A Dinner of Herbs (The Bannaman Legacy)

by Catherine Cookson

  Purposely ignoring her crying and the fact that the boys and the doctor were comforting her, Hal bawled, ‘Will you stop your patting session and get on with it?’

  And they got on with it.

  They gave him another stiff dose of whisky. Then John, kneeling on one side of the bed, held his father’s arm, and Tom, standing at the other side, braced himself against the headpost as he aimed to keep his father steady as he writhed and groaned and his teeth brought the blood from his lower lip. Then after giving one high piercing yell, Hal was silent, and the doctor, glancing up towards him, said, ‘That’s good. Now Kate, keep that foot still. And Mary Ellen, hand me that blue bottle from the table.’

  As he poured the liquid from the bottle over the jagged flesh, he said, ‘Let’s hope that stops any further infection.’ Then taking a needle and thread from a case that had been laid on the bed to the side of the board on which the foot rested, he began to sew the flesh he’d had to cut in order to set the splintered bone. This done, he now bound the ankle tightly with the straps of linen. Then placing the smallest piece of wood against the bandaged sole of the foot, he secured this in position in the same way. After which he set the two thin slats of wood down each side of the leg and once again he began winding the torn sheeting round them till the foot and leg were held firmly in place.

  Looking up to where the boys were still holding the inert arms, he said, ‘’Tis done. He’ll be all right now. What I want next is a kind of cage to keep the bedclothes off the leg. Do you think you can knock something up?’

  ‘Oh, yes, yes, Doctor.’ John spoke, but both nodded at him, and when John added, ‘You don’t want us any more?’ the doctor said, ‘No. He’s all right now, except for his temper.’ He pulled a slight face. ‘And you can expect that to be touchy for a few days. Now let me see to that cut before he comes round.’…

  When Hal eventually came round, there was no show of temper, but he lay limp and exhausted, which filled Mary Ellen with concern, for she knew all about reactions to shock and exposure…Only last year a shepherd had died after lying on the hillside all night after a fall. They had found him the next day, still alive, but within two days he was gone…

  It was in the middle of the afternoon when Kate, unable to stand the waiting any longer, said to Mary Ellen, ‘Mam, I’m…I’m going to slip along to see how he is. He…he was out there too you know.’

  ‘Lass, please, you can’t go the day. You’d never get back in the light, and the roads are a bog now. Wait till the morrow. Anyway, he needs you.’ She jerked her head upwards. ‘He’s more content when you’re there. Do this for me.’ She put out her hand and gripped Kate’s arm. ‘Don’t leave him the day.’

  She knew she was going against every fibre of her being when she said, ‘All right. But I’ll go tomorrow. Understand, Mam? I’ll go tomorrow.’

  ‘All right, lass, all right.’

  Hal had a restless night. At one point he became feverish, but by morning the fever had left him and he lay limp and definitely in pain.

  They had taken their turns at sitting up with him during the night and it was five o’clock in the morning when Kate had taken off her clothes and got into bed; so weary was she that it was five hours later when she awoke.

  Getting into her dressing gown, she went hurriedly across the landing and, as she neared the bedroom door, Mary Ellen came out, saying, ‘Oh, there you are, lass. Had a good sleep?’

  ‘I’m sorry. I…I didn’t intend to sleep till this time. How is he?’

  ‘He’s a bit washed out, very tired, but the fever’s gone. That worried me, but he’ll pick up now. He’s asking for you.’ She paused, then said, ‘Be kind to him, Kate, patient like.’

  Kate said nothing but went into the room and towards the bed.

  ‘Hello, Dad…How do you feel?’

  ‘Not too bad, lass. Better than yesterday at this time, Oh aye—’ his chin nobbled as he repeated, ‘better than yesterday at this time. Won’t forget that in a hurry. Sit down, lass.’

  She sat down, and he took hold of her hand and, turning his head on the pillow, he stared at her as he said, ‘Has been an experience this. Me own fault I suppose, going out like a bull at the gap. But I had to do what I thought best and, I’m sorry to say this, lass, I haven’t changed me mind. But…aw, don’t pull your hand away. Let me have me say, and ’tis this. He’s a good enough fellow in his own way, aye. I’ll give him that, and he told me a thing or two about himself and I believe him. But underneath, lass, he’s still a Bannaman. And you know me thoughts in that quarter.’

