A Family For Christmas (11 page)

Before they could answer, a huge crash rent the
air, shaking the hobble and showering them with dust, gorse spines and fine snow. Shocked, they
looked up to see the roof sagging down towards them.

As the roof slowly bounced back again, they sat
in frozen silence until the building had stopped shaking. Duncan was the first to recover and he
dashed out of the door, only to reappear a few moments later.

‘A large bough has broken off the old beech
tree,' he announced. ‘Unable to stand the force of the wind, I suppose.'

‘How is the roof?' asked Fay
anxiously, looking as white as the snow clinging to his coat.

‘It will survive,' assured Duncan.
‘'Twas lucky we used the best timber rafters from the old barn when we strengthened
it last year. The gorse and turf will need to be looked at when the thaw sets in,
though.'

‘But is it safe? Does anything need to be
done now?' Fay asked, glaring down at her bound ankle.

‘Don't worry, Fay, I'll see
it's made safe. The branch has fallen onto the slope that almost reaches the ground so I
can use Ben's horse to haul it off.'

‘Can I help?' Eliza asked, getting to
her feet and shaking the debris off her clothes.

‘Best if you stay in here. No telling where
the bough might land and I don't want to have to worry about it hitting anyone. I'll
be ready for a brew when I'm finished, though,' he added, seeing her crestfallen
look.

‘And I'm to sit here like a dummy, I suppose,'
Fay said glumly.

‘Cheer up. At least it didn't damage
the chimney, otherwise I'd be taking you down to the farm before you freeze in your bed.
Then you'd have the pleasure of passing the time of day with Mother Evangaline.' Fay
scowled and Eliza marvelled yet again at the way Duncan could manage her moods.

As he disappeared outside, she swung the pot back
over the fire, then picked up the broom.

‘What are you doing?' Fay
grunted.

‘I thought I'd sweep some of this
dust and gorse spines outside.'

‘And stir up a load more dirt besides. Best
to leave that until the weather warms and you can do a thorough job. Now make yourself useful by
washing some of this filth off my face and getting me up onto my chair. Can't sit in my
bed all day like some sloth, can I?'

Eliza filled a bowl with warm water and gathered
up a rag. As she wiped the worst of the grime from the woman's face, they heard sounds of
banging and scraping coming from overhead. She was just washing her own face and hands when
there was a whooshing sound followed by a thud as the bough slid down the side of the roof onto
the ground. Then all went quiet. Trusting the removing of the branch was going well, Eliza set
the pot to warm for their tea while Fay sat staring fixedly at the antlered head on the
wall.

It was still some time before Duncan reappeared,
wiping muck and sweat from his brow. Eliza held out a bowl of
fresh water for him and while he cleaned himself up she poured
their drinks. Duncan took his mug and gulped down the scalding liquid with little heed to his
throat.

‘Gosh, I needed that, little un –
sorry, I mean Eliza. I've put the bough alongside the wood store,' he said, turning
to Fay. ‘It'll make a nice addition to your stocks when it dries out and the leaves
will make a soft fragrant stuffing for your mattress come spring.'

‘Talking beds, eh?'

‘Talking beds?' Eliza asked, looking
puzzled.

‘Beech leaves whisper musically and the
French call them
lits de parlement
, or talking beds,' Fay explained. ‘I
suppose you could say that after the cloud of dust this will be our silver lining.' She
chuckled at her little joke.

‘That's better, Fay. You've got
some colour in your cheeks now. I've put a couple of ropes over the roof to make sure
nothing moves when the thaw sets in. Then I'll go up and repair any damage. I must get
going and return the horse and wagon to Ben.'

Eliza's heart dropped. ‘Do you have
to go?' she asked.

‘Afraid so. Ben's got stock to
deliver. He'll already be late so the least I can do is help. Anything else need bringing
in before I leave?' he asked Fay.

She shook her head. ‘We can manage now.
Thanks for seeing to the roof. I'm indebted.'

