The Buffer Girls

by Margaret Dickinson

Emily was shaking her head. ‘I knew Josh had been playing this pitch and toss and that they’d been gambling, which I understand is illegal, but I didn’t know that police were after them for it. I had no idea it was so serious.’

  ‘Let me explain, my dear. Since the war, there have been these gangs springing up in the big cities and, sadly, Sheffield’s no exception. And with the unemployment situation getting worse, they are becoming more powerful. The police force is taking steps, I know, but it’s a formidable task.’

  ‘But what do they do?’

  ‘Run illegal betting . . .’ He went on to tell her all he knew about the activities of the gangs in the city.

  Emily was appalled and tears filled her eyes. ‘Oh, how naïve and foolish I’ve been. I had no idea.’

  ‘You mustn’t blame yourself. You came from a peaceful little village where such things are unheard of. And you, too, Trip. You were protected because of who your father is. They’re all cowards – they don’t tackle anyone with a big enough name to put them in the courts. They target the little people, who can’t stand up for themselves.’

  ‘It’s awful, and to think Josh . . .’ Now it explained so much. Why he had lost his money one minute and then been flush the next, how he’d been preoccupied and how, too, he’d seemed so relieved to be going back to Amy. But he had, Emily thought, shown himself to be courageous. He’d come back and told Lizzie of his decision face to face. He hadn’t just slunk away and stayed there. She shuddered to think what might have happened, what Mick might have done if he’d caught up with him, and now she sent up a silent prayer of thankfulness that Josh and the rest of her family were safely back in Ashford.

  ‘You don’t think,’ she said in a small voice, ‘that they’ll follow Josh?’

  Nathan shook his head. ‘No, I don’t. You can get lost in a big city – you can go to ground quickly and easily, but there’s nowhere to hide in a small community who look out for each other. And, Emily, please don’t blame my lovely city. Most Sheffielders are wonderful people. It’s just a few crooks who’ve got the upper hand for the moment, but it will end. One day, someone will come along and sort them out.’

  ‘In the meantime, though,’ Trip said soberly, ‘we’ve got to keep each other safe. Emily, you’re not to walk home from work alone. I’ll come and meet you.’

  ‘What about Nell? She’s no one to look after her.’

  Nathan gave a low chuckle. ‘Nell will be all right. No one will dare to touch Nell Geddis.’

  Knowing Nell as she did, a big, strong lass, who could lash anyone with her tongue and use her fists if she needed to, Emily didn’t question Nathan’s words.

  ‘And I’m sorry I wasn’t truthful with you earlier. I had a visit from Mick Dugdale this evening.’ Gingerly, he touched the bruise over his eye. ‘And it was anything but friendly.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Emily put her hand over her mouth and tears filled her eyes. Trip’s face was thunderous as he muttered, ‘He’s got to be stopped.’

  ‘Anyway,’ Nathan said, ‘it’s high time we were finding you two young people somewhere to sleep. And you’re not going to stay upstairs,’ he declared in a tone that brooked no argument. ‘You’re coming home with me.’

  Forty-Seven

  Lizzie had heard about Arthur’s serious illness and she’d heard, too, that he’d made peace with his son and even with Thomas’s new wife, Emily. The rumours were rife about his two sons now running Trippets’ together.

  So, she thought, Arthur would no longer be seeking any kind of revenge against his daughter-in-law, but Lizzie was not prepared to be so forgiving and, daily, she pondered what she might do to bring about her former friend’s downfall.

  ‘You leave it with me,’ Mick told her. ‘I’ll pay her a visit and her benefactor, Mr Nathan Hawke. I’ve a score to settle with him, an’ all.’

  ‘I don’t want anyone getting hurt, Mick,’ Lizzie said, suddenly afraid that involving her brother could lead to real trouble.

  ‘I thought that’s exactly what you wanted. I know Mr Hawke helped you at first, but then he did the dirty on you, removing his buffing work from you so that you had to close down. And I’m sure it was him influenced your other customers to do the same. He ruined you, Lizzie.’

  ‘Probably, but . . .’

  ‘But what? You’re not going soft on me, Lizzie, are you?’

