A Daughter's Journe

by Anna Jacobs

  When he named the total price, Jo stared at him suspiciously. ‘Are you sure? That seems very cheap.’

  ‘It is cheap, but then it’s for a business and building I’m part-owner of, so as long as I cover my costs with just a tiny bit extra for my trouble, I’m happy. I’ll have them delivered, shall I?’

  ‘Yes, please. And thank you very much, Mr Willcox. Todd and Nick will be grateful. How soon can you get the things to us?’

  ‘As soon as I can send the shop lad round to the chap who delivers things for me. In about an hour if he’s not out on a job.’

  ‘We’d better get back quickly, then.’ She set off at a brisk pace.

  On the way back she stopped to buy a loaf from the baker’s for their midday meal, which she called ‘lunch’ and Silas called ‘dinner’. Laughing at the differences, they came out of the shop, and she couldn’t resist lingering for a moment to look in the window of a small bookshop just along the road.

  ‘I’ll stop here on my way home and see if they have any second-hand books. I need something to occupy my time in the evenings. The other girls listen to the radio apparently, but I prefer to read.’

  Suddenly Silas yelled, ‘Get back!’, gave her a shove that sent her stumbling helplessly to one side, then ducked down himself.

  As she fell a brick whizzed past her, so close to her head that she let out a cry of shock. It hit the nearby shop window, smashing one of the panes at the level where her head had been. Luckily most of the broken glass fell inside the shop, not on her.

  Silas straightened up, yelling, ‘Get inside quickly!’ as she started to stand up again. She ran into the shop but he set off after the man who’d thrown the missile.

  The owner of the bookshop insisted she crouch behind the counter with him in case any more bricks were thrown and it seemed a good idea.

  ‘Does this happen often?’ she asked.

  ‘Never happened before. Good thing I don’t have a big plate-glass window, eh?’

  ‘You don’t seem all that upset.’

  ‘The mess upsets me but it’s an ill wind … That particular pane had a crack in the bottom corner, only don’t remind anyone of that if the insurance man asks you what happened. I’ll get a new pane of glass out of this without spending a penny.’ He stood up. ‘Look, I think we’ll be safe to stand up now. That lad hasn’t come back. I’m too old to crouch like this.’

  They stood up and he continued chatting. ‘Of course, I’ll have to clear up the mess, but that won’t cost me anything. I just hope whoever it is won’t do it again or they’ll drive away customers, and I definitely don’t want that.’

  She forced herself to continue chatting but kept wondering what Silas was doing, whether he’d caught the man who’d thrown the brick.

  ‘Were you coming in to buy a book?’

  ‘Just to look in the window. I was going to pop in to buy something on my way home from work. Will you still be open around six o’clock?’

  ‘I can be open as long as you like because I live over the shop. Or you could search now.’

  ‘I’m too upset at the moment to enjoy looking at books and anyway, I have to get back to work as soon as Silas returns. I’m at Willcox and Selby Motors, sorting out their office.’

  ‘And you’ve got enemies, it seems.’

  ‘What? But I thought that stone was aimed at your business.’

  ‘I happened to be watching the world pass by, something I often do, and in my opinion, the lad was aiming to hit you. I’d seen him standing watching you from the other side of the street and wondered why. Also, I could see he was holding something under his jacket, so I kept my eye on him. The street was clear of people and he could have thrown the brick earlier without anyone seeing him. Only he didn’t, did he? No, he waited till you were standing looking in the shop window. If that chap with you hadn’t reacted quickly and pushed you out of the way, you could have been hurt badly.’

  He pointed to where the brick was lying on the shop floor amid shards of broken glass and she froze, staring at him then back at the brick, shocked to the core as this sank in. So the trouble hadn’t stopped. Someone was still trying to hurt her and it could only be Rathley. Was he actually trying to have her killed now? Surely he wouldn’t go to such lengths to get back at her? Or was he making a big effort to get rid of her completely and send her fleeing back to Australia?

  With a sick feeling in her stomach, she decided Rathley must have gone mad. He didn’t seem mad when you talked to him, but this wasn’t the act of someone in their right mind.

