‘I can never imagine being too far from Adam. When I’m not near him, I feel empty inside, and so very sad. And then –’ her eyes lit up and a warm passion coloured her voice – ‘when I’m with him, my heart sings and jumps for joy, and I feel kind of … complete somehow. Sometimes, when he smiles at me, it’s like I can’t breathe. I love him so very much, but I’m afraid to tell him, in case it might frighten him away. Oh, I think he does like me a lot, but I don’t know if he loves me in the same way that I love him.’

‘Then you must be blind,’ Adam’s voice gentled across the stable.

‘Oh, Adam!’ Flustered to see him there, she was lost for words, and then she was in his arms as his tender words brought tears to her eyes.

‘Oh, my darling Amy … how could you not know, I’ve loved you from the first time I saw you?’

Taking a small, red box from his pocket, he told her, ‘I’ve been carrying this about for over a week, not daring to give it to you, in case you might turn away.’

When he handed her the pretty red box, she gingerly opened it. Inside was a tiny ring, with a bright, blue stone set in a heart-shaped centre.

With tears streaming down her face and her heart about to burst, Amy was lost for words.

‘Well?’ Adam whispered teasingly. ‘Will you marry me … or have I got it wrong?’

Amy gave her answer by flinging her arms round his neck. She held onto him as though she would never let go.

‘I love you,’ she whispered softly in his ear. ‘I’ve always loved you.’

After slipping the ring on her finger, Adam held her for what seemed an age. Then they were laughing, and running hand in hand, so excited. And impatient to tell everyone the good news.

Behind the scenes of
The Broken Man
with Josephine Cox

The first thing I do when I’m about to start a novel is to profile the main characters, and from that moment it is they who write the story. As the story unfolds, I become less the writer and more a part of the story, where the characters become my friends, enemies and family. Often a particular character may catch me unawares when he or she commits an act of cruelty which I had not anticipated. Throughout the story, I remain ever true to my deeper instincts, while ever conscious that the characters are now very much alive and have rightly taken on a persona of their own.

The plot is begun, and the story is now evolving, and from that moment, as in real life, both author and reader are swept along; willingly or otherwise.

When we are born none of us have a say over who or what we are born into, and like the characters I create we have no idea of how life may shape us because, as with characters, we too are swept along, being a part of the greater story, with no prior knowledge of how our journey might shape us.

EDWARD CARTER is more monster than man. He breeds a dark and dangerous atmosphere throughout this story. He leaves behind him a wake of hatred, fear and ruin, and because of his actions the course of many lives will be changed; some for the better. Some for the worse.

You may dislike him; you may pity him. But however he affects you, it is a fact that but for his existence, THE BROKEN MAN may have become a different story altogether.

ENJOY!

Jo x

A short story by Josephine Cox

Soon after his father’s untimely death, Alfie was badly injured in a car crash.

When doctors amputated his right leg, Alfie lost the will to live. His mother pleaded, “Through all his trials, your Dad never gave up. Fight on, Alfie”

Using the artificial leg proved difficult. Alfie believed his life was over, “What woman would want me now?”

Through the window, the warm breeze touched his face. “You can do it,” his father whispered, “You’ll be fine my son.”

With Nurse Mary’s dedication, Alfie struggled on.

Later, standing at the altar, with Mary, he whispered, “Thanks, Dad. Love you.”

First published in Readers Digest, 2013

Also by Josephine Cox

QUEENIE’S STORY

Her Father’s Sins

Let Loose the Tigers

THE EMMA GRADY TRILOGY

Outcast

Alley Urchin

Vagabonds

Angels Cry Sometimes

Take This Woman

Whistledown Woman

Don’t Cry Alone

Jessica’s Girl

Nobody’s Darling

Born to Serve

More than Riches

A Little Badness

Living a Lie

The Devil You Know

A Time for Us

Cradle of Thorns

Miss You Forever

Love Me or Leave Me

Tomorrow the World

The Gilded Cage

Somewhere, Someday

Rainbow Days

Looking Back

Let It Shine

The Woman Who Left

Jinnie

Bad Boy Jack

The Beachcomber

Lovers and Liars

Live the Dream

The Journey

Journey’s End

The Loner

Songbird

Born Bad

Divorced and Deadly

Blood Brothers

Midnight

Three Letters

HarperCollins
Publishers

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Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Published by HarperCollins
Publishers
2013

Josephine Cox asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Source ISBN: 9780007419890

Version 1

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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