Molly turned to see Hawksworth as red with anger and bluster as she could imagine possible. At least now all the members of the jury seemed to be listening, though she wondered whether it was for the right reasons.
“She can’t be trusted.”
The judge brought his gavel down. “Sir, you will not speak again.”
“Ma’am…” Mr Dixon began again. “Please can you confirm how you know the defendant?”
She shot a glance across to her husband and then back to Mr Dixon. She spoke hurriedly. “He came to our farm as a boy, sir, and has been there ever since.”
Molly wondered at the courage of the woman as she answered. She thought that surely Mrs Hawksworth was putting herself in danger by doing so, and was grateful for the bravery of the woman.
“And under what conditions did he live with you?”
“From the start, sir, he was made to sleep in the bunkhouse and take his meals with the other men, even though he was just a boy. He only came into the house when the inspector called.”
“And what inspector was that?”
“The one from New York, sir. He called once a year.”
“And did Mr Flynn receive an education?”
“No, sir… that is to say, just a little, but not in the way you mean.”
There were murmurs from the gallery once again.
“In what way did he receive an education, ma’am?”
“I helped him learn to read.”
“You did what?” Mr Hawksworth was on his feet.
“This is your last warning, sir. Speak again and you will be taken to the cells.” The judge stared at Mr Hawksworth and Molly shivered.
“Please continue, Mrs Hawksworth,” Mr Dixon coaxed in a gentle tone.
“Daniel asked if I could help him when Hawksworth and the boys had gone into town of a Saturday night. I did what I could to teach him.”
Mr Dixon spoke gently and as though trying not to break the spell. “And which boys were these?”
“Jed and Rick, sir. Hawksworth used them for all his footwork, stealing from the farm owner, sir.” Mrs Hawksworth’s eyes were cast down and she wrung the corner of her handkerchief as she spoke.
This time Hawksworth would not be stopped. “The woman’s mad. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.” He was still shouting as he was dragged from the courtroom and led, Molly presumed, to a cell of his own.
“Please come back to the point, Mr Dixon.”
Molly thought the judge sounded weary as he said it and she hoped that would not go against Daniel.
“Yes, Your Honour.” Mr Dixon turned back to the now white-faced Mrs Hawksworth and tried to coax her back to the story. “And was he a willing pupil?”
“Oh yes, sir. He worked so hard at his letters and his reading. He was desperate to be able to understand.”
“And, Mrs Hawksworth, can you tell us what happened when Mr Flynn tried to run away?”
“The first time, he was found by our neighbour and returned to the farm…” She paused, twisting her handkerchief in her hands.
“Go on, Mrs Hawksworth.”
When she looked up, Molly could see the tears staining Mrs Hawksworth’s face. She was clearly struggling to get the words out. “Hawksworth beat him. I don’t mean he struck him once or twice. He beat him until he lay senseless and broken in the yard…” She seemed reluctant to say more.
“Mrs Hawksworth, can you tell us what happened after that?”
She looked nervously across at where Jed and Rick were still sitting and they glared back at her. Biting her lip, she looked up at Mr Dixon. “I… I had to wait until Hawksworth and the boys had gone into town, ‘to celebrate’, they said. Then I went to Daniel and tended his wounds and tried to bring him round.”
Molly could see even from the gallery how pale Mrs Hawksworth looked, and wondered how much more she had to tell. Surely, after this, it would be impossible for her to go back to the farm, and Molly prayed there might be someone who could take her in.
Mr Dixon must have seen her distress too. “Ma’am, if you feel able to continue, can you tell the court what happened next?”
Her eyes flashed up to where Hawksworth had sat and then back to Mr Dixon. Molly saw her chest rise and fall heavily a couple of times before she began to answer. Her hands were clenched into balls as she spoke. “He caught me…”
“Who caught you, Mrs Hawksworth?” Mr Dixon’s voice was gentle.
“Ned, that is, Mr Hawksworth.”
“And what happened then?”
