Coming Home

by Gwen Kirkwood

  ‘I’ll go up and see him,’ Steven said.

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ she whispered. He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.

  An hour later they heard Fred and Edna come in but they went straight to bed. Steven watched as his mother gently stroked his father’s hand where it lay on the sheet.

  ‘You should go home to bed too, Steven.’

  ‘I’m staying,’ he said firmly. ‘I’ll go home in time for the milking but I’ll come straight back afterwards.’ They talked quietly together.

  ‘I had been thinking we ought to move out,’ Hannah said. ‘Fred has been unbearable since Eddy has been unable to work. Mrs Anderson mentioned a grocer’s shop for sale in her village. It has a house and a large garden and an orchard big enough to let us keep my hens and a pig. We could manage there, just the two of us but I couldn’t bring myself to mention moving in case I upset Eddy, now I wish, oh how I wish, I had.’

  Steven spoke soothingly and at last she dozed. It was very quiet and Steven found his own eyelids drooping. The sky was beginning to lighten when he opened them almost an hour later. He sat quietly, wondering what the future held. Eventually a bird began to sing in the garden and soon the other birds were joining in. How full of joy they sounded. Through the window the sun was rising over the edge of the horizon, painting the sky in glorious colours of aquamarine and gold and pink against the darker blue of the sky. His eyes moved back to his father.

  ‘It seems terrible to think he may never see the wonder of another dawn,’ he whispered softly. Almost as though he heard, his father gave a long sigh.

  ‘Aah…,’ his mother breathed and clasped his hand. A moment later she murmured brokenly, ‘he is at peace now. We don’t know what glories he may see. We mustn’t be s-sad, Steven.’

  Before he left to milk his cows, Steven tapped on Fred’s door to break the news of their father’s death.

  ‘Well thank the lord for that,’ he declared with satisfaction. ‘He’s run up enough bills for that old quack of a doctor.’ Fred showed no trace of grief. Steven closed the door, sickened by his callous response.

  ***

  Megan and her parents were among the friends who attended the funeral and afterwards she and her mother helped to serve tea. Steven realised his mother was deeply affected by his father’s death and she was struggling to keep her emotions under control so he was grateful for their help and support. The number of people surprised him but he realised they were testimony to their liking and respect for his father. When most of the mourners had eaten their refreshments and left the house, Mr Kane, the solicitor, drew Hannah aside.

  ‘Would it be convenient for me to read the will now, Mrs Caraford?’

  ‘The will?’ Hannah repeated vaguely.

  ‘Yes, I would prefer to get it over today if you feel up to it.’

  ‘There’s no need for that,’ Fred interrupted rudely. ‘I was a partner and a joint tenant with my father. Everything belongs to me now.’ He looked smugly at Steven. He turned away, repelled by Fred’s greed and lack of feeling. He prayed his father had managed to provide some small inheritance for his mother, but even if it meant giving up his holding he would repay the money she had given to him.

  ‘Perhaps all three of you would come through to the front parlour?’ Mr Kane said firmly. He eyed Fred with distaste. ‘Even if your father had not made a will the law does not work like that.’

  Steven gasped when he realised what his father had done. Belatedly he must have realised Fred would never improve his idle ways, nor would he care what happened to his stepmother. His cheating at the market had probably been the last straw.

  ‘Mrs Caraford when your husband first came to see me to make his son Frederick a partner he informed me that he had made over a half share in the stock of Willowburn to you when you were married, although I understand the business continued to trade as W.E Caraford & Son, as it had in his grandfather’s time.’

  ‘Y-yes, that’s right. B-but I never thought of it as mine,’ Hannah said brokenly. ‘It was so that I could pay bills and write cheques. Eddy never liked doing that sort of things…’ Her voice shook as she stared at the solicitor.

  ‘Quite so. He transferred half of his own share in the farm to his son Frederick and at that time he assured me you would be willing to put half of your share into the name of his younger son, Steven Caraford when he returned from the army to farm with you all at Willowburn. This would have made all four of you equal partners and…’

  ‘What!’ Fred bellowed. ‘That’s not right. He gave—’

  ‘If you will let me finish,’ Mr Kane interrupted coldly. ‘In the event Mr Steven Caraford did not join the family business on his return from the war, but if I understood correctly this was on account of Mr Frederick Caraford, and not because he did not wish to return to Willowburn.’ He looked questioningly at Steven.

