A Mother's Love Page 7

  Beaming under such praise, Ellie looked round for Aidan, her cheeks growing crimson when she spied him leaning against the wall on the far side of the kitchen, watching her with interest. ‘I do hope so, but Aidan’s the one who really deserves the compliment. He’s the one who’s taught me all I know.’

  Mrs Murray looked proudly at her nephew. ‘He’s a good lad, and a brilliant farmer. Well done, both of you.’

  Ellie, who had not been looking forward to her first Christmas without her mother, soon discovered that she should not have doubted the Murrays. They took her mind off her loss by spending the evening playing charades as well as a lot of different board games, one of which greatly intrigued Ellie, who had never heard of chess before. Uncle Kieran had challenged Aidan to a game and Ellie watched in fascination as the two men sat at opposite sides of the table, their heads bent in thought as each tried to outwit the other.

  The kitchen clock was approaching midnight by the time the pair had finished their second game, and Ellie, who by this time had memorised the moves of all the pieces, was just about to ask if she might try when Uncle Kieran scooped the little carved figures back into their box and picked up the board. ‘Christmas or not, come mornin’ the pigs and hens’ll still want feedin’, and the cows’ll need milkin’, so I think it’s time we all went to our beds.’ He turned to his brother’s family. ‘Not that I expect our guests to do any of the work, of course.’

  ‘I don’t mind helping in the morning. Me and Ellie can milk the cows if you like,’ Connor volunteered. ‘That way the rest of you can have a lie-in whilst she shows me how much she’s improved since I last saw her.’

  Aidan glared at him. ‘Thanks for the offer, but Ellie and me have got a routine goin’ an’ I reckon the two of us’ll be quicker if we’re left to get on wi’ things our way.’

  ‘How about if I help Ellie with her side of the work and then, when the two of us have done, we can come and help you? It’ll give me and Ellie a chance for a catch-up. Surely two pairs of hands are better than one?’ Connor suggested.

  Aidan appeared to consider, then shrugged his shoulders. ‘If you insist on helping you’d best make sure you’re up betimes. I don’t want you dragging your feet and slowing us down.’

  ‘Aidan!’ Auntie Aileen scolded. ‘Don’t be so rude! If someone offers you a helping hand you accept it gratefully.’ She turned to her sister-in-law. ‘I think it’s all the excitement of Christmas.’

  ‘Mam!’ snapped Aidan. ‘I’m not a child.’ He turned apologetically to Connor. ‘Sorry if I was a bit abrupt. I didn’t mean to be, it’s just that we’ve an awful lot to do in the morning before we can relax and enjoy the day. I just wanted to get it done as quickly as possible.’

  Shrugging, Connor smiled, but Ellie could see that her friend had been confused by his cousin’s outburst. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t hold anyone up. I may be a bit rusty, but it won’t take me long to get the hang of things again.’

  When Ellie awoke the next morning it was to find that snow was falling thick and fast. She, Connor and Aidan had already breakfasted and were about to step into the cold when Auntie Aileen entered the kitchen. ‘Merry Christmas, kids. Are you comin’ or goin’?’

  ‘Just leaving to do the feeding and milking, Mam. It shouldn’t take more than an hour or so between the three of us,’ Aidan said, his hand resting on the kitchen door handle.

  Auntie Aileen pointed to the stockings that hung over the Aga. ‘I hope no one’s had a sneaky peak at their prezzies whilst I’ve been sleepin’?’

  Aidan rolled his eyes. ‘How many times, Mam? We’re not kids any more. I’m sure we can wait until we’ve finished the morning’s work before opening our presents.’ As he opened the kitchen door an icy blast swept into the warm kitchen, bringing a flurry of snow with it.

  ‘Out you go!’ Auntie Ailene shrieked as she pulled her dressing gown tightly closed. ‘And make sure you shut that door properly after you.’

  Outside the wind whipped fiercely around them, picking up the snow which had already lain and settling it into drifts against the farm buildings. ‘I’ll do the pigs,’ Aidan shouted, ‘then the hens, but they shouldn’t take more than a few minutes because I shan’t turn them out, not in this weather! When I’ve finished I’ll come and give you two a hand.’

  Ellie opened her mouth to reply then shut it quickly as the whirling snow caught her breath. Nodding, she ran to the cowshed, and once she and Connor were inside she bolted the large metal door shut.