“He beat me too.”
Suddenly, everything seemed to happen at once. A gasp ran around the women present.
Jed shouted, “And why shouldn’t he beat the pair of you? You’re his property.” The judge called ‘Order’ and asked for Jed to be removed from the court.
Once calm was restored, Mr Dixon turned to Mrs Hawksworth, who was now weeping openly into her handkerchief, her shoulders heaving with the sobs. “Thank you for your courage, ma’am. I have no further questions for you.”
Molly thought the cross-examination of Mrs Hawksworth that followed was nothing short of cruel. She was incensed to hear that the woman should know her place and be supportive of her husband, quite apart from when it was suggested that her disloyalty had brought her beating on herself. For the first time Molly understood how, in the eyes of the law, a married woman was no more than the property of her husband and wondered if there were any man good enough to be worth her marrying. She caught Miss Ellie’s eye and knew without words passing that the older woman saw things as she did, and no longer wondered at Miss Ellie keeping her independence after the death of the one man she truly loved. If you had money of your own, then it would have to be a mighty special man, with a kind heart that was worth the marrying of.
Finally, Mrs Hawksworth was left to be, by which time she looked totally wrung out by her ordeal, and yet, Molly thought, she would have so much more to contend with when she saw her husband again.
Daniel’s full story had been told, as far as any were going to hear, and both Mr Dixon and the prosecution summed up their sides of the case. Neither disputed that Daniel had in fact struck Rick with a shovel, nor that he had caused serious injury. However, while one saw it as an unprovoked and vicious attack on a defenceless man, the other saw it as self-defence, by an innocent and victimised youth, against those who held him captive and treated him ill. Now only the jury could decide which perspective of Daniel would be deemed the closer to the truth.
Chapter 29
Molly was anxious as the judge prepared to speak. Daniel looked tired and careworn and she dreaded the thought he might have to return to the cells that night. She wondered how long he might have to stay locked up and whether she would ever see him a free man.
The judge’s gavel fell once again and the court came to order. The judge addressed the foreman, who stood holding a piece of paper which he moved from hand to hand. “Has the jury reached a verdict?”
The man coughed and shuffled slightly. “Yes, Your Honour, we have.”
“Will the foreman please tell the court what that verdict is.”
“On the er…” He coughed again. “On the charges laid out, we find Mr Flynn guilty.”
“Noooo.” Molly couldn’t help herself from calling out. Daniel would surely be going back to prison.
The judge brought his gavel down with force and silence fell. “Thank you, that will be all.” He dismissed the foreman and turned to his notes.
Molly was shaking as she waited for the judge to speak again.
“It is clear to me that Mr Flynn committed the crime of which he is accused…”
The words echoed over and over in Molly’s head. The judge was agreeing that he was guilty. She drifted in and out of what he was saying as he continued.
“However, taking into account the background to this case… full recovery of the victim… enlist in the army without delay…”
Molly’s heart sank. There was jeering fr
om the other side of the public gallery and the court was called back to order, but Molly didn’t want to hear any more.
“… Alternatively, on condition he has full-time paid employment and a place to live…”
Molly only half heard the words. There was open laughter from Rick and some other young men. Who, in a town like this, would go against Hawksworth and employ him? Molly knew it was hopeless.
Suddenly, Miss Ellie was on her feet and attempting to address the judge. “Your Honour…”
“Sit down, woman.” The judge looked angry, while the level of the jeering rose.
Now Mr Dixon was on his feet. “Your Honour, perhaps I may be allowed to speak for Miss Cochrane?”
The judge looked surprised, but nodded his assent. “I believe what Miss Cochrane was about to say was that, as she owns a 2000 acre farm…” The noise around them suddenly dropped and only an odd hushed whisper disturbed the silence. “She will guarantee both Mr Flynn’s employment and his accommodation on her farm in Pierceton, Indiana.” He looked across to Miss Ellie and she nodded.