  ‘Yes, I do, Dad. But you also know mine, don’t you?’

  ‘Aye, that’s the pity of it, that’s the pity of it. But being who I am I can’t change. I can say at this moment. I wish I…’ His words were cut off by the door being thrust open and Mary Ellen stood there, saying, ‘Kate, can…can I have word with you for a minute?’

  As Kate withdrew her hand from his, his old manner asserting itself, he cried, ‘Can’t you come in and have a word with her…What is it? What’s up?’

  ‘I’ll…I’ll be with you in a minute.’ Mary Ellen was nodding at him. Then as Kate passed her she closed the door and said, ‘Charles is downstairs. He…he called in at the farm. Now lass, don’t get agitated—’ she put her hand on Kate’s arm—‘but he found Ben in a bad way, practically delirious, he said. He must have lain down in his wet clothes as soon as he got in yesterday. There was no fire in the place, nothing. He says he’ll have to have the doctor, but that he can’t stay there. He proposes to take him up to his place. But as you know he’s only got the cowman’s wife to see to his needs and her youngest, and neither of them’s very bright. So…so he says, you’—she swallowed—‘you should come along with them and see to him, although I don’t know how you’re going to manage there as he’s only got three bedrooms, and…Wait a minute, lass! Wait a minute!’

  But Kate was already running from her across the landing and into her room. And she went to follow her as Hal’s voice again came from the bedroom, crying, ‘D’you hear me? D’you hear me, Mary Ellen? Tell me what’s up!’ And so, thrusting the door open, she went in and she couldn’t keep the impatience from her tone as she said, ‘All right, I’ll tell you what’s up. Charles is downstairs. He’s found Ben in a state, in a high fever. Lying in the cold house. He must have just dropped once he got in and has lain there since. He’s taking him home to his place, but Kate will have to go with him to see to him.’

  He remained silent, staring at her, then he muttered, ‘Can’t be, he must be as strong as a horse to be still alive after what he did…an’ going to Charles’? No place there for him…’

  ‘Stop agitating yourself. You’ve got to face up to it; she’s going to look after him. You’ve got everybody in this house to look after you, he’s got nobody. By what Charles says, it’s serious. I mean he’s in a serious state.’

  ‘Where’s Charles?’

  ‘Downstairs.’

  ‘Fetch him up.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Woman!’—he closed his eyes—‘don’t aggravate me. Fetch him up.’

  Gritting her teeth, she went out and none too quietly.

  Charles came up, and when he stood by the bedside, Hal said, ‘What’s this I hear? He’s bad?’

  ‘Yes, very poorly I should say.’

  ‘Very poorly?’

  ‘Oh, yes, yes. I’m…well, I must admit, I’m worried. I passed one of the Robsons on the road, they were making for Haydon Bridge. I gave them a message for the doctor.’ Hal looked past him now towards Kate who was coming into the room dragging her coat. Following her came John, and he, seeming to ignore his father, addressed Charles, saying, ‘Tom’s got the cart ready, and Annie’s put some blankets on. Is there anything else you think you’ll want?’

  ‘No’—Charles had turned towards him—‘not that I can think of at the moment.’

  ‘What’s this? What’s this?’ Hal moved restlessly and went to pull himself further
up on the pillows, but stopped and screwed his face up against the pain. And when Mary Ellen went to his side, saying, ‘Now don’t frash yourself,’ he thrust his arm out at her, saying, ‘Let me get a word in, woman.’ Then looking at Charles he said slowly, ‘It goes against the grain for me to admit this openly, but I owe that fellow me life. If he hadn’t come across me after that damned goat hit me I wouldn’t be here now. And how he got me from that shed up to the cottage will always remain a mystery, because the last I remember was him dragging me towards that snow-covered bank that looked as high as all the hills in Alston put together. So no matter what I think of him otherwise, I owe him something, and the only way I can repay it is by seeing that he’s attended to now. So—’ he drew in a long shuddering breath before ending, ‘bring him here.’

