With her wrists and hands bound, Ella was distraught not to be able to help her crying, distressed son. Nor could she soothe him by talking to him, as her mouth was bound tightly with a cloth that tasted of filth. The van she’d been dragged to and bundled into jolted her, bruising her, as its movements threw her around. She was like a bead in a baby’s rattle, powerless to stop her body tumbling from side to side; and helpless to stop the same thing happening to her child, who now lay on the van floor, his blanket no longer wrapped around him, exposed to the bitter cold.
At last the van stopped. Within minutes the doors were flung open. ‘So, we have her. That’s good, so it is. For now she’ll learn that no one crosses Shamus McMahon.’
Ella looked up into Shamus’s face and saw a different man from the one she’d almost allowed herself to love. Now he wore a mask of pure evil, as his hand grabbed her hair. Agony shot through her. Tears sprang to her eyes with the intensity of it. Trying to get a grip with her feet, Ella was desperate to take the pressure off her hair, but she couldn’t. Shamus dragged her limp body by it, heading towards what looked like a barn. The excruciating pain in her head prevented Ella from speaking. But she felt dread to settle in her. Where was this? How will Arnie find me? How?
Inside, the barn smelt of horses. Ella’s feet slid in their excrement, and the stinking dung clung to her frock. At last Shamus let go of her hair. She slumped in a heap as sobs racked her body. Snot ran from her nose. Gasping in air through her mouth, Ella looked around her. She was in a stable, but whether it was still in use, she didn’t know. There was no sound of any horses, and the straw strewn on the ground looked dirty and scant. The dung that she had slid on, she could now see, was crusted over.
Shamus turned from her. ‘Michael, I want you to be taking the babby to the nuns now. You will get there by morning. Tell them it was as you found him abandoned and you thought to bring him to them.’
Ella wanted to scream out ‘No!’ but all she could do was frantically shake her head.
‘Oh yes. It is to be so, me wee whore. For when I am finished with you, you’ll never be fit again to take a babby to your breast. As it is that you will have no more of them.’ Shamus let out a laugh that cackled with malicious glee. ‘Get yourself away, Michael. For sure, that babby’s howling is getting on me nerves. Maybe the cold of him will quieten him, or maybe it will be that he may not survive the journey. But that is God’s will, so it is.’
To Ella’s horror, it sounded as though Shamus was instructing Michael to kill her child. His look showed the pleasure that she knew he felt, aware that he was inflicting the greatest possible pain on her.
Never had Ella felt so desolate; not even when she lost Christophe, as then she’d had the comfort of Paulo; and when she lost Paulo, her grief had held slight relief that he no longer suffered. Now she was helpless and unable to stop the cruelty that Shamus was inflicting on her. Unable to help her son.
As Michael left with her screaming child, Ella’s despair was compounded. She no longer cared what happened to her. If she died, then so be it. Without little Paulo, and Arnie – whom she knew she loved just as deeply as she had her Paulo – there was nothing to live for. Slumping back down, she gave up fighting.
‘Oh no, me little whore, you’re not giving up that easily. I’m going to be having me revenge on you first. You’re going to suffer as you have made me suffer.’ Shamus swiped her face, sending her head rolling on her neck.
Ella didn’t care. She lay, limp and unfeeling.
Taking her by the shoulders, he shook her. Her head wobbled on her neck, and slobber dripped from her mouth. ‘Open your eyes, you whore – open them!’
Her body hit the ground with a thud. Pain ricocheted through her, but still Ella didn’t care. No moan came from her. No more tears came from her eyes.
Shamus stared down at her. His head shook. ‘Why? Why is it you did that to me? You said it was that you loved me, and we were just settling down. Didn’t I risk me liberty to get your child back for you? And this is the way you return me love for you. By . . . by . . . Oh, Jesus!’
Shamus sank to his knees. He buried his head in his hands and wept. In his weeping he showed despair, something Ella had never thought to see.
‘Why? Why? Why?’ With each time of saying it, his despair turned to anger that came from deep within him and surfaced almost on a scream, as he asked for the last time. With that, his body lunged on top of hers. His hands grabbed Ella’s hair on each side of her head. Still the word ‘why’ came from him, as he banged her head repeatedly on the ground.
The room began to swirl around Ella. She could hardly breathe, as her nose was blocked by the swelling of her nostrils and her mouth was bound tightly, between her teeth. She prayed for death to take her. As she did so, the swirling turned to blackness and she sank into the blessed relief it offered.
When she came to, her body was shivering with shock and cold. Turning her head, she couldn’t see Shamus through the haze that clouded her vision. Nothing about the shapes around her suggested that he was in the barn with her.
Every part of her hurt, but her head felt as though it had swollen to twice its normal size. Pain zinged through it, as if lightning was striking her brain. Lights hovered in front of her eyes. She was going to be sick!
