Just a Travelling Girl

by Chrissie Wren

“I want to be left on my own,” she said, “Jen, will you tell me as soon as Sam gets back?”

  “Of course I will,” replied Jenny and watched as Naomi struggled through the snow and climbed back into her van.

  “Poor Naomi,” she said, speaking her thoughts out loud.

  “The last thing Naomi wants now is your pity,” said Rebecca, “She is trying her best to be strong, we must do the same.”

  It was midday, when Sam and Jack arrived back. The gypsies who had been travelling along the road towards the village, had stopped and made a communal camp fire. Rabbits were roasting on the spit. Their tracks in the snow made them easy to find. Naomi was sitting with a plate of food, uneaten, staring into space. Sam leapt off his horse, passed the reins to Jack, and went straight over to her. He took the plate off her lap and placed it on the caravan steps.

  A pause hung over the camp, food stayed on the forks, some midway to their destination. Only the fire crackled and hissed, as the snow dripped on it from a thawing tree. Sam gently took Naomi’s hands and raised her up. She looked into Sam’s eyes, frightened of seeing what she most feared. Sam smiled.

  “It’s all right, Naomi,” he said, “Ben will be okay. He just has a broken collar bone. He lost a lot of blood, but will be back with us in a couple of days.”

  Naomi flung herself into his arms, crying with relief. Her body shook as she sobbed, then gradually she calmed down.

  “D…does he know about our baby?”

  “Yes,” said Sam, “His first words were to ask if you and the baby were okay. We had to tell him. He wants to see you, so finish your meal. I’ll take you in the gig.”

  Naomi hugged Sam again and dutifully finished her food.

  “Did the doctor report you to the police?” asked Kate when they were alone.

  “Yes, but it’s all taken care of,” he replied.

  Chapter 6

  Full Circle

  Where does our destiny lie? With those we meet or those we pass by?

  “One of the men reported it to the police; they were arrested and taken into protective custody. In case, we came after them!”

  “It’s a sad business, but that’s life, I suppose,” said Sam in a matter-of-fact voice.

  The rest of the journey to Rushbrook was thankfully uneventful.

  Jenny was looking forward to, and dreading, her home-coming. She had changed so much from the tearaway girl who had left almost a year ago.

  The nearer the small company got to Rushbrook, the more Jenny felt that she didn’t belong with the gypsies.

  “We will be there tomorrow at first light,” said Sam, “Are you ready for it?”

  “Ready for what?” replied Jenny.

  “To go back where you belong,” said Sam.

  She could feel a knot tightening in her stomach.

  “You’ve been so good to me, Sam,” she began, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

  “Stop, that’s enough, Jenny, we only borrowed you for a bit,” they both laughed, “Anyway, we will be neighbours for a while, until Matron starts to get complaints.”

  “Matron has sorted all that out,” protested Jenny, “You can stay at Rushbrook for as long as you like.”

  Sam gave her an old-fashioned look; he knew from bitter experience that gypsies were not allowed to stay anywhere for very long. But God willing, they would have a couple of months. That would get the worst of the winter over with.

  Rushbrook House stood at the end of a long tree-lined driveway. High wrought iron gates with sharp points guarded the entrance. The snow had melted on the gravel drive, but still covered the normally green circle of lawn in front of the house. The early morning sun promised further thawing.

  Jenny had manoeuvred Naomi’s caravan skilfully through the gates. Ben found he could only drive for an hour or two, then his arm and shoulder started to ache.

  Excited faces appeared at the windows. Jenny’s hands felt sticky as she gripped the reins tightly in anticipation of seeing Dan again. Suddenly, the front door opened. Dan was a lot taller than Jenny remembered; he towered above Matron. Matron wiped her flour-covered hands down the front of her apron. She had been trying to finish the bread-making, before her guests arrived.

  Jenny’s heart seemed to jump inside her.

  “Hello Dan,” she waved almost dropping the reins. “Can I have a ride, Jenny?” shouted Gemma.

  Dan strode across, carrying Gemma, and jumped effortlessly on to the caravan. He sat Gemma on his knee.

  “It’s so good to see you, Jen,” he said.

  “It’s good to see you too,” she replied, blushing slightly.

  “We’ve got a gigantic Christmas tree,” said Gemma excitedly, “Do you want to help us decorate it?”

  “Shhh, Gemma,” said Dan, “We can tell Jenny all about that later.” Jenny parked the caravan in front of the barn.

