The Buffer Girls

by Margaret Dickinson

  ‘And me because I deserted Lizzie’s sinking ship and came back to you looking for work and he’s got a beef with Steve. But he’s met his match this time. We’re not letting him get away with this. I’ll tell Steve.’

  Emily gasped and stared wide-eyed at her. ‘So, are you still—?’

  ‘Not like that, but I let him see Lucy now and then. He’s the leader of one of the biggest gangs in the city. A rival of Mick’s. He’ll soon see off Mick Dugdale and his thugs.’

  ‘Oh Nell, I don’t think you should. It could start a street war. Let’s tell the police.’

  But Nell shook her head firmly. ‘Our sort don’t go to the police, Emily. That would escalate things and get us into more trouble.’ She stared at Emily for a moment before adding, ‘You know what I mean, don’t you?’

  ‘I understand that, but—’

  ‘No “buts”, Emily. Just leave it with me, eh?’

  Emily sighed. She didn’t like it. She’d always been brought up to be honest and truthful and to be letting Mick Dugdale get away with it was entirely wrong.

  ‘Look, luv,’ Nell went on, trying to explain how things were in her world. ‘The gangs in this city rule the roost at the moment. One day someone will come along who’s on the right side of the law and they’ll sort it all out, but until that happens we’ve got to fend for ourselves and the best way to do that is to keep out of trouble.’

  ‘But what you’re suggesting is asking for more trouble.’

  Nell shook her head. ‘Steve’ll deal with it. He’ll put the frighteners on Mick and his boys. I’ll make sure he understands that’s all I want him to do.’

  ‘And – and he’ll do that for you, will he? I mean – as you’re not still with him.’

  Nell nodded grimly. ‘He’d like to get back with me – more than anything – but I’ve told him that I won’t have Lucy brought up in that sort of a life. And in a way, I think he sees my point.’ For a moment, her eyes filled with tears. And this, more than anything that had happened, shocked Emily. She had never seen Nell cry. ‘He’s a bad ’un, Emily, I know that. But I loved him – still do, if I’m honest – but since Lucy came along, well, it seems my maternal love is a lot stronger than what I feel for him. But he idolizes his daughter. He wouldn’t see any harm come to her – or me. And he’ll protect my friends too. You and Trip will be quite safe, but if we go to the police – and yes, I know we should do that – but if we did, all hell would break loose.’

  ‘Mr Hawke might. We’ve told him who’s responsible.’

  Nell shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think so. Nathan knows the score and if he thinks this is his fault—’

  ‘But it isn’t. Not altogether.’

  Nell squeezed her arm and they both went to where Nathan was standing. Nell touched his arm. ‘We’re lucky you came along. What made you come back?’

  Nathan, still watching the fireman trying to save what they could of the building, murmured, ‘I’d forgotten my glasses.’

  The two girls glanced at each other and then clung to each other laughing and crying. ‘He – forgot – his – glasses!’

  Forty-Nine

  Trip was enraged about the attack and terrified to think how near he’d come to losing Emily. ‘I don’t care what any of you say, I’m going to the police. And I’ve found us somewhere else to live. It’s not fair for us to stay at Mr Hawke’s any longer. We could be bringing yet more trouble to his door.’

  ‘Oh, Trip, Nell says it will just make things far worse if you go to the police.’

  ‘Emily, it’s the right thing to do. Mick Dugdale is a thug and, but for Mr Hawke and his wonderful, marvellous habit of losing his glasses, Mick could be a murderer.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right, of course, but –’ Emily bit her lip – ‘will you talk to Mr Hawke first? Please. It was his premises that were burned down.’

  Trip took her in his arms and held her close, his voice shaky as he said, ‘And it was my wife I nearly lost. But, yes, I’ll do as you ask. I’ll talk to Mr Hawke first.’

  Nathan Hawke agreed wholeheartedly with Trip. ‘These gangs are ruining our beautiful city,’ he said. ‘I’ll come with you, Thomas.’

  By the end of the week, Trip had not only reported the incident to the police with Mr Hawke backing up his story, but he’d also rented a house in a terraced street some distance away.

