More Than Riches

by More Than Riches (retail) (epub)

  Adam had warned her to be careful. Beyond that he wouldn’t go.

  Later, he scanned the local newspaper, looking for work. As usual, there was nothing worthwhile. But something else caught his eye. ‘It’s tomorrow!’ he cried excitedly. ‘They’re auctioning Saxon’s goods… wagons, coal stocks… the whole shebang!’

  Connie was mending a pair of her sheerest stockings, and almost ruined them when he leaped out of the chair. ‘A coal-merchant!’ she said with immense patience. ‘I might have known.’ But he wouldn’t be put off. His dream was alight again, and he couldn’t wait for the morrow.

  Suddenly he recalled what Ben Saxon had said, about his not having enough money – and that was before he was robbed. ‘I don’t know what the hell I’m getting excited about,’ he told Connie. ‘There’ll be men there with money in their pockets to make my little bankroll look sick.’

  ‘Do you reckon there’ll be much interest then?’

  ‘Enough. When times are hard, you can always rely on two things that folk will spend on. Food and heat. Always a priority.’

  ‘Come to think of it, you might be right.’

  ‘I know I am!’

  ‘You’ve forgotten a third priority.’

  ‘What’s that?’ He was intrigued.

  ‘Love. A man will spend his last shilling for a cuddle and a grope in the dark. Business has been going well, Adam, so if you’re short, I can lend you some money.’ She wasn’t surprised when he graciously declined. ‘Suit yourself. But the offer’s there if you want it.’ He didn’t. If she had learned anything else about Adam, it was that he had high principles. That was another of the reasons why she admired him.

  * * *

  Adam arrived at the yard early, but already there were men milling all over the place; eager-eyed merchants looking to increase their own fleet of wagons, and maybe buy up a month’s stock of prime coal at half the price. Many of the would-be buyers were strangers to Adam, but he recognised two of the town’s most prominent coal-merchants, and his spirits fell. His chance of buying a wagon seemed more remote than ever.

  He bought a catalogue for a shilling and found a pencil in his jacket pocket. Might as well take a note of how much it all goes for, he told himself. Soon the auctioneers were set up and everyone gathered round. The air was filled with a sense of excitement, and the first item was put up for offer.

  ‘A fine wagon,’ a bald-headed man announced, ‘bought last year and only done three hundred miles. The tyres are good as new, and you all know its worth. Right then… who’ll start me at five hundred guineas?’ The atmosphere was electric. Silence reigned, and he grew impatient. ‘Come on now! Let’s get underway. Five hundred to start?’ Again, nobody moved. Everyone was playing the game. Sighing, he scratched his shiny pate. All right… three hundred, and I must be mad!’

  Straightaway someone’s catalogue was raised. Adam recognised the man as being Arnie Burton, one of the big merchants. If he was up against people of that calibre, he might as well go home. But he didn’t. He stayed, and later had reason to be thankful.

  The wagon went for four hundred and twenty guineas. Adam wrote the figure against the item in the catalogue. The sale continued; first the wagons, then the coal.

  Dejected, Adam would have walked away then, but he was held, mesmerised by the auction, curious as to what price the coal would fetch, and who might buy it. All around him the serious-faced men made their various moves, indicating to the auctioneer that they were prepared to pay a little more. Suddenly the bidding was less hectic and folk began drifting away to pay for their bargains. Now there only remained the ones who had come for the coal. The auctioneer tapped the hammer once, twice, and a new voice came into the proceedings. Adam’s attention was caught. The voice was strangely familiar.

  Turning round, he stretched his neck, dark quizzical eyes scanning the faces. Astonishment crossed his face when he saw the big man himself. Ned Selby! At first Adam was shocked, but then he reminded himself that Blackburn wasn’t all that far away, and after all, why shouldn’t Doug’s dad bid for that prime coal, along with any other merchant? In fact, judging by the strangers here today, it was plain that a number of them had travelled in from further afield than Liverpool.

  Adam’s first instinct was to push his way through the crowd and make his presence known to Ned. But a deeper instinct made him look about, searching the faces for another, wondering whether Doug had come here with his dad. He didn’t care to see Doug. It was still too soon. Doug was a married man now… married to Rosie. Adam could not easily forgive that.