  ‘Yes, that’s correct. We, er, we didn’t get on.’

  ‘That is what I understood your father to mean when I called to see him after his stroke. He was quite clear in his own mind what he wanted to do. So,’ Mr Kane went on, looking sternly at Fred, ‘when your father made you a partner he gave you half of his own share, which is a quarter of all the stock and implements at Willowburn, less any amounts owing by the business. The remainder of his share Mr Caraford left to his wife.’

  ‘What? He can’t have left the rest of it to her!’ Fred shouted ‘You’ve made a mistake. That would mean she owes three quarters of it. You misunderstood—’

  ‘There is no mistake,’ Mr Kane said firmly. ‘He also mentioned that Mr Fred Caraford has recently had fifty pounds in cash from the business. Since Mr Steven Caraford was not a partner it was his father’s wish that he should receive the same amount, fifty pounds, in cash, along with the remaining horse, the two carts and any horse drawn machinery which still remains at Willowburn. The vehicle belongs to Mrs Hannah Caraford, spouse of the deceased along with any cash remaining in Mr Edward Caraford’s personal bank account. I believe this will be only a small amount once the funeral expenses have been paid.’

  ‘No!’ Fred jumped to his feet and confronted Mr Kane. ‘That’s impossible. He wouldn’t do this to me. He couldn’t! I won’t have it. I—’

  ‘This is your father’s last will and testament, Mr Caraford and it is perfectly legal. I believe your father realised his wife would need a major share in the farm if she was to have any influence over its management. He also said she did more than her share of the work, while you – you never pulled your weight.’

  ‘Why the – the…’ Fred almost exploded but Mr Kane went on calmly. ‘From what I overheard today I believe you will not be carrying on the tenancy anyway?’

  ‘No,’ Fred muttered sullenly, ‘but the money for the stock should belong to me, all of it.’

  The solicitor ignored his outburst and went on quietly. ‘So Mrs Caraford, with your permission, I shall ask the auctioneer to call tomorrow to make a list of the stock and machinery as it stands at the time of your husband’s death. This must be done without delay. He will also give an estimate of its value.’

  ‘We don’t need an auctioneer poking his nose into our affairs,’ Fred growled angrily. His eyes were narrowed slyly. Steven knew that look and he didn’t trust him. He guessed he was hatching some scheme or other to get more than his share.

  ‘As the chief executor,’ Mr Kane insisted, ‘It is my duty to see that everything is valued fairly as it stands now. The auctioneer should make his valuation without delay.’

  ‘Perhaps he could wait until after the weekend?’ Hannah said with a placatory glance at Fred. She drew a weary hand across her brow.

  ‘Very well, Mrs Caraford, I shall arrange it for Monday,’ Mr Kane agreed.

  ***

  Steven didn’t usually discuss private business with Jimmy Kerr but when that young man called to offer his condolences the following evening Steven was glad to chat for a while.

  ‘The auctioneer i
s going to value everything on Monday morning but Mother telephoned this morning. Fred has announced he’s emigrating to Canada as soon as he can get his share in cash. Mr Griffiths, the land agent will terminate the tenancy at the November term. I expect there will have to be a farm sale. If the tractor doesn’t make too much I might bid for it, now that you’ve proved how useful it would be around here. I’d like you to check it over for me first? Maybe we could go up to Willowburn one weekend?’

  ‘Aye, I’ll be glad to do that. I’ve served my time so I’m supposed to be a proper mechanic.’ Jimmy grinned. ‘Even if the boss does treat us like tea boys.’

  On Monday morning Jimmy recalled his conversation with Steven when he recognised the land girl from Willowburn. She was driving a Fordson tractor into the workshop area. Fred Caraford drove in after her in a van. Jimmy waylaid his boss on his way to attend to them.

  ‘That’s Steven, my neighbour’s half brother. The auctioneer is supposed to be valuing everything at Willowburn today. Why do you suppose he’s brought his tractor in here?’