  ‘I’m John Twomer, by the way.’

  She realised the bookseller was looking at her expectantly and tried to pull herself together. ‘Sorry. What did you say?’

  ‘My name’s Twomer.’

  ‘Jo Melling.’

  ‘Do you know who wants to hurt you?’

  She nodded slowly two or three times. ‘I think so. And this is his second attempt. But I can’t prove anything so I won’t say his name.’

  He went to the door and peeped out. ‘There’s no sign of that young fellow coming back. You stay here in the shop, but keep an eye on the street while I put the kettle on. Call me if anyone approaches. You would like a cup of tea, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘Thank you, but no. I have to get back to work as soon as Silas returns.’ Since there was no one in the street, she nipped outside and quickly picked up her shopping, annoyed to find the loaf was partly squashed. Then she went back inside.

  ‘You should have let me do that.’

  ‘I kept an eye out for anyone approaching. I wonder how Silas is getting on.’

  ‘Your young man, is he?’

  ‘No. A man hired to keep an eye on me.’

  ‘Well, he’s earned his money today, by heck he has.’

  There were footsteps outside and Silas came back into the shop, panting and red-faced. ‘I lost him. Some kids got in the way, and they did that on purpose, I think. But I’ll recognise him again. I never forget a face.’

  ‘Good. This is Mr Twomer, owner of the shop. My friend Silas Johnson. Mr Twomer saw the lad who threw the brick today and says he was watching us, choosing his moment. So that’s an independent witness to identify him as well, if he’s caught. I’d recognise the two men who attacked me yesterday and Nick would recognise one of them, too, so if the police ever manage to catch any of these villains, it won’t just be one person’s word against them.’ It must have been Rathley who’d arranged the other attack and now this one. Who else could it be?

  ‘Did you know this chap who attacked Jo today?’ Silas asked the bookseller.

  ‘Not know , but I’d seen him before around town and I’d recognise him again: dark hair, lank and far too long and a lumpen, pasty face with a nose that had been broken …’

  She clicked her fingers as that description struck a bell with her as well. ‘One of the men who attacked me the first time, the shorter one, looked like that.’

  ‘Perhaps they’re the same person.’ Twomer shook his head. ‘I don’t know his name, I’m afraid.’

  Silas looked at him. ‘Well, if you do remember anything else about him, Mr Twomer, you’d better let Sergeant Deemer know! We’ll be reporting this to the police. Miss Melling could have been seriously hurt.’

  She looked at him in surprise; she hadn’t thought of telling the police. But of course they ought to. Then she smiled at the bookseller. ‘We’ll call in tonight on the way back to my lodgings and I’ll buy a book or two, if that’s all right. I see you have a tray of second-hand books.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to seeing you.’ Twomer opened the door for them, tutting as some glass crunched under his shoes.

  Silas went out into the street first, holding up one hand to keep Jo back and looking round carefully. ‘I can’t see anyone suspicious so we’ll hurry straight back to Todd’s house.’

  They didn’t speak, but saved their breath for walking as fast as they could.

  In strange contrast, it seemed to be very
quiet everywhere. People were probably eating their midday meals.

  Jo had lost all appetite.

  Todd was out but Nick was in the kitchen. He listened to their account of the incident and stared at her in concern. ‘You could have been killed if that brick had hit you on the head.’

  ‘Well, I wasn’t. Really, I’m all right, Nick, but it’s mainly thanks to Silas’s quick action.’ She couldn’t help shivering at the memory of falling helplessly and the sound of smashing glass. She could see that Nick had noticed her reaction.

  His voice became gentler. ‘You’re all right this time, thank goodness, but maybe you should go back to Australia as soon as possible.’

  ‘And maybe not. I don’t run away from problems.’

  ‘Whether you leave or not, I agree with Silas about one thing: we’re reporting this to the police, and to Sergeant Deemer himself not his constable. He’s a wise old bird, not only knows the valley well, but has many years of police experience. Everyone respects him.’

  ‘There’s no need for that, surely?’

