A Stranger Light

by Gloria Cook

  Chapter Twenty

  ‘I understand Mark is coping well with his baby,’ Lottie remarked to Faye. They were putting up new curtains in Coose-Craze’s front room, the only room Lottie was going to have decorated until the overhaul and extensions were completed. Lottie had chosen pale blue brocade, which lightened the room considerably, for the major’s archaic furniture was being used for the time being. It was Faye who was up on the stepladder threading the brass curtain rings on to the rail. Lottie was being careful for a change, and was placing the matching re-covered long cushion pad in the window seat.

  Faye peered down on her. ‘He’s a natural. He adores her. I think it’s the best thing that could have happened to him. Everyone’s rallying round him. He’s still finding it hard to come to terms with Justine abandoning the baby. He’s written to her, but his letters have been returned unopened. He got in touch with a neighbour and was told she’d sold up and moved months ago, obviously as soon as she knew she was pregnant.’

  ‘So she’s quite determined to never have contact with the baby.’ Lottie made a disapproving face.

  ‘I was so angry with her that day. After all I’d gone through, I couldn’t understand how a woman in her position could give up her child. She wasn’t some young girl in a fix. The baby wasn’t a lover’s child. Mark was willing to give their marriage another try. She didn’t want to know. I suppose I should feel sorry for her. She might come to realize one day she’s made the biggest mistake of her life.’

  ‘She probably will.’ Lottie remembered how she had not wanted the baby that was growing inside her. Thank God, through Elena Killigrew that had all changed. She smoothed her hands affectionately over her protruding middle.

  ‘I shouldn’t have sent Mark away with the baby. He’s been very sweet about it, and he’s apologized to me too. He’s asked me, Uncle Tris and Susan to be her godparents. The ceremony’s on Sunday. He’s named the baby Jana.’

  ‘The old Cornish form of Jane. What about you, Faye?’ Lottie tilted her head to get a good view of Faye’s face. ‘Are you really able to leave Mark behind in your heart and mind? Are you sure you’re doing the right thing in marrying Fergus Blair? And going all the way up to Scotland?’

  ‘I’ve worked out my feelings for Mark. He’s nothing more to me now than a friend. I’m absolutely sure I’ve made the right decision about my future, Lottie. I’d made up my mind to marry Fergus just before Justine turned up with the baby. There, the curtains are up. They look lovely. You’re going to have a wonderful time making this place your own. And I like the major. He’s a sweetie. I think Nate was very clever, arranging things the way he did.’

  ‘I’ll never forget the moment I realized where Nate was taking us. I was dizzy with hope, and the instant I saw Randolph’s beaming face I knew the wonderful truth. He and Nate kept passing these silly looks and I knew they’d made an agreement. I pretended I didn’t, of course. I didn’t want to spoil their big surprise for me.’

  ‘You already know most of the people of Taldrea. What’s your housekeeper like? I haven’t met her yet.’

  ‘Oh, Violet Treloar. She’s nice. Down to earth. I’ve always liked her. I’m afraid she’s missed her monthly and has scuttled off to marry her cowman fiance. Nate was devastated. He’d got quite fond of her, as he did the old boy during all the time he’d spent trying to buy the place. I’m interviewing three women for her replacement tomorrow. I’ll choose someone older. Don’t want to risk another young woman leaving because she’s in the family way.’ Lottie parked her heavy body on the sofa bed and put her feet up. ‘Make yourself comfy. I’m in no rush to get things in order. I learned my lesson the hard way during Carl’s pregnancy. It’s enough for me at the moment to keep up with listening to Nate’s excited ideas. He’s busy rebuilding the outhouses. Jim and Mark and their workforce will be building us a sitting room, dining room, office and kitchen, four bedrooms and a bathroom. Then we’ll all move in while this part is modernized for the dear old major. New and old together. And young and older generations together. Just like at my old home.’

  ‘It’s good to see you happy again, Lottie.’

  ‘Well, we’ve all got to grow up some time. Now, back to Fergus Blair. Are you absolutely sure about him? Sorry to rabbit on, but you haven’t got your mother handy to shell out advice.’

