Beneath a Frosty Moon

by Rita Bradshaw

  They had to know sooner or later. ‘He’s dead,’ Cora said simply, not knowing how to dress it up. ‘He had been drinking and he fell onto a broken trough in the barn and cut his neck so it just bled and bled.’

  They stared at her and then Maud said timidly, ‘He’s definitely dead?’

  ‘Definitely.’

  Cora saw something lift from Maud’s little face as though a veil had been taken away. When she glanced at Maria the same expression was on her sister’s countenance. Even Maud’s voice was different, lighter, when she said, ‘I wish Enid was here so I could tell her she doesn’t have to be frightened any more.’

  Maud still had no idea of her sister’s passing, and now Cora said gently, ‘I’m sure she isn’t frightened where she is, Maud. She’s been well looked after, you can be sure of that.’

  ‘I miss her.’ Maud’s lower lip quivered.

  ‘We all miss her.’

  ‘So what happens now?’ Maria looked at Cora.

  Cora shrugged. ‘I would imagine the sergeant will arrange for Farmer Burns to be taken away first of all, and then, well, everything will carry on as normal. Mrs Burns was on about having some POWs here so they’ll do the work he did. The farm’s hers now, I suppose.’

  ‘She didn’t seem very sad, did she?’ little Susan piped up. ‘I mean, about Farmer Burns.’

  ‘No, well, he wasn’t a very nice man, was he,’ said Maria, glancing Cora’s way and adding, ‘No more looking over our shoulders all the time then, lass.’ Maria had filled out considerably in the last year after starting her monthlies and her resemblance to the younger two was less marked. There was a gleam of red in her brown hair now and she was altogether prettier. They had both noticed the farmer watching her on many occasions and Cora had been ever more vigilant on her sister’s behalf.

  When Mrs Burns came back into the kitchen, she smiled at them. ‘I’m going to make a pot of tea while we wait,’ she said cheerfully, ‘and I think we’ll try some of these teacakes while they’re warm. What say you?’

  It wasn’t only the girls who recognized that the badness had gone out of their life.

  Jed’s parents were anxiously waiting for him when he got back home later that night, his mother quite beside herself. He hadn’t got in the door before she was, if not exactly shouting, then asking very loudly where on earth he thought he had been when he and Cora had been expected for their normal Sunday high tea at four o’clock. It was inconsiderate and rude not to let them know he wasn’t bringing her as usual, and she, his mother, had been so worried but of course he hadn’t considered that. Oh, no. Not when he’d been gallivanting, no doubt.

  When Jed could get a word in edgeways and explain, his mother had put a hand to her chest, saying, ‘Come into the sitting room and tell us everything,’ and once in there, she had sat down very suddenly, looking white and shocked. Now, as Jed finished telling the tale, she said, ‘Oh, my word, whatever next? Dear, oh, dear, poor Mrs Burns. We must go over tomorrow and see if we can do anything to help. And you say he’d been drinking and fell on an old trough in the barn? What are the chances of that?’

  ‘One in a million, I’d say.’ Wilfred had joined them a minute or two before, listening quietly as Jed had told them what happened, his eyes fixed on the farmer’s son’s face. He had left Horace asleep in the room they shared when he’d heard Jed return; he’d been on tenterhooks for hours.

  ‘Perhaps not as much as you’d think,’ Jed said quietly. ‘Mrs Burns said he’d been drinking too much for years. She told the police he often took a bottle up with him at night and drank himself senseless.’

  Wilfred said nothing but behind his blank facade his mind was racing. The cunning so-an’-so. He’d made it look like an accident, had he? Clever, very clever.

  Mrs Croft went off to the kitchen to make them all a hot drink and as Wilfred sat listening to Jed talking to his father, he began to have an idea of what he was going to do. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had to make this whole thing with the farmer work for him; it was a gift from the gods and if he let the opportunity slip through his fingers nothing like this would come again. For months now he had been biding his time and suffering the torments of the damned when he saw Cora and Jed together. He couldn’t go on like this, he knew he couldn’t. He would do something stupid because he couldn’t stand Jed thinking she was his. Just the other day he had been tempted to drive the tractor over Jed and he’d come as near as dammit to doing it, even though he knew Farmer Croft and the three POWs were about.