  ‘Here?’ The word was small, and he turned on Mary Ellen, saying quietly, ‘You’re not deaf, lass. That’s what I said, here.’

  ‘Well, if you say so, Mr Roystan.’ There was a note of relief in Charles’ tone, and he turned and looked at John, and John said, ‘Aye, well let’s get going, the quicker the better.’

  As they hurried from the room, Kate went to follow them, but stopped for a moment and looked back towards the bed. She did not smile at the man lying there, but their glances met and held for a moment; then she was running across the landing and down the stairs, and as she passed through the kitchen, she cried to Annie, ‘We’re bringing Ben here. ‘And Annie replied calmly, ‘Good. Good, lass. Could be the beginning of the end.’

  It wasn’t until sometime later, when she rushed through the cold house and into the sitting room and saw the huddled still figure lying on the couch in the icy cold room that Annie’s words struck her as ominous, ‘Could be the beginning of the end.’

  Sixteen

  It was thirty-six hours since they carried Ben upstairs and placed him in Kate’s bed, and for most of the time Kate had remained by his side. It was she who, with the help of Annie, had taken off his clothes and bathed his burning body. It was she who constantly mopped the sweat from his running face, and quite often quietened his gabbling with her voice…Between times he would recognise her and his dried throat would croak her name and his cracked lips move in an effort to say more, but always the heaving of his chest cut off his words, and she would stroke his face saying, ‘’Tis all right, my love, ’tis all right. I’m here. I shan’t leave you. Never, never.’

  The doctor had made the hazardous journey again today, and it was hazardous, for the slushed snow had now turned to ice and the roads were more treacherous than ever. He came out of the bedroom and stood on the landing looking at Mary Ellen, and when he made no immediate comment on his second patient she said, ‘What d’you think, doctor?’ As an answer to this, he moved his head in a small despairing movement, then said, ‘I don’t know…at least I do, but I don’t want to voice it. The infection is congesting his chest…Yesterday his heartbeat was strong, but today it has changed. The next twenty-four hours should give us the answer, but’—he drew in a long breath—‘I’m sorry to say it’s out of my hands now. I can’t hold out much hope. In such circumstances I could say he has youth on his side, but that would be a platitude now. I…I think you must prepare Kate.’

  ‘Oh, dear God!’ When she hung her head he put his hand on her shoulder, patting it and saying, ‘She’s having a bad deal all round, that girl. Well, I can do nothing more at the moment. I’ll be over first thing in the morning, that is if it is at all possible. It just wants to snow again on top of this ice and we’re really in for it. Now don’t worry, I’ll see myself out. The girls will have a drink waiting for me.’

  She stood still watching him walking down the landing to the stairs and not until he had disappeared from her view did she move, and then slowly towards her own bedroom. Once inside, she walked as slowly up to the bed and, dropping down onto the seat beside it, she looked at Hal, and he at her, and when he opened with his usual word, ‘Well?’ she answered with a break in her voice, ‘He…he says there’s not much hope.’

  ‘Go on.’ He went to hitch himself away from her, crying now, ‘That can’t be. He’s young and strong. I know that, he must be as strong as a horse.’

  ‘Well, he must have spent his strength because doctor says he can do no more, it’s touch and go within the next twenty-four hours. Oh, Hal, what will she do?’

  He turned his head from her and stared down the bed to the bump of wire that caged his foot. He was the one that should be dying. He was twice the fellow’s age, and had an infection of the chest that had put paid to many a stronger man than himself. Aye, he was the one that should be going. And it would have happened if that fellow hadn’t seen to him. ‘God Almighty!’ He groaned the words aloud and then turned his head slowly and looked at Mary Ellen. And what she next said brought his teeth dragging over his lower lip. ‘I know one thing,’ she said, ‘that if she loses him, we’ll lose her…you’ll lose her, for she’ll never stay here. I don’t know what she’ll do, but she’ll go. I know it in me heart she’ll go. And anyway, if he was by some miracle to get better, there’s still you and your mania that’s bent on keeping them apart. She’s got that in her mind, and he must have an’ all, because as you’ve drummed into both of them, you’re not the kind of man to change his mind. Are you?’