‘I'll be back for some of your
wondrous cooking before long,' Duncan said with a grin. ‘Keep those joints strapped
or you'll still be hobbling come spring. I'm sure Eliza will make sure you take your
curative regularly. It's been an eventful morning so I suggest both of you spend
the rest of the day relaxing. See you soon,'
he added, turning up the collar of his coat and striding out of the door.

‘Bossy boots,' Fay muttered, but
settled back in her chair anyway. Eliza began clearing away their mugs and plates but was
overcome by a wave of weariness. Noticing her yawn, Fay sighed.

‘Come and sit down, girl. They can wait.
Happen it's taken it out of both of us.'

Exhausted, they spent the rest of the day dozing
by the fire. Then, not feeling up to cooking, they had a handful of oats and a hot drink to
sustain them, before turning in early. Despite the moaning of the wind and an occasional creak,
the roof didn't collapse on them, as Eliza had feared, and she found herself beginning to
relax for the first time since Duncan had left.

It was some days before the weather improved
sufficiently for Eliza to go outside for anything other than quick visits to the earth closet or
to top up their water and wood supplies. Duncan hadn't returned and she found herself
staring out of the window at frequent intervals.

As Fay's injuries got better so did her
temper, until one day when Eliza was limping towards the dresser Fay burst out laughing.

‘What are we like, Eliza? You hobbling one
way and me the other.'

Eliza smiled. ‘This is what it's like
for me all the time, though. That's why Father said I'll never get a job or
marry.'

‘Phooey!' the woman scoffed.
‘You're a pretty little thing now you've filled out a bit. Not like that bag
of
bones I found on my doorstep. You never did
say where you were headed.'

‘Barnstaple,' she replied.

‘Barnstaple! Why, that's miles away
from here.'

‘I was hoping to find work there but the
weather was so bad, I lost my bearings. I had no idea I'd wandered this high up the
moors.'

‘Well, if it's work you want,
there'll soon be plenty to do cleaning this place up. Meantime you can make yourself
useful preparing vegetables for our meal. There are roots in the store shed, and a drop of stew
later will do us both good. I feel like a bit of sketching so you can pass me my pad on your way
out.'

It was still bitterly cold outside but the wind
had dropped. Although Eliza searched all around the shed, she couldn't find any vegetables
other than the onions in the gazunder. Snatching up a couple, she went back indoors.

‘I think someone must have taken the other
vegetables,' she said, putting the onions on the dresser.

‘Don't be silly, girl. How would
anyone know they were there?'

‘Well, there's just a huge pile of
earth along the back now.' To her surprise the woman threw down her pad and roared with
laughter.

‘That's where they're
stored,' she spluttered. ‘The soil keeps them fresh through the winter and prevents
the rats and mice helping themselves to a feast.'

Eliza shuddered. ‘Why don't you just
keep them in the garden and dig them up when you need them?' she asked, thinking it
sounded like unnecessary work.

Fay snorted. ‘And you'd be able to dig them out of
this frozen ground?'

‘Oh …' she said, feeling
stupid.

Sure enough the vegetables were stacked in layers
beneath the earth. Having collected up carrots, turnips and potatoes in her basket, she was just
replacing the soil when she felt a presence behind her. Turning slowly, she gasped. A row of
eyes were glistening down at her. Then she saw they were attached to dark, furry bodies. Rats.
She let out a scream.

‘'Tis only me, little un,'
Duncan said, backing into the shed with a brace of rabbits slung over each shoulder. As the room
began swaying around her, he quickly placed them on the shelf and put out his hand to steady
her.

‘I thought you were a rat,' she
gasped.

‘Well, I'd be a pretty large
one,' he chuckled, then saw she was shivering. ‘Come on, let's get you
inside.' Taking the basket, he led her back towards the hobble where Fay was hovering in
the doorway, a worried look on her face.

