Lonely Girl

by Cox, Josephine

  ‘I’ve already explained what’s happening. Now get away from here. Go!’

  Rosie was insistent. ‘So where is Daddy now?’

  ‘I don’t know where he is. I never saw him, so he obviously didn’t find me, did he? I expect he got fed up looking, and went back home.’

  ‘But why did he not find you?’ Rosie persisted. ‘I don’t think Daddy would go home without looking in all the barns first. And you were in the hay barn, weren’t you?’ She might have mentioned the stranger, but some deep instinct warned her not to.

  By now the sirens sounded much closer and Molly was frantic to get Rosie and the dog away from there.

  ‘Your daddy must be worried sick about you,’ Molly told Rosie. ‘You can’t hang around here. I’ll see you and your father back at the house. Tell him we had thieves in the hay barn … and there’s been a terrible accident.’

  She took Rosie in a firm hold and marched her along the path. ‘By the way, I don’t know what you might have imagined you saw or heard here tonight, but if I find out that you’ve been telling lies about me or anyone else …’ taking Rosie in a hard grip, she lowered her voice to the softest whisper, ‘… I promise, you will regret it. Do you understand me, girl?’

  Knowing only too well how vicious her mother could be, Rosie gave a nervous nod of the head.

  ‘Good. Because for your own sake, and for the sake of that mutt, you would do well to keep your mouth shut. I mean, wouldn’t it be a terrible shame if you woke up one morning and found your doggy friend lying dead at your feet? And all because you were foolish enough to tell lies about something you imagined you saw and heard.’ Her quiet smile was evil. ‘You do understand what I’m saying, don’t you, Rosie?’

  From the fearful expression on Rosie’s face, Molly was pretty certain the message had got through but she had to be sure. Holding Rosie by the shoulders, she looked her in the eye. ‘So, Rosie, what would you say if someone were to ask what you saw or heard down here tonight?’

  When Rosie was not quick enough to give an answer, Molly yanked her forward. ‘I asked you a question, girl, and I need an answer.’ Then she whispered into Rosie’s ear, ‘So, Rosie Tanner, did you see or hear anything other than me, in this place tonight?’

  Rosie thought about the man her mother had been talking with, the man who was inside the barn. He was crying … acting strangely. And she felt sad for him.

  ‘You little bitch! Answer me.’ Shaking Rosie like a rag doll again, Molly leaned down and pressed her mouth close to Rosie’s ear. Her whispered warning was filled with hatred for this child whom she wished had never been born. ‘Listen to me. There was never anyone else here, just you, me and the mutt. As for the mutt, I’ve already warned you what could happen to him. And don’t think I won’t be rid of him, because in this world there are only devils and angels. I think you know which one I am, don’t you?’

  When Rosie kept silent, Molly hissed, ‘Did you hear what I just said?’

  Rosie quickly nodded.

  ‘I can’t hear you. What did you say?’

  ‘Yes, Mother.’

  ‘Don’t call me “Mother”. I am not your mother. What I am is your worst nightmare. You need to listen to me. If you tell lies about anything that might or might not have happened here, it won’t be you who gets hurt, will it?’

  Fearful, Rosie shook her head.

  ‘Speak up, girl!’ Molly stared into Rosie’s big, frightened eyes. ‘I didn’t catch that. So, tell me now, what did you see here tonight?’

  Rosie had never been so afraid. ‘I never saw anything,’ she murmured, her voice trembling.

  ‘Good girl!’ Molly smiled evilly again. ‘You need to remember that there are never any second chances. No one gives you anything. There is no one to watch out for you. No friends. No kindness. No one to help you.’ She chuckled softly. ‘There is only sorrow, and hatred, and the bad people always win. Angel and devil – that’s you and me, Rosie! Forever on opposite sides of the fence.’

  Her smile slipped away. ‘Now go! Tell your father I’ll explain when I get home.’ She gave Rosie a hefty shove. ‘Move yourself! Get away from here before I lock you up in a dark stable and leave you there all night with the hordes of hungry rats looking for a tasty meal.’

