The Loner (30 page)

When everyone was gone, and the sound of car engines and merry voices had died away, Frank had a quiet word or two with Dave and Lucy, telling them how thrilled he was with their engagement, and promising to put on a wedding for them, that would be ‘the talk of Bedfordshire’.

That said, he took Maggie by the arm, and announced that he was looking for a woman himself. ‘What d’you say, Maggie?’ he asked cheekily. ‘Are you ready to make an honest man of me?’

‘Ask me again in the morning,’ she laughed. ‘When you’re sober enough to know what you’re saying.’

Slightly inebriated from the cider she had downed, and contemplating the exciting future ahead of herself and Dave, Lucy took to the stage, where she twirled and danced, and sang aloud. The musicians had gone home, leaving their empty pint glasses perched on the bales. Wisps of straw littered the floor.

From the far side of the barn, Maggie and Dave looked on. ‘Bless her heart, she’s over the moon with it all,’ Maggie told him. ‘I’ve never known her so happy.’

Dave smiled. ‘She’s a lovely girl,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘I only hope I can do right by her.’

The Scotswoman was intrigued. ‘And why wouldn’t you do right by her?’ she demanded.

‘Love doesn’t always mean happiness.’ Dave said soberly. He paused, then added in a low voice, almost to himself, ‘You can’t know how it was – at home, with Mam and Dad.’

Like Frank, Maggie had always wondered about the boy’s past, and once or twice she had almost raised the issue. But somehow Dave put up barriers and she never found the courage. Now, though, she spoke out.

‘Why don’t you tell me how it was?’ she suggested kindly.

Seeing that Frank and Lucy were busy, Dave took a moment to consider and suddenly it was all tumbling out … how his father had been devoted to his mother, but she caused them so much unhappiness. ‘I know she loved him, but she seemed hellbent on hurting him,’ he recalled sadly. ‘She was out all hours with the men … she even bedded my father’s workmates. Money was nothing to her, even though she didn’t earn much at the hairdresser’s where she was a part-time stylist. Dad worked hard, and she spent his wages like water from a tap. Twice, we lost everything, and Grandad had to come to the rescue.’

The old emotions, of love, worry, and frustration flooded back and when he couldn’t go on, she gently urged him, ‘It’s always best to talk about things, Dave. And you know whatever you tell me, I will never repeat it to a living soul.’

So, he went on and told her about the night when it all came to a head. He related how his father had walked out, and the subsequent events of that night. Not since he had unburdened himself to Eli, had Dave spoken of these matters. Finally, he explained how it all went wrong, and of how his mother’s life slipped away while she was in his arms.

‘D’you see what I mean?’ he asked Maggie brokenly. ‘She loved my father so much, and yet she still ruined his life…
all
our lives.’

Maggie was deeply shocked and saddened by the story. Dabbing at her eyes, she could now understand what the lad had meant when he spoke of hoping to do right by Lucy.

‘You can’t measure yourself against your mother,’ she assured him. ‘Because she spoiled your life and the lives of your father and grandfather, it doesn’t mean to say that you might ruin Lucy’s life. You are made differently, my lad.’ She felt instinctively that there was something else, something he wasn’t saying. ‘Can I ask you something?’

‘Anything.’

‘Tell me honestly … do you love Lucy?’

Dave took a moment to answer. ‘Yes, I do love her,’ he said, ‘it’s just that …’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m sorry, Maggie, I shouldn’t burden you with all this.’

The woman persisted. ‘Before you came here, when you were a boy, was there someone you felt strongly about?’

Judy came immediately, to mind. ‘I had a friend,’ he said. ‘A girl by the name of Judy. We told each other everything.’

‘A friend – is that all she was?’

Surprised by her question, Dave looked up. ‘We were just children,’ he said. ‘Judy’s father delivered the milk, and we played together. She was a lot like Lucy, kind and thoughful, and I loved her very much … like a sister, or a friend. Maybe morethan a friend, Maggie- but we were too young to know about such things.’

His heart ached. ‘Sometimes, when I think of home, I think of her and I miss talking with her. She knew what was going on in our house, and she understood. When there was trouble and I was worried, I could confide in her, and she would always listen.’ He smiled fondly at the memory of her. ‘Judy was my best and only friend.’

Maggie sensed his heartache. ‘Of course you miss her,’ she acknowledged. ‘What happened to you, Dave, was a terrible thing. To have everything you cherished torn away from you, must have been unbearably hard.’

All the same, she needed him to be sure. ‘I know you love Lucy,’ she acknowledged. ‘It’s in your face when you look at her, and in the way you treat her. But it needs to be the kind of love that builds a marriage. To have that depth that binds you together for the rest of your lives. Don’t compare what you and Lucy have with what your parents had. You mustn’t be afraid, Dave. You are your own man, and you must draw strength from knowing that Lucy has promised herself to you.’

‘I know all that,’ he said. ‘And I do love her. I want to protect her … to give her all the things she wants out of life.’

‘It’s
you
she wants.’ Maggie wouldn’t let it go. ‘And that’s wonderful – as long as you love her in the same way. Do you, Dave? Do you love her with every fibre of your being, the way a man loves his woman?’

‘How can I know that?’ he asked helplessly. ‘All I know is that I
do
love her. Isn’t that enough to build a life on?’

Maggie thought it probably wasn’t. When he had spoken of the girl Judy just now, there had been something extraordinary in his voice – a certain magical essence that was lacking when he spoke of Lucy. But then again, she reminded herself, Dave had referred to this Judy as a sister, an only friend when his whole world was falling apart. Of course he would have special feelings for her

- and besides, if it was anything deeper, he would have gone back for her … wouldn’t he?

Lucy’s voice cut through her thoughts. ‘Dave! Come and dance with me!’

