A Daughter's Price

by Emma Hornby

  ‘Adam was the last person to see that haul. You were the last person to see him alive. You know where it is – now tell us!’

  ‘The night he died. You’d done a … job?’ she asked, using the term Adam had to refer to their burglarising activities, desperate to piece this together and, God willing, figure out a way to bring it to an end.

  ‘One of our biggest yet. We’d been planning it for months, chose a wealthy property miles from here so as to better avoid any comebacks, and all went without a hitch. When we arrived back in Bolton Adam insisted we shouldn’t keep it at home, that it were best to play it safe in case the police did somehow think to fit us to the crime. He reckoned he had the perfect hiding place for it.’

  ‘Aye, and never imagining he were soon to meet his maker,’ said the other brother, picking up the thread of explanation, ‘we anticipated no problem and didn’t think to question where this were.’ His nostrils flared in bubbling anger. ‘We’ve searched and scoured every possible spot we can think of since, and nowt! But Adam ain’t took the answer to his grave, has he, for you know, don’t yer? He’s got to have mentioned it afore the fall, so bloody well tell us!’

  He hadn’t, but they were not about to believe that. Nor, now, did she want them to. An idea was forming in her mind and she nodded to herself as a glimmer of hope returned.

  She took a deep breath. ‘If I do tell thee …’

  ‘I knew it! You scheming little—!’

  ‘Strike me again and I’ll be the one taking the money’s whereabouts to the grave,’ she cried, squeezing her eyes shut and turning her head away as the younger brother threw back his fist. When she thought it safe, she hazarded a peep and was relieved to see he’d lowered his hand.

  ‘Well?’ he ground out.

  ‘How do I know you’ll let us leave once you have it?’ She could feel Daniel’s surprised frown boring into her but ignored it. ‘What’s to say you’ll not just kill us anyway?’

  The elder Cannock brother rose to his feet. He bobbed his head in a solemn nod. ‘If we get that brass back, you’re free to go. You have my word on it.’

  She glanced from one to the other. ‘Aye?’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘These bastards tried to kill thee and you’re just going to let them off scot free?’ his brother burst out, face twisted in fury. ‘Not to mention dosing Mam up to her eyeballs – she could have snuffed it, an’ all. Oh aye,’ he continued to Laura, groping in his jacket and producing the empty laudanum bottle – he must have rifled through her pockets whilst she was unconscious – which he threw at her. ‘We know about that, aye. Thought you had it all worked out, didn’t youse? But you can’t best us, whore. No one crosses us and gets away with it—’

  ‘Enough,’ the other man interrupted his rant.

  ‘But she—!’

  ‘I said, enough. This ends the day.’ Then to Laura: ‘You have my word,’ he repeated. ‘Now, tell me where it’s hidden.’

  ‘I can’t; it’s buried underground and it’s hard to explain exactly where. You’d never find it alone. You’ll have to let me show thee.’

  ‘Right, then.’ Pulling out a small knife from the top of his boot – was that the self-same weapon used to murder Nathan? Laura wondered, bile and anger rising – he moved behind her then stooped at her feet, severing the rope. ‘Up. The lad’ll accompany thee.’

  ‘I want Daniel there, too,’ she hastened to say.

  ‘What? Frickened I’ll blow your head off once the brass is in my hand? Or is there another reason why you’re worried about being alone with me?’ asked the younger brother with a leering wink.

  ‘I just … I’d feel safer if he came with us.’

  ‘Nay.’ The other man shook his head. ‘He stops here with me. He goes nowhere till you’re back with the loot.’

  No … What now? She hadn’t betted on this, had thought that the brothers, in their desperation to get their hands on the money, would have adhered to whatever condition she put forward. She couldn’t leave without him, wouldn’t! But how …?

  ‘Just do as they say, Laura.’ Daniel spoke quietly, but there was a spark of something, meant just for her, in his stare. ‘Trust me. Everything’s going to be all right.’

  Movement caught her eye. She flicked her gaze down then up again quickly. He was ever so discreetly teasing at the rope binding his wrists. She nodded. Then the younger brother was shoving her towards the door and she allowed herself to be ushered from the cottage.