  Shaking with fear and with tears streaming down her face, Rosie hurried away with the loyal Barney at her side. When the ambulance drew into the yard she thought it was safe to turn round, and she gathered her courage to hide behind a tree and watch as the ambulance men hurried into the barn, her mother trailing behind.

  ‘She’s up to something.’ Stroking Barney’s neck, Rosie kept him tight to her. ‘Something’s gone terribly wrong, Barney. I don’t trust her. Why did she not mention the man she was talking to earlier, the man who was inside the barn just now? And why would she say that Daddy must have gone home when he couldn’t find her? I don’t believe that for one minute. Daddy would never have given up looking for her because he loves her too much. He just can’t see what she’s really like!’

  On the way home, she continued to confide in her loyal, four-legged friend. ‘I know she’s lying about there being an injured man in the barn. She told us that the thief ran up to the rafters and fell from the top, and that’s why the ambulance men were called. But I never saw any injured man in the barn. The only person I saw was the man she was talking to earlier.’

  She could see him clearly in her mind. ‘He was definitely not injured, although he looked so sad. He was crying, Barney, really sobbing. I wanted to comfort him, but I daren’t show myself. I peeped about the best I could, but I did not see anyone injured on the ground, like she said. If there was anyone hurt, I would have seen them, wouldn’t I?’ She could not understand why her mother would lie like that.

  ‘I don’t understand it, Barney.’ She glanced back to where the ambulance was waiting. ‘If she was telling lies about there being an injured man in the barn, why is the ambulance here?’

  A new thought crossed her mind. ‘Maybe they’ve come to take the other man away, the one I saw inside the barn. He did not look injured to me, and he did not look like he would ever be able to climb up to the rafters, but he did look so sad.’

  She was half tempted to go back and see who they were bringing out of the barn. Maybe there really was an injured man, but for some reason she just didn’t see him. ‘I daren’t go back, Barney, because she would surely see us, and there would be hell to pay. But something is horribly wrong, Barney. I just know it.’

  She wondered aloud, ‘Don’t you think it’s odd, that she never once mentioned the stranger inside the barn? It’s not like he stole into the barn and she didn’t know he was there, because we heard them talking together, didn’t we? And just now, when she caught me coming out of the barn, she must have known I saw him in there. But she did not ask me straight out if I’d seen anyone. Instead, she threatened to hurt us if I told anyone that I’d seen or heard anything.’

  The more she thought about it, the more curious she became. ‘Also, where was she that Daddy couldn’t find her? And where’s Daddy now? Is he really at home, like she said? Or was she just trying to get rid of us?’

  As she and Barney neared the farmhouse, Rosie continued to chatter to her faithful friend. ‘Do you think I should tell Daddy about the man in the barn? I don’t want to make him angry or anything, but he has a right to know, don’t you think?’

  But the minute she said it openly, she realised she could not tell him. ‘She’ll only deny it, Barney, and if I tell she really will find a way to hurt you, I know it!’

  Rosie had never felt so desperately torn in all her young life.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ROSIE WAS DISTURBED to see the farmhouse was in darkness. ‘What’s going on, Barney?’ Quickening her steps, she ran up the path and tried the door but it was shut fast.

  Taking her front-door key from her coat pocket, she opened the door, and Barney bounced in past her, almost knocking her over, and dropped the walking st
ick on the floor.

  ‘Daddy?’ Rosie called. ‘Daddy, are you there?’ But the silence and darkness that had settled over the house told her her father had not returned.

  She was about to switch on the light when she had second thoughts. ‘We’d best not put the lights on in case it attracts people we don’t want,’ she told Barney.

  She still had the torch she had left with and, cautioning Barney to be quiet, she led him round the house by its dim light, careful to keep the beam close to the ground whenever possible, while thoroughly checking every room.

  ‘There’s no one here, Barney.’ Rosie was close to tears. ‘It’s as if Daddy’s disappeared off the face of the earth. So, what do we do now? Where do we look for him?’

  When she dropped into the armchair, Barney sank down beside her. ‘I don’t understand, Barney,’ she said softly. ‘Mother said he must be here, but he isn’t. Oh, Barney, I don’t know what to think. I can’t imagine where he might have gone.’