  ‘And now,’ he said, ‘you must put all that behind you and get back to work at the workshop in Rockingham Street. At least you still have that. Nell and the other two girls depend on you. I’ll talk to the missus at Trippets’ and see if she can put any extra work your way.’

  Emily nodded. She was still shaken after her ordeal, worried about Nell and fearful of reprisals from Mick and his gang after Trip’s visit to the police. On the morning after they had moved into their new home, she called to see Nathan at his house.

  ‘You’re not to blame yourself, my dear,’ he reassured her when she began apologizing. ‘Mick Dugdale had reasons for revenge on all of us, or so he thought. But, no real harm done. As long as you and Nell are all right, that’s all that really matters. The rest is replaceable.’

  Nathan seemed philosophical about what had happened.

  ‘What are you going to do now, with your work place gone too?’

  ‘I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, Emily. I still have the workshop in Rockingham Street and . . .’

  Emily pulled a face. ‘It’s your only workshop now.’

  Nathan chuckled. ‘Well, that’s where you’re wrong. I have some other properties. Not workshops, admittedly, but I have two small shops in the city that are rented out, so, if you intend to continue in business, then I think, if I’m careful, I can afford to retire. The premises that were burned down are well insured, so I shall get a payout, all being well. As you know, the arthritis in my hands is getting worse, but I could always be on hand if you needed any help,’ he added, and there was an eagerness in his tone that told Emily he was not ready to put his feet up permanently quite yet.

  Emily was relieved and, after giving Nathan a quick hug, she hurried to work in Rockingham Street. Nell was already there. She’d got one of the idle machines running and all three girls were working. She looked up as Emily entered but did not stop her work. Instead, she mouthed, ‘You all right?’

  Emily nodded and mouthed back the same question. Nell grinned and said something like, ‘Takes more than that to get me down.’

  Emily gestured towards a box of finished cutlery and then to the door to indicate that she was going out again to make a delivery. By evening, when the girls stopped their wheels and took off their dust-blackened clothes, she was back and able to talk properly to Nell and the other two girls.

  ‘I’ve taken more orders today than I’ve taken in a full week before. Word’s got around, it seems, and everyone is falling over themselves to support us. Isn’t it wonderful?’

  ‘You know what I always say,’ Nell said. ‘“It’s an ill wind that blows no one any good”. Sheffielders – the real people of Sheffield – are like that. Salt of the earth, they are. It’s a pity these gangs are spoiling our image, but I’ve heard say that we’re not the only city with that sort of trouble.’

  Emily sighed. ‘No, I don’t expect we are.’ She bit her lip, uncertain whether to tell Nell about Trip and Nathan’s visit to the police. Then she decided that she had to be truthful with the three girls. Their business had to be based on trust and honesty.

  When she’d finished, there was a moment’s silence and then, much to her surprise, Nell said, ‘Well, I can’t blame them for going. We’ve got to start and make a stand against them sometime. Maybe this is the time.’

  ‘What about—?’ Emily began, but then stopped. She didn’t know how much Ida and Flo knew about Nell’s own association with a gang member. Nell glanced at the other two girls and gave a slight shake of her head, indicating that no, they did not know, so now Emily remained silent, waiting until Ida and Flo had left before asking
again. ‘What about Steve?’

  Nell shrugged. ‘He knows everything and he was as mad as thunder, but I begged him not to start anything that could escalate into gang warfare.’ She grimaced. ‘Not that I think he will take any notice of me.’

  ‘Oh dear,’ Emily murmured.

  Nell was right; Steve Henderson, leader of a rival gang to Mick Dugdale’s and his cronies, did not listen to her and on the Saturday night following the fire at Nathan Hawke’s premises, street fighting between the two gangs broke out.

  News came the following morning that the Dugdales’ house had been broken into, that Bess and Lizzie – the only ones at home at the time – had been unharmed, but terrified as the thugs had smashed their furniture and belongings in front of them, threatening before they left that they would hunt Mick down and kill him.

  ‘Where are Lizzie and her mother?’ Emily asked Trip, who brought the news to the workshop.

