‘The swallows are here! I love their sound. They are so graceful and pretty, swooping around the place.’ Lucy gazed up towards the sky as she entered the farmyard for her usual day’s work, turning to look at Adam, who stood with a cup of tea in his hand. ‘Have you been waiting on me? I’ll get a move on, sir. I’m sorry if I’m late.’
‘I have been waiting for you, but not because you are late. However, Lucy, I thought you might like a change. I wondered if you would like to accompany me into Keighley. It’s the May sheep sales and I am going to buy myself the sheep I need, and I thought you might like to get provisions from various shops. I’ve also ordered a small donkey-cart from the carter. I’m sure Rosa will be able to pull it, and it will make life easier when it comes to putting purchases – and us – across her back. You may have to walk half the way there, but you’ll be returning in luxury.’ Adam looked at the surprise on Lucy’s face.
‘But the house, sir – and the cow!’ Lucy gasped.
‘The house is tidy, the cow is milked, and I think we both deserve a day in town.’ Adam grinned.
‘But I’m not dressed fine enough, and I’ve no money on me. But I would like to go.’ Lucy looked down at her skirts.
‘You look fine enough to me – better than most of the women in Keighley. And don’t you worry about money, as the treat is on me. You’ve done a lot for me of late, and have helped so much with my return home.’ Adam saw the smile that glowed on Lucy’s face and knew she couldn’t decline his invitation. She was a bonny-looking girl, and he couldn’t help but feel a swelling of pride at having such a beautiful young woman by his side as he went around to the stable where Rosa, his faithful little pony, stood, leaving Lucy standing in the yard. He put his hand through the pony’s mane and pulled its bridle on, and patted the animal as he placed the saddle on its back. ‘Now, Rosa, you’ve got a rival today – you’ve to look after Lucy as well as me. I know it’s wrong, but I think that flirting smile of hers is beginning to rob me of my senses. No wonder younger men fight over her. And she’s the bonniest lass for miles around.’
‘You ride on Rosa, sir. I’ll walk – there’s nothing wrong with my legs.’ Lucy watched as Adam brought the pony into the yard and stopped in front of her.
‘My leg, if you haven’t noticed, has got considerably stronger of late. I’m not in as much pain, and I don’t mind walking for a while. Just stand here and I’ll lift you up onto Rosa’s back. We can change around, if I get tired.’
Adam stood the pony next to Lucy and watched as she worried about lifting her skirts to mount the little horse.
‘I’ll not look at your ankles, don’t worry, although I do have a rough idea what goes on underneath a woman’s skirts.’ Adam grinned. ‘Here, put your foot into my cupped hands and then I’ll hoist you up. Pull on Rosa’s mane to hang on, and to help you balance.’
He watched as Lucy blushed and lifted her foot into his cupped hands, then quickly slung her skirts and leg over the back of the horse and sat up straight in the saddle.
‘Alright? Are you comfortable?’ Adam held the pony’s reins and checked that she was alright before they set off out of the yard.
‘Yes, I’ve ridden before. But I shouldn’t be sitting on her back; she’s your horse. I’m the maid, and it should be me who’s walking.’ Lucy looked down at Adam and felt awkward at seeing her master take the reins while she rode on the horse’s back.
‘If she had been a little bigger, I would have climbed up with you, but that would be asking too much of Rosa. And besides, I’d be no gentleman if you were walking while I rode. Never mind that you are my maid, I don’t believe in keeping people in their place. We are all the same when we come into the world, and we will all be the same when we depart it. It’s right that I walk. And besides, look at the day – it’s a good day for a stroll down into the town to do business and then return in style.’ Adam pulled on the reins and urged Rosa to walk on and leave the farmyard, and to walk the five miles into Keighley steadily.
The road that led from Halifax to Keighley was busy with travellers, packhorses laden with various goods, and people going about their everyday business. Nobody gave the couple making their way into Keighley a second glance, or worried for one moment that it was strange to see a woman on horseback while the man walked by her side. That didn’t stop Lucy from feeling that it was wrong, though.
‘I’d rather you were up here. Your leg must be hurting by now,’ Lucy said to Adam as they stopped for a breather and took in the view of the industrial town of Keighley, which they would soon be reaching.
‘Will you stop worrying? I’m not too bad. Besides, we are nearly there. This is Ingrow – it’s all downhill from now on.’ Adam looked up at Lucy and tried to smile and not show any pain.
‘You men are all the same: you never let on when you are beat. Here, pass me your hand and I’ll climb down, for you to get on Rosa. As you say, we are nearly there now – another mile and we will be in the centre.’ Lucy held her hand out for Adam to help her dismount, but he wouldn’t take
