Billy and I returned to Mrs Makepiece’s house where we found Miss Wardle. She had been taking a drop of the brandy and was a little pink in the face.
‘Billy,’ she said. ‘I wish you would come and look after my pigs and chickens with me. I am getting on in years and I know you would be able to do the work and Sally behaves much better for you than me. You could sleep in the outhouse, which I would make comfortable for you. It would be much better than living on the streets or in Sally’s sty and you would get your bed and board.’
I thought Billy would be pleased at this offer but he hummed and haa-d before asking if he had to work all day, every day. Once he was reassured that his work would be in the mornings and evenings only, he agreed.
‘I’ll do it, ta Miss Wardle. I reckon old Sal will be made up with me being there, she’s a rare good piggy, perhaps we could keep some more of her piglets to fatten up and sell.’
‘That’s the thing Billy, we’ll make enough money to cover your wages and more.’
‘Wages, will I get wages an’ all?’ Billy smiled gratefully.
We were all very chirpy that evening despite Billy’s injuries – he stayed with us for the next few days until Miss Wardle was ready to welcome him to his new home – the first he had known since his family died. The outhouse would be a great improvement to the way he had been living.
The very next day he and I made our way to South Farm to tell the Elwoods all that had happened and for me to see and cuddle Beth. She had changed in just the few days that I had been gone and I wept a few little tears into her ear. Cecilia was delighted to be able to tell me that she had smiled her first real smile and spent most of her time cheerfully crowing and blowing bubbles.
Farmer Elwood came in whilst I was sitting with Cecilia and was very interested to hear about Billy’s battle with the Coad boys and the finding of the sharpened stave and cradle. I told him that the money Coad gave me was in a bank bag and I thought that the coroner was particularly interested in that and thought it of use to the case. I explained that it was upstairs with the belongings that I hadn’t taken to Mrs Makepiece’s and he bade me retrieve it. I sped to my room and pulled it from the box, returning to lay it on the kitchen table where we all peered at it as if it would speak. Farmer Elwood suggested that we put the bag and money in a safer place in case it was requested as evidence by the coroner himself or the constable. He took it to his office and it was locked up.
Billy-alone and I returned to Keere Street that evening after he had spent most of the time in the farm kitchen making Cilla laugh. I couldn’t resist commenting that Cilla seemed to like him and had all but fainted when she saw his poor battered self.
It was true and it cheered me that such a good cheeky lad was benefitting from his own generous actions. I would have been a lot poorer in spirit and fact without young Billy keeping me company throughout my troubles. For a moment I wished I could find someone like Billy to share my thoughts and feelings with but I knew that I was not a likely wife for anyone. My twisted leg and plain looks were not likely to find me a man. I sighed before remembering Beth and my many advantages in having good friends who cared for me. I thought myself lucky to be a free woman still despite the serious charges laid by Farmer Coad against me.