  The pre-dawn air was biting. Wind buffeted them as they trudged down the moonlit lane and whipped her hair around her head like a thrashing wave – she’d misplaced her hat somewhere at the house. Watching her struggle to bring the golden tendrils under control, the Cannock brother finally rolled his eyes and removed his own cap. He threw it at her without a word and she put it on, pushing her hair beneath it.

  ‘Which way?’ he demanded when they reached a drystone wall.

  Swallowing her panic, she pointed randomly and they turned left and set off across a field.

  Think! her mind screamed – what the hell was she going to do? She couldn’t just keep him wandering around aimlessly for long; he was bound to realise this was nothing but a wild-goose chase eventually. Then what? Would he turn the gun on her? Most probably. She was certain they had only kept her alive this long to squeeze information out of her – they would have no further need of her once they discovered she’d been lying about the money’s whereabouts. Think, think …

  She’d counted on Daniel’s aid to get them out of this, had banked on them somehow giving the brothers the slip once on open ground, but that wasn’t to be, now. She was completely and terrifyingly alone, and so was he. There really was no way out of this. She must come clean. Perhaps if she begged on her knees, the Cannocks would find it in their hearts to spare them their lives … Fat chance, her inner voice immediately scoffed. That was an utter impossibility: their chests were void of such organs, after all.

  ‘How much further?’

  Hauled back to the present, her every nerve jarred at his harsh tone. Buying herself some precious time, she pretended not to have heard.

  ‘Oi, you listening?’ he yelled. He dragged her to halt. ‘I said, how much— Uh, you bitch!’

  She’d kicked him, square between the legs. What had possessed her, she didn’t know – she shook her head, dumb with shock. She gazed down at him, groaning on his knees, for a split second longer then she was off. His roars of threats and curses snapping at her heels, she flew full pelt towards a line of trees up ahead and disappeared through the thick branches.

  Her lungs burned and her legs grew weak, but she didn’t slow her pace. Nor did she look back. Some minutes later and fit to collapse, she spotted a hedgerow in the distance and dragged herself on. She dived behind it and lay on her back on the marshy grass, eyes closed, panting like a whelping dog.

  ‘Daniel …’ The name floated through her lips. She must find help, free him from that cottage. ‘I’m coming, my love,’ she croaked, hauling herself up and peering around the green-grey expanse of field and sky.

  Which way to go? There wasn’t a building, dwelling or otherwise, in sight.

  She was stumbling on the spot, agonising what to do, when what sounded like the beat of footsteps reached her ears. She stopped dead and listened harder. It came again and she swung her head round for a glimpse of what – or who – it might be.

  ‘Laura!’

  ‘Lad? Lad! Oh, thank God!’

  Daniel, Smiler in tow, threw himself into her arms, the force knocking them both to the ground. They lay in a breathless heap for a few moments until Laura gabbled in disbelief, ‘How did you do it? How did you manage to get away, I don’t … how? I—’

  ‘Quiet. They might be close by.’

  ‘You’ve been running from them both?’

  He nodded. ‘Their mam roused after you’d left. Her son went up to check on her and the next minute, Smiler came bounding downstairs – they must have loc
ked him in t’ bedroom when we were out cold. I’d been working on the rope, had managed to loosen it a bit, and the dog did the rest.’ A quick smile touched his mouth. ‘He tugged at the thing with his teeth and I were able to break free. I were barely out of the cottage when that bastard came thundering down the stairs after me. I just ran blindly in search of thee, hadn’t a clue where you’d gone, were worried out of my mind …’ He paused and closed his eyes. ‘Thank God you’re all right.’

  ‘And thee, lad. Eeh, I were that frickened.’

  ‘We ran into the other brother being sick in a field. What occurred? How did tha manage to give him the slip?’

  ‘I had to lead him about for a bit, for I’ve no idea where that brass really is. In t’ end, I finished up kicking him … down there … and ran for my life.’

  Daniel winced. ‘And a sound job tha did, an’ all, by the looks of him. But now they’ve joined forces, could be anywhere. We’re going to have a task on our hands getting out of here and back to Manchester in one piece.’

