He followed and shouted, ‘Don’t go in there, PLEASE … !’ And he grabbed her arm, but she resisted him and went into the tower.
Hannah stood in the gloom of the four stone walls and wondered why he hadn’t followed her. It was a few moments before he came inside.
David looked at Hannah and she was standing where Joanne had stood months earlier. Her face was blurred as he saw the image of Joanne. He heard voices in his head saying: “Meet me in Keswick, at the Moot Hall. Catch the bus and I’ll bring you home.” Then he heard: “You’re a bastard, Davey. There, I’ve said it. You’re no son of mine… .’ David felt a crushing pain in his chest and his throat constricted.
She watched him sway and his hand rested on the wall, then Hannah thought she saw him grasping the stone with his fingers. She noticed beads of perspiration over his forehead. Then he spoke, but his voice was shrill, as if it was constrained. ‘Hannah please listen to me… .’ he was desperate and grabbed her arm.
‘I can’t, David… . You’ve hurt my arm. You’re always hurting me, and I can’t take anymore… . I’ve tried hard, but I can’t help it.’ And she pulled away from him.
Standing in the place he least wanted to be on this earth, David knew if he left, she would leave too. Then he saw her clearly, and it was Hannah, lovely Hannah and a single teardrop rolled down her cheek. He took a step forward and caught her hand.
‘Are you going to walk out on me, Hannah? Are you going to leave me before you know what’s in this letter? Are you going to judge me again?’ and he waved the envelope before her. ‘This - This will affect my future - your future, I hope!’
‘Do we have a future, David?’
‘Listen to me, but, first, let me take you out of this hell hole!’ He led her by the hand, took her into the office and shutting the door behind him, fell back on the timber as if to keep all the evil out.
‘Read it, please … read it,’ and he pushed the envelope into her hand.
Through a haze of tears Hannah read the document and knew once again she had wrongly judged him. ‘I’m sorry, Davey … I’m so sorry… . This is amazing news!’ her face brightened as she brushed her wet cheeks with her hand. She fell into his arms and wept at her own foolishness and his kindness. And in the seclusion of the small room, he wrapped his arms around her. ‘Hey, hey, hey … come on. Please don’t cry.’
‘I’m so sorry, Davey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you and go in the tower… . I didn’t know where I was!’
‘Forget the tower, Hannah, and listen to me?’ He took a clean and folded handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed her eyes.
‘Don’t you see, Betty’s given me a chance? I lost so much: a father, a home, a livelihood, but I’ve gained. I’ve now got a beautiful home in Hawkshead. I’ve got a wonderful father and enough money that I needn’t worry anymore. I’ve got my family back and, though I’ve lost Betty, she’s given me a future. And I’ve got you, I hope. Do I Hannah?’
She bent her head onto his chest and couldn’t speak. Then looking up she saw the cool gaze of his unfathomable eyes, which irresistibly held her attention and forced her to look at him, as they always did.
He lifted her chin. ‘I want to ask you to marry me, Hannah, but I know you can’t commit yourself - not yet anyway. But will you think about it next year when you leave college?’
He hadn’t said he loved her, he just talked of marriage and Hannah knew from his relationship with Joanne that the two were completely different in his eyes. But she loved him intensely, yet daren’t say it. The words were bursting on her lips but instead she said: ‘You have something, David, you know that? I don’t know what it is… . People like you, and that makes me feel secure. You have tenacity and strength; a kind of northern spirit.’
He stepped forward and his kiss was spontaneous, the passion, strong, but the motive was uncertain.
Then Hannah smiled again, in fact she wanted to laugh; the man she’d once hated had just said he wanted to marry her. She looked at his face; how smart he looked today, how slim and elegant he was. Barry had told her not to prejudge him and she hadn’t listened. Then she quietly replied, ‘I think I would love that more than anything, Davey - to be here in the Lakes with you, in Foxglove Cottage.’
*
David mingled politely among the other guests, keeping one eye all the time on Hannah. He’d decided to tell his mother later about his legacy, but maybe not tell her about his half hearted proposal; he guessed she might not be pleased.
Tony Milton came over. ‘Look I’m off now, mate.’ he slapped David on the shoulders again. ‘I need to see a man about a dog!’
‘If you’ll just give me a minute, I’ll walk down the lane with you.’