  ‘I like snow, but only when it’s finishing snowing, if you know what I mean,’ she said as she placed a halter around the nearest cow’s head. ‘I’ll fetch the pail and stool whilst you tie Dave up.’ Dave was another of Cassie’s victims.

  Connor shook the snow off his jacket. ‘You mean you prefer it deep and crisp and even, like in the carol.’

  Ellie placed the stool down and positioned the bucket below Dave’s laden udder. As the milk hissed into the pail she smiled up at Connor. ‘Well? What do you think? I told you I’d got the hang of things good and proper.’

  Connor gave an approving smile. ‘From city girl to milkmaid in little more than six months. I’m impressed. You’ve obviously taken to farming like a duck to water, but then I guessed you would.’ He leaned against Dave’s rump. ‘I saw Arla a couple of days ago. She wanted me to ask you about your plans for joining up. She reckons from your last letter you sounded so happy on the farm that she feared you might’ve changed your mind.’

  Ellie’s smile faded. ‘Oh no, that’s not the case at all! I mean, she’s right that I do love it here, but not enough to stay. I’m still plannin’ on joinin’ up in January. When you go home you can tell her from me that come her sixteenth I’ll be round her house ready to go down the recruiting office just as we planned.’ She pulled the pail of milk from under the cow and handed it to Connor. ‘I didn’t realise she thought I wanted to stay on the farm. I’m going to write to her later this evening to thank her for the Christma present you brought, whatever it is, so I’ll reassure her that my intentions haven’t changed.’

  Connor grinned. ‘That’ll be grand – you joining up I mean – ’cos then all three of us’ll be in the services. I’ve been accepted into the RAF.’

  Ellie broke off from the milking. ‘You kept that quiet! When did all this happen?’

  ‘I got my papers a week ago. Only don’t go talking about it in front of Mam.’

  Ellie’s eyes rounded. ‘You mean she doesn’t know?’

  ‘Course she knows, but that doesn’t mean to say she’s happy about it. I’ll be going to the training camp in West Kirby on the third of January.’

  She placed the pail under Bella’s teats. ‘But both your brothers have joined up. What’s so different about you doing it?’

  Connor shook his head. ‘Because I’m the last to go. She still sees me as the baby and I think she hoped to keep me at home. To be honest, she’s not been thrilled about the others going, but she couldn’t do anything to stop them, whereas I still needed Dad’s permission, so things have been a little tense as I’m sure you can imagine. I can’t so much as mention the war; if I do she tells me to “hush my noise” or “get to my room”, so Dad and me thought it best just to keep shtum.’

  Ellie grimaced. ‘Your poor mam. You can’t blame her for bein’ scared. Have you heard from your brothers?’

  Connor nodded. ‘Regularly. They both say the same thing: it’s hard work, but someone’s got to do it.’

  Ellie finished milking Bella and waited whilst Connor slipped the collar over Amy’s neck. Ellie patted the cow’s leg in a friendly manner. ‘Come on, girl, soon have you done.’ As the milk hissed rhythmically into the pail Ellie kept her eyes lowered. ‘You promise me you’ll take care of yourself?’

  ‘Are you talking to me or Amy?’

  Ellie shot him a withering look. ‘You, not that you deserve it …’

  ‘Of course I’ll look after meself. What’ve I always said?’

&nb
sp; ‘That you’ll dodge out of the way and shoot the beggars in the rear, but it’s not a game,’ Ellie said, her voice hollow.

  Kneeling down beside her he placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘Come on, queen. I know you’re worried, but I promise you I’m not treating this as a game. I just don’t see the point in getting all het up about something I haven’t even started yet.’

  She stopped milking Amy and turned to face him, their noses no more than a few inches apart. ‘You’re a good lad, Connor Murray, one of the best, and I’m sure you’ll make a brilliant pilot. Just don’t go pulling no heroics.’

  Connor had opened his mouth to reply when he was interrupted by a sharp cough coming from outside the shed. Turning, they saw Aidan, who was resting both arms on top of the metal door. ‘Hope I’m not disturbing owt. I wanted to ask Connor if he wouldn’t mind helping me with the pigs. That blooming Dotty’s hunkered down in the corner and is refusing to budge.’

