Flowers on the Mersey

by June Francis

  ‘You don’t think I’ll be using my shoulder for that, woman?’

  She sighed. ‘I suppose you will, but not to the same extent as getting up on a roof. I’d say rest completely but I’ve got a feeling you’ve no intention of doing that.’

  ‘You’re getting to know me.’

  ‘I should say I am.’ She smiled. ‘Is the fire still in?’

  ‘I’ve seen to that.’ His hand fastened on part of the wooden grip of the handle. ‘We’ll share.’ His voice was determined.

  ‘You’re a stubborn man.’

  ‘And you’re a bossy woman.’

  ‘Only for your own good,’ she protested.

  The tiny creases at the outer edges of his eyes deepened. ‘And don’t they all say that before they start trying to change you?’

  ‘There’s nothing about you I want to change,’ she murmured, eyeing him carefully and putting her tongue in her cheek. ‘Except several days’ growth of beard, that terrible shirt with blood on it, and your bandages.’

  He rasped his chin with a fingernail. ‘They might ask awkward questions in the village if you buy a razor.’

  She agreed and kissed him. The next moment the bucket was on the ground and they were lying in the grass making love. It was another two hours before she set out, walking to the village to save petrol.

  It was set in a narrow valley with most of the houses spread along either side of a single street. There was a church, the priest’s house, a small school, a blacksmith’s, and a general store that sold everything and had a bar at one end. Rebekah had considered going to the nearest town about six miles away where she had attended church every Sunday when she had stayed with her grandmother, but had changed her mind, thinking it more probably that she would find out more about Joshua’s man in the village.

  She reckoned on it being reasonably safe for her to admit to who she was or had been to Mary Lochrane, who kept the shop with her husband. She was a large woman with a mass of soft brown hair that she wore tied with a bootlace.

  ‘It’s changing times we’re living in, Miss Rhoades,’ she said as she sliced bacon. ‘You must feel it with your granny gone and the land sold to that man in Liverpool. I’m surprised to see you here, I must admit.’ Her fine dark eyes were curious.

  ‘You remember my father?’

  ‘Aye! I remember him fine.’

  ‘He died.’ Rebekah told her about the accident but said nothing about Joshua’s being her guardian. It seemed that it was not known because the woman only tutted and expressed her sympathy.

  ‘I’ve nearly got over it now,’ said Rebekah, ‘but I had a yen to see the old place. I was surprised to find the house empty, so I thought I might just stay there a while. Is there someone I should see about it?’

  Mrs Lochrane’s head drew closer to Rebekah’s as she wrapped the bacon in greaseproof paper. ‘Nobody’ll be minding. Mr Dixon, whose wife died from the appendicitis, lived there after your granny. He got drunk in here one night roundsabout Christmas and spoke up for the Treaty. Next day there’s a notice pinned to his front door telling him to get out or else. So he upped and left. Seeing as how there’s no Mr Green to check up on people, everything’s been left pretty much as it was.’

  ‘You don’t see Mr Green here at all?’

  ‘Not him.’ She tossed her head. ‘Not for years. It’s rumoured, though, that there’s talk of him selling the place. Let’s hope it’s true. It’s not doing anybody any good for things to be left the way they are.’

  Rebekah agreed and asked how much she owed. It seemed reasonable considering all she had learnt.

  ‘Is it on your own you’ll be staying there?’ asked Mrs Lochrane, handling her change.

  Rebekah kept her head down as she put the money in her purse. ‘I have my cousin from Liverpool with me.’ She picked up her purchases and Mrs Lochrane moved to open to door for her.

  ‘Perhaps we’ll be seeing you with your cousin next time?’

  ‘My cousin hasn’t been well and needs peace and quiet. Some good Irish country air should do the trick.’ She nodded and went on up the street, smiling at anyone who looked her way.

  Daniel was not in the house when she arrived back so she left everything on the table and went in search of him. He had abandoned fishing and was in the river. ‘I thought I might as well get myself cleaned up,’ he called.

  ‘You’ve got your bandage wet, idjit.’

  ‘Stop fussing.’ His brown eyes wandered slowly over her in the peach cotton frock and his fingers fastened on her bare ankle. ‘Get your clothes off and come in.’