  A few minutes later he caught his boss’s eye and a jerk of his head summoning him to one side of the workshop.

  ‘Our Mr Caraford is wanting to sell the tractor. He wants an immediate sale for cash in his hand.’

  ‘What? He can’t do that, can he? I mean it’s not really his, is it?’

  ‘Not if you’ve got your story right. The price he’s asking is too good to be true, even for cash on the dot. I’ve told him I’ll send a mechanic to look over it. You go. Keep him as long as you can while I make a couple of phone calls. Tell him the brakes are not safe to drive it back home and mention a few faults.’

  Jimmy saw his opportunity to assess the tractor on Steven’s behalf and he set to work, chatting to Edna as he made various checks. The boss was longer than he had expected and he was running short of things to check. Out of the corner of his eye he recognised a couple of the local policemen heading to the corner that served as the office behind a glass and wood partition. Fred was tapping impatiently on the roof of the van.

  ‘Aren’t you finished yet? D’ye ken what ye’re doing?’

  ‘Aye I do. You’d sue the firm if we let you drive this away as it is.’

  ‘It was safe enough to get here,’ Fred snapped.

  ‘You said I wouldn’t need to drive it back,’ Edna said in alarm. ‘You said you’d take me back in the van.’

  ‘Now Sir,’ one of the policemen drew Fred aside, ‘can I have a word? I believe you’re trying to sell stolen property.’

  ‘What? You’re crazy…’

  ‘You’re wanting to sell this tractor?’

  ‘What if I am? It’s mine to sell.’

  ‘Is it? Are you sure about that?

  ‘Course I’m sure! I’m the owner.’

  ‘Part owner, if my information is correct,’ the policeman said. ‘I understand you’re from Willowburn and Mr Fraser, the auctioneer is up there doing a valuation right at this moment?’

  ‘So? What if he is?’ Fred demanded sullenly.

  ‘So I’m suggesting that you are trying to defraud the beneficiaries of your late father’s estate out of this tractor by bringing it here this morning and trying to sell it for cash.’ The policeman’s tone was steely now and Fred looked at him warily.

  ‘It’s mine. It should all be mine! We don’t need an auctioneer!’

  ‘Since you have just lost your father we’ll let you off with a caution this time, Mr Caraford, but in my book you’re stealing from his estate and depriving other beneficiaries. Now get this tractor back where it belongs or send the auctioneer here to value it. Any further attempts to defraud or steal and you will not get off so lightly.’

  ‘I’m not driving it back!’ Edna declared. ‘He says it’s not safe.’

  ‘We’ll get it repaired and let you know,’ the boss said amiably, ignoring Fred’s sullen scowl.

  ***

  Megan’s spirits sank every time she thought about going back to college. She had spent more time visiting Steven than she had dared to hope, partly due to having her driving licence and her father’s generosity with the car but also because Steven had welcomed her so warmly. If only she knew how he really felt.

  Hannah Caraford had lost no time in dealing with Fred. He was unbearable to have in the house. She refused Steven’s offer to repay her own money. Instead she had taken out a temporary bank loan herself and paid Fred his share of the valuation. So long as he got his money he didn’t care that both he and Edna were leaving her in the lurch with all the animals to care for. All he cared about was money and getting away from Willowburn for good. In spite of the work, it was a relief to Hannah to see him go and she waved him and Edna off on the first leg of their journey. They planned to stay with Edna’s aunt in Westmorland and then make arrangements to visit her cousin in Canada.

  Steven was dismayed when he heard Fred and Edna had both left the minute Fred had his share of the money.

  ‘I think the authorities would allow Johan to lodge with you, Mother, if we vouched for him. He is keen to work and I’m thinking of taking him on myself if he wants to stay at Schoirhead now the other POW’s are going home.’

  ‘I’ve been wondering who I could get to help until the November term. The rent is paid until then and Mr Griffiths is quite willing to terminate the lease at short notice.’