  ‘Mary Ellen’—his voice was low and sad sounding—‘you’ve never hit below the belt before, don’t start now. I know what I am without you puttin’ it in writin’.’

  When he turned his head right round onto his other shoulder, she swiftly put her hand onto his where his fingers were scratching at the eiderdown and she said, ‘I’m sorry, Hal. I’m sorry. But as I see it, either way she has little to hope for.’

  There remained a long silence between them; then, with his head still turned from her, he said, ‘Well, if it’s any news to you, I know when I’m beat. So if hope in that direction will be of any help, you can pass it on to her.’

  ‘Oh, Hal.’ She lifted his hand and pressed against her cheek, but he did not turn his head towards her, for she knew that he couldn’t bear even her to witness his weakness.

  She left him quickly now and, crossing the landing, she quietly entered Kate’s room. Going to the other side of the single bed she saw that Ben was conscious and she bent over him, and he looked at her but could not speak, and now slowly and quietly she said, ‘You’ve got to get better, Ben. D’you hear me? You’ve got to get better. Hal sent you a message. He says, you saved his life, and he’s got to repay you, so don’t go and do the dirty on him. And he knows the only way he can repay you is to be willing to let Kate go to you. And he said to tell you that. And also—’ Her imagination taking over, she added, ‘You can be married as soon as he can put his foot to the ground and walk to your wedding. Now d’you hear me?’

  The dark sunken eyes showed her no sign that he had heard her. But Kate certainly had, and apparently the message had on her the opposite effect from that intended, for now, getting to her feet, she motioned her mother from the bed and outside onto the landing, and there she almost hissed at her, ‘Well! You take a message back to Dad and tell him he’s too late, about a week too late. I know what the doctor said. He told me.’

  ‘Now look you here, Kate.’ Mary Ellen was gripping her daughter’s arms. ‘Where there’s life there’s hope, and where there’s dismay there’s death. And you go back in there with your thoughts set on him going, and by God, he’ll do just that. As I said, where there’s life there’s hope. Will him to keep alive. Look as if you are over the moon at the turn of events. And believe me, it is a turn in events, ’cos never did I expect to hear my man say what he said to me a few minutes gone. It was as if he was broken in spirit. Now, you get yourself back in that room there, girl, and tell that man of yours he’s going to come through. Push it out of your head that he’s not. Just keep telling him that he’s got to. Come the night will be the testing time. But you’ve got till then to work on him. ’ Her voice softening, she now said, ‘I know y
ou’re worn out, lass, but get him over the next twelve hours or so and, pray God, there’ll be a turn for the better. Go on now.’ She pushed her gently back towards the door.

  Kate went slowly back into the room; her face was still set, even grim. When she reached the bed she placed her lips against the side of his dry and panting mouth and, her voice trembling, she said, ‘’Tis going to be all right. It…it’s right what Mam said.’ Then looking into his eyes, she asked, ‘Do you understand me, Ben? Do you hear what I’m saying? Dad is for us. We can be married, and…and from this house. Only you…you’ve got to get well. Do you hear me, Ben? You…you’ve got to get well. You’ve got to fight. You must, Ben.’

  When he coughed and brought up some phlegm, she wiped it from his mouth, then looked aghast at the streak of blood running through it.

  The door opened and Florrie entered carrying a tray. And Kate, going quickly to her, took it from her, saying, ‘Tell Mam I want her.’

  A few minutes later when Mary Ellen entered the room, Kate showed her the piece of linen, and Mary Ellen, looking at it, paused a long moment before she said, ‘Oh, that’s nothing. That comes through the straining from coughing. Your dad’s always bringing up streaks of blood, has for years. That’s nothing.’

  ‘You sure?’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure. Now don’t be silly. Drink up that hot milk, then we’ll wash him down again and get him ready for the night, because it could be a long one.’