  ‘I have no towel and I can’t swim very well,’ she murmured, eyeing him below the water line.

  ‘It’s not deep, and besides I’ll look after you.’

  She smiled. ‘You can’t look after yourself, going and getting yourself shot.’

  He pulled on her foot and she lowered herself quickly on to the grassy bank. ‘All right! But don’t rush me. I bet it’s cold.’

  ‘It’ll take your breath away.’

  She pulled a face but began to undo her frock. ‘Mr Dixon, who lived in the house, was threatened. He spoke up for the Treaty.’

  Daniel frowned and was silent a moment before saying, ‘Did you get a paper?’

  ‘They surrendered at Four Courts.’

  ‘I see.’ For a moment he looked grim. ‘Anything else?’

  ‘The woman who keeps the shop reckons that it’ll be all right for us to stay. I told her that I had my cousin from Liverpool with me.’

  ‘So I’ll have to put on a Liverpudlian accent?’

  ‘And be Quaker and female, I think,’ she said with a mischievous look.’

  ‘Re-bek-ah!’ he groaned, shaking his head and so sprinkling her with a myriad drops of water before pulling her into the river.

  She gasped with the cold shock and pretended to hit him but he put his arms round her and kissed her long and hard until she actually did strike him.

  He loosened his hold. ‘This is the life,’ he said against her ear.

  ‘You’re easily pleased.’ She put her arms round him as the current tugged at her legs.

  ‘The simple life. You, me, food to eat and somewhere to lay our heads. What else do we need?’ He nuzzled her neck and then lifted his head. ‘What’s this scar on your shoulder?’

  She hesitated before saying. ‘It’s where the bed fell on me on the Samson.’

  ‘It looks like a burn.’ He turned her round. ‘You’ve marks on your back as well.’

  ‘Same thing.’

  ‘They look different.’ He pulled her close again and rubbed noses. ‘Poor love.’

  ‘I survived. But I’m not sure I won’t be having pneumonia when I get out of this river,’ she said through chattering teeth. ‘A hot bath is what I’ll be needing, but I’m sure I’m not going to get it.’

  ‘I’ll warm you up.’ He smiled into her eyes.

  ‘Is that a promise?’

  ‘You bet.’ He kissed her, and set about keeping his word.

  Daniel slid down from the roof and entered the house where they had lived for ten days. He stared with satisfaction at the brackish-coloured water coming from the tap. ‘You can use that water for washing but don’t drink it, love.’

  ‘I’ve no intention.’ Rebekah carried a bucket over to the cooking pot and filled it. ‘I suppose I should want it to rain so we can have fresh water in the tank.’

  ‘I can’t believe we’ve been so lucky.’ He sat on the sofa, gingerly feeling his shoulder, but the bandage and vest were still dry. ‘Becky, we’ll have to get married.’

  Her legs suddenly felt weak and it was several seconds before she turned and looked at him. ‘I’m not bothered about getting married. We’d have to talk religion, and as we’re already living in sin, what does it matter?’

  He stared at her. ‘It matters to me. And I never thought I’d hear you talking of living in mortal sin so lightly!’

  ‘I might talk of it lightly, but I don’t
mean it lightly,’ she said, sitting down, ‘I was thinking of Adam and Eve the other day and how there was no priest or minister there to marry them. ‘When we leave here, who’s to know that we’re not married?’

  He frowned. ‘I know you don’t want to be a Catholic, love, but I wouldn’t force you to go to our church. But if we could just have the priest say the words over us. I want us to be respectable. I don’t want our children being bastards.’

  ‘Children!’ She got up and began to sort out the washing, thinking how men thought it was so easy to get you with child.

  Daniel came up behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist. ‘It might have happened already.’

  Rebekah turned in his arms and looked at him. ‘And it mightn’t have.’

  ‘We make love all the time!’ he exclaimed, squeezing her.

  She looped her arms around his neck. ‘You could be making love to me now instead of talking.’

  ‘Later. Now I want to sort this out. Once my shoulder’s healed I’m going back to sea.’

  She dropped her arms. ‘What’s the rush? We’re safe here and I’ve still got money.’