David pleaded with Linzi to sit with Hannah, then he jogged down the hill to catch Tony up.
He heard Tony singing out loud and laughing as he approached. ‘So, Dave… . You’ve got yourself a regular bird then have you?’
‘Aye, something like that. And how’s things with you?’
‘Hunky dory, I think… .I’ve got enough work coming in to pay the bills.’
‘You’re not living in some doss-house again are you?’
‘No, I’m not… . I’ll stay up north for awhile. I’ve got a decent flat in Edinburgh. Oh, and yes, I’m still seeing Kelly, my little blonde nurse. Do you remember her?’
‘Yes, the one that hated me!’
‘Yes, that’s the one… . She still hates you by the way!’ Tony stopped in his tracks, thrust his hands in his trouser pockets, and then, with the toe of his shoe, played with some gravel on the lane. ‘You were in big trouble you know, mate. Kelly said the police were around the hospital asking awkward questions. I told her some things about you and Joanne, and what she was really like and I guess she must have defended you.’
David bit his lip. ‘I suppose you both got me out of trouble then?’
‘I guess I owed you one, didn’t I. So, what now, Dave? What are you gonna do?’
‘Stay in Hawkshead, I hope… . I’ve seen a job for a National Park Warden. I’ll go after that, earn a bit of brass and then see what Hannah’s doing this time next year.’
‘So that’s it then mate, sorted?’
‘Well almost.’
They continued walking down the hill, two tidy young men dressed in smart suits; both happy, both changed, building new lives and silently reflecting on their past.
David put his hand in his pocket. ‘I’ve got something for you, but you’ll have to catch it … !’
They stopped and David threw the glass snow scene globe up into the sky. And as the snow swirled and swirled around the tower as it slowly spun, the two men, in contest, raised their arms and jumped high in the air to catch it.
THE END
I wrote Northern Spirit after reading the Herries Chronicles of Hugh Walpole. It inspired me sufficiently to write a modern day saga of a Lake District family.
I have already written a sequel to Northern Spirit which continues with the Keldas family six months into the future. There is also a prequel which goes back to the early 1900’s and follows the course of Betty Keldas and her husband Fred and brother in law, Robert, and how they acquired Keld Head Farm.
We hope you enjoyed reading Northern Spirit.
I would be happy for some feedback. If you want to do so please check out our web site or write a review on Amazon:
www.keldaschronicles.yolasite.com
LAST BOAT TO NOWHERE
Linzi rubbed her eyes and prevented the tears from falling. ‘If our Davey could sort himself out and settle down would you be happy for him?’
‘Of course I would.’ And Kathy wondered where this conversation was going.
‘Do you think he’ll ever come back home!’
‘Linzi… I’ve never thought for one moment that Davey will ever come back…. Not now, and especially since he inherited Betty’s cottage.’
‘Oh, Mum… Why did Dad leave you and him out of his will?’ Lin
zi looked with eyes wide open, expectant and searching. ‘Why did Dad hate you both so much?’
Truth was being wheedled out of Kathy like woodworm from a rotting building, but she wouldn’t let go; Linzi mustn’t know; she couldn’t tell her, not for David’s reputation, his real father’s and, foremost, for her own. So she just said, and not for the first time: ‘no one knew what went through your father’s head, Linzi. He was jealous of Davey and that’s all I can say. But David has benefited more than you have with Betty’s inheritance. So don’t fret for him. He once said he wanted no more to do with Keld Head, so he and your father both got their wish. And as for me, well. I can live here. This farm should be yours, Tom’s and Sarah’s, and rightly so.’
‘So when will it all be sorted, Mum?’
‘What do you mean, love?’
‘Dad’s will and everything.’
‘You know there’s some mix up over the land, Linzi, and until that’s sorted you’ll not become a benefactor of Keld Head. No one will.’
‘But Davey already has his money from Aunt Betty. That didn’t take any time to sort out.’
‘I know love. But the solicitor says things at Keld Head are more complicated. Look, honey. Don’t fret. Things will soon settle.’
‘I know, I know… but could you try to help Davey get straight at Foxglove cottage then?’
Lindsey J Carden ©
To see on Amazon please click on the link below
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009IXWHDI
Other books by Lindsey.
To Paint A White Horse
Available now on Kindle
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007NVHKA2
Northern Spirit Page 38