  He placed one hand on her shoulder and stared earnestly into her eyes. ‘There is every need, Jo. This is the second time you’ve been attacked and this one was life-threatening, as Mr Twomer will bear out. Are you sure you didn’t recognise the lad who did it?’

  ‘I’m afraid not. I’d know him if I saw him again, though.’ She explained about him possibly being one of her previous attackers.

  ‘We’ll bear that in mind,’ Nick said. ‘Let’s go and report this right now. I’m trying to remember where the police station is. We’ll have to rely on you for that, Silas.’

  The other man hesitated, looking at Jo. ‘Look, why don’t I go and see Sergeant Deemer while you stay with Nick? She’s still a bit upset, whether she admits it or not. Unless you have another driving lesson to give, of course?’

  Jo sought for words to contradict him convincingly and couldn’t find any. Who wouldn’t be upset if someone had tried to hurt them like that?

  Nick patted her arm again and then kept his arm round her shoulders. ‘I’m free for the rest of the day. I agree that it’d be a better idea for you to go, Silas. You saw the whole thing and chased after the man, so you can tell Deemer much more about what happened. If he wants to see Jo, I’ll drive her there later. You’re right, she is a bit shaken up by it.’

  Nick’s touch was comforting and Jo stopped even trying to protest. They were right about her being upset. The attack had been so unexpected – and the brick had passed horribly close to her head. She shuddered again at the memory and allowed herself to lean her head against his shoulder, just for a few seconds.

  ‘That’s settled, then,’ Silas said. ‘Deemer knows my uncle and he knows me well enough to realise I wouldn’t exaggerate. He’ll believe me but I should think he’ll come round to see you as well, Jo, just to check the details. He’s very thorough, well respected. You can trust him. I’ll tell him you’ll be here all afternoon, shall I?’

  ‘Yes. We have to be for the furniture to be delivered.’ She looked at the loaf and grimaced. ‘I squashed the bread when I fell, I’m afraid, but I can still make you a quick sandwich with it.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  When Silas had left, Nick looked at her and smiled slightly at the same time as shaking his head.

  ‘You might be a bit wobbly, but some women would have had full-blown hysterics at what happened.’

  ‘When you grow up on a farm, you don’t get time for having hysterics, whatever happens. It’s that it was done on purpose that upsets me.’

  ‘How did your stepmother cope with that sort of life? She doesn’t seem at all like a farmer’s wife.’

  ‘She isn’t. I found Edna impossible to live with. She thought I was there to act as her slave and wanted me to stop going outside with the dirty animals. We sold beef cattle mostly, you see. As if I wanted to avoid them. The calves are lovely little things. I don’t think she ever went within twenty yards of the animals.’

  ‘Go on.’ He wanted to turn her mind to other things than the attack.

  ‘I moved out within weeks of her coming to live there. I think Dad regretted marrying her by then, but of course he didn’t say so. Though he seemed happy with one side of marriage, so she must have pleased him in bed.’

  He was surprised to hear an unmarried lady mention this, but that was Jo for you, calling a spade a spade, so he replied to her comment just as straightforwardly. ‘That side of marriage is very important, I think. Men’s, um, needs seem to be stronger than women’s.’

  She surprised him by letting out a cackle of laughter, which showed he was succeeding in his attempt to get her to relax.

  ‘Tell that to the cows when it was time for the bulls to mate with them, Nick. They seemed to enjoy it just as much as their partners did.’

  His gasp of surprise was audible and she said quietly, ‘I’d not have said that to anyone else, but I feel I can talk to you about anything. It’s part of life, after all, so I don’t know why people pretend it doesn’t exist.’

  ‘I don’t know, either. And I feel that way about you, as well, as if I can say anything to you.’ He ran one finger very lightly down her cheek. ‘I’m very glad indeed that you weren’t hurt today.’

  Now it was her turn to draw in a sudden breath as his touch seemed to linger on her skin. She turned hastily to the rest of the squashed loaf. ‘I’d better make us some sandwiches.’

  But when she stole a glance sideways, he was still watching her, still smiling. And she couldn’t help smiling back.