  ‘We feel safe,’ he said, slackening his hold. ‘But feelings can be deceptive. And there’s another thing, I don’t like living off you.’

  ‘But that’s stupid.’ She pulled away from him. ‘In Liverpool I know women who have to work to keep a family going. I don’t suppose the children care who’s earning the money.’

  ‘That’s different.’

  ‘But in a way it’s the same. You can’t earn at the moment and the money I have is enough for us to live on for a while longer. I’m not saying for always, just a few more weeks.’

  ‘And then?’ he said quietly. ‘I go back to sea and you’re left on your own? I want a wife to come home to, Becky, not a mistress.’

  She flushed. ‘When you say that it makes me sound different to how I see myself. I think of myself as your wife already.’

  He drew her close again. ‘I want to be sure of you and I want you to be secure. If anything were to happen to me—’

  ‘Don’t say it!’ She clung to him. ‘I don’t want you to leave me. I couldn’t bear it if—’

  ‘Shhh!’ He kissed her and for the moment decision-making about marriage was put aside.

  It was to come up again a week later when they were walking in the hills.

  ‘Look at that view.’ Rebekah forced Daniel to halt. ‘Let’s rest and have our sandwiches.’

  He did as she asked and they sat gazing down the hillside and across a valley to the tree-massed slope on the other side. A rabbit watched them from a few feet away.

  ‘The view won’t keep us, Becky. We have to make some decision.’ Daniel screwed up his eyes against the sun. ‘I met the priest when I was fishing last evening.’

  ‘Did he ask where you were staying?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did you tell him?’

  ‘I gave him the impression I was sleeping rough, and from my tramp-like appearance and my talk, he drew the conclusion that I was an Irregular on the run. We discussed the Treaty.’

  She bit her lip. ‘Do you think he’ll report you to the constabulary?’

  Daniel’s brow creased. ‘One lone deserter? He asked me what I thought of Father Albert – who was with us at Four Courts – for urging the men to quit to save more bloodshed.’

  She sighed. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘I said I was out of it but that I would have gone along with him.’

  ‘Sensible man.’ She kissed him. ‘What do you think has happened to Shaun?’

  Daniel shrugged. ‘If he was caught he could be in Mountjoy prison.’

  ‘But if he wasn’t?’ She toyed with a blade of grass. ‘Is it possible he could find us?’

  ‘Anything’s possible if he really wants to trace us. He has connections and if there’s men in the village who sympathise with the cause—’ He shrugged. ‘We’re not that far from Dublin and he knows the car.’

  She was dismayed. ‘You don’t think we should leave now?’

  ‘Not right now, but soon. We’ll have to think about where to live.’ He lay down, his hands behind his head.

  She felt depressed at the thought of being parted from him in an Ireland that was still at war with itself and unexpectedly had a longing to see Liverpool again. At least there she had friends. ‘What about Liverpool?’

  ‘Liverpool!’ He pushed himself up and his expression had changed. ‘Green’s there.’

  ‘It’s a big city! Besides, we could live just outside. Seaforth, or somewhere like that.’ Her voice was eager.

  He scowled. ‘I don’t want you within ten miles of Green. I don’t trust him.’

  ‘How’s he to know I’m there? You’re not thinking, love. When you’re away, at least I’ll have friends in Liverpool.’

  ‘You’re thinking of Brigid, whose brother is Pat. Who’s a sailor. Talk gets round. Before you know it Green will know exactly where you are. Or you’ll go and visit your aunt or that friend of yours, Edwina, and they’ll spill the beans. I don’t want him pestering you while I’m away. You don’t know him like I do. He’s ruthless when he wants his own way.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re right.’ She felt a strong sense of guilt and apprehension, as if the mere mention of Joshua’s name could spoil everything between them. ‘I’ll have to stay in Ireland.’

  He frowned at her. ‘You don’t have to make it sound like a penance.’

  ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m going to miss you when you go.’

  ‘I never told you it would be easy being married to a sailor,’ he said, and getting to his feet went on down the hill ahead of her. She followed him slowly, trying to cast off a feeling of gloom.