  ‘They’ve moved into our old house. They must have had to clear it up, but I expect they felt a bit safer there. And there’s a round-the-clock police presence in the court now, both to protect them and to wait for Mick to return home.’

  Nell gave a derisory snort. ‘They won’t catch him. He’ll be long gone. He’ll have gone to the Smoke.’ She paused a moment and then asked quietly, ‘Any more news?’

  Emily guessed she was angling to hear anything about Steve.

  ‘Rumour has it that Mick’s face was slashed in the fight, but he’s not gone to a hospital in the city.’ Trip, who’d learned all about Nell’s connection with a gang member from Emily, now feigned innocence. He was not going to break Emily’s confidence and if he did hear anything about Steve, he could tell them about it as if it were just general news.

  Gradually, things settled down; Mick was gone and was now the object of a nationwide police hunt. Steve and his gang went to ground and the city was peaceful for a while. The following weekend, Trip and Emily went to Ashford to see their families and to reassure them of their safety. But the news had not reached them and all Emily told them was about their change of address. She didn’t even tell them about the fire or the threats against herself and Nell, though she understood that Trip had told his mother, but had asked her to keep the news to herself.

  ‘Emily doesn’t want to upset her father. It’s all over now and we can move on with our lives. Mick Dugdale’s gone and whilst Steve Henderson is still, shall we say, active, we’re protected by our association with Nell. Oh Mother, Emily’s doing so well. I’m very proud of her. It’s ironic, really, because I think it’s Emily, not Josh, who’s going to make a name for herself in the city.’

  Constance smiled. ‘Martha seems content now. She’s besotted with her little grandson – they all are – and I can see an almost daily improvement in Walter.’

  ‘How about Father?’

  ‘He’s what the medical people call “stable”. He won’t get a lot better physically, I’m afraid, but he does seem more settled in his mind. Belle visits often. In fact, I’ve invited her to stay for a week at the beginning of November and I’ve also asked both her and Richard to spend Christmas with us. I hope you don’t mind.’

  Trip chuckled. ‘I don’t mind at all, but it is a comical situation.’

  ‘Yes, it is rather unusual, I have to admit,’ Constance said with a serene smile. ‘How are you and Richard getting along?’

  ‘Very well – surprisingly. But since you have no problem with either of them, Mother, then neither have I. He’s a really nice lad, actually, and very willing to learn. Mr Bayes has told me he’s training him up to take over all the administrative side when he retires.’

  ‘George? Retiring? Surely not.’

  If Trip noticed his mother’s use of Mr Bayes’s Christian name, he didn’t remark upon it. Instead, he said, ‘It’s not commonly known, but his wife is terminally ill. I think he’s planning to take more time off to care for her. I’ve told him he must do whatever he needs to do.’

  ‘He’s been a loyal employee over many years,’ she murmured, her thoughts seeming to be a long way off. ‘I’m truly sorry to hear that.’ And she was; Constance didn’t like to think of life bringing George Bayes any unhappiness. Then she shook herself and brought her wandering thoughts back to her son. ‘So, everything’s quieter in the city now, is it?’

  ‘Yes, for the moment. Perhaps it’s all over.’

  Back home in the little terraced house that they had worked so hard to make comfortable, Trip said, ‘I think it would be nice if we invited Richard to dinner one evening. Perhaps on a Sunday, when you’ve a little more time to cook.’

  Emily enjoyed being mistress in her own kitchen and, when time allowed, enjoyed experimenting with new dishes.

  ‘Oh, I’d like that,’ she said, her eyes shining. ‘D’you think he’d come?’

  ‘I can only ask.’

  Richard was delighted to be invited to his half-brother’s home. They were getting on very well running the factory as equal partners, but that was not the same as socializing together and being accepted as part of the Trippet family. He arrived with a bunch of flowers for Emily.

  ‘I hope you like them,’ he said diffidently.

  ‘They’re lovely – thank you. Oh my,’ she added, as she looked at him more closely. Strangely, this was the first time she had met him. Emily didn’t visit Trippets’; she liked to keep their businesses absolutely separate. She glanced at Trip and then back again at Richard. ‘You’re so alike, it’s uncanny.’

