District Nurse on Call

by Donna Douglas

  ‘Shut up, Rob!’

  ‘Keep your hair on, I were only joking.’ He sent her a sideways look. ‘What’s up wi’ you, lass? I’ve never known you to be like this.’

  ‘Yes, well, you don’t know me any more, do you?’ she snapped back.

  ‘I know you in’t happy.’

  Carrie looked away, out across the fields. ‘You know nothing about it.’

  Another silence fell. ‘We’re a right pair, in’t we?’ Rob said at last.

  ‘How do you make that out, then?’

  ‘Well, look at us. Both doing our good deeds in secret. And getting soaked into the bargain!’ He gave her a rueful look. His crooked, comical smile under the dripping brim of his cap made her smile in spite of herself.

  ‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘It’s good to see you smile, Carrie.’

  She looked away sharply. It was another three miles to Bowden at least, and the road ahead of them seemed to stretch on forever.

  ‘How do you like working on the farm?’ she asked, changing the subject.

  ‘It in’t too bad. All the fresh air beats being down the pit. And some of the other lads are working there, so we can have a laugh.’

  ‘I’m surprised you haven’t gone back to Durham?’

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. ‘Happen I prefer it here.’

  ‘Why’s that?’

  She knew she had said the wrong thing as soon as she saw the glint in his eye. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’

  ‘It’s nowt to do with me, I’m sure.’ She paused, then said, ‘Anyway, I heard you were stopping here because you’d got in trouble with a girl in Durham.’

  The shock on his face made her smile.

  ‘Who told you that?’ he spluttered.

  ‘It’s all round the village. You should know you can’t keep a secret in Bowden!’

  ‘Oh, aye, I know that all right!’

  The look on his face made her laugh. It felt strange, as if she hadn’t laughed in a long time.

  ‘They also say you’re courting Ellen Kettle now.’

  He looked sharply at her. ‘Tongues have been wagging, in’t they?’

  ‘Is it true?’

  ‘Would you mind if I was?’

  ‘Certainly not!’ Carrie said, tossing her head. ‘Why should I care who you’re courting?’

  ‘Why indeed?’ Rob smiled. ‘I remember when you used to get jealous if I so much as looked at another girl.’

  Carrie glanced away. ‘That’s all in the past. I’m a married woman now.’ She touched the third finger of her left hand, reassured by the ridge of her wedding ring under her glove.

  ‘So you are.’ Rob sounded thoughtful. ‘Anyway, it in’t true. Harry Kettle were a mate of mine, we started down t’pit together. I’m looking out for his widow, nowt more than that.’

  ‘Another good deed?’ Carrie said.

  ‘If you want to put it like that.’ Rob gave her another crooked smile. ‘Don’t look at me like that, Carrie Wardle. I have got a heart, y’know. Even if I don’t care to show it very often!’

  The cart bumped over the track and she slid towards him, into the solid warmth of his body. She jerked away from him, pulling herself together.

  They travelled on in silence, cresting the hill. Carrie was relieved to see the winding tower and coal heaps of Bowden Main coming into view in the valley below.

  ‘You can let me down here, before we get to the village,’ she said.

  ‘Are you sure? I can take you a bit further if you’d like? Save you getting wetter.’

  ‘Here will be fine, thank you.’

  He seemed to read her thoughts because he pulled on the reins, slowing the cart. As it drew to a standstill, Carrie gathered up her belongings, ready to scramble down. But Rob had already jumped to the ground and come round to her side, and was there, with arms outstretched, waiting to help her. Carrie hesitated, then reluctantly put out her hand. The next moment, Rob’s hands had closed around her waist, lifting her down easily.

  He set her on the ground but didn’t release his hold on her. For a moment their eyes locked and Carrie felt a sudden, unexpected flare of attraction. She knew he was going to kiss her, and she didn’t want to stop him.

  But the next moment he had released her and was climbing back up to the seat of the cart. Carrie stood, horrified by her reaction to him, her legs trembling like a newborn foal’s, scarcely able to hold her up.

  ‘I’ll be seeing you, Carrie Wardle,’ he shouted back over his shoulder.