  After a while he excused himself and went upstairs to the room he shared with Horace. Jed stayed talking to his parents for some time, but eventually Wilfred heard him come up to his room next door. Mr and Mrs Croft were at the far end of the landing and there was a spare bedroom between them and Jed.

  Wilfred lay there, reliving the moment he’d brought the hoe down on Farmer Burns’s neck. His only regret was that the man’s dying had been over too soon. He would have liked him to suffer longer.

  He waited a full hour before he quietly slid out of his bed, which was on the opposite side of the room to Horace’s and by the door. Barefoot, he tiptoed onto the landing and stood for a minute in the darkness. He knew exactly what he was going to say.

  Jed must have been awake because the moment Wilfred turned the door knob and entered the room, his voice came from the bed which was set under the window.

  ‘Yes, who is it?’

  ‘It’s me, Wilfred.’

  ‘What’s the matter? Is Horace bad or something?’

  Jed always slept with his curtains gaping wide and his window open. Moonlight was pouring in the room and Wilfred could easily make him out as he sat up in bed, raking back his hair. ‘No, it’s not Horace,’ he said softly, walking across to stand by the bed. ‘I want to talk to you about what happened this afternoon.’

  ‘Oh, aye?’ It was wary.

  ‘Aye. Anything you want to add to what you told your mam an’ da?’

  There was a moment’s hesitation. ‘Such as?’

  ‘Oh, just the trifling matter of you killing a man, something like that?’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Jed stood up, towering over Wilfred as he added, ‘And get out of my room.’

  ‘Now, now, no need to be like that.’ Wilfred found he was beginning to enjoy himself. Ever since Jed had taken Cora from him he had fantasized about having the other boy exactly where he wanted him, at his mercy. The fantasy had always ended with him leaving Jed in a crumpled heap somewhere, but what he now had in mind was so much better because no one, least of all Cora, could suspect him of having anything to do with what he proposed.

  ‘I said, get out.’

  ‘I’d suggest it’s in your best interests and those of Cora to listen to what I have to say.’ A shaft of moonlight was directly on Jed’s face and Wilfred saw his eyes narrow. ‘Unless, of course, you want her up before the beak as well. I know exactly what went on this afternoon so cut the flannel. You might as well know I followed you to Stone Farm. Fancied a walk myself.’

  ‘Fancied a walk?’ Jed’s voice was scornful but Wilfred detected fear for the first time. ‘And how often have you “fancied a walk” in the past? Cora’s often felt uneasy. Have you made a habit of spying on us?’

  ‘That’s neither here nor there. The point is, you killed Farmer Burns and no court in the land would give you the benefit of self-defence, not now you and Cora have said what you’ve said to the law.’

  Jed didn’t deny the charge, but what he did say was, ‘He was trying to rape her and then he intended to kill her. She’s lived in terror of that man for a long time, as you well know. I’d have thought you were pleased he’s where he can’t hurt her.’

  ‘Oh, I am pleased. Ecstatic, you might say. But that still doesn’t negate the fact that you murdered him. And him getting on a bit and drunk into the bargain, and you a fine fit figure of a man without a mark on you. The police’ll just love this, especially as the
y’ll be a bit put out all their handouts have come to a halt. They’d like someone to pin this on – they must be feeling a bit aggrieved. It wouldn’t take much to convince them it was no accident, Jed, not when I open their eyes. He was a bit bashed about, and besides that blow that killed him there’ll be other bruises, no doubt. And if they start to snoop it wouldn’t take the brain of Britain to know that trough was moved, not once they investigate. Like a dog with a bone, they’ll be. A nice juicy bone.’

  He watched as Jed squared his shoulders. ‘I’ll take my chance. My word against yours.’

  ‘And you’re prepared for Cora to have to take her chance too?’

  Jed breathed in deeply. ‘You wouldn’t do that. You wouldn’t involve Cora.’