  Scorching tears pooled in her eyes. She shook her head slowly. ‘What were I thinking, lad? Why did I ever suggest seeking them out? The danger I’ve placed thee in—’

  ‘Nay, it were my decision to come.’

  ‘But I planted the idea in your head. It’s my doing, all of it, and now look at us. I’m sorry, so sorry …’

  ‘Ay, that’s enough of that.’ His voice was soft, his touch as he cupped her cheek and brushed away the tears with his thumb gentle. ‘We’re going to be all right, you hear? I’d never let owt happen to thee, Laura. Never.’

  ‘Oh, Daniel.’ She received his kiss with a sorrowful sigh. ‘Please don’t. Not now. Everything’s changed.’

  He made to respond but, just then, angry voices filtered through a clump of trees to their left and they froze. Holding a finger to his lips, he took her hand.

  ‘Let’s go.’

  Steps light, heads lowered, they hurried off through the mid-winter mist towards the adjoining field and, God willing, escape.

  After a time, the brothers’ yells faded to nothing, and Laura and Daniel allowed themselves to breathe a little easier. They reached a gurgling spring and he hopped over it in front, holding out a hand to help her across. Before continuing, they turned to encourage Smiler to jump the narrow stretch of clear water, but it was as if he didn’t hear.

  He’d turned back towards the way they had come and was staring intently towards a high thicket. Then he lowered his head and released a rumbling growl from deep in his throat, and Laura and Daniel flicked wide eyes at each other. The Cannocks? Had to be. They had dared to hope they had lost them but, all along, the men had been trailing them; the dog had picked up their scent. They turned as one and sprinted off.

  Laura noticed Daniel fall before the noise of the gunshot registered. He hit the ground with a groan whilst, overhead, a flock of screeching birds darted through the sky for cover. She whipped round to see their whooping tormentors running in their direction, the younger brother brandishing the still-smoking revolver above his head triumphantly.

  ‘Get up! Quick, lad!’ she cried, flinging Daniel’s arm about her shoulders and heaving him up. However, when he attempted to put weight on his injured leg, he let out a cry and crumpled back to the grass. ‘Nay, please, we must hurry!’

  ‘Go.’ He clenched his teeth through the pain. ‘Go, get out of here!’

  ‘I’ll not leave thee!’

  ‘Now, Laura. Now, else they’ll kill thee!’ He sent her stumbling with a push. ‘Run and don’t you dare stop. Go. Go!’

  Doing so might just save his life, she realised with sudden clarity. It was she the Cannock brothers wanted to exact revenge upon; he’d merely been caught up in the fray, wasn’t the real enemy. If she diverted their attention away from Daniel, perhaps they would spare him. She must have them come after her alone. Hopefully, she’d manage to hide somewhere and, in the meantime, Daniel would have time to crawl to safety.

  She cast him a last, lingering look. Then she bolted away, zigzagging for a rutted track to lead the brothers out of Daniel’s path.

  It worked – they immediately headed after her and she sent up a thank-you to God. Picking up speed, she hurtled towards a wooded patch in the far distance.

  By now, dawn light pierced the scudding snow clouds. At some point, looking behind her, she discovered she was alone – the brothers were nowhere to be seen. Frowning, she slowed her pace a little and scanned the area again, but no: they were gone. Unsure what to do, she crouched in the grasses to catch her breath. Then movement sounded nearby and she sprang up, once more taking off at a blind run.

  A quarry’s boundary wall seemed to loom from nowhere and she skirted it, arriving in a rocky clearing that at first sight appeared deserted. Then she saw him, and her heart tripped over itself in several galloping beats.

  The bandage she’d applied to his neck earlier was stained crimson and he was wheezing heavily, his colour deathly. Laura flicked her eyes behind him towards the sloping delph edge, but of his brother there was no sign. Then an arm went about her neck from behind, squeezing the air from her, thick muscle crushing her windpipe so she thought she’d pass out. She clawed at her captor’s sleeve, but it was a feeble attempt and her eyelids began to droop.

  ‘Scheming, snidy little bitch.’ The younger Cannock released her, sending her with a shove to the hard ground. ‘We bested thee, eh?’