With an effort that took her through immense pain, Ella managed to roll onto her side, just as her body ejected the vomit from her. Spitting and choking, she fought for breath while her stomach heaved involuntarily. It was then she realized that the cloth had been taken from her mouth. Had Shamus been afraid that she would suffocate? Did he really want her alive? But what for? So that he could punish her forever? Yes, that was something she could see him doing.
A movement caught her eye. A figure stepped out of the shadows.
‘Who – who’s there?’
‘Me name’s Tilly, Missus. I’m to watch over you. I’ll fetch a bucket of water to swill that mess away.’
The water splashed on Ella’s face, but she didn’t try to move, as the tingling, cold sensation soothed her. Looking up at Tilly, she saw that she was a pretty girl, with dark curly hair that looked as though it was a long time since it had been washed, or seen a comb for that matter. She had big brown eyes, which showed no zest for life; and there was a weariness about her, for her young age, which Ella guessed was no more than sixteen. Her whole appearance, from her lank hair to her ragged brown dress, was unkempt.
Through swollen lips she asked Tilly, ‘Would you be kind enough to swill my face for me, and give me a drink of water, please?’
‘Yeah, there you go.’ Tilly’s hand felt rough as she washed it over Ella’s face.
After sipping the water from a dipping jug that Tilly had fetched for her, Ella asked, ‘Am I on a farm, Tilly?’
‘No. These are the old stables where some of the cabbies used to keep their horses at night, before them motors took over. Me dad used to own them, but Shamus does now, as me dad got into debt once the horses stopped coming. Are you hurt bad, Missus?’
‘My name’s Ella. And thank you for your kindness.’ Although the water had been soothing, the sores on her face began to smart as it dried slowly. She winced. ‘Yes, Shamus beat me. I’m badly bruised, but the worst thing is that he . . . he took my son away from me. He . . .’
‘Aye, I know the ways of him. He made me his mistress when I was only twelve, and still rapes me, when he thinks fit. He thinks I’m grateful, but I hate him. I had a boyfriend once. Ronnie, his name were, but Shamus beat him up, so Ronnie went off and I ain’t seen or heard of him since.’
This shocked Ella. She lay still, unable to think what to say. Shamus rapes this girl, even though he’s married to me? For some reason this knowledge hurt her pride, but then a deep sorrow for the girl replaced this feeling. ‘I’m so sorry. Can’t you get away? Go somewhere where he can’t find you?’
‘I can’t leave me dad. Me mam died a few years back. I reckon as Shamus were to blame for that, as I heard a few things when he visited. And me mam went downhill fast after he started messing with her; she were a good-looking woman, and a kind one.’ Ella heard the girl’s voice catch with emotion and her loathing of Shamus deepened. As did her shame at ever thinking good of him and going along with him.
‘Me dad couldn’t keep up the payments on his debt to Shamus, and ended up having to sign the stables over to him and still having to make payments. He’s a saddle-maker, me dad, as well as a blacksmith – his whole life has been lived around horses. There’s not much work for him now. Not that he can do much, as he’s riddled with the rheumatics.’
Ella’s heart bled for the girl. ‘I’m so sorry. I wish that I could help you.’
‘Folk say that you’re as bad as him. That you were married to a sick bloke and nursed Shamus’s mother, then the minute your man died, you moved in with Shamus and have been living the life of a lady ever since. Shamus boasts about his posh wife, and allus says that folk have to pay up their debts quicker now, as he has you to keep in the style as you’re accustomed to.’
‘That’s not right, Tilly. Shamus kidnapped me. I had no choice but to stay with him.’ Ella told the girl how it was that she came to be forced to stay with Shamus, although, not being sure of Tilly yet, Ella didn’t tell her that the threat that had hung over her – to hurt her beloved Rowena, if she didn’t comply with Shamus’s wishes – no longer applied.
‘Well, I’m sorry for your plight, Ella. Shamus is a beast. He rules around here, and everyone is afraid of him. Oh, aye, lately he’s took to acting the businessman, but his cronies still do his dirty work for him.’
Ella felt her cheeks burn at this. She had been the one to get Shamus to look more respectable, but she’d thought he was being more lenient with his clients as a result. But a little hope entered her as she detected that she might have a friend in the girl, now that she knew her story. ‘Tilly, will you help me?’
‘Don’t ask that of me. I want to, but it would be more than me life’s worth. I can’t. I’m sorry.’
‘What if I gave you enough money to pay off the debt to Shamus and get you and your dad away from here?’
‘You have that much? I mean, it would take a lot, as we’d need to set up in the country somewhere, where they still rely on horses, and me and me dad could do some work. Cos I know a lot about horses – I were brought up caring for them. I can even shoe them, and lately I have been doing some of the cutting of the leather for a saddle, which me dad can’t manage.’
‘Yes, I could give you enough for that.’
‘But, Shamus – he’d kill me.’
‘All I want you to do is take a message to someone. Can I trust you, Tilly?’