  ‘No, but . . . it’s just – if I’m honest—’

  Mick guffawed. ‘Honest? The Dugdales? Don’t make me laugh. Just leave it with me, eh? I know what needs to be done.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Best you don’t know. That way you’re not involved, are you?’ He tweaked her nose playfully. ‘You trust your little brother, don’t you?’

  Lizzie didn’t answer. She was not sure that she did.

  Emily glanced up as she heard footsteps – more than one pair – climbing the outside staircase up to the workshop above Nathan’s. The two girls from the Rockingham Street workshop had already gone home, calling in on their way to report on their day’s work and what they had ready to do the next day, but Emily and Nell had stayed working late to complete an order for Nathan. He’d already left his work to go home, shouting up the inside staircase, ‘Goodnight’ to Nell and, ‘See you later’ to Emily. Trip and Emily were still lodging with him and he seemed to be enjoying their company.

  ‘Take your time to find somewhere nice, Thomas,’ he’d said. ‘You should be able to afford somewhere better now.’

  And so, though Trip was looking, they hadn’t yet moved into their own home and had been staying with Nathan for just over two weeks.

  ‘Well, if it isn’t pretty Emily and Nell too.’

  Emily’s smile faded as she saw Mick standing in the doorway. There was a wicked glint in his eyes; a look that Emily didn’t like. And, even more worrying, two of his cronies were standing behind him. But she forced herself to say pleasantly, ‘Hello, Mick. What brings you here?’

  She saw him glance down to the back yard below before stepping inside and closing the door behind him, leaving his two sidekicks outside.

  ‘You do, pretty Emily.’ His lascivious grin widened. ‘Though I hadn’t expected to kill two birds with one stone.’

  Nell came to stand beside Emily, her hands on her hips. ‘What do you want, Mick?’

  His eyes narrowed.

  ‘Revenge.’

  Nell frowned, obviously puzzled. ‘What on earth are you talking about?’

  But Emily felt a quiver of fear; she knew exactly what he was talking about even before he said, ‘For Lizzie. For my sister.’

  Nell shrugged. ‘It was Lizzie who threw Emily out of the business. If you’re talking recriminations, it should be the other way about.’

  Mick stepped closer and thrust his face close to Nell, but she stood her ground. He jabbed his finger towards Emily. ‘Her precious brother jilted our Lizzie. You don’t do that to my sister without having to answer to me.’

  ‘So?’ Still Nell was not prepared to cringe in front of him. Emily was shaking inside but she, too, was determined to show no outward fear. ‘Your quarrel’s with Josh, not with Emily.’

  ‘He’s not here, is he? He’s scuttled off back to Ashford like the yellow coward he is. But his sister’s here and I can hurt him by hurting her, ’cos Josh loves his sister, doesn’t he?’ His nose was almost touching Nell’s as he grabbed her collar and said viciously, ‘Just like I love mine.’

  Emily swallowed her fear. ‘Let Nell go, Mick. She’s nothing to do with this.’

  He glanced scathingly at Emily. ‘Are you stupid, or what? She knows too much now, doesn’t she? Besides, I’ve a score to settle with her precious boyfriend, an’ all. He’s trying to push me out of every scam going. He wants to rule the roost. Well, it’s not going to happen.’

  This was news to Emily, she hadn’t realized that Nell had a boyfriend now. She never talked about him, although she had mentioned . . . Her wandering thoughts were pulled back to the pre
sent with a jerk as Mick walked towards her, menace in every step and every word.

  But Nell was not about to give in. ‘If you harm either one of us, Mick Dugdale, you’ll start a gang war. Is that what you want?’

  Mick didn’t deign to answer her; he just dismissed her warning with a wave. ‘Now then, pretty Emily. What to do with you, eh? What would hurt your dear brother the most?’ He ran his finger down her cheek. ‘A cut down here, d’you reckon? Spoil your pretty face for good an’ all? Or what if me an’ me mates have a good time with the both of you, eh?’

  Still Emily managed to keep still and return his stare, though she shuddered inside to think what fate lay in store for her – and Nell.

  ‘Please, Mick, let Nell go,’ she whispered huskily.

