Lonely Girl (22 page)

He lapsed into deep thought.

‘Patrick, please be honest with me. When the two of you were in the car, did you let it slip about her father? Really, I won’t blame you if you did, because I know how persistent Rosie can be when she puts her mind to it.’

‘No, Kathleen, hand on heart, I said nothing. Yes, she had a question or two, but please trust me, I did not tell her. As far as I know, the first she heard about John’s untimely death was when she heard it from you.’

‘I’m sorry, Patrick.’ Kathleen said, ‘it’s just that … oh, I honestly don’t know! It must have been my imagination, but there was something that told me she had a heavy weight on her mind. It was kind of odd. I really thought she had learned of her father’s death, but then I knew in my heart that you would not have told her … at least not without me being there. And yet I got the feeling that there was something she wanted to tell me, but then didn’t.’

‘All I know, my love, is that I was extra careful not to mention anything that could make her curious,’ Patrick assured her. He added cautiously, ‘Are you sure you didn’t imagine she was hiding something? Only you’ve been that worried about having to tell her the shocking news, and what with the responsibility falling on your shoulders, your mind must have been all over the place.’

‘No, I swear to you, Patrick, I’m absolutely certain that she had something on her mind … something that was troubling her even before I told her the bad news regarding John.’

‘So, if you’re right, what could it have been?’

‘I have no idea, but I did feel it was something that she was obviously wary of talking about.’ She choked back the tears. ‘Oh, Patrick, I tried to be gentle, because I knew she would be devastated but even then I sadly underestimated what her response would be.’

‘Don’t blame yourself, sweetheart.’ Patrick could see how distressed Kathleen was. ‘We’ll find her, don’t worry.’

‘Oh, Patrick! She was in a terrible state. Before I could stop her, she was out of the chair, and away across the garden. She stopped at the fish pond, sobbing as though her heart would break, and then she was away again. I could hear her crying but I could not get to her. Oh, Patrick, I ran after her as hard as I could. I called for you, but there was so little time. I just needed to go after her and get her back again.’

Kathleen’s heart was heavy with guilt. ‘I’m sorry, Patrick, I did my best … but in the end the bad news was so overwhelming it was never going to be enough.’

She buried her head in her hands and sobbed like a child … deep, racking sobs that brought pain to Patrick’s heart.

He understood, and for a long time he held her tight. ‘I’ve got you, my darling. Trust me, I’m sure young Rosie won’t have gone too far. In the circumstances, it’s understandable that she needed to be on her own for a while. It’s a huge thing for a young girl to take in – that her beloved father is gone.’

His mind was now cast back over many years. ‘Believe me, I know how it feels. It must be ten times worse when you’re just a young and vulnerable girl like Rosie, with limited experience of life, and no experience of death at all. She won’t get over it in a hurry. We need to allow her to cope with it the best way she can, and if that means running off to think it through on her own, then so be it. Whatever it takes. As long as she stays safe.’

They moved slowly homeward then before Kathleen voiced another concern. ‘Patrick, I want to keep Rosie here, with us,’ she confided tearfully.

‘In what way?’ He did not fully understand.

‘I want her to stay here with us, for as long as she needs to,’ Kathleen explained. ‘The thing is, Molly said she was asked to give an account of the accident, so we have no idea how long she might be kept at the police station. Meantime, what about Rosie? There is no one else close enough to keep an eye on her except us. And should she even be going home just yet anyway, with her father not being there and her mother giving not an ounce of love or support?’

Her fears for Rosie were now multiplying tenfold. ‘Rosie needs us, Patrick. You must see that. You do, don’t you?’

‘Yes, of course I do, my love, and you’re right. It would be far too much of an ordeal to take Rosie home just yet. I only hope Molly can see it that way. You know what she’s like. If she wants Rosie there, it will be the devil of a thing for us to change her mind.’

‘That’s true!’ Growing ever more anxious, Kathleen paused to take a breath. ‘I’m sorry, Patrick,’ she shook her head, ‘I just need a minute to think it through.’

‘Of course. But don’t try to deal with this on your own. First of all, you know what Molly’s like. She will try anything to stop us from looking after Rosie, just to be awkward. And, besides, you’ve been through a bit of an ordeal yourself. I don’t want you tiring yourself out. Be quiet now, eh? There will be time to talk when you’re properly rested. We’re only minutes away from home.’