  ‘I care a lot about Fergus. He might not be the love of my life – I might never meet him, whoever he may be – but Fergus will make me a good husband. He’s been really good to us, and Simon’s already bonded with him, he’s a great father, and that’s what matters most. To be honest, I’m looking forward to the peace and quiet of Glenladen after this muddled year. The twins and Pearl are quite happy knowing Susan’s there to replace me. They’re looking forward to travelling up to Scotland for holidays. With me gone there will be more room for Uncle Tris and Susan. I’m glad about selling Tremore to Uncle Tris. It never brought my father happiness and I don’t want it for Simon. I’ll put the money in a trust fund for him, and he can decide what he wants to do with it when he’s old enough.’

  Lottie nodded, satisfied not so much with Faye’s words as with her look of content. ‘Whatever you do, don’t become soft again. You’ll be enjoying your new life by Christmas. Do you want any more children?’

  ‘We’d both like another child.’ Faye laughed. ‘Actually, it might already be on the cards.’

  ‘You naughty girl.’ Lottie grinned. ‘Can’t say I blame you. Fergus is a very attractive man.’

  ‘Yes, he is.’ Faye dwelt on Fergus for some moments. She had not glossed over the truth about him to Lottie. Now she was sleeping with Fergus again she found herself eager to be alone with him, while looking forward to seeing him again when he wasn’t there. The plans she was making for the future with him were happy ones. ‘Well, Lottie, everything seems to be working out for us at last. Hopefully, there will be no storm clouds ahead.’

  ‘You bet. I won’t let anything spoil things for me. You think like that too and everything will be fine.’

  * * *

  Mark was sitting on his bed, once Susan’s; he had bought Little Dell’s furniture from her. He was holding his sleeping daughter. He did almost everything for her and loved doing it. ‘Jana.’ He placed a tender kiss on her soft pink cheek. ‘You’re so beautiful. Daddy loves you and I’m going to do everything in my power to give you a happy life.’

  The padre in the labour camp had preached that everything happened for a purpose. He had often wondered why he should have survived the horrors, and now he knew: to give life and love to Jana. He would not let her or God down.

  ‘I like this little cottage, darling,’ he whispered, ‘but I want you to grow up somewhere with a bigger garden. Jim Killigrew and I are going to build us a fine new house on a piece of land Emilia Harvey has agreed to sell me. So we’ll be moving across to the other side of the village.’ The new business contracts had been signed, and Mark was to work part of the week until Jana was three months old, to give them time to settle together. Tomorrow he would go over to Coose-Craze and begin his first day. ‘Daddy will miss you but I’ll be straight home afterward, darling, I promise. We’ll have a good life together. I’ll never let anyone hurt you. Now you’d better go down in the cradle and sleep or Mrs Pascoe will be telling me off for spoiling you. I’ll go for a walk with Addi, but I’ll be back in time for your next feed.’ He laid her down in the cradle and covered her warmly, rocking her for a few moments until she was asleep. It was minutes before he could tear himself away.

  Maureen, the Smiths, and Valerie Pascoe’s four children were playing hide and seek on Tremore land. Maureen had run off on her own and was up above Rose Dew and Little Dell. She crouched down behind a beech tree and pulled off her red woollen hat and scarf so she wouldn’t easily be spotted. As fidgety as ever, she turned to look down at the two cottages. It seemed ages since she had lived in Little Dell. It was still a thrill to be sharing Pearl’s room at the big house. To be where there was so much s
pace and a proper bathroom and so many fine things. It was fantastic to see her mother happy, and to have gained a stepfather who doted on her. She now called Mr Tris Daddy, and he had begun the procedure to adopt her, and her name would be changed to Harvey. Maureen Harvey – she was going to be so proud when she could tell people it was her name.

  Mark had planted the garden at Rose Dew, and cabbages and brussel sprouts, the greens she hated having to eat, were stretched out in uniform rows. Snow-white nappies and tiny baby clothes flapped in the wind on the washing line. She took to wondering about the baby. People were saying Jana Fuller was like a porcelain doll and looked a lot like Mr Fuller. Maureen was curious to know if both counts were true. She missed Mr Fuller. She’d only caught glimpses of him lately. Her mother called on him, but wouldn’t allow her to go. ‘Wait until the baby’s older,’ she’d said firmly. ‘Give Mr Fuller time to get used to being a father.’ He’d had the baby a couple of weeks. Surely that was time enough. He was her friend, and friends called on each other. She’d ask if she could go to Rose Dew tomorrow to see the baby. Take Jana a present; she could have the doll nasty Uncle Kenny had given her. She didn’t want anything to remind her of the man who had hurt her wonderful new father. Never patient for long, curiosity got the better of her and she decided to go down to Rose Dew right now. Len was the ‘seeker’ in the game and he always peeped to see where his playmates were. From the distant sound of his voice – ‘Ready or not, here I come!’ – he was heading in the opposite direction, where the others must have gone. Perfect. She had time to slip away, and they’d never know she had disobeyed her mother.