  ‘I don’t give a damn about her. It’s just her bad luck she’s here. Besides, she was a traitor to my sister, an’ all. She came running back to you for work – never even tried to stick by Lizzie. No, Nell’s got a lot to answer for, to say nothing of her precious Steve.’

  Steve? Emily frowned, trying to pull a memory into her mind. Nell had once spoken about someone called Steve being the father of her little girl. Steve, who was a bad ’un . . .

  As if to stop questions being asked, Nell said bravely, ‘Emily’s husband’ll be here in a minute. He’s coming to meet her from work.’

  Mick laughed. ‘Oh, yes, the famous Thomas Trippet. And why do you suppose my two mates are outside keeping watch, eh? He’ll not get in here. He’ll not be able to save his lovely wife. But if he really is on his way here, then he’ll be able to watch the fun, won’t he?’

  The two girls glanced at each other, the same thought in their minds. Could they rush Mick? Overpower him and escape? But outside were his henchmen, two of the biggest bruisers Emily could ever remember seeing. They were the same two who had accosted her that evening in the alley, but this time Mick was not here to save her; he was here to join in.

  As if reading their minds, Mick raised his voice. ‘Pete, Gary, get in here. These two aren’t as helpless as they look.’

  The door flew open, crashing against the wall and the two ugly looking men stepped inside. ‘What d’you want us to do, Mick?’

  ‘Tie ’em up. Hands behind their backs and their feet. And gag ’em too. I don’t want anyone to hear ’em screaming.’

  The biggest and ugliest of the two grinned, showing blackened and broken teeth. ‘Are we going to have a bit of fun, then, boss? You stopped us before, remember? Besides, her precious brother left town owing me money.’

  For a moment, Mick’s eyes glinted and then, with obvious disappointment, he shook his head. ‘No. Shame, but we’d be risking getting caught. Just get ’em tied up.’

  The girls did not give in easily. They bit, they scratched and kicked, but they were no match against three burly men who worked as a team to tie up first Nell and then Emily. Then they stood looking down at the girls writhing on the floor and struggling to free themselves. Emily’s lip was bleeding. Nell had a bruise on the left side of her face and her eye was swelling where Pete had struck her across the face. Their ribs hurt and the ropes were cutting into their wrists and ankles; the gags were choking them.

  ‘Seems a shame to pass up on a—’

  ‘Let’s get on with it,’ Mick said testily. ‘You got the petrol, Gary?’

  Both girls tried to splutter, their eyes wide with fear as they realized what was going to happen. Emily shook her head wildly, but Mick only laughed.

  ‘This’ll teach your brother not to mess with the Dugdale family and when he’s standing over your grave, pretty Emily, he’ll think about what he’s done.’

  Already Gary was splashing petrol over the machines and on the floor. It trickled through the uneven boards to the floor below.

  ‘Not on them,’ Mick said, pointing to the two girls. ‘I want ’em to suffer as the flames get nearer and nearer. Right, you go.’

  Gary threw down the empty petrol can and lumbered towards the door, followed swiftly by Pete. Mick paused in the doorway and looked back at the two girls. For a fleeting moment, there was a look of regret on his face and Emily struggled to sit up, pleading with her eyes, but then his expression hardened and from his pocket he took out a box of matches, struck one and cast it on the floor.

  There was a roar as the petrol caught light and then the door slammed and he was gone.

  Forty-Eight

  In Ashford, the two families had no idea of the trouble in the city. Josh worked hard and his candle-making business was growing steadily. Between him and Bob, their little family was well provided for and he helped his parents whenever he could, both financially and practically.

  Martha had laid aside all her ambitions for her son when she could see how happy and contented he was. Walter was much better and she was besotted with her little grandson. She had found a part-time job with Mr Osborne in his shop and she cleaned at Riversdale House on two days every week.

  ‘There’s so much more washing to do with Arthur’s illness,’ Constance explained to her, ‘and I’d much rather you did it than employ an extra maid.’

  Constance was a frequent visitor to The Candle House and enjoyed playing with Harry. She was hopeful that one day soon she would have a grandchild of her own, but it was early days yet.

  Belle visited Riversdale House often. The two women had confided in each other about their early lives. The contrast between their two upbringings was enormous and yet, they became friends. Arthur’s condition changed little, but he was no worse and the nurse moved in permanently.