  ‘We weren’t … I were just … Connor’s joined the RAF,’ Ellie gabbled.

  Aidan shook his head dismissively. ‘No need for explanations, and I know about Connor joining up. I can’t deny I’m a tad jealous. I’d give anythin’ to be given the chance.’

  Ellie looked at Aidan and could not help noticing the furtive glance he shot towards Connor from underneath his lashes. In the hope that she might lighten the mood, she asked, ‘When was the last time you tried joining up? If it was a while back things might’ve changed. And if you did get in you and Connor might be posted together, and you might even end up in the same part of the country as me and Arla if we get accepted.’

  Aidan appeared confused. ‘You and Arla? Accepted into what?’

  Ellie giggled. ‘Into one of the services, you goose! Surely your dad mentioned it when I first arrived?’

  Aidan shook his head. ‘When was all this decided?’

  ‘Before I left Liverpool,’ she said. ‘Me and Arla, my best pal, we’re goin’ to join the WAAF. I told your dad when I got here that it wouldn’t be for long, just until my pal turned sixteen in January.’

  Aidan opened the door to the shed and beckoned Connor. ‘Well, that’s that settled. I’m not going to be left out of all the fun and games. Soon as winter’s over I’m off down that recruiting office and come what may I shall join the RAF. It’s got to be easier than moving that stubborn pig!’

  Chapter Four

  New Year’s Day 1941

  Ellie looked out of her bedroom window and was delighted to see that it had snowed heavily again during the night and the farmyard had been transformed into a winter paradise. She had not seen snow this thick since Christmas, and with time running out before she left for Liverpool she had begun to think that the wintry weather had left for good and that the ride through the snowy woods that Aidan had promised for today might never happen.

  Clattering down the stairs, she entered the kitchen to find Aidan already waiting for her at the breakfast table.

  ‘Blimey, you’re keen!’ he chuckled, as she started gulping down her porridge in large spoonfuls. He eyed her critically. ‘You’re going to need a lot more than that to keep you warm.’ He nodded to a chair by the Aga. On it there was a thick woollen overcoat and what looked like some large woollen socks, warming by the oven. Walking to the door, he shoved his feet into his wellington boots. ‘When you’ve drunk your tea get that lot on, and we can be off. I got Hercules in earlier and gave him a bit of a brush, so there’s not much to do save tacking up. I’ll do that whilst you finish here.’

  Ellie nodded as she scraped the last morsels of porridge from around the bowl’s edge.

  In the stable Aidan placed the bridle over Hercules’ head and fastened the throat lash. ‘Fancy a bit of fun?’ he asked, as the hot breath of the horse clouded the stall.

  ‘Yes please!’ Ellie said, unlatching the stable door.

  Aidan chuckled. ‘I was talking to him, but I suppose it applies to you too.’ He pushed the door open and led the gentle giant out into the snow.

  Ellie frowned. ‘You’ve forgotten his saddle! Do you want me to go and get it?’

  He raised an eyebrow and grinned. ‘No thank you, no need for saddles today. We’re going to be riding bareback, for two reasons: for one thing it’s jolly uncomfortable to ride two up when there’s a sodding big saddle in between you, and for another you get the benefit of Hercules’ warmth and thick coat.’

  Ellie looked doubtful. ‘Are you sure? Remember, I’ve only ever ridden Spud before.’

  Aidan beckoned her to stand beside him. ‘You’ll be fine, alanna. You can hold on to Hercules, and I’ll hold on to you. Now bend your knee so’s I can give you a leg-up.’

  Ellie obeyed and found herself being hoisted swiftly on to Hercules’ broad back. She looked around for a small wall or something similar for Aidan to stand on, and gave a small squeal of surprise when he effortlessly swung himself up behind her.

  Putting his arms around her, he grasped the reins, and with a click of his tongue he ordered the big gelding to walk on.

  As they rode along the track that led to the woods, Ellie felt as if she could burst with happiness. The snow was at least six inches deep, and yet Hercules traversed it with ease, lifting each heavy feathered leg high and thudding the hoof down with a soft crump. A light breeze had come into play and Ellie pushed her fingers into the horse’s thick mane. Aidan leaned forward so that his cheek brushed lightly against hers and whispered into her ear, ‘If we keep our voices down we might see some foxes and maybe a rabbit or two, so stay as quiet as you can.’ As he spoke a buzzard flew silently just above their heads before settling on a tree branch further up the lane. Looking down, Ellie could see pawprints in the snow, and wondered which creature had made them. She turned to ask Aidan and he leaned forward again to hear her whisper, and she noticed the familiar scent of Pears soap. She pointed at the prints. ‘Who left those?’