  Retching and coughing on all fours, she stared up at him with wild eyes. Like a hunted rabbit, they had skilfully ambushed their prey. There was nowhere left to run. They had her cornered and, now, she was done for.

  Desperation had her skidding to her feet to make a dash for it, but the man was prepared – he grabbed her once more, this time around the waist, pinioning her back against his chest, and she sagged in defeat. She was no match for his strength.

  The elder brother in front of them raised his arm and pointed the revolver directly at her head, and she closed her eyes. This was it. At least it would be a quick death, she consoled herself. Quailing, she held her breath.

  ‘Go on, lad, give it to her,’ the younger Cannock encouraged eagerly. ‘Be sure to save a bullet, mind, for t’ other one. We’ll pick him off on t’ way back.’

  Laura’s eyes opened in sickening realisation. He meant Daniel. Once they had disposed of her, they would track him down and he’d face the same fate. No. But what could she do?

  The gun winked in the gathering light as her assassin moved in. It was now or never – she took her chance. She thrust up a foot and, on a cry, kicked out with all her might.

  The element of surprise, coupled with his weakened state, had him staggering backwards at an alarming speed. Face holding a look of puzzlement, arms flailing, he hurtled towards the yawning mouth of the quarry.

  ‘Nay!’ The younger man released Laura and launched himself forward, landing on his belly and grasping his brother’s arm just in time before the cavern could swallow him completely. With beast-like grunts, the veins in his neck bulging with the strain, he struggled to haul the other man to safety.

  Laura could only watch on in numbing horror. She could hear the older brother’s boots scrabbling at the rockface as he tried desperately to gain a foothold. He seemed to succeed – his upper body rose over the lip of the drop. But it was to be a momentary advantage. There came a rumbling scrape as the stone gave way beneath his weight. Feeling himself slipping, and in blind terror, he grabbed at his brother, dragging the both of them into the hole.

  Mirrored screams journeyed with them into the bowels of the quarry, followed by two dull thuds, then all was still. Laura bent double and heaved up the contents of her stomach on to the gravelly ground.

  It was an age before she could bring herself to look. Forcing herself forward and dropping to her knees, she peered through the dark depths to the delph base. In a shallow bore, the Cannock brothers’ broken bodies lay side by side in a pool of blood. Laura rose. Unseeing, she turned and headed back
towards the fields.

  She located Daniel close to where she’d left him, unconscious beneath a tree. A forlorn Smiler sat by his master; Laura lay down close on the other side and shut her eyes. And as the first flurry of snow spiralled calmly down, she awaited their deaths with quiet acceptance.

  Shortly, the elements would carry them off and they, too, would meet their maker. Just maybe, if she held on to Daniel’s hand very tightly, he’d have the power to lead her with him and she’d not have to meet Lucifer for her sins. Her father and mother would be waiting; Nathan, too. There would be no more pain or loss or abuse, no more anguish, fear; only peace. And they would dwell together in the Lord’s kingdom for ever.

  Daniel moaned and she shushed him softly.

  ‘It’s all right, my love,’ she told him, laying her cheek against his. ‘Rest easy, now. We’ll be home soon.’

  CHAPTER 20

  ‘LAD?’

  ‘It’s all right, Laura. We’ll be home soon.’

  Daniel had echoed her words. He believed in her hope for them both, that all would surely be well. She smiled. They would all be together as one in no time at all.

  He was carrying her, and his limping gait bobbed her lightly in his arms, lulling her to the eternal sleep. She trailed a hand around his back to caress the hair at his nape. She’d never known such a sense of completeness like this before; it warmed her from the inside out and her eyes again grew heavy. Her mouth curved once more.

  She was vaguely aware of several stops and starts, then he was murmuring her name and asking if she could stand. They were approaching the bustle of Bolton town, he told her, and folk would surely wonder at her health. The less attention they drew to themselves, the better, so could she try? he urged, for they must hurry if they were to catch the train.

  Train? Nevertheless, Laura obeyed with a nod, and he lowered her gently to her feet. She followed him without dissent to Trinity Street.