‘What's going on? I heard a
scream.'

‘Eliza encountered a rat,' Duncan
said with a chuckle.

‘Was it big?' Fay asked.

‘Huge. At least this big,' he said,
putting down the vegetables and extending his hands as far as they'd reach. ‘It had
dark eyes and brown curly hair as well.' As Fay's eyes widened, he shook his head.
‘That's how Eliza saw me, anyhow.'

‘You made me jump, creeping up like that
with those rabbits,' she protested, feeling stupid for the second time in as many minutes.
It was bad enough Fay thinking she
was a numpty
but she wanted Duncan to think well of her.

‘Didn't know you were scared of
rabbits, and there was me thinking you'd welcome a bit of meat for your stew,' he
teased.

‘We certainly will,' Fay said.
‘Well, come on, girl. Don't just stand there gaping like a tickled trout. Go and
fetch some water. I'm parched and bet Duncan here could do with a hot drink, too. Now,
there's something I want to talk to you about …' she said, turning back to
him.

Eliza picked up the pail, glad of a few moments
to compose herself. Outside, she splashed water over her flushed cheeks, almost welcoming its
icy sting. She'd show Duncan she wasn't stupid, but when she returned he was deep in
conversation with Fay, their heads bent close together. Seeing her, they lowered their voices
but continued their discussion. Angry at being excluded, she sloshed the water into the pot,
making the fire hiss and spit.

‘Careful, Eliza,' Fay admonished.

‘I was taught it was rude to
whisper,' she answered petulantly.

‘It's also rude to back answer your
elders and betters.'

‘Sounds like you two have been cooped up
together for too long,' Duncan commented.

‘Does that mean you're
staying?' Eliza asked, hope flaring in her chest.

He looked at Fay then shook his head.
‘'Fraid not. Things to do,' he said getting to his feet.

‘He didn't stay long,' she
commented as soon as the door had shut behind him. ‘What did he want, anyway?' she
asked, feeling out of sorts.

‘He brought those rabbits, for a start, and some provisions
from the farm,' Fay replied.

Eliza went over to the table where Duncan had
placed fresh milk and eggs but instead of picking them up she stood watching through the window
as he made his way down the path. She let out a sigh.

‘Duncan's a free spirit, my dear, and
a busy one at that. It would be better if you read a book or found something to interest you,
rather than mope around,' Fay said briskly, giving Eliza a knowing look. Picking up her
pad, she resumed her sketching, leaving Eliza alone with her thoughts.

‘Happy birthday,' Fay said, handing
Eliza a small parcel. It had been some weeks since Duncan's last visit and as the weather
had improved they'd spent the morning cleaning the hobble. Now they were relaxing with
their noon-time drink.

‘You remembered,' Eliza cried. Which
was more than her family ever had, she thought with a pang.

‘Hard not to with you keep reminding us
every five minutes,' the woman grunted.

‘I didn't …' she began,
then noticed Fay was grinning and realized she was being teased. Eagerly she peeled back the
wrapping, then gasped at the picture of a pretty young woman. ‘Why, she's
beautiful.'

‘Yes, you are,' Fay replied.

‘Me?'

‘Yes. Look closely and you will see
it's you. That's how you looked the night of the Wassail, glowing with
happiness.'

‘So that's what you've been doing at the table
each morning. I wondered what you were painting,' she said, remembering she'd been
forbidden to look.

Fay nodded. ‘It worries me you have such a
low opinion of yourself, Eliza. Your father's mocking has left a terrible scar, which
could fester and mar the rest of your life. That would be a shame, especially as his taunts were
unfounded.'

Eliza stared down at her foot.

‘So you've a twisted foot. Well,
according to you I have prickles and Duncan is a rat, so we each have our cross to bear.'
As Eliza opened her mouth to protest, Fay held up her hand. ‘Every time you look at this
picture, I want you to see the lovely warm person Duncan and I perceive you to be.'