They walked on slowly, but Kathleen had so much to discuss with him that would not wait. ‘With regards to Rosie, Molly has never once felt a single ounce of love for the girl. She never wanted her and, as we both know, she never will. But if she thought it would be good for Rosie to stay with us for a few weeks, she would go out on a limb to stop it from happening, just to be spiteful. So, how will we manage to persuade her about keeping Rosie with us for a while? At least until after the funeral.’

‘Well, I reckon there might be one way of persuading her.’

‘Oh, and how’s that, then?’

‘Much as I never thought to say this, Kathleen, just this once maybe we could ask Molly to stay over as well.’ He had not meant to get drawn into further conversation just now, but because his dear wife was so persistent he felt he had no choice but to answer.

Kathleen, though, was not convinced about his solution. ‘The thing is, Patrick, why would she want to be here with you and me? She doesn’t even like us, for whatever reason. And, as we all know, she cares nothing for Rosie.’

‘There might be another reason why she wouldn’t want us to have Rosie with us on her own.’

‘Oh?’

‘Just think about it, Kathleen. If Rosie agrees to come and stay with us for a time, Molly would be constantly wondering if she might be telling us things that Molly doesn’t want us to know.’

‘Such as what? I think we already know enough of Molly’s dark antics.’

Patrick hunched his shoulders. ‘That may or may not be the case, I don’t know. But I bet you young Rosie has seen and heard many things – bad things – that we don’t know about, and that she would normally never divulge to us or anyone else. Especially to anyone else! We know young Rosie is not one to gossip, but Molly may not trust her. Now do you see what I’m getting at?’

Kathleen was beginning to understand. ‘Yes, you could be right. Molly might be afraid to leave her here with us in case she lets a few nasty tales out of the bag. Lord knows what Rosie must have heard and seen over the years. Probably enough to fuel the local gossips for months.’

‘That’s it. And even if Rosie had not seen or heard anything untoward, Molly could not be certain about that. Molly has a lot to answer for where Rosie is concerned. If ever any tales got out, who’s to say what mischief could be stirred up? Rosie may well see and hear far worse things than we know about. Then again, she may not, but I wouldn’t care to bet on that.’

Patrick shook his head. ‘I would not like to think too deeply about the shameful things Molly might have got up to behind John’s back.’

‘Like what, for instance?’

‘Well, we both know she likes the men. We’ve seen her flirting with anything in trousers. So, who’s to say she hasn’t had more than one shameful fling over the years, particularly when John’s been busy with the harvest for days on end, or down at the cattle market?’

‘You’re absolutely right! And there have been many times when John’s been away overnight, when he’s travelled miles to collect a new brood mare, or when he’s stayed out all night watching for poachers. Other times, he’s been away shifting cattle to faraway markets.’

Kathleen stopped for a rest. ‘Phew! I feel worn out,’ she gasped. ‘It’s all this talk of having Molly under our roof. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’

‘It’s not the talking,’ Patrick informed her sternly, ‘it’s the effort of walking all this way and talking at the same time. Now take it easy.’

As they came into the garden, Kathleen paused to lean on the ornamental stone wall. ‘Yes, you’re right,’ she muttered. ‘I’m not as fit as I would like to be, but it’s not the climbing and sliding over rough ground that’s proving a bit heavy, it’s too many biscuits and home-made fruitcakes.’

‘Come on, you.’ Patrick helped her up to the patio. ‘You’re tired out, what with this business about Molly and whether or not she might try and stop us from having Rosie here with us.’

‘Do you know what, Patrick? I’ve been thinking about it, and yes, Molly could well have grabbed the opportunity to take a number of lovers to her bed. It’s possible that Rosie saw some of that. I mean, we can’t deny that my sister is a good-looking woman, so what man would ever refuse her advances? Even in her adolescence Molly had boys making fools of themselves over her, and she just loved the attention. Sometimes she’d be stringing two or three along at the same time!’

Patrick was not surprised to hear this. ‘Well, there you have it, my darling. If we want Rosie to come and stay with us, it seems to me that we will need to invite the dreaded Molly as well in order to stop her causing any aggravation. So, what do you think?’