  Silas returned nearly an hour later and said Sergeant Deemer would be calling in to see Jo shortly, which he did. Deemer was a burly chap, looking strong in spite of his thinning grey hair. He studied Jo carefully when he was introduced.

  ‘Are you all right to answer some questions, Miss Melling?’

  ‘I’m fine now, thank you. I was a bit shaken up at the time. You don’t expect people to throw bricks at your head.’

  ‘Silas told me about the incident. I hope you don’t mind me going over it again. I have to make sure neither of you misses out any details.’

  She answered his questions patiently, sitting across the table from him, while he laboriously wrote down her replies in a battered notebook.

  After what seemed like a long time, he said, ‘I think that’s everything about this incident. If you remember any other details, do come and tell me about them, Miss Melling.’

  However, Nick intervened. ‘There’s something else we ought to discuss in more detail, sergeant. I first met Miss Melling on the train and then when she was being attacked by two men in Birch End, my passenger and I were able to drive them off, thank goodness.’

  ‘I was coming to that next, sir. Silas told me there had been another incident but he didn’t know much about it. How about you both tell me what happened?’

  They did that and the sergeant asked various questions then hesitated and looked at Jo. ‘Have you any idea at all who might be behind this?’

  She looked at him, not sure whether to say anything.

  ‘You do have some idea, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes. But I have no proof, so I ought not to accuse this person.’

  ‘You could tell me off the record. I won’t note it down or take any action without proof but I’ll be able to bear it in mind.’

  So she had to go over her experiences at Rathley’s house yet again, which made her shudder. The thought that he might have succeeded in his attack had upset her ever since. If she hadn’t been suspicious … if she hadn’t changed bedrooms … Ugh, she hated to remember it.

  ‘I’ll report the incident with the two men and ask around. I won’t forget what you’ve told me about the … other possibilities. And please, miss, be careful for every single minute of the day. Never go out on your own, whatever anyone tells you.’

  ‘I won’t, sergeant.’

  Nick had told her that, too. She might have gone out before the second attack, if something h
ad seemed urgent, but not now. Oh, no. The second attack had shown her how serious Rathley was and had made her certain it was he who was trying to frighten her away, whether it could be proved or not.

  Well, he wouldn’t do it. Her father hadn’t brought her up to be a coward but to face up to problems.

  Shortly after Sergeant Deemer had left, the office furniture was delivered and that took Jo’s mind off the attack, thank goodness. The men put the desks and cupboards in the positions she indicated, then she and Nick worked on filing his paperwork in the various drawers and putting his smaller items on the cupboard shelves.

  Silas asked if anyone minded him standing in Todd’s office, hidden by the curtains, while they did this. He’d be able to keep an eye on passers-by from there.

  Jo paused for a moment. ‘Do you think they’ll be checking this place out?’

  ‘I would if I were after someone. I’d watch the place they worked very carefully indeed and find out about their patterns of behaviour for every hour of the day. So as I’ve nothing else to do at the moment, I’ll continue to watch what’s going on outside, if you don’t mind. I just wish we had those net curtains you’re going to buy.’

  ‘Go ahead. You could be right.’

  Nick went into the other office a couple of times during the next hour and looked at Silas questioningly, but on each occasion he shook his head.

  When Jo started work on Todd’s office, Silas moved to keep watch from the other front room.

  ‘He’s a good chap,’ Nick said. ‘And shrewder than most. If I had a job to offer him, I’d not hesitate to employ him permanently.’

  ‘I wish you had one. I really like him.’ But not half as much as she liked Nick. It really did feel as if she’d known him for years.

  She couldn’t help hoping he felt as strongly attracted to her.

  19

  W ilf went to look at a van in the afternoon after he’d spoken to Charlie. The latter had tipped him the wink about a good one that was for sale. It was a wonder the way that man heard rumours before anyone else did.

  The van had apparently belonged to an older man, a jobbing carpenter who’d died suddenly of a seizure. His widow was now selling up, only keeping what she needed to furnish one room, so that she could go and live with her son and his family over in Rochdale.