  ‘I’m Carrie Shepherd now,’ she called after him. But Rob only lifted his hand in an insolent wave.

  Rob smiled all the way back to Bowden.

  Carrie had wanted to kiss him. He could see it in her parted lips and the way the pupils of her eyes had widened, half in desire, half in terror.

  He had done the right thing in not responding, although it had taken all his will-power not to do so. But it would have been a mistake. She was too vulnerable, and he would have frightened her off for sure.

  As it was, he had left her wanting more. She might be horrified with herself, but she would be intrigued. He had wakened something inside her, a memory of what they had once had.

  He hadn’t meant to do it. He had come to Bowden intending to make a fresh start, without any complications. He had had enough of them in Durham.

  What a mess that had turned out to be! The lass he’d been dallying with was only meant to be a bit of fun … until her husband found out. Rob didn’t care enough to want to stay around and fight for her, so he’d flitted back to Bowden.

  His stepfather had been glad to see the back of him, and his mother didn’t care. She didn’t need him any more since she had remarried. Her new husband had made it clear he was the man of the house now. He and Rob had clashed heads so many times, his mother was probably relieved when he packed his bags.

  But he certainly hadn’t meant to pick up where he had left off with Carrie. Until he’d found out she had married James Shepherd.

  Rob had always hated James, and knew the feeling was mutual. Everyone knew he had no right to be pit manager. It was a job that usually went to an experienced miner, not a posh lad who liked poetry and was frightened of going underground. He’d only got the job because of his father.

  Rob had had his fair share of run-ins with James Shepherd when he’d worked down the pit at Bowden Main. Rob resented being told what to do by someone so wet behind the ears. James, for his part, had decided Rob was lazy and careless. He was always docking his pay, and once or twice had sent him home with nothing because Rob had dared to answer him back.

  Rob knew the real reason James picked on him was because he was secretly pining for Carrie Wardle. The daft sap was in love with her, anyone could see that.

  Rob used to tease Carrie about it all the time, although she always used to deny it.

  ‘Stop talking nonsense,’ she would say. But Rob knew the poor girl was embarrassed.

  He knew Carrie would never look twice at the pit manager. She was far too spirited for someone as docile as James.

  So when he had come home after a year away to find that they were engaged to be married two weeks later, Rob had scarcely been able to believe it.

  Of course, he understood why she had done it. He had broken her heart, and so she had turned to the first man to show her any kindness. He couldn’t blame her for that. But the thought of her wasting her life on James Shepherd had been almost too much for him to bear.

  So he had set about claiming her back. And, of course, he had succeeded. That day at the gala had proved to Rob that no matter how hard she tried to hide it, Carrie’s heart still belonged to him.

  He had not believed her wedding would go ahead after that. So it was an unpleasant shock to return to Bowden and find out Carrie, his Carrie, was now Mrs Shepherd.

  Mrs Shepherd … He couldn’t even bring himself to use the name. It was all wrong.

  But whatever she called herself now, he knew Carrie still belong
ed to him. He had seen it in her face when he had put his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him. She was lonely and unhappy, and she was his for the taking.

  Perhaps it might be fun to show James Shepherd who had the upper hand now, Rob thought. It would be something to pass the time while he was here. God knows, there weren’t many other girls who had caught his eye. Ellen Kettle was throwing herself at him, but he had no interest in his friend’s widow. Not when he could have the pit manager’s wife.

  Rob laughed to himself at the thought. He would show James Shepherd who was the better man. James might have the money, the big house and the power, but he would never have Carrie Wardle’s heart.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Agnes knew something was happening when the fair arrived on the recreation ground.

  She had seen the brightly coloured trail of caravans coming down the hill into Bowden the day before. Now, as she cycled past after her rounds, she watched them setting up their stalls, the red-and-white-striped awnings fluttering in the warm summer breeze.

  ‘It’s the Miners’ Gala on Saturday,’ Jinny explained later as she made the tea. ‘Every year miners come to Bowden from all the other pit villages. There’s a parade, and competitions and races, and we play games.’