  When he was sure Doug was nowhere to be seen, Adam made his way to the big man’s side. He owed a lot to Ned Selby. It would do his heart good to talk with him now.

  The big man was just as surprised to see Adam. ‘Good God above!’ he exclaimed. ‘I never thought to see you here.’ Having secured some coal, he was about to make his way into the house where he would pay for it. Now he led the way towards the temporary bar. ‘You’ll take a drink with me?’ he asked. ‘I want to know how you’ve been doing.’

  Adam insisted on buying two pints, and when they were seated at the table it was he who spoke first. His question came as no surprise to the big man. ‘How is she… Rosie?’

  ‘She’s fine.’ Sipping his ale, Ned Selby took stock of the younger man, and he knew without a shadow of doubt that Adam still ached for his first sweetheart. ‘You know she and Doug got wed?’ When Adam nodded, he went on, ‘Aye. They’ve a son too… and another bairn on the way.’ He felt it necessary to tell Adam how Rosie was both a wife and mother now. She was part of a family, and though his son didn’t deserve her, Rosie was his wife. Sadly, Ned felt it his duty to remind Adam of that.

  ‘I knew they were to be wed, and that she was with child.’ Adam bowed his head. ‘I didn’t know there was another on the way.’ Somehow she seemed further from him than ever. Yet, deep inside, he still couldn’t accept that he would never again hold her in his arms.

  ‘Doug wanted you to be godfather to his son, did you know that?’

  ‘I had no idea.’

  ‘Oh, aye. He tried to track you down. When he couldn’t find you, he was bitterly disappointed. So much so that he still hasn’t had the boy christened.’ No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he regretted them. He anticipated Adam’s reaction.

  ‘Not christened!’ Adam knew Rosie, and he realised with a shock that she would desperately want her son christened. ‘What does Rosie think to that?’

  ‘I’m afraid it’s caused friction between her and Doug.’ There was no point in lying. ‘And Doug’s mam makes it worse by constantly interfering.’ Afraid that Adam would say or do something he might regret, Ned hastily added, ‘No matter. It’s all a storm in a teacup. Doug and Rosie have a good life together, and it’ll take more than a little upset to come between them.’

  Adam reflected on Ned’s words, and felt instinctively that something was horribly wrong between Doug and Rosie. He wouldn’t rest until he’d seen her. ‘If the lad can’t get christened unless I turn up to be godfather, then I’d best buy myself a new suit, eh?’ He sounded light-hearted, but in fact his heart was heavy. He knew Doug of old, and also knew that he had a sullen and nasty side to his nature.

  ‘You mean you’re willing to do it?’ Ned had hoped Adam would want no part of it, although it broke his old heart to know his grandson was still not baptised. Aren’t you too busy?’ He glanced around the yard. ‘I mean, you must have a business going if you’re on the lookout to buy coal and wagons?’

  Adam had to laugh at that. ‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ he said.

  ‘You mean you haven’t got a business?’ He wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that Adam was a high-flyer, because, like Doug, Adam was always a hard worker. He also had the ambition and brains to make it on his own.

  ‘Haven’t even got a job at the minute.’ Before Ned Selby could comment, Adam went on, ‘I do have aspirations, though, and a decent sum of money put by
. So it’s only a matter of time before I get something going.’ He didn’t want to seem like a charity case. Certainly not in front of Doug’s father.

  Ned nodded his head thoughtfully. ‘You don’t have to explain anything to me, son. Times are hard right now for all of us, but I’ve no doubt you’ll pull yourself up by the bootstraps and make something of yourself. You were always the one with the drive to be a rich man. Like you say, it’s only a matter of time.’

  Adam was ashamed. ‘It’s not as easy as I imagined. Just when you think you’ve got it made, something happens to knock you down.’ His jaw set hard. All the same, I’m not finished yet.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re not.’

  The two men talked a while longer. Ned explained he was here for the day only, having travelled over on the train, he was now in a rush to catch the next one home. ‘I’d best go and pay for that coal before they think I’ve changed my mind,’ he said, glancing at his pocket-watch. ‘It’s a good buy, and every little helps. Lord knows it’s a bit of a struggle at the minute.’