The judge looked thoughtful and Molly held her breath. She wanted to hug Miss Ellie, but needed to wait for the judge’s decision before any celebrations took place. The pause seemed interminable as they waited in rapt attention.
Finally, the judge nodded his head once. “On condition that you leave the state of Iowa by sundown tomorrow, you are discharged into the custody of Miss Cochrane and must remain with her for a period of two years, or otherwise enlist in the army.”
Molly could not believe what she was hearing. Not only was Daniel a free man; he would be coming back with them. As she hugged Miss Ellie, her tears began to fall. How could she ever thank this woman, who had already given her so much?
Miss Ellie took her gently by the shoulders. “Now stop your blubbering, girl. There will be time enough for that later. We’ve got work to do. There’s a man down there in need of a good bath and a square meal, and besides that we need to thank Mr Dixon.”
Molly wiped away the tears and looked down to where Daniel’s shackles were being removed. She broke into a broad grin and could refrain no longer. “Daniel!” Then she walked briskly to the exit, desperate to see her friend.
William was in high spirits as he came out to join Molly. “We did it. My father did it.” He and Molly did a little jig, as they would have done ten years previously.
William’s father came out shortly afterwards, leading a hesitant Daniel. Mr Dixon was smiling and stepped across to Miss Ellie as Molly went rushing over to Daniel.
She could contain her feelings no longer and threw her arms around him. She stood back suddenly, shocked at how thin he was. Then she took his hands. “Dan…” Her words choked in her throat.
He put a finger to her lips and squeezed her hands. They stood and looked at each other, and grinned.
Suddenly, Molly broke off and turned to Mr Dixon. “Mrs Hawksworth?” She looked around to see if Mrs Hawksworth was there.
He shook his head. “She’s gone.”
“Will she be all right?”
Mr Dixon looked serious for a moment. “I hope so.” But he said no more. Then he guided the young people towards a carriage, which was waiting to take them back to their lodgings.
When they returned to the guest house, all but Daniel were in the mood for celebration. He felt the full weight of tiredness overwhelm him and wanted nothing more than some clean water and a place to lay his head. William showed him to a room and Daniel stood in awe as they opened the door. This was luxury the like of which he had never known. Another clean fresh set of clothes had been laid out for him. He was touched that Mr Dixon had bought for him not finery, such as he himself and William might wear, but clothes fit for the labouring and farm work he knew, and yet with a softness, strength and newness he had never known. He’d heard much of William’s story from Mr Dixon during their time together before the trial and was unsure how to behave around his now gentleman friend.
Once he’d cleaned himself up, he joined the others in the dining room for a little food. Whilst he realised the depths of his hunger, his body was too unused to eating more than a few mouthfuls to take much at a first sitting, but he enjoyed every piece of the food he had.
“I think this rightly belongs to you,” he said shyly, handing the rosary back to Molly. “God knows you came to me in my hour of need. I have never been so happy as when I saw it.”
Molly gently stroked his weathered face. “I knew you couldn’t be truly guilty, Daniel Flynn, and thank God to see you a free man again.” She kissed his cheek.
He slept soundly that night. He would happily get used to having a real mattress instead of board or straw, but he counselled himself not to get too used to the situation, as he had no idea what Miss Cochrane would expect of him and he assumed the bunkhouse on the farm would be much like the one he’d known.
There was nothing to keep them longer in Iowa and Daniel had a deadline to meet. He’d barely had time to thank William or even really get used to that being his friend’s name. He felt rough and ungainly next to this gentleman with whom he’d rolled in the dirt as a child, and words were stilted between them.
“I hope we will meet again,” he said, shrugging with his discomfiture at the situation. “I owe everything to you. I owed you everything years ago and… well… you know.” He looked down at the floor as he spoke.
William looked very formal as he held his hat. “It is I who owe all to you.”