Excusing himself, Dave went to Lucy and, taking her in his arms, he moved her round the stage. Giggling quietly, they both sang the Elvis song, ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’, and with her head resting on his shoulder, they were in a world of their own.

And from where Maggie stood, they looked as much in love as any other engaged couple she had ever known.

Lastly, he came to the stallion. ‘Whisht there, Madden. Hello, boy,’ he crooned. ‘You’re a real beauty, aren’t you, eh?’ Agitated and nervous, the stallion was beginning to fidget. ‘We’re the same, you and me,’ Seamus said, talking softly. ‘We’re not loved or wanted by anyone.’ He smiled. ‘And we have the same dark nature…’

Hearing voices, he crouched low and listened. ‘Ssh … ssh,’ he whispered to the horse. He didn’t want to be discovered now, not when everything was almost done, and all it needed was the stroke of a match.

Over by the big barn, Maggie was saying good night to Dave and Lucy. ‘Good night, you two. See you in the morning.’ Her distinctive Scottish burr carried through the night air.

Seamus peered over the stable door. Through the trees, he could see Dave and Lucy pressed up against a wall, kissing, too close, too passionate. He saw red. ‘That spoiled bitch’s father isn’t the only one who needs teaching a lesson! Look at her, the little whore!’

Over by the wall, in Lucy’s hot embrace, Dave was reluctant to let her go. He longed to make love to her again – but Maggie and Frank would be waiting to see her off to bed … Blood surged through him as he kissed her deeply, again.

‘Bastard!’ The Irishman, watching, could hardly contain himself. ‘He stole my job, my woman and my future. I can’t let him get away with it!’

Madden could sense danger in the air, and he fiercely resisted when the man saddled him up, ready for a ride. When the animal threatened to rear, Seamus gave it a hard thump across the head.

‘Don’t start your tricks with me, or you’ll be sorry!’ Taking a whip from the wall, he held it where the stallion could see. ‘Want me to lay this across your back, d’you?’ he growled.

Over by the barn, Dave thought he heard something.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Lucy.

‘Ssh!’ Dave quietened her and concentrated. ‘I thought I heard something over by the stables.’ His neck hairs stood on end. ‘I’d best go and check.’

‘I’m coming with you.’

‘No!’ If there was anyone lurking about, it was best for her to remain here, safe. ‘Do as I ask. Stay here. Don’t move, and don’t make a sound.’

Sensing something bad, Lucy did as she was told.

Stealthily, Dave made his way towards the stable block. He was coming up the slight rise when all of a sudden, Madden burst through his stable door with Seamus on his back. Like a madman, the groom rode straight at Dave, the stallion beneath him wild-eyed and terrified, leaping and rearing at the sight of Dave running towards him.

‘You’re too late!’ Seamus screamed. He struck the match against his boot, and for a second he held the flame high for Dave to see.

‘Good God!’ Dave realised with horror what he was about to do. ‘NOOooo!’ His frantic cry was lost as Seamus threw the match, and instantly there was a whoosh as the first stable was lit from within.

‘Tell your best friend Frank there’s more to come!’ the Irishman bawled.

Dave didn’t hear his threat as he ran to the stables, his shouts alerting everyone. ‘FIRE! FIRE AT THE STABLES!’ Shocked by the speed of the flames, he ran from door to door, opening them to let the horses out, desperate to save as many of the terrified animals as he could. But the fire was rampant, spreading so fast he was all too quickly beaten back by the heat and licking flames.

Having heard the pandemonium, they came from all directions … the stable boys and girls, Frank, still in his pyjamas with his dressing-gown thrown on top, and Maggie, her hair in curlers and her slippers on. And here was Lucy, yelling desperately for Dave to get clear.

Running up fast, the stable hands went in search of the horses that had fled in terror when Dave threw open the stable doors. Incensed that some of the horses had been saved, Seamus turned on Dave who, blackened and exhausted, was limping away from the inferno that was now engulfing the block.

‘I couldn’t save them all,’ Dave almost wept to Lucy, who came running towards him. ‘I couldn’t save them, my love.’

Having been traumatised by the fire, the big stallion would go neither forwards nor backwards. Desperate to punish Dave, to run him down, Seamus was viciously wielding the whip, again and again. ‘Come on, you bastard … move!’ he roared, foam on his lips. ‘MOVE, I SAY!’ Another crack of the whip and the horse went up on its back legs, almost unseating its rider. Then, with a mighty thump it was down on all fours again, racing away, wanting only to run from the carnage and that pitiful noise of its fellow creatures, trapped inside the stables and roasting to death.

In the panic and confusion, Seamus finally managed to turn the stallion towards Dave. ‘Time you got your comeuppance, gypsy boy!’ He was laughing, his crazed mind shot by the turn of events. ‘I told you I’d be back – that you hadn’t heard the last of me!’

Things happened so fast, there was nothing anyone could do. Head down and driven by the devil himself, the horse careered towards Dave, and with no time and nowhere to run, Dave thought this must be his last moment on earth. When he heard Lucy crying his name, he knew she was too close; his heart dropped like a stone inside him. ‘Go back, Lucy! For God’s sake, go back!’ he roared.

A cry went up and now Frank could be seen running forward, a look of desperation on his face. But it was too late. Seamus had what he wanted. He spurred the stallion into a frenzy, and when it seemed that Dave would die under its hooves, Lucy shot forward; the horse came down, and it was she who took the full forceof the blow.

Shouts and screams turned to a deathly silence, broken only by the sound of burning wood and a horse’s hooves as the stallion raced away out of control, the rider screaming for someone to help him. But there was no help. Only retribution.

Later the horse was found in the thick of the woods, so badly injured it would have to be put down, and alongside him, the body of Seamus, almost decapitated when the horse careered into the overhanging branch.