  As he walked towards the house, Adam accompanied him. When the coal was paid for, they shook hands and parted; but not before Adam had written down his address, and Ned had put the paper safely in his pocket. ‘Tell Doug I’ll be honoured to be godfather,’ he said. And meant it. Though it would be hard being godfather to Rosie’s son when he would prefer to be its natural daddy.

  Reflecting on their conversation, he remained on the step of the Saxon’s house. There was a sadness about him as he watched Ned Selby’s familiar figure walk away. ‘So Rosie has a son, and another bairn on the way?’ he mused aloud. Somehow he couldn’t really believe it. Or didn’t want to!

  He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he was visibly startled when a voice sounded in his ear. ‘You turned up, then? I wondered if you might.’ Ben Saxon had not forgotten the young man who had come to see him.

  Stepping aside to let another man pass, Adam reluctantly confessed, ‘I couldn’t stay away.’

  ‘Like them, you mean?’ The yard wasn’t so busy now, and the auction was almost over. One or two bargain hunters could still be seen pawing over Saxon’s possessions. ‘I should have stayed away myself,’ he mumbled. His eyes were bright with tears. He was an old man, and old men had the right to show their emotions. ‘Down there in that yard is everything that made life worthwhile. And now it’s all gone.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Adam was in the right frame of mind to understand how Ben felt.

  ‘Oh? Sorry are you? Sorry for me, or sorry because you didn’t get your pound of o’ flesh?’

  ‘I’m no vulture. All I want is the right to start up on my own, just as you did years ago. Is that too much to ask?’ There was an anger in him then.

  Ben peered at him with interest. He had spoken harshly and now regretted it. ‘I don’t reckon it is,’ he agreed. ‘To tell you the truth, I’m in no position to criticise because it was easier for me. You see, I took over this business from my father so it was all there… the wagons and rounds, and all the contacts. Oh, he’d told me tales of how he got started, and by all accounts, that was hard.’

  He saw the straight-cut line of Adam’s strong jaw and the way he returned his gaze, with clear honest eyes. There was something about his lithe physique and broad shoulders that struck a chord with Ben. ‘I’m buggered if you don’t put me in mind of my father,’ he chuckled. Suddenly he felt a whole lot better for having met this determined young man. Slowly, the tiniest germ of an idea was growing in his mind.

  ‘Come with me. You might be interested to see something.’ Without waiting for an answer, he went down the steps into the yard. Bemused, Adam followed him to the big barn at the far end. It was locked. Reaching behind a loose plank, Ben fumbled about until he found the big rusty key. ‘I always keep it locked,’ he explained. ‘Especially today, with all these nosy louts poking about!’

  Turning the key in the lock, he swung the door open just wide enough for the two of them to squeeze through. When a man in a flat cap and boiler suit approached, Ben told him, ‘Bugger off, mate. This is private property!’ With a sour look and a muttered curse, the man turned his attention to a nearby pile of railway sleepers.

  Adam stood in the gloom, wondering what this was all about, when the lamp was lit and his astonished eyes beheld a wagon. One of the earliest types, it was propped up on wooden boxes, without wheels or engine. There were no seats in the cab, and two of the boards were missing from the flat carrier at the back, but the paintwork was polished and the chrome gleamed; as he drew nearer he could see his face in it. ‘It’s beautiful!’ he breathed, running his hand over the smooth paintwork.

  ‘It was the very first wagon my father bought.’ Laughing, Ben explained how it had been a rogue right from the start. ‘We took her out four times, and each time she let us down. One time she lost a wheel and we tipped the entire load of coal in the middle of Albert Street. Before we could rebag it, there were women everywhere. In minutes they’d scooped the bloody lot up and disappeared back inside their houses! Another time we were going up Amham Hill when the brakes failed. We started rolling backwards and I thought we were goners. Luckily, she veered into a lamp-post and we escaped with a few cuts and bruises. Mind you, the Council charged us for a new lamp-post.’ The memory made him laugh. He hadn’t laughed in a long time, and it felt good. Slapping Adam on the back, he said in a low voice, ‘She’s yours if you want it… what’s left of it.’