Daniel brought his eyebrows together as he looked to William in confusion, but there was no time for further explanation. Daniel’s train was alongside the platform and Molly and Miss Ellie’s luggage was being hauled aboard. Daniel had no luggage to speak of, except a few things that Mr Dixon and Miss Cochrane had provided him with, but that was more than he’d ever had before.
“Take care of my sister,” William said, giving a slight bow and putting his hat back on.
“I will.” Daniel smiled. “If she’ll let me.” He laughed then dipped his head slightly to Mr Dixon and touched his cap as he did. “Sir, I’m not a learned man and I find words hard. All I can think to say is ‘thank you’, though it don’t rightly seem enough. And, sir, if there is any way to get word to Ben, please tell him I’m free and thank him for me too.”
The older man rested a hand on his arm. “Think nothing of it. I’m only sorry that you didn’t come to us in Dowagiac at the same time as William. You boys could have grown up together if we’d known.”
Daniel glanced across at William and saw a cloud briefly cross his face.
“Thank you, sir, that’s a nice thought, but I’m sure William has been all the son you’ve needed.” He touched his cap again and moved towards the train, where Miss Cochrane stood by the open window and Molly waited to board after a final goodbye to her brother.
As the train rattled through the countryside, Daniel felt as though he were in a dream. Molly slipped her hand into his and they sat a long while in silence. Daniel was enjoying more human contact than he had known for many a year. Her hand was soft and he worried that his calloused palms would hurt her to the touch. He left his hand loose, with hers resting on it, but every so often she would squeeze his and as gently as he could he would squeeze right back.
As the days of travelling passed, Daniel started to regain something of his appetite and began to believe that finally he was safe. He took an interest in asking about the farm and the work that would be involved, and looked forward earnestly to time out in the fresh air once more. The journey was indeed a far happier one than Daniel had known before. This time in heading for a new life he had confidence that it would be a better one. Whilst he knew little of Miss Cochrane or her ways of working, the fact that she had accompanied Molly on her journey and been there when they needed her said all he needed to know. His only regret was that he hadn’t managed to find where old Ben had gone before they left. Miss Cochrane had said that if they could find him he was welcome to join them on the fa
rm. Daniel had left word to that effect, in the hope it might reach Ben one day and that he would follow them to Pierceton, but he doubted that would happen.
At the station in Pierceton, James was there with the cart to meet them and they were soon bouncing their way down the track to the farm.
“Why look, Miss Ellie!” Molly pointed to the ‘Welcome Home’ banner strung between the trees and began to wave furiously as she saw Sarah standing outside the farm.
Daniel felt suddenly shy and nervous, unused as he was to social situations, and as they got down from the cart he hung back behind Molly. Sarah, it seemed, had arranged a whole party for their return and he was made as welcome as any.
“Oh, Molly.” Sarah greeted her friend with a hug.
“Sarah! Why, look at you…”
“Well, if you will go away for a few months, then what do you expect?” Sarah did a careful twirl, showing the full extent of her figure. “And you must be Daniel. I’ve heard so much about you over the years.” Sarah took his arm and introduced him first to her husband and then to the others present.
James, Miss Ellie’s cousin, was delighted to see them back. He was happy to stay on for a couple of weeks, but was then looking forward to going back to his retirement.
“Sir, I’m ready to work as soon as you want me.”
James looked over Daniel with an appraising eye. “It looks to me as though a few square meals might be needed before you do anything too heavy. I’ll show you over the farm in the morning, first thing.”
Cautiously, Daniel asked, “Where am I to sleep? I’d like to put my things down and rest up a while.”
“Miss Ellie’s got that covered. Don’t you fret.” James grinned at him and Daniel wondered what Miss Cochrane had said.
Five minutes later Miss Cochrane gently touched his arm and beckoned for him to follow. She led him not to the bunkhouse as he expected, but across the yard to the house and up the stairs to a small room at the top of the landing.
“Sarah’s done a good job of getting this ready,” she said as she opened the door to the room. “You’re to sleep here.”
New York Orphan (Tales of Flynn and Reilly Book 1) Page 23