  The two young men regarded each other solemnly for a moment and then grinned. ‘Yes, we are.’

  ‘You even smile in the same way – your eyes crinkling up.’ Then as an idea struck her, Emily said, ‘Do you like walking in the hills, Richard? Trip does.’

  ‘I – haven’t really had the chance.’

  ‘Then we must all go into the countryside for days out in the summer.’ She laughed. ‘Then I’ll really see if you’re alike.’

  It was a merry evening, and when Richard left, Emily kissed him on both cheeks and said, ‘We must do this often.’

  Richard hesitated for a moment, glancing between them both.

  ‘What is it?’ Trip asked. ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘No, no, it’s just that – you’ve been so extraordinarily kind. I – I can hardly believe it. I mean –’ he paused and looked at Trip – ‘your mother is just an amazing woman to be so – so understanding. She’s welcomed my mother and me into your family.’ He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it, and certainly he could not understand it.

  Trip put his hands on Richard’s shoulders. ‘We’ve all taken our lead from her and, yes, you’re right. She is remarkable. Not many women would have done what she’s done, but,’ he chuckled, ‘from what she tells me, she and your mother have become real friends. And that is truly incredible.’

  ‘I certainly wouldn’t be so understanding if it was you who’d – well, you know.’

  ‘One day I’ll explain it all to you, Richard, old feller, but for now, let’s just be glad that everything has been resolved happily for all of us.’

  Fifty

  Trip wasn’t quite right; there was just one matter unsettled in their lives. Tired though she usually was by the end of the day, Emily lay awake at night sometimes, thinking about Lizzie. When the Ryan family had arrived in the city, her first instincts about the girl had been right: they would either be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. And they had been both, but Emily regretted the animosity Lizzie felt towards her now. She hoped that the girl and her mother were all right and wished she could go to see them, but Trip had advised her not to go anywhere near the court.

  Emily’s venture was doing well and already she was looking for another premises close by to set up another workshop. Whilst other places were hard pressed to find work, her buffer girls were fully occupied and often worked overtime to keep pace with the demand for their expertise. ‘We’re building up a good reputation for careful work,’ Emily reported
back to her workers, for the other three girls had accepted that this was now wholly Emily’s business.

  ‘I don’t know owt about running a business,’ Nell said firmly, ‘as I told you before. I’m just happy you’re employing me and paying me a very fair wage, Emily.’

  Ida and Flo felt the same. For some time the youngest member of the small workforce had doubled as an errand girl whilst learning the trade of a buffer girl in her spare time.

  Emily turned to Flo. ‘You’re coming along very nicely now, Flo, and I’m thinking of letting you become a buffer girl full time and we can look for another errand girl. Are you happy with that?’ She glanced at Nell and Ida.

  ‘We could do with another experienced buffer girl, Emily. You’re bringing so much work in now, we can hardly cope. And it’ll get worse.’

  ‘Hopefully.’

  ‘Eh?’ Nell looked at her in amazement and then, when she realized what Emily meant, she laughed. ‘The girl’s got big ambitions. Well, just so long as you keep me in employment, Emily Trippet, that’s fine by me.’

  ‘I’ll ask around. There have been a few buffer girls laid off recently, I’m sure there will be someone suitable.’

  ‘Don’t get just anyone. She’ll have to be good.’

  The next day the situation was made worse. Ida came running to the little office where Emily worked in the corner of the workshop. She flung open the door, hair cap awry, her eyes wide with fear. ‘Flo’s been collared.’ Emily frowned; she had no idea what the girl meant, but she could see from Ida’s expression that something awful had happened. She jumped up and ran out into the workshop to see Nell step back from her spindle, fling down the handful of spoons she was working on with a clatter and rush over to Flo at her machine. The young girl was almost in a state of collapse at the sight of her own blood.

  ‘She was learning dollying,’ Ida’s voice was shaky with tears. This Emily did understand; it was the final polish with a calico wheel before spoons and forks went to be plated. ‘Her finger rags got caught in the spindle and it’s cut her hand.’