  ‘If you ask me, it’s just an excuse for the men to get drunk all day. It’s a disgrace,’ Mrs Bannister put in. She had made one of her rare appearances in the kitchen to inspect the cutlery. She claimed she was looking for signs of tarnish, but Jinny told Agnes that she really wanted to make sure the maid hadn’t stolen anything.

  ‘My dad says it’s a chance for the miners to get together and show their pride,’ Jinny went on, aiming a scowl at Mrs Bannister’s back.

  ‘I can’t think why they should be proud of themselves, since none of them have done a day’s work in months!’ the housekeeper snapped back.

  Agnes saw Jinny open her mouth to reply and quickly intervened.

  ‘I shall have to walk up to the recreation ground and have a look for myself,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, no, I don’t think Dr Rutherford would approve of that,’ Mrs Bannister said. ‘Besides, I don’t suppose anyone would welcome you, Miss Sheridan. You’re hardly part of the village, are you? In spite of all your efforts,’ she sneered.

  Agnes stared down into her empty cup, crestfallen. She believed she had started to win people’s trust. She had even had a couple of new mothers coming to her clinic recently.

  ‘Take no notice of her,’ Jinny whispered, when Mrs Bannister had finally gone. ‘You’ll be very welcome at the gala, miss. You can go with us, if you like? We’re taking a picnic.’

  ‘Thank you, Jinny.’ Agnes smiled at her gratefully. ‘That’s very kind of you. But perhaps Mrs Bannister is right. I don’t want to antagonise Dr Rutherford any further.’ They had already had too many disagreements recently. Agnes might not agree with the doctor, but she knew she still had to work with him.

  But on Saturday morning Dr Rutherford decided to go on one of his fishing trips, and Mrs Bannister went to Leeds to do some shopping, so there was no one in the house to disapprove. It was a gloriously warm, sunny day, and since Agnes had nothing better to do she decided she would walk up to the recreation ground. She had always enjoyed the excitement of a fair, even though her mother thought they were vulgar and had refused to take her as a child.

  The fair was in full swing when Agnes arrived. She could hear the jaunty sound of a barrel organ playing as she headed up the lane, and the mingled aromas of toffee apples and frying onions lured her on.

  The recreation ground was a sea of people, all dressed in their Sunday best. Half the field was given over to the fair, with its brightly coloured stalls, rides and attractions. The other was marked out for the races, which were due to take place later on.

  Here the men were already mustering for the parade, dozens of colourful banners fluttering, headed up by a proud brass band. Seeing happy, smiling faces all around was a wonderful contrast to all the misery and worry that had hung over the village for so long.

  Agnes found the Chadwicks, the children gathered in a ring around their mother, who was busy handing out jam sandwiches. Baby Ernest was perched on her knee, all dressed up in his best clothes like the other children.

  Jinny spotted Agnes and waved her over.

  ‘I’m glad you came,’ she said, leaning over to wipe smears of jam from her little sister’s mouth.

  Ruth smiled shyly up at the nurse. ‘Would you like to sit wi’ us, Miss Sheridan?’

  Agnes looked at the meagre picnic. There was barely enough to go round all the children as it was. ‘That’s very kind of you, Mrs Chadwick, but I won’t, if you don’t mind?’ She looked around at them all. ‘You look very smart, I must say. Especially little Ernest.’ She smiled at the baby, who gave her a gummy grin back. ‘He’s looking particularly handsome. Is that a new bonnet?’

  ‘It’s just summat I made out of some old scraps.’ Ruth’s cheeks turned pink.

  ‘Mum’s going to enter him in the bonny baby competition,’ Jinny said.

  ‘Now, Jinny, I only said I might …’

  ‘So you should,’ Agnes said. ‘I reckon he stands a very good chance of winning.’

  Ruth beamed with pride. ‘So do I, miss. And I reckon we’ve got you to thank for that,’ she added quietly.

  She cooed at her baby, chucking him under the chin. Pride and delight shone out of her as she looked at him. A few weeks ago she would have had him hidden away under several shawls. But the exercises Agnes had shown her had soon corrected his wry neck.

  ‘You put in most of the hard work, Mrs Chadwick.’

  ‘All the same, we’re very grateful. And if there’s anything we can ever do for you …’

  You already have, Agnes thought. She was sure part of the reason more women had started coming to the clinic was because Ruth had quietly put in a good word for her.