  “That will do nicely,” said Sam, “I’ll take over now. You go on up to the house and talk to your old friends,” he winked at her as he unharnessed Tommy.

  “Are you sure you can manage?” stuttered Jenny, trying to put off for as long as possible, her meeting with Matron. Sam didn’t answer; Uncle Joe had caught his attention. There was nothing else she could do but face the music. Dan took her hand and they walked towards the house.

  “Peter,” called Sam, “Come and help me with the horses.” Sam had noticed his son watching Jenny and Dan.

  “It’s best to keep busy, lad,” he said softly, “It would never had worked out.”

  Peter nodded and slowly turned his back on the couple and held Tommy, while Sam pushed the shafts away from the horse’s side.

  Matron gave Jenny one of her bear hugs. “Your hair could do with a good brush,” she fussed.

  “I…I don’t know what to say,” stuttered Jenny, feeling awkward and embarrassed.

  “There is nothing to say,” said Matron, “We are all glad you are back with us safe and sound and I’ll have no more said about it. We have the future to look forward to. There is no point dwelling on the past.”

  A distant look came into Matron’s eyes as she spoke but it was soon replaced by a mischievous sparkle.

  “I’d better introduce my new assistant.” Jenny looked around.

  “Dan?” she said questioningly.

  “Yes, that’s right,” he laughed, “I get one day off a week to go to college, and hopefully in three years, I’ll be a probation officer.” He put his arm round Matron. “She’s a real slave driver, though, keeps me at it from daylight to dark.”

  “Go on with you,” said Matron, pushing Dan away, but Jenny saw the proud way she looked at him and envied the closeness they obviously shared.

  “Now, come on, you two, let’s have a cup of tea and you can tell me all about your adventures.”

  “Oh yes,” said Gemma jumping up and down, “I’ll get the others. Come on, everyone, Jenny’s is going to tell us a story.”

  Jenny smiled at her and thought it is good to be home.

  The day passed quickly; it wasn’t until she slumped on to her comfortable old bed that she gave a thought to the gypsies. She peered out of her bedroom window and could just see the flickering lights of the candles. Soon, one by one, they would be blown out and the camp would be asleep. She shivered and drew the curtains quickly, glad she was back in her old room and a soft bed.

  Jenny was just dropping off to sleep when some strange thoughts kept popping into her head: Rebecca saying, “You will take us all back.” That conversation with Naomi about Rebecca’s baby dying in hospital. Rebecca had never seen her baby actually dead; perhaps, she didn’t die. Then there was Matron saying she had been told that she was abandoned by Gypsies. Could it be that…?

  Jenny rushed along the corridor to Dan’s room. Without knocking, she burst in.

  “Dan,” she shouted, “I think I’ve found Matron’s mother.”

  “But what if you are wrong?” said Dan, trying to calm her down, “Think of the disappointment.”

  �
��I know, it’s true, I just know it, I can feel it in my bones.” Dan laughed.

  “I have missed you,” he said playfully,

  “Well, let’s sleep on it.”

  “I have a very good tutor at college who I’m sure would help us to find some sort of proof.”

  Jenny agreed and went back to her room but she knew once Dan had met Rebecca, he would see the family resemblance between her and Matron.

  The next day, Jenny found out from Naomi the date and name of the hospital where Rebecca’s baby had been left. Dan managed to get Matron’s personal records from the office; with this information, Dan’s tutor was able to confirm that the coincidence was too great. Jenny had to be right. Matron had never been put up for adoption because the authorities did not have her parents’ signature. They could not find the gypsies, so Matron had spent her life in the children’s homes.

  Four days before Christmas, a letter arrived.

  Dear Madam,

  It has been brought to our notice that you are harbouring travellers on council premises. May I remind you that you do not have planning permission, unless they are gone within 7 days, we shall apply to the courts for an eviction order.

  Yours sincerely,

  Councillor Jacobs.

  “It’s so unfair,” said Jenny, stamping her foot.

  “Don’t worry, Jen,” said Sam, “We are used to it. I told you, we wouldn’t be able to stay here for long. It’s a shame we have to go with the weather so unsettled, but I don’t want to cause any trouble for your Matron.”

  “You can’t go,” cried Jenny, appealing to Dan to say something. She didn’t want to spoil the surprise Christmas Eve.

  “Sam,” said Dan, “All the children are so looking forward to the Christmas party, the 7 days won’t be up until after that and even then the council offices will be closed until New Year, can’t you stay until then?”