  With Mark in residence, and the trees that had loomed over the cottage cut down and stacked as logs against the new wooden shed to season for firewood, and smoke coming out of the two chimney pots, she wasn’t scared the ghost would be there. Intent on her mission, she didn’t see she wasn’t alone until a figure appeared in front of her. ‘Hello, Mo.’

  ‘Uncle Kenny!’ She froze even though he was smiling down at her. His small eyes were like marbles. His hands were rammed inside the pockets of his camel coat.

  ‘I was about to knock on your door in case your mother hadn’t gone to work, but I noticed the place had different curtains up and other stuff. I thought she’d moved away. Then I saw you up here. You look nice, Mo. Got new clothes, I see. How’s that then?’

  Rallying her feisty spirit, her little features drawn and dark, Maureen hissed, ‘Why are you here?’

  ‘Now that’s not very friendly, is it?’ He leaned forward from the waist and brought his sneering face close to hers. ‘Or the proper way to speak to an elder and better. You’re asking for a cuff round the lughole. So why are you all togged up? Has the Harvey toff set your mother up somewhere nice? Is she milking him for treats for the both of you?’

  ‘It’s none of your business. Mum doesn’t want anything to do with you any more. Go away! ’

  Kenny scowled and cuffed her ear hard and she shrieked in pain and temper. ‘Watch your lip when you’re talking to me. Where can I find your mother?’

  Bringing her hand to her stinging ear, Maureen shouted, ‘I won’t tell you anything.’ Then, quick on her nimble feet, she sped off. ‘I’m getting Mr Fuller! He’ll set his dog on you!’

  ‘I don’t think so.’ Kenny laughed mockingly as she headed for the cottage wall, chasing after her. ‘I saw him walking through a field with his mutt when I drove here. He’s on his way back, which is good, because he’s just one of the rotten blighters I’ve come to settle a score with. No one lays into me and gets away with it. And you’re for it now, girl!’ Maureen was scared. She knew she wouldn’t reach the door in time to hammer on it and get inside safely, but as she reached the wall she picked up a big stone and turned round to face him. ‘Mrs Pascoe! Mrs Pascoe!’ she screamed, while praying the other children would come this way and see what was happening and run for help.

  ‘Got a fancy woman, has he?’ Again came his evil laugh. ‘I’ll soon flush her out.’ Kenny stooped, swept up two hefty stones and lobbed one over the wall to smash through a window. The glass exploded in splinters and there was a crash and a scream from inside. He pulled his arm back ready to throw the second stone.

  ‘Don’t, Uncle Kenny! ’ Maureen screamed. ‘There’s a baby inside!’

  ‘I’m not bothered about some brat. Either you come here to me now or I chuck this one too.’

  He passed the stone menacingly from hand to hand.

  ‘A-all right. Just don’t hurt the baby.’ Frightened by his violence, shaking all over, she took a small step forward.

  ‘That’s better. Now tell me what I want to—’ A movement in front the broken window caught his attention. He thought the woman had come outside, but it was a man who was there, an old man, not very distinct, in dark clothes and cap. He couldn’t distinguish the man’s eyes, but they held him fast and chills rode up his back.

  The door was opened a crack, a hand beckoned and a woman called out, ‘Quick Maureen, get inside!’

  Maureen didn’t stop to wonder why her uncle was suddenly mesmerized and staring into space. She scrambled over the wall and fled up the path and Valerie Pascoe’s cardiganed arm shot out and pulled her inside. ‘It’s all right, my handsome.’ She turned the key and hit home the bolts. ‘Thank God I got you in safe and sound. Do you know who he is?’

  ‘He’s my uncle. He’s beastly. He hurt my daddy.’ Maureen’s eyes were wide in fright and she had a hand over her pounding heart.

  ‘I heard about that. Well, he won’t easily get the better of me. Come upstairs, we’ll barricade ourselves inside Mr Fuller’s bedroom with the baby. Mr Fuller keeps his Army handgun up there. If that bloke tries to break in I’ll threaten him with it.’ Valerie Pascoe was well built and strong, and although nervous, she was determined to protect her charge and Maureen.