  She left the Chadwicks and crossed the field just as the parade was starting. Carrie Shepherd was there, standing a short distance from the other women, one hand on the handle of a pram, the other shading her eyes from the sun. She was wearing a straw hat and a crimson dress that contrasted beautifully with her sleek raven-black hair and pale skin.

  She jumped when Agnes greeted her. ‘I’m sorry, Nurse, I was miles away.’ She pressed one hand to her chest while she recovered. ‘I was just watching the parade getting ready to start.’

  Agnes gazed over towards the men. ‘It’s a fine sight, isn’t it?’

  ‘Aye, it is. This is the first year my father in’t here to carry the banner for Bowden Main.’ She glanced at Agnes. ‘You know he’s been taken bad again?’

  Agnes nodded. ‘I went to see him this morning.’

  ‘How was he?’

  ‘As well as can be expected.’ Agnes chose her words carefully. ‘He was disappointed to be missing the gala.’

  ‘I bet he was.’ Carrie looked back at the parade. ‘But I daresay he’ll be up and about again in time for the next one. There’s no keeping my father down for long!’

  Her smile trembled, and Agnes wondered if she was putting on a brave face, or if she really understood how poorly Eric Wardle was. But Agnes didn’t want to be the one to tell her, especially not on a day like today. Better to let her enjoy herself while she could.

  Instead she distracted Carrie by asking what the various banners represented.

  ‘Let’s see … That one’s Allerton Silkstone.’ She pointed over to the right. ‘The one next to it’s Glasshoughton, then there’s Caphouse, South Elmsall …’ She strained her eyes to see. ‘But I’m not sure what the one on the far left is …’

  ‘Denby Grange,’ said a voice behind them.

  Agnes turned round to see Rob Chadwick, the young man who had found her bicycle after Christopher Stanhope had made off with it.

  ‘I would have thought you’d know that, Carrie Wardle. Time was when you knew all the colliery banners better than any of us.’

>   Agnes noted the dull flush that crept up Carrie’s throat. ‘That were a long time ago,’ she muttered, her gaze fixed on the parade.

  ‘True. But there are some things you never forget, eh?’

  Agnes looked from one to the other of them. Carrie suddenly seemed very tense, her knuckles white where she gripped the pram. Rob, by contrast, seemed very relaxed.

  ‘Your husband not with you?’ he said, looking around.

  ‘Of course he isn’t!’ Carrie snapped. ‘I dunno why you’d even ask that.’

  ‘But he’s the pit manager. They generally come to the gala, don’t they?’

  It sounded like an innocent enough question, but Agnes saw the way his green eyes gleamed with intent.

  ‘You know he wouldn’t be welcome,’ Carrie muttered.

  ‘And there was me thinking you might have left him at home so you could have some fun?’

  Agnes saw Carrie’s uncomfortable expression and spoke up.

  ‘Hello, Mr Chadwick,’ she said to distract him. Rob turned slowly to face her, as if noticing her for the first time.

  ‘Oh, hello, Nurse. I didn’t recognise you out of your uniform.’ His gaze travelled slowly from her feet to her face. ‘You should dress up like that to see your patients. You’d be a sight for sore eyes at any man’s bedside.’

  Agnes smiled thinly at the well-worn remark. She had met Rob several times when she had visited the Chadwicks to nurse little Ernest, and he never missed a chance to flirt with her.

  He was attractive, there was no doubt about that, with his burnished gold hair and handsome, laughing face. But he knew it too, and that took some of the edge off his appeal for her.

  ‘I’m going to walk further down to watch the parade,’ she said to Carrie. ‘Would you like to come with me?’

  ‘Or you could both come to the fair with me, if you like?’ Rob offered. ‘I could win you another coconut on the shy, Carrie. Like last time, remember?’

  He winked at her, and Carrie’s blush deepened until it almost matched her dress.

  ‘I’d be glad to watch the parade with you,’ she said to Agnes.

  As they walked away, Rob called after them, ‘I’m in the tug-of-war later. Be sure to come and watch me, won’t you?’