  Wilfred was well aware that the success of his plan depended on Jed believing he would do exactly that, and now he lied with a level voice and steady eyes. ‘Oh, aye, I would. If it meant you keeping your dirty hands off her for good, I would. Besides –’ he paused a moment for his words to sink in – ‘your whole defence would be that you were protecting her. How could you put that forward unless she was there at the time of the assault? Like it or not she’d be dragged into it up to her eyes. And Cora being Cora, she wouldn’t see you go down for murder without saying her bit anyway. You know what she’s like. There’s no half-measures with her where she loves.’

  ‘So knowing that, that she loves me, why do you want to do this to her if you care anything at all about her? Why not just keep quiet?’

  ‘If I care about her?’ Wilfred’s natural self had broken through, his control faltering for a moment. Then he said, his voice soft again, ‘I love her in a way you could never achieve, not if you lived a hundred years. We’re two of a kind, me and Cora, from the same background, the same streets. I’ve known her since I was born and I’m blowed if I’m going to let you take her from me. I can make her happy, I know it, and she already loves me. Maybe not in the way she loves you but that sort of love doesn’t last, the romantic kind.’

  ‘And you think she’d be with you if I was out of the way? Is that it? You don’t know her very well, after all. If you sold me down the river she’d hate you for ever and a day, even if she wasn’t implicated.’

  ‘Which is why, to use your words, if you care anything at all about her you’ll disappear and enlist. No goodbyes, no questions. You simply leave a letter for your mam an’ da saying that the fact the Germans killed your brothers has been eating away at you and you want to go and do your bit. The alternative is staying here and dragging Cora down with you.’

  ‘You’re mad.’

  Wilfred smiled. ‘On the contrary, I’m as sane as you are.’

  ‘You say you know I killed Farmer Burns?’ Even in the shadows Wilfred could see the hate burning in Jed’s eyes, and such was the twist in his nature that he found it gratifying. Anything was better than the faintly condescending, matey attitude Jed had displayed since he’d arrived at the farm. ‘Then what’s to stop me doing the same to you? According to you, I’ve got nothing to lose, have I?’

  ‘Aye, I’ve thought of that.’ Wilfred nodded, his voice almost conversational now. ‘But I don’t think you could kill someone in cold blood, Jed. That’s the thing. It was in the heat of the moment with Farmer Burns and I don’t think you intended him to die anyway. But you need a strong stomach for murder. Course, I’d say the opposite about you if you stay around, you can bank on that, but between us I’d say you haven’t got the guts for it. Anyway, there it is. Your choice. Staying and seeing Cora brought down with you, or clearing off and acting the hero. It’s up to you.’

  ‘I couldn’t leave here without saying goodbye to her. It’d break her heart, damn you. You know that.’

  ‘I know nothing of the sort except you rate yourself pretty highly, but a clean break is for the best. It’s the safest thing for her. Less messy. And it’s not as if you’re betrothed. There’s no ring on her finger.’

  ‘I was waiting till her birthday next month, when she’s sixteen.’

  ‘Very thoughtful. Stupid, but thoughtful.’

  Jed swore, gripping Wilfred by the neck of his shirt as he ground out, ‘I ought to bash your face in, you treacherous little swine.’

  ‘Aye, but you won’t, will you. No, I thought not.’ As Jed let him go Wilfred took a step backwards before turning and walking to the door. And it was from there that he said very softly, ‘You won’t need to take much, not if you’re enlisting and you can lie about your age. You look twenty-one or -two any day. And I’ll back up your letter. Say you’ve been talking about your brothers all the time, wanting to get even, as you see it, with the Germans. Of course, I never expected you to go and do something so daft as enlisting, not the blue-eyed boy who’s always had the world at his feet, but there it is. We never really know anyone else, do we?’

  ‘You must really hate me.’

  ‘You’ve no idea . . .’

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘Mr and Mrs Croft would like a word with you, Cora.’ It was three days after Farmer Burns had died, and when she had seen Jed’s parents arrive earlier Cora had assumed they were here to offer their condolences to the widow and had continued working in the dairy. Now she looked in surprise at Mrs Burns, not so much because Jed’s parents had asked to see her – no doubt they wanted to express their concern for her in finding the farmer the way she and Jed had, according to their story – but because of the troubled note in the farmer’s wife’s voice. ‘They – well, they have some news you might not be aware of.’