  ‘This is what I would like to do, Mother, and I think Father would have approved. He was worried when he thought the cattle which Fred bought were diseased and there’s a risk they have infected the two I had bought already. So I’m going to sell them all and disinfect all the buildings. As soon as I’ve done that, I’ll ask Tom Green, the haulier, to come and collect yours and move them to Schoirhead. I’ll pay you the valuation price.’

  ‘You don’t need to do that, Steven. You couldn’t afford it and anyway, you will have your share to get once everything is sold.’

  ‘I’ve worked it all out. I shall get the money for selling my own and I’ve a bit set aside to buy two more. Anyway I wouldn’t miss the chance to have Father’s cows.’

  ‘He’d be pleased about that,’ Hannah agreed slowly.

  ‘If that house is still available that Mrs Anderson mentioned I think you should go for it, then you can keep your hens and one of the sows if you want.’

  ‘Yes, I’d like that, but I don’t see how…’

  ‘You leave the finances to me but give me time to sell my own stock first. I shall feel a lot happier when I know I’ve got good healthy stock.’

  ‘Yes, I can understand that.’ Hannah agreed. ‘And it will be a relief if I don’t have to milk them myself and attend to everything else until the end of November.’

  Steven was dismayed when he realised his mother had taken out a bank loan to pay Fred his share. He sat down and worked out a plan of his own then he made an appointment to see the bank manager. But he told neither the manager nor his mother that he was intending to rent the McGuire’s land from them. He knew his mother would worry about the risk he was taking. He kept thinking about the young bus driver’s philosophy and it was true he’d had to take far greater risks during the war. Even if he lost the tenancy of his land, it was nothing compared with a life.

  The bank manger seemed pleased he had brought in his account book and worked out a plan for repaying the money each month when he received his milk cheque. He asked a great many questions but in the end he agreed it was better that he should be the one with the loan rather than his mother, although his would be a much bigger sum.

  Steven was glad when his mother did not question him too closely about using the McGuire’s byre to house the dry cows and the three in-calf heifers. She seemed weary and he realised his father’s illness and his death, plus the trouble with Fred, had all taken their toll on her. He sent his own cows to market, then he and Johan disinfected and scrubbed every inch of the byre and the sheds where the cattle had been housed and Megan came to lend a hand when she could get away. When they w
ere finished and the buildings had been lime-washed he arranged for Tom Green, the haulier, to move the cows from Willowburn.

  Megan promised to be at Schoirhead when they arrived so she could help Steven get them tied into their new stalls. The young haulier also stayed to help. Animals were always difficult in strange surroundings.

  ‘I don’t know how I would have managed without you, Megan,’ Steven grinned when the cows were tied up and sniffing at the cake he had put in their troughs to tempt them into their new stalls.

  ‘I know how much cows hate being moved to different stalls but at least you knew which pairs stand together so that should help.’ She chuckled. ‘Even cows need friends.’

  ‘Will you teach your young pupils about such things?’ he asked with a grin.

  ‘Oh don’t remind me,’ she groaned. ‘I wish I didn’t need to go back to study for another year.’

  ‘Would you like to come and see over the shop Mother is thinking of taking over when she moves out of Willowburn?’

  ‘Would she mind?’

  ‘Of course not. She was very grateful for your help at the funeral.’ He grinned sideways at her and her heart leapt. ‘She thinks the wee Meggie we used to know has grown up into a capable and sensible young woman.’

  ‘Well at least your Mum has noticed I’ve grown up but it does make me sound a bit boring - being capable and sensible.’

  ‘Aah, Megan, you could never be boring, and don’t think I haven’t noticed you’ve grown up.’ His eyes met hers and the wistful look was back in them. She frowned.

  ‘What’s wrong, Steven?’

  ‘I wish I could afford to compete with all your other admirers.’

  ‘I don’t have admirers.’

  ‘That’s the trouble, Megan Oliphant, you don’t seem to know how attractive you are, but it’s part of your charm and I hate these other men – men like Doctor Lindsay Gray and the one who taught you to drive.’ Megan’s cheeks coloured. ‘Oh don’t remind me,’ she said. ‘Tell me about the shop. Does it have living quarters?’ Steven eyed her speculatively. Why did she want to change the subject? Did she still see him when she was at college?