  Adam couldn’t believe his ears. ‘You mean it’s for sale?’

  ‘I mean what I said. She’s yours if you want it.’

  ‘What… you mean for nothing?’

  ‘That’s exactly what I mean.’

  Never having been given anything for nothing, Adam was suspicious. ‘I don’t understand. When I came to you the other day, offering you good money for a wagon, you all but threw me out.’

  ‘That was then.’

  ‘And now?’

  ‘Now, I can see how we can help each other.’

  Understanding dawned. ‘Ah! I knew there had to be a catch. Before I accept, I think you’d best tell me what you have in mind.’

  ‘Nothing sinister, believe me. All I want is for you to promise me you’ll look after this old wagon the same as I’ve looked after it.’ His eyes clouded over. ‘When you’re old, all you have left are your memories. This wagon is a special part of my life, and I couldn’t bear to put it in the sale. Since I won’t be keeping this house on, I’ve been wondering what to do with this ’ere wagon. You seem like an honest fellow. If you tell me you’ll look after it, I’ll believe you.’ Going to the wagon, he took a while to climb on to the cab; his old bones were not what they used to be. Sitting on the wheel arch, he asked, ‘Well? Will you give her a good home?’

  Adam could only nod, and wonder if he was dreaming. He could hear Ben talking, but he was too stunned to listen. ‘Of course you’ll have to find an engine for it… and a set of wheels, but you reckon you’ve a bit of money put by, so you should be able to manage that. Once you’ve got her ship-shape again, you’ll have to concentrate on getting a round. You’ve worked in the coal-yards so you know the business there. Getting folks in the street to buy your coal is a different kettle of fish. You’ll find it hard, but you’re young and eager. All the advice I can give is: don’t undercut the opposition by too much or you’ll go broke… and treat your customers fair so they’ll always come back to you.’ He was standing by Adam’s side now. ‘Do you hear what I’m saying?’

  He dragged his gaze from the wagon. ‘How in God’s name can I thank you?’

  Ben laughed aloud. ‘You haven’t heard a bloody word I’ve said!’ he spluttered. But it didn’t matter. There wasn’t much time left now, but there would be time enough to go through it all again.

  In that moment, all that mattered was what he saw in Adam’s face. It told him that here was a man he could trust. Here was a man who deserved a chance, and who would willingly work his fingers to the bone for it. To
day had been a heartache. But now at least he could rest assured that something good had come of it all. And he could go to his maker with a clear conscience.

  * * *

  The month that followed was a busy and exciting one during which Adam worked long arduous hours restoring the cherished wagon. The cost of the spare parts took most of his hard-earned cash, but because he carried out almost all the labour himself, he made a great saving. The only time he called in expert help was when the engine was ready for fitting.

  In the week that followed the auction, Ben and Adam talked for hours. Ben explained what made a good coal-merchant, and Adam listened intently. They were good friends, growing closer by the day. But, much to Adam’s dismay, all that ended when he started work on the wagon.

  Ben took an interest, but only from a distance. Adam thought it strange that he never came to the barn until the end of the day, when he knew Adam would be preparing to leave. At seven o’clock sharp he would stand by the door, hands in his pockets and a faraway look in his eye. He never spoke. One minute he was there, and the next time Adam looked round, he was gone. The first time this happened, he had gone to the house and tapped on the door. ‘Ben, was there something you wanted?’ he called.

  Ben didn’t answer then, nor did he answer when, on arriving the next morning, Adam saw him coming out of the barn. He called out, but Ben appeared not to have heard. Without a backward glance he scurried into the house and only came out for that peculiar vigil just as Adam was finishing work. It was plain that he didn’t want to talk with Adam, and so Adam accepted his need for privacy.

  Something even stranger happened on the day when Adam climbed into the cab and drove the wagon into the yard. He was thrilled and excited, and most of all he wanted to share this moment with Ben. When he saw the older man watching from an upstairs window, he scrambled out of the cab and shouted up to him. ‘Ben! Come and see,’ he invited eagerly. ‘She’s purring like a kitten.’