Both ends of Russell Street were fenced off from the general public, and the street was full of sheep, lambs and goats, despite people living on either side of the busy, noisy affair. Drovers and farmers leaned over their flocks and talked to one another while deals were done, as animals were sold and bid over. The country had come to the middle of the town, and deals were being shaken on and honoured by most sellers.
Adam Brooksbank strode between the backs of greasy-woolled sheep. Those that had already lambed had their young offspring around their feet, and they bleated in alarm at being in strange surroundings with men walking amongst them, frightened that they would lose their babies. Every so often he would stop at a sheep and examine its teeth and feel down its back, to see how stout it was under the thick wool coat, holding a sheep beneath him as he looked at its markings and guessed its age. There was a flock of twenty, all still to have their lambs, that had caught his eye and he made his way over to the young lad who was selling them.
‘You’ve some fine sheep here. But why are you selling? Your profits are yet to be made for the year, as they are all, by the look of it, near to lambing.’ Adam leaned back and looked at the young lad, who was humbly dressed and seemed as if he could do with a good meal in him.
‘We can’t afford the rent on our lump of land. The landlord increased our rent and we’ve to be out of our home upon High Moor by the end of the month, if I don’t sell these today. I have to sell them, along with another twenty back home. We need the money now and can’t wait until autumn, when I should be selling them, to see what lambs they are carrying. But that doesn’t mean I’m a pushover. I expect a decent price for them, so don’t insult me with a low offer. I’d rather walk my lasses home than see them go for next to nothing.’ The lad looked up from under his flat cap and stared at Adam.
‘Well, I certainly wasn’t going to think of underpaying for them. In fact they are fine, fit sheep, the best in the fair today. Let me make you an offer and see where we go from there?’ Adam stood back and eyed the sheep over again. ‘Five guineas for the lot? That includes the twenty that you still have back home, if they are as fit as these.’ He waited and watched as the young lad thought about his offer.
‘I’m loath to sell them, as these have been my pride and joy, but I’ve no option. My mother, sister and I need the money, but it means I’ll have nothing to farm.’
‘It’s a good offer. Would it help if I were also to offer you first refusal on some of their lambs in October, when they are old enough to leave their mothers? You’d be receiving them back without the work, and would still have some money now. Times are hard, folk have no brass and us hill-farmers barely make anything at the best of times. That’s the best I can do, but your sheep would have a good home and your flock would stay together.’ Adam could see that the young lad loved his flock, but needs must, if he was to keep a roof over his family’s heads.
‘Where do you live? I want to know where they are going, before I agree,’ the lad said.
‘On the moor top above Denholme, at Black Moss Farm. I’d be asking for you to walk them up there, or do you have a horse and cart? What’s your name, lad?’ Adam asked.
‘Reggie Ellwood’s the name. I’ll drive them up to you, slow and steady, seeing they are all in lamb. It might take us two days, but you’ll get your sheep. I know where you are. I know all the farms in that area. My grandmother used to live at Low Withens, and we used to stay with her when we were young. Your price is fair; you can have them all, and I would appreciate the first pick of any lambs this back-end. I’m from just above Ing Row, on the way back towards your home, so I’ll bring all forty together. It breaks my heart to sell them.’
Adam counted out his money from his breast pocket and handed it to the downhearted farm lad. ‘There’s an extra two shillings in there: one for luck, and one in payment for you driving them. Who’s your landlord? He must be a heartless devil to make you stoop this low,’ Adam enquired, as Reggie nodded his head in thanks and quickly took Adam’s money.
‘It’s Robert Baxter. He’s wanting our land for one of his sons, and putting up the rent is the only way he can get us off it. That family will resort to anything, to get what they want.’ Reggie shook his head and looked around him in despair.
‘His land neighbours mine, and it isn’t the first time I’ve heard bad things about him. I haven’t had many dealings with Baxter up to now, but forewarned is forearmed and he’ll not get far with me,’ Adam growled.
‘Well, I hope not. Keep an eye on my sheep, as he’s been known to claim stock that isn’t his, but no one dare stand up to Baxter.’ Reggie looked at his sheep and hoped that none of them would come to harm.
‘They will be in good hands. Now I see that my maid is looking for
