‘So, Lucy tells me she’s talked to you about my need for a drystone waller? Would you be interested, lad, and can you lay hedges as well as a drystone wall? My boundaries are a mixture of both in places, and none of them have been touched for a good few years now.’ Adam drew on his pipe as the young lad played nervously with his cap between his hands.
‘I can, sir. I’ve worked for various folk roundabouts. You can ask them what they think of my work – I don’t think they have any cause for complaint.’
‘Of course they don’t, Archie, you know they don’t. Stop doing yourself down,’ Lucy butted in.
Archie gave her a dismissive look, wishing that she’d mind her own business and leave it to him.
‘Well, I could do with someone perhaps two days a week. Lucy’s already told me that would fit in with your work at the flay-pits. I’d pay you reasonably and you’d get fed, but in return I expect you to graft and not complain. There are a few miles of boundary to be seen to, and it will take all summer.’ Adam looked at the expression on Archie’s face and knew that he was grateful to have been asked.
‘I’d work hard, sir, you’ll not regret taking me on. Besides, the sooner you get your boundary walls up, the better. You’ve not got the best neighbours, with the Baxters farming next to you. They let their stock stray and are not averse to stealing the odd sheep or two. My mother says they always will – it’s in their blood. “Bloody Border reavers,” she calls them. If you’ll beg my pardon, sir.’ Archie hung his head.
‘I’ve not come across them yet, lad. They must have come since I used to live here, because we all used to rely on one another when I was a lad, and there was none of that stealing. Now, when can you start, and what days are you to be mine?’ Adam looked at Archie and noticed Lucy listening in at the doorway of the back kitchen, where she was hiding away.
‘Will next week – Thursday and Friday – be soon enough for you?’ Archie looked hopeful.
‘Yes, that’ll do. We can manage that. I expect you here as soon as it’s sunrise, and the days will be long ones, until we get all done. And then we will see where we go from there.’ Adam saw the look of worry vanish from the young lad’s face.
‘I’ll work hard, you’ll not regret taking me on. I’ll not let you down. My mother will be so glad that I’ve got secure work for the summer. Thank you, sir.’ Archie glanced across at Lucy, who was smiling at the good news.
‘I tell you what: start your work with me tonight, and walk Lucy back down home – save these legs of mine. Lucy, leave those pots to wash and get yourself home with Archie, and then I know you are safe.’ Adam tried to keep his face straight as Lucy protested, from the depths of the kitchen, that she would rather be washing the pots than walking home with Archie.
‘Get yourselves gone. The dishes will still be there in the morning,’ Adam shouted.
‘Yes, sir; if you say so, sir.’ Lucy reached for her cloak and hat from behind the door and grinned at Archie.
‘I’ll see you in the morning, Lucy, and I’ll see you on Thursday, Archie.’ Adam rose from his chair and patted Archie on the back, as he opened the door for them both to leave into the darkness of the evening. He stood for a while and watched the couple for as long as he could, as they disappeared down the farm track, listening to the giggles of a flirting Lucy as she egged poor Archie on.
How he wished he was young Archie, with his life spread out in front of him to do as he wanted, and with Lucy his for the taking. She’d make him a good wife, if Archie did but know it. How come life was wasted on youth? Why hadn’t he made the most of his own youth? And why did he feel just a hint of jealousy creeping in as he watched the lively Lucy disappear into the darkness of the night?
7
‘Don’t you be fluttering your eyelashes at that simpleton of an Archie Robinson – he’s worth nowt. Not a brain cell in his head, nor a penny in the bank. I need you to do better than that.’ Bill Bancroft spat out a mouthful of saliva and growled as he watched his eldest daughter going out of the family home, full of spirits, to her work at Black Moss Farm, knowing that Archie was to start work there.
‘Don’t worry, Father, I just like his company. I aim to marry someone who’s got money and can look after me, and will not have me scrubbing floors and washing dishes all my life.’ Lucy tied her straw bonnet on tightly and grinned.
‘If you can’t win over Alex Braithwaite with your looks, then you could start to set your sights on Edward Buck. He’s plenty of brass, and his family owns more land and houses than anyone else in the area. And don’t you be flirting with Thomas Farrington; he might be a good worker, but he drinks his pay every week,’ Bill yelled at her.
‘I’ll choose who I want. And as for Thomas Farrington, well, he looks at me in a way that no man should look at a woman. He frightens me. You’ll not get me flirting, and