  ‘Come out, Maureen, or I’ll come in and get you!’ Kenny bawled. He had blinked and the man had disappeared. He could only reason he had seen a ghost, but the fear was superseded by his anger with his sister’s child. He had come for revenge on Susan for rejecting him, and on Tristan Harvey for treating him like dirt, and on Mark Fuller for making him look a fool. He never forgot a grudge, and today it had spilled over into a boiling rage and the need for revenge. He threw the other stone, breaking another window.

  Maureen screamed. Valerie grabbed her hand and rushed her up the narrow, carpeted stairs. Maureen helped her to push a chest of drawers against the door in the bedroom. The baby was stretching in the cradle. Valerie lifted up the cradle and put it down in the corner furthest from the window in case the villain threw missiles at it. ‘Here, maid, you rock little Jana and keep her asleep.’ Valerie thought it best to keep Maureen occupied. She fetched the handgun from a high shelf in the wardrobe and unwrapped it from its protective oiled cloth. It wasn’t loaded. But if the man hammering on the door and shouting abuse managed to break his way in he wouldn’t know that.

  Mark was watching Addi belt down the valley just yards from home to fetch a stick he had thrown. He’d recently encountered the hide-and-seekers, and they’d asked him if he had seen Maureen. ‘Sorry. So you can’t find her?’

  ‘She’s probably sneaked off thinking she’s clever.’ Len had been unimpressed. ‘Come on you lot, let’s go and play in the farmyard. She can stay hidden for as long as she likes.’

  Mark had smiled to himself. Maureen was as mischievous as ever.

  He felt a touch on his arm and got a shiver down the back of his neck. Looking round, he saw Jude Keast an inch away from him. There was such a look of anguish in his heavily lined old features. Then Jude was yards away, and further away still, in the direction Mark was aiming for. He knew what Jude was trying to tell him. Something was wrong at home. ‘Addi! Here! We have to go now!’

  After cycling back from Coose-Craze, Faye thought she’d call on Mark. She would be leaving for Scotland in a few days and she wanted to talk to him about Jana’s baptism. She left her bicycle at
the entrance to the track and heard shouting. It was aggressive and abusive, and she crept cautiously upwards to see what it was all about. Little Dell seemed deserted, but a stranger was battering on Rose Dew’s door with his shoulder. To her horror, she could hear him yelling threats to Maureen. Faye turned tail and raced back before the man spotted her. Scrabbling on to the bike she sped off to get help. She hadn’t met Kenny Locke, but in view of the threats he had made in the farmyard she assumed it was he. Maureen must have gone to see Mark and the baby. Mark couldn’t be there or he’d be confronting Locke.

  Turning at the crossroads she was relieved to see Fergus and Simon coming her way. ‘Fergus!’ Urgently, she explained the danger to those inside Rose Dew.

  ‘Take Simon, run to the farm and call the police,’ Fergus said, taking the bicycle from her. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll sort this chap out.’ He was away in a blink.

  ‘Be careful!’ Faye shouted after him, before picking Simon up and running on. Fergus was hardy and powerful, but she was afraid for him. Someone of Kenny Locke’s background might have a gun, or was likely to wield some other deadly weapon. She couldn’t bear the thought of Fergus getting hurt. Fearing for his safety, it seemed as if scales were falling off her eyes and the wall of overcautious reserve she had built around her heart was dissolving. Suddenly she knew the difference between thinking she was in love to knowing she was. She knew the sun rose in the sky in the morning and the moon was there at night, and she knew she was in love with Fergus. It was liberating; her mind had never been so clear, her heart so free. And never was she more scared for him. As she pounded along with their son in her arms, she pleaded, ‘For goodness sake, Fergus, be careful.’

  Mark and Fergus closed in on Rose Dew at about the same time and saw Kenny Locke battering on the door with a log. ‘Locke, get away from there!’ Mark screamed. ‘Addi, get him!’

  The dog was already racing ahead, barking fiercely. Kenny swung round and saw Addi bearing down on him. He was too set on violence to be scared of Addi this time and swung the log back ready to lash out at him. Addi leapt over the wall and he was on Kenny so quickly he didn’t get the chance to use the log to ward him off. Addi brought him hurtling down with his back hitting the door, pinning him down with his heavy front paws on the chest, his teeth bared while snarling into his face. ‘Get him off! Get him off!’ Kenny was scared now; scared his face would be ripped off.