  She felt hopelessly defeated but rallied sufficiently to go over all the possibilities.

  ‘What if we missed each other on the way? What if he went out again while we were making our way back here? He must be worried that he couldn’t find Mother the first time, so maybe he went back to have another look.’

  When Barney shuffled closer to her, she reached out and cuddled him. ‘Maybe he thought anything was better than staying here and worrying. We could go back and see if he’s gone back to the big barn. It’s worth a try, don’t you think, Barney? At least we’ll be doing something.’

  Barney had been looking round the room and his worried brown eyes were now staring at the sideboard against the far wall. He sat up straight and began softly growling.

  ‘Seen a mouse, have you, Barney?’ Rosie smiled. ‘You know they sometimes come in off the fields … drive Mother crazy, they do.’

  Her decision was made. ‘Look, let’s go round and see if there are any clues that might tell us where Daddy is.’

  Barney, however, was suddenly running excitedly back and forth across the room. Rosie tried to calm him.

  ‘What is it, Barney? Did you hear something? Ssh!’ She peered nervously through the windows but could see no one outside. ‘It must have been that mouse again. But it won’t hurt you, you big old softy!’

  Her kind words made no difference as Barney padded backwards and forwards, making a strange kind of crying noise.

  ‘Stop that!’

  Rosie went off to check all the doors and windows. Then, double-checking she had her key in her pocket, she opened the front door and patiently waited for Barney, who was now frantically running round in circles in the hall. When she went to him, he shot away into the front room, barking and tearing about in a kind of frenzy.

  Grabbing him tight, Rosie made an effort to soothe him. ‘That mouse really frightened you, didn’t it? Well, I promise you, as soon as Daddy gets back we’ll throw that little rascal outside where he belongs. But now we really have to go. Come on, Barney!’

  But instead of going with her, he turned about and ran back, going straight for the sideboard, where he got up on his back legs and pushed off the ornaments until they were scattered all over the carpet.

  Astonished, Rosie ran to pull him away. ‘Bad boy! What’s got into you? Just look at what you’ve done. Mother will not be best pleased with this …’

  Continuing to scold the dog, Rosie collected the ornaments, one of which was now chipped. The photograph of Molly Tanner and her sister, Kathleen, also had a crack running from corner to corner across the glass.

  ‘Oh, Barney, look, it’s ruined.’ Rosie was cross, but when she saw how upset Barney was she stroked him lovingly. ‘Don’t worry, boy, I won’t tell on you,’ she assured him. ‘I’ll say it was me. I don’t want her to put you out in the yard all night like she did when you knocked the clock off her bedside cabinet.’

  Barney’s peculiar behaviour now worsened, and he began whizzing round in circles, and loudly barking.

  Rosie was increasingly puzzled and a little impatient. ‘Hey! You stop that! What’s the matter with you?’

  As she was reaching out to put the photograph back on the sideboard, Barney’s barking grew louder. Then he leaped up and knocked it clean out of her hands. ‘Barney, no!’ Rosie gave him a hefty shove. ‘Whatever’s wrong with you?’

  Barney looked up with sad eyes, but then he began gently pawing the photograph while making a low, whining noise, as though he might be hurt.

  Rosie was puzzled. ‘I know something’s upset you, Barney, but I can’t think what it has to do with the photo.’

  But when she attempted to replace it on the sideboard again he looked straight at her, barking louder and louder.

  Curious, she looked long and hard at the photograph. It was just a photo of her mother and Auntie Kathleen, and Barney had seen it many times.

  ‘I wish Mother was as lovely as Auntie Kathleen,’ Rosie murmured. ‘How can two sisters be so different?’

  Suddenly, as if a light had gone on inside her mind, she knew why Barney was behaving so badly.

  She laughed out loud. ‘You clever old thing! You think Daddy went to Auntie Kathleen’s house, don’t you? Why didn’t I think of that? Daddy must have searched everywhere for Mother, and when he couldn’t find her he realised she must have gone to see Auntie Kathleen. She’s done that before without telling anyone. Yes … that’s it! That’s where he’ll be. Oh, Barney, you are brilliant.’