  Sam scratched his chin. “Well,” he said slowly, “I suppose it would be a shame to disappoint the children.”

  Jenny threw her arms round Sam’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. “That’s decided then,” said Jenny, “This will be the best party you’ve ever been to.”

  It was Dan’s turn to be envious; he hadn’t until now realised how close Jenny was to the gypsies.

  “Are you up to something, Jen?” asked Sam suspiciously.

  “Of course not,” said Jenny, then added, “Well, there will be just a little surprise.”

  The Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner of the old banqueting hall. The gypsy children had helped the Rushbrook ones decorate it with gold and silver painted fir cones. The tinsel sparkled as the coloured lights flashed every 20 seconds; the fairy on the top watched over them. Matron excelled herself; the long table was full of delicious treats. The gypsy children squealed with delight when the cover was pulled off to reveal the food.

  After they had all eaten as much as they could, Jack and his son played their violins. Jenny noticed Peter dancing with one of the fairground girls and felt a twinge of jealousy. She wondered for a moment of what might have been, then Dan took her hand and they followed the dancers round the hall. Dan didn’t know the correct steps but it didn’t matter; they swirled past Peter and his girl, Jenny smiled at him affectionately and Peter smiled back. Jenny was relieved it was okay; they were still friends.

  Dan wanted to ask Jenny to stay with him forever but deep down he knew it was too soon, she wasn’t ready to settle down.

  “Dan,” said Jenny suddenly, interrupting his thoughts, “I’ve decided what I want to do with my life.”

  Dan blushed, for a moment, he thought Jenny had been reading his mind.

  “I’m going to be a solicitor. I want to be in a position to help travellers. It’s so unfair the way they are treated.”

  “You’ll have to go back to school,” said Dan. “Yes, I know and I will. I shall study really hard.”

  “And I’ll help you,” said Dan.

  Jenny looked at him and realised that she loved him but the words wouldn’t come out; instead she said, “Dan, you really are my best friend.”

  “I’d like to be more than that,” he said huskily.

  He bent down and kissed her. A roar went up from the dance floor.

  “Three cheers for Jenny,” someone shouted. The couple pulled reluctantly apart.

  “I think it’s time, don’t you?” said Dan, squeezing Jenny’s hand.

  Jenny coughed. “We have an announcement to make,” she said.

  “Are you getting married?” asked a voice from the back of the hall.

  “N…no,” said Jenny embarrassed, “It’s nothing like that; it’s a reunion. Sam, could you get Rebecca to come over to the house?”

  Sam shook his head. “She won’t come,” he said.

  “Well, can’t you make her?” said Jenny, “Tell her that her long lost daughter is here.” The crowd was dumbstruck.

  “Matron is Rebecca’s daughter,” Jenny continued.

  “Are you sure?” said Kate, looking worried.

  “Yes, Kate, we have checked the records and look, can’t you see the resemblance?” There was a mumble as the gypsies looked at Matron and recognition dawned.

  Matron with tears in her eyes clasped Jenny’s hands. “Wh…where is she? I’ll go to her if she won’t come into the house.”

  “That’s best,” said Sam, “This is going to be a shock for her.”

  “I’ll take her.” It was Rebecca’s eldest son, “After all, this is my big sister.” The gypsies cheered and Matron, for the first time, was given a bear hug just like the ones she gave to others.

  “Oh my goodness,” she said, “I think I’m going to cry.”

  Jenny watched through the window, as they left the warmth and gaiety of the house towards the fortune teller’s caravan. Soon, the darkness enveloped them.

  “Dan,” said Jenny, “I’ve just thought of something.”

  “Oh no,” he groaned.

  She slapped him on his arm playfully. “Listen, what do you think the council can say when we tell them these travellers are Matron’s relatives coming to stay for a while. Families are allowed to have visitors without planning permission, aren’t they?”

  “Jen, you are amazing, you are going to make a great solicitor.”

  Matron arrived at the caravan steps. She could hear a kettle bubbling on a stove. An owl hooted. As she stood there in the darkness, a very distant memory came into her head; she remembered sounds of a fire crackling, the hushed voices of her mother and father, and the warmth and secure feeling of being wrapped in a soft blanket.

  “I’ll leave you to go in on your own,” whispered her new-found brother.

  Matron took a deep breath. Her hand shook as she knocked on the brightly-painted door. There was no answer. She felt nervous and was just about to turn and go, thinking the old lady might be asleep, when she heard a voice from inside the caravan. “Come in, my daughter,” it said, “Welcome home.”

  The End