  ‘Rabbit,’ he said softly. ‘You can tell because the two front paws are close together, and the back legs wider apart.’

  Ellie nodded. When Aidan had leaned forward his arms had tightened gently around her and she had felt an unfamiliar yet rather delightful tingling feeling throughout her body, so that she found herself wishing to spot more pawprints just in order to experience the same sensation, and was disappointed when she saw none.

  She was glad that Aidan appeared unaware of her secret delight as he gently guided the big horse into the woods. She stared in wonder at the towering fir trees, their mighty branches weighted low to the ground with their burdens of snow, one of which would occasionally slide to the ground with a soft thud. Keeping her voice low, she whispered, ‘Aidan, it’s so beautiful. The trees look as if someone’s poured icing sugar on them. I can see why you wanted to bring me here.’

  She felt the muscles in his chest move as he leaned forward once more. ‘There’s something magical about it, isn’t there? When Connor was really little we used to come into the woods whenever it snowed and look for Toad, Badger and Mole. He thought they might be easier to find if we could follow their prints.’ He paused, and she felt his chin brush against her cheek. ‘Have you read The Wind in the Willows?’

  Ellie relaxed in his embrace. ‘It’s one of my favourite books, and I must say this is just the sort of place you could imagine them living in, isn’t it? Do these woods lead to the river?’

  Aidan nodded. ‘I remember Connor thinking he’d found Toad’s caravan when he spied a dim yellow light on the banks of the river.’ He chuckled softly. ‘He nearly scared that poacher half to death when he yelled “I’ve found him” at the top of his voice.’

  Forgetting to be quiet, Ellie giggled. ‘What did the poacher do?’

  ‘First he fell in the river, because he’d been leaning down whilst using the light to attract the fish, and when he managed to get out he took off like a hare! And our Connor started wailing because he was disappointed that it wasn’t Toad Hall. He couldn’t have given a damn about the poacher.’ They had reached a trac
k through the centre of the woods and Aidan rested his chin on Ellie’s shoulder, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, ‘Fancy a canter?’

  ‘Hmmm?’ she said vaguely. She had heard his question, but she had been distracted by the delicious shiver that enveloped her body once more.

  ‘I said do you fancy a canter?’

  Ellie nodded doubtfully. ‘I’d love to, but I’ve never cantered before. What if I come off? It’s a bit further to fall than from Spud.’

  She felt Aidan’s warm breath against her cheek again as he whispered, ‘I won’t let you fall, alanna. You’ll be grand, I promise.’

  Taking a deep breath, she nodded eagerly. Aidan clicked his tongue and Ellie felt him squeeze the horse between his legs. Hercules broke into a brief trot before starting to canter steadily up the track.

  Uncertainty and fear forgotten, Ellie called back excitedly, ‘He’s just like a rocking horse.’ Looking at the track ahead, she spotted a thick branch that must have broken off under the weight of the snow. ‘Aidan, look out!’ she yelled, but instead of reining the horse back Aidan urged him on.

  ‘Hold on, alanna, and don’t worry, I promise I won’t let you fall.’ Hercules lifted his front legs high above the branch and they sailed over the top, landing neatly on the other side, and Ellie gave a whoop of joy.

  When they reached the top of the path Aidan slowed the horse to a walk. Leaning forward, he pulled her hair back from her face, and, seeing the sparkle in her eyes, he smiled. ‘No need to ask you whether you enjoyed that, then.’

  Ellie breathed out happily. ‘Can we do it again one day? Perhaps when I come back on leave?’

  Aidan frowned. ‘With a bit of luck I won’t be here.’ He paused. ‘That is to say, I’ll be in the RAF, but we could always come back together.’

  Ellie smiled dreamily. ‘I’d like that very much.’

  ‘Although of course you don’t have to join up. You could always stay here on the farm.’

  Ellie let out a small groan. ‘Don’t tempt me. I find the thought of leaving hard enough as it is.’