  ‘News?’

  ‘About Jed.’

  ‘He’s all right? Nothing’s happened?’

  ‘I think it’s better they tell you themselves; there’s a letter.’

  Cora followed Rachel into the main part of the house and on into the parlour where Jed’s parents were sitting, a tray holding cups of tea and a plate of teacakes on the low table in front of them. She saw immediately that Jed’s mother had been crying and her heart jerked and then pounded at twice its speed.

  ‘Cora, dear.’ Mrs Croft had become fond of the girl that Jed had seemed so madly in love with. ‘Come and sit by me. Mr Croft and I need to talk to you.’

  Cora sat down on the sofa next to Jed’s mother, his father being in a chair on the other side of the little table. She looked at Mrs Croft who said gently, ‘Cora, we need to know. Has Jed spoken to you about what he intended to do?’

  Cora didn’t have any idea what Mrs Croft was referring to and it showed on her face.

  ‘About – about enlisting in the army.’

  ‘Jed wants to enlist?’ Cora’s voice was high. ‘I don’t believe it. He loves the farm, it’s his whole life. He would never seriously consider leaving everything here.’

  ‘I’m afraid that’s exactly what he’s done.’ Jed’s father leaned forward, his hands on his knees and his face grim. ‘We can’t understand it either but there’s no doubt he’s been thinking about it for a while. Wilfred’s confirmed he’s been talking about fighting the Germans for what they did to his brothers. Look, read this. He left a letter.’

  ‘Left? You mean he’s gone?’

  ‘Yesterday, dear.’ Mrs Croft was dabbing her eyes again. ‘We were going to come to offer any help that’s needed to Mrs Burns but then when we came down to breakfast we found this, and – well, I’m afraid I was in no fit state to visit anyone. It’s very upsetting coming out of the blue. At least, it’s out of the blue to us, and it appears to be to you too?’

  Cora nodded numbly, taking the letter Mr Croft handed her. It was short and to the point.

  Dear Mam and Da,

  I’m sorry because I know this is not what you want but I have to do it. I’m going to enlist. Please don’t try and stop me because my mind is made up and nothing will change that. Please try to understand and to forgive me for springing this on you but I feel it’s for the best to slip away without long drawn out goodbyes. I’ll write as soon as I know what’s what, I promise. Cora knows nothing
about this so I would be grateful if you would tell her yourselves. I know it will be a shock for you all but sometimes you just have to do something no matter how wrong it seems to everyone else. Just remember I love you very much.

  Jed

  ‘No.’ It was a whisper. ‘He wouldn’t do this. Something’s wrong.’ She looked at Mrs Croft. ‘He wouldn’t go without saying goodbye.’

  ‘I’m afraid he has, lass.’ Mr Croft cleared his throat. ‘It’s a rum do, I agree with you, and right out of character for our Jed, but he’s gone, no doubt about that.’ His wife had tears trickling down her face and now he said, ‘Come on, love. What’s done’s done. He’ll come home again when the war is over, don’t you fear. The Lord wouldn’t take all three of ’em.’

  But he didn’t know that. Cora stared at him, her eyes dry, the shock too great for the relief of tears. ‘I can’t believe it,’ she whispered. He’d left her without even saying goodbye.

  ‘I know, lass, I’m the same.’ Mrs Croft wiped her eyes and then blew her nose. ‘It’s Hitler, that’s who I blame. Wrecking ordinary folks’ lives just because he’s power mad. I wish Jed had spoken to us about how he was feeling but he never gave an inkling. He mourned for his brothers, of course, but to join up? Never would I have thought it. He was so happy working on the farm and fair mad about you, and for him not even to tell you—’ She stopped abruptly, realizing it was less than tactful in the circumstances. ‘Well, I mean . . .’ she finished lamely.

  Jed’s parents stayed another minute or so but everyone was struggling to make conversation. It was beyond Cora to say anything. She sat by Jed’s mother, the pain of Jed’s leaving freezing her body into numbness and clamping down on her emotions. She walked out with Rachel and Mr and Mrs Croft, standing by their horse and trap as goodbyes were said and trying to act normally while all the time she felt as though she was screaming inside now the shock was beginning to fade.