  ‘Ugh! I got soaked just coming from the car!’ Rebekah shook herself, scattering raindrops, as she closed the kitchen door.

  ‘Did you get a newspaper?’ Daniel helped her off with her coat.

  ‘And posted my letter.’ She took the newspaper from a shopping bag and handed it to him.

  He opened it, and after a minute or so said quietly, ‘There’s been fighting in Limerick and Waterford. It’s been going on for days but now both towns have fallen to State troops.’

  ‘That’ll mean more Irregulars on the run.’ Rebekah stared at him, her breath coming fast.

  ‘And more filling the prisons.’

  ‘Shaun?’ She went over to the fire and dipped a ladle in the stew that was simmering in the pot.

  ‘Who knows?’ he said shortly. There was a silence.

  ‘I met the priest today,’ she said brightly. ‘He was very nice. Enquired after your health and asked how much longer we’d be staying.’

  ‘And what did you say?’ He placed two bowls on the table.

  ‘I said we’d be leaving at the end of the summer.’

  ‘Why did you say that?’ He sat on a chair and drummed his fingers on the table. ‘I’ve got to be earning, Becky. We’ll go to Dublin. I know a few people—’

  ‘Lily.’ The name came out without Rebekah even thinking about it.

  He stared at her. ‘If that’s a joke, it’s not funny.’

  ‘Sorry!’ She spooned the stew into the bowls. ‘But it seems to me, Daniel, that I’m going to be left alone in a Dublin that’s just as dangerous as it was two years ago. I don’t believe the Irregulars’ll give up on the city. It’ll be guerilla warfare again, and woe betide anyone who gets in the way.’

  He stirred his stew, frowning down into the bowl. ‘You’re over-reacting because I’ve got to leave you. But I did tell you what it would be like married to me.’

  ‘I’m not married to you,’ she murmured, hurt because he seemed unable to understand how insecure and scared she felt.

  Daniel looked up. ‘I did ask you. Is that what this is about?’

  ‘Don’t talk stupid,’ she said angrily. She sprinkled damp salt on her stew. ‘I said the other week I wasn’t bothered about being married.’


  ‘So you did. I thought it unlike you.’

  ‘Why?’ She met his gaze squarely. ‘Did Lily want to marry you?’

  ‘Lily again!’ He put down his spoon. ‘What the hell’s this about? She meant nothing to me!’

  ‘It’s easy to say that.’ Some devil was driving Rebekah. She dipped her spoon in the stew. ‘Did you go to bed with her?’

  His eyes hardened. ‘I’m not telling you. But I’ll say this – she would have been happy to! Perhaps I can still make her happy, the way things are going on!’

  ‘Things!’ she banged her spoon down on the table, splattering it with gravy. ‘You mean the way I’m going on, don’t you? Perhaps you’d planned on marrying her? Maybe you’re wishing now we’d never met again?’

  ‘Who’s talking stupid now?’ He stood and rammed his chair against the wall. ‘I don’t know how you can even think that, never mind say it?’ he said vehemently, taking his second-hand coat from a hook on the wall. ‘Haven’t I asked you to marry me? I’m going for a walk, and perhaps when I come back you’ll be talking sense.’

  ‘Me talking sense!’ Rebekah jumped to her feet, folding her arms across her breast. ‘Walking in the pouring rain – you call that sensible?’

  Daniel gave her a look and without another word, opened the door and went out.

  Rebekah stared after him and burst into tears. She did not know what made her go on about Lily. What would Mama, if she could see her from heaven, be thinking of her now? What was God thinking, her living with Daniel and married to Joshua? She rubbed her wet cheek against her sleeve and tried to control her tears. What was she to do?

  A soaked through Daniel returned three hours later. She hurried to help him off with his coat. ‘Where’ve you been? I’ve been worried sick! I thought you weren’t coming back! Come over the fire and get dry.’

  He smiled. ‘It did me good.’ He pulled her towards him and rubbed his wet hair in her face.

  She protested but could not help laughing. ‘You pig!’

  ‘Grunt, grunt!’ He swung her off her feet. ‘I’m a selfish swine, Becky love. You’ve been worrying all the time about us not being married, haven’t you?’

  ‘I have?’ she stammered.