Unspoken: A story of secrets, love and revenge by T. Belshaw (best reads of all time .TXT) 📗

I took what I thought to be a banter-like stance.

‘If you’ll bloody well shut up, I’ll tell you.’ I waited for the laugh. It didn’t surface.

I decided to start again.

I motioned to my left where Frank was standing.

‘This is Frank,’ I said. ‘Frank Mollison, and he’s going to be starting work here from today. I hope you will all welcome hi—’

‘What’s he going to do here?’ asked Benny Tomkiss, the last person we took on. ‘It’s not one in, one out, is it?’

There were angry mutterings, Benny was a popular lad, he would be on full wages in a couple of months when he reached eighteen.

‘Frank will be doing the same work as you,’ I said. ‘He told me he’s done farm work before, so he knows how to go about it.’

‘He told you that did he?’ said Alfie Brown, a regular at The Old Bull. ‘As I remember, he’s a builder’s mate.’

Frank nodded. ‘Yes, I was a builder’s mate for a couple of years, until the work dried up. But I’ve also worked at the mill. I’ve worked in the concrete pipe plant, I’ve worked as a stable boy at the big house, I’ve worked as a house painter and I’ve worked on a farm. Three farms in fact. I’ve worked the harvest; I’ve worked planting and I’ve been laid off in winter on all three occasions. That, thankfully, appears to be something that doesn’t happen here.’

The men listened to him in silence. Then Alfie Brown spoke up again.

‘Are there going to be layoffs this winter, Girl?’

I felt the challenge in his words; I also felt anger at the disrespect in his use of the term ‘Girl’.

‘Alfie,’ I replied with a steely look. ‘This “Girl” is your boss, your employer, the person who pays your wages, the person who finds work for you when there’s none to be found.’

‘You’re not long out of nappies,’ Alfie replied, getting a mutter of agreement from certain quarters.

I felt I was losing them but Barney came to my rescue.

‘Right, Missis, I know you have the right to set on who the hell you want to set on, but I think the lads need a cast iron guarantee that no one currently employed, will be laid off.’

‘I’ve just given them that,’ I said, a little testily.

Barney stepped forward.

‘Could I have a private word, Missis, on behalf of the men?’

I nodded, grateful for the respect he had shown me. Barney was the only one to call me by the title my mother held through sickness and health. I opened the back door, and stepped inside, Barney followed. I crooked my finger and beckoned towards Frank. ‘You too,’ I said. ‘We don’t want a murder on our hands.’

Frank gave me a stern look; it was obvious he didn’t like being summoned by the crooked index finger of a spoilt young girl, potential employer, or not. I realised later how demeaning it must have looked. Yet another mistake to add to the catalogue of them that day.

I offered Barney a seat at the table but he declined.

‘Missis,’ he began. ‘I know you’re running things at the moment and that there’s little chance the Master will come back, but you can’t treat the lads like this. They deserve better.’

‘Better,’ I said, puzzled. ‘How can I treat them better? I’m telling them what’s about to happen. This hasn’t been planned, there’s no agenda. It’s just another worker joining the farm.’ I looked Barney straight in the eyes. ‘There will be no layoffs.’

‘I believe you, Missis,’ Barney held out his hands, palms facing up. ‘But it’s hard for some of those lads out there to take you at your word. No disrespect, but you’re only a young girl. What if you suddenly fell for a young man and sold up? Where would they all be then?’

My mind reeled. Did Barney know about me and Frank? He was hardly young and he certainly hadn’t swept me off my feet. Pulled me off them, yes. I felt a huge wave of relief when Barney spoke again.

‘Sorry, Missis, that was just an example. Young girls do that sort of thing all too often. Their hearts rule their heads.’

‘Not this young girl,’ I said with spirit. ‘This is a family farm, I’m aware of its history and its traditions.’ I crossed my heart. ‘Barney, I make this promise now. While I’m alive, this farm will never be sold off. It will remain in my family for my lifetime and hopefully, the lifetime of any offspring I produce. Most of you will be long gone by the time that happens.’

Barney looked at Frank, who had stayed sulkily quiet.

‘Is it true, he’s moved in here with you?’

I hesitated, but decided to tell some of the truth at least. The rest could wait for now, it would come out pretty soon anyway.

‘I won’t deny it, Barney. He moved in at the weekend. BUT! He is not sharing my bed. Do I make myself clear?’

‘He’s still under your roof and you’re a single woman. People will talk, and it won’t be pleasant.’

I took hold of Barney’s arm and led him to the parlour where a trestle bed was covered in neatly folded blankets. Frank’s case stuffed down the side of it.

‘Happy now?’ I asked.

As Barney pulled his arm away his hand brushed against my stomach. Although it was covered in a thick, baggy jumper, there was no hiding what was underneath.

He looked at me, then Frank, and nodded in understanding.

‘So, pretty soon we’ll have a new boss. Married rights and all that.’

I shook my head vigorously and leaned in close to him.

‘As I said in there, Barney. This farm will never leave my family. If it means me taking out a covenant, or placing it in a trust, I’ll do whatever it takes. There will be no married rights, or any other sort of rights for anyone on the outside of my immediate family.’ I looked back at Frank who