‘I believe she could be a burden, although she might accept our offer – if only to keep a wary eye on Rosie. Then again, she could refuse for us to have Rosie, and there is not a thing we could do about it. But would she abuse Rosie if we were not allowed to have her – if she stayed with her mother at the farm?’

‘Ah, Molly is likely to take the opportunity to indulge herself with any foolish man who yearns to spend a night or so with her. She just might allow Rosie to come and stay with us, if only so the child knows nothing of what dirty little games Molly is up to.’

‘Sadly, what you say is very true.’

Taking her on into the house, Patrick led Kathleen down to the parlour, where he sat her in the chair before going to put the kettle on. ‘Shout if you need me,’ he told her as he went, ‘but don’t move from there. Just call out my name, and I’ll come running.’ He smiled at a special memory. ‘Hey, cast your mind back … wasn’t there a song title something like that?’

‘Yes, and I recall that at one time you never stopped singing it. Drove me mad, it did, especially when you’ve got a voice like sandpaper on metal.’

‘Aw, that’s cruel.’

Kathleen had more important matters on her mind, although she realised Patrick was trying to cheer her up and take her mind off the present crisis. ‘Look, Patrick,’ she called, raising her voice as he pottered into the kitchen, ‘let’s get back to the question in hand.’

‘Of course. Sorry, sweetheart, but I reckon we’ve both come to the same decision: to ask Molly if we can have Rosie for a time and invite Molly, too. As you point out, Molly will probably refuse in favour of having the run of the farm – just herself and some fancy man.’

‘Absolutely! But if in the end we land up with Molly as well as Rosie, then, what is it they say: keep your friends close and your enemies closer, or something of that sort? All the same, Patrick, I can’t imagine Molly under our roof. God help us all!’

‘But if it’s the only way …’ he called back.

He returned with a small tray laid with a plate of biscuits and two cups of tea. ‘There we are! Get that down you, and I’ll run you a bath. Ease your bones, it will.’

‘Thanks, love, but I’m not useless, I can run my own bath, thank you. And, anyway, Harry will be waiting for you.’

‘I don’t think so, and don’t argue. Like he says, he can run faster than I can, and he’s more able to squeeze into spaces I might get stuck in. I’ll see to you first, my darling, then I’m off to do my best for Harry and Rosie.’

‘All right, but be quick, won’t you? Harry might need your help more than I do.’ In truth, Kathleen very much doubted whether she still had the strength even to walk up the stairs, never mind to run a bath.

Ten minutes later, Patrick made his way back downstairs. ‘All done. I’ve only half-filled the bath, and it’s lukewarm, the way you like it.’ He took Kathleen by the arm and escorted her upstairs to the bathroom.

‘I’m not sure I can laze in a bath when they’re still out there.’ She was growing more anxious by the minute.

‘Just let me help you then, and I’ll be away all the faster.’

He helped her into the bath, and then helped her to wash.

Sooner than he would have liked, she was asking, ‘Help me out now, Patrick.’ Though she ached from every pore, she wanted to be downstairs and waiting, while Patrick went to find the youngsters.

‘All right then, out you come … if you’re sure?’

‘I am, and stop chatting. You’re wasting time!’

‘And you stop your nagging, Mrs Riley, if you don’t mind!’ He wrapped a large, soft towel about her.

A few minutes later, donned in dressing gown and safe, flat slippers, Kathleen insisted on going downstairs, while Patrick prepared to go after Rosie and Harry.

‘I won’t rest until you’re back, all three of you, and Barney, too,’ Kathleen told him. ‘Oh, and remember to fill that little flask with water – you might need it.’ When he started to argue, she would not hear of it. ‘If you don’t take it, I shall just have to come with you, hurting or not!’

‘You’re a bossy boots, aren’t you, eh? I’m not going to the Antarctic; I’m just going to be climbing a few hills.’

‘Stop moaning, and take it with you!’ Kathleen insisted.

‘All right. But are you sure you wouldn’t like a lie-down on the bed? You look worn out.’ Patrick was worried about her.

‘I’m fine, Patrick. I’ll just stay here and watch for you and the young ones to come home.’

‘I need to think where it might be best to search. I’m hoping Harry will have found Rosie by now, and they could even be on their way back. I know Harry won’t have given up, so try not to worry too much.’ He went to collect his jacket from the hallway.