  ‘Now, Martha Ryan,’ Grace Partridge said one morning. Martha had become so much more likeable since her return to the village and Grace was big-hearted enough to offer an olive branch. ‘Your old man can be left for an hour or two now, I’m sure, so why don’t you join the Female Friendly Society? Mrs Trippet and I will certainly recommend you as a member. Do say you will?’

  And so Martha found her place back in village society once more and, soon, it was as if they’d never been away. In fact, it was better than before. Only Emily was missing from their family circle.

  ‘But she’s happy in the city, isn’t she?’ Martha comforted herself and couldn’t prevent a little prickle of pride that her daughter promised to be the one who would make something of herself one day.

  So, not all Martha’s dreams had been completely shattered. There was always Emily.

  Smoke filled the workshop and the girls began to choke as the flames crept nearer. Emily wriggled closer to Nell and pushed at her, trying to tell her to roll onto her side. As she did so, Emily shuffled down to where Nell’s hands were tied behind her back. She pushed her gagged mouth close to Nell’s fingers. Understanding, Nell managed to pull the gag away from Emily’s mouth and then Emily pulled at the ties binding Nell’s hands with her teeth. It seemed to take an age for the ties to loosen – time they could not afford – but at least nearer the ground the smoke was not so intense. But the flames licked nearer and nearer. At last, Nell was able to pull her hands free. Immediately she rolled over and sat up, pulled the gag from her own mouth and untied her ankles. Then she released Emily from her bonds.

  ‘Quick,’ Emily gasped. ‘Let’s get out.’

  They crawled to the top of the stairs leading down to Nathan’s workshop and staggered down to the floor below. The air was clearer for the moment, but already the upstairs floor was burning furiously and igniting the ceiling of the ground-floor workshop.

  Holding on to each other, they staggered towards the door leading into the street. Emily grasped the door handle, turned it and pulled.

  ‘Oh no. It’s locked.’

  ‘Bastard!’ Nell muttered and began to hammer on the door and shout as the ceiling gave way and burning boards crashed to the ground.

  ‘The window,’ Emily gasped.

  ‘No good. Look.’

  The window was barred.

  Together, they banged on the door again, coughing from the smoke they’d inhaled.
More burning debris from the upper floor fell around them.

  ‘I reckon this’ll soon be alight,’ Nell gasped. ‘We’ve got to get out.’

  And then they heard the most wonderful sound in the world: a key turning in the lock. They stood back as the door was flung open and Nathan Hawke reached in to pull them out into the fresh air.

  ‘I’ve sent for the fire brigade, but I didn’t know anyone was in there until I heard you hammering on the door. Whatever happened? Though I reckon I can guess.’

  At a safe distance from the fire, the two girls sank to their knees coughing and retching. Then they sat together on the ground, their arms wrapped around each other as the clanging sound of a fire engine came nearer.

  Nathan bent over them and repeated his question, ‘What happened?’

  Before Emily could answer, Nell gasped, ‘Mick Dugdale, that’s what happened.’

  Nathan straightened up, as if he needed no more explanation. ‘I thought as much. Well, this time he’s gone too far and it’s all my fault,’ he murmured, his gaze now on his burning property. The two girls staggered to their feet and moved to the other side of the street as the fire engine drew up and men began to unwind the hose.

  ‘No,’ Emily said shakily, trying to reassure the man, who had been so good to them. ‘It was all about me – well, about Josh, really.’

  Nathan shook his head. ‘No, it’s my fault. I refused to pay him extortion money any more. That’s what had happened the night your house was trashed, Emily. That’s why he gave me a black eye and that’s why he’s burned down my workshops.’ Now that he knew both girls were shaken, yet not seriously harmed, Nathan moved away from them to watch the firemen trying to save what they could of his premises.

  ‘Then he has killed two birds with one stone, as he put it,’ Nell muttered. ‘In fact, three, if you count me, an’ all,’ she added bitterly, wiping the grime away from her eyes with the back of her hand, but only succeeding in making her face even more streaked with black dust.

  ‘Then it’s everything,’ Emily said. ‘He wanted to hurt me because he says Josh jilted Lizzie.’