  She gave the dog another hug, then ran to the telephone in the kitchen and dialled her aunt’s number. Calm and quiet now, Barney followed and sat by the door, looking very pleased with himself.

  ‘Patrick Riley here. Who is this?’ Hearing his familiar Irish voice was a great relief to Rosie.

  ‘It’s me, Uncle Patrick!’ Rosie assured him, ‘I’m all right, but I was just wondering, is Daddy with you? Only he went out looking for Mother, and I think he must have missed her, ’cause she’s in the barn. But now I don’t know where he is, so me and Barney thought we should call you to see if he’s there with you and Auntie Kathleen.’

  ‘Just a minute, me darlin’.’ Patrick sounded troubled, and then there was a pause, during which Rosie thought she could hear Kathleen’s voice. Then Uncle Patrick was back on the line. ‘Just hold on for a minute, will you, Rosie? Your auntie Kathleen needs to talk with you.’

  ‘Rosie?’ Kathleen sounded anxious.

  ‘Yes, Auntie Kathleen?’

  ‘Listen to me, Rosie. Are you at home?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Barney is with you, isn’t he?’

  ‘Yes, but we’ve been out looking for Daddy. He went out to find Mother, but he never came back. I thought he might be there with you and Uncle Patrick.’

  ‘Rosie, I don’t like you being in the house all on your own.’

  ‘I’m not on my own. I’ve got Barney here.’

  ‘All right, just hang on a minute. Don’t put the phone down.’

  Suddenly, everything was quiet except for the faintest of voices as her uncle and aunt softly conversed away from the telephone.

  Then Patrick was back on the line. ‘Listen to me now, darlin’. I want you and Barney to stay right where you are. Don’t go outside the house. Are the doors locked?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good. So turn off the lights. I know your daddy keeps a torch under the stairs … when you put the receiver down, go and get it. If you can’t find it, ring me back. Make sure you close all the curtains and lock all the doors.’

  ‘I have it already.’

  ‘Yer a good girl. Now then, I’m coming over. I’ll be there quick as I can. Meantime, do not answer the door to anyone.’

  ‘I won’t, I promise. But, Uncle Patrick, you didn’t tell me if my mother and father are with you.’

  ‘Listen, darlin’, I promise I’ll be there in no time at all.’

  He replaced the receiver, leaving Rosie somewhat confused.

  As ever, she reported to Bar
ney. ‘That was a strange kind of conversation,’ she said with a little smile. ‘Uncle Patrick is such a funny man at times. I asked him if my parents were there, and he just said he was on his way here. So does he mean he’s bringing them home, or what?’ She shook her head. ‘I suppose he must be.’

  Either way, she was greatly relieved to have spoken with her uncle and aunt. ‘And besides … we all know what Uncle Patrick is like even when he hasn’t had a drop o’ the good stuff.’

  Barney looked at her in an odd kind of way, his head bent to one side and his ears pricked, almost as though he had no idea what she was talking about. But, from the sorry look in his eyes, she knew he sensed her fears and understood.

  After that short, confusing conversation with Uncle Patrick, Rosie wasn’t altogether sure whether her father was at Kathleen and Patrick’s house or not. But then her darling uncle Patrick had always been a fascinating puzzle to her. He made her laugh, and he had the merriest of natures. His son, Harry, who worked with Daddy, was much like his father, and that was why she loved him so much.

  Relieved that her beloved aunt and uncle were coming to help her and that, thanks to Barney, she would soon be reunited with her parents, she gave him a great big hug.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘I’M REALLY WORRIED, Patrick.’ Kathleen was frantically wringing her hands. ‘What do we tell her?’

  Patrick was equally worried but, being an honest and forthright man, he answered her the only way he knew how. ‘We’ll have to tell her the truth. She has a right to know. For now, though, we need to keep her safe. So I’ll get her and Barney back here as quick as I can and, meantime, you can be thinking of how we can break the news to her gently … although it’s bound to hit her really hard.’

  While his parents talked of the best way to tell Rosie what had happened, Harry was pacing the floor at the back of the room. Eventually he made his way across to sit beside his stepmother, who was quickly getting tearful.