‘Aye, you can, but I can’t leave you. Shamus said I’ve to stay and watch over you until he gets back.’
Ella leaned her head back down. Dizziness sent the roof swirling once more, and the sick feeling came back. Her training told her that she might have concussion, and might black out again at any moment. Cold seeped into her bones. It all seemed hopeless, and she felt that death was her only salvage.
‘Here, I’ll put this horse blanket over you, or you’ll end up with pneumonia. It’s a bit smelly, but it will keep you warm.’
The blanket stank of stale animal bodies, but Ella welcomed the warmth of it.
‘Have you really got that amount of money then, Ella? Only I reckon as me dad could get a cabby to deliver the message. I can get to him through that door. It leads into a yard opposite our cottage. He knows all the cabbies. A lot of them used to have horses, before they got their motors. They often call in to have a chat with him and to bring him stuff. There’s bound to be a couple will do that tonight, and they’d do anything for me dad.’
The hope that had died was rekindled in Ella. Yes, she had doubts about trusting these strangers, but what else could she do? And what would it matter anyway? Nothing could worsen the plight she was in.
‘Thank you, Tilly. Ask your dad to send a message to a Mr Arnold Smith-Palmer.’ Ella gave her the address. Tilly assured her that she would remember it. ‘Tell him to let Arnold know where I am.’
‘Oh, I’m not sure about that, Ella. It could bring big trouble down on us.’
‘Tilly, this isn’t about saving me. Shamus has to be stopped. Arnold will bring the police, Shamus will be arrested and, with all the people who have evidence on him, he’ll be put away for a long time – maybe even hanged. Arnold is a solicitor and he knows that the local police are in Arnold’s pay, so he will go to another area, and get help that way. I promise you that you won’t suffer from this, but will only benefit.’
‘I’ll see what me dad says.’ With this, Tilly disappeared through the door.
When she came back, Tilly was about to say something, when the door to the stables opened and Shamus stood there. Ella cringed.
‘So, cosying up, are we, me two whores?’
‘No, Shamus, only she were cold and I thought she were going to die. And I knew you wouldn’t want that, so I covered her with a blanket, that’s all.’
‘It is that I like that: one of me whores helping the other. You do know, Ella, that Tilly here is for being very obliging at such times as you can’t accommodate me? And why is that? You’ve proved you can be having bairns, but you’re still at your monthly bleeding, when it is that you should be pregnant long before now.’
Seeing a way to insult him, Ella looked directly at him. ‘That can only mean one thing, Shamus, seeing as though Tilly has never become pregnant, either: the fault lies with you. You are not man enough to get either of us with child.’
Ella felt immediate remorse, mixed with satisfaction, as Shamus turned red in the face and kicked her viciously in her thigh. But then the remorse won, as Tilly giggled and Shamus seized her by her hair. ‘Are you for thinking that was funny, eh? Well, let’s see if you think this funny.’
He aimed a blow at Tilly, but the girl wriggled out of his grip and ran towards the door that led to her cottage. Shamus was left holding a clump of her hair. After a moment of surprise, he ran and grabbed her. But Tilly fought like a cat, until Shamus finally got her trapped in his bear-like arms. ‘You’ll pay for this, Tilly, and it is that I have a mind to make you do so right now.’ Bending Tilly over one of the bales of hay, he lifted her skirt.
‘No, Shamus, don’t. Don’t, please.’
‘Ah, to have me wife beg me not to shag another woman. Is there any greater pleasure? Just you be watching me – me little whore of a wife – and see how it is that I give it to Tilly, and the reason she’s not with child.’
Horror gripped Ella. Neither her cries, nor the pitiful cries of Tilly, made any difference. Shamus tore Tilly’s clothing until she was naked from the waist down, all the while hitting her every time she struggled and tried to rise. And then he forced himself into her from the back.
Tilly’s screams, as the sickening assault went on and on, cut Ella in two and racked deep sobs from her and cries of ‘Stop, please stop.’ But Shamus was like a man possessed and hollered his pleasure as he thrust hard at poor Tilly. The agony of it took Ella to depths so low, she thought she was visiting hell, as she cried out to God to help them, but no such help came.
At last Shamus made the sound that she was so familiar with, an animal-like, uncontrolled moan. For a moment he lay slumped on top of Tilly, making Ella fear that he would crush the girl to death. But then he slid to his knees and stood up, as he did up his fly buttons.
‘There, was you enjoying that, me Ella? Eh? Did you see the way I took me second whore? Well, when I’ve recovered you’ll be having some of the same, for it is that after that experience, I’ll not want to take me pleasure on you as I have been doing. It doesn’t compare, so it doesn’t.’
Having visited the very depths Ella thought any human could descend to, she felt no fear any more. ‘I hate you, Shamus. I hate you so much that it doesn’t matter what you do to me any longer. You’re depraved. You are not a man, but an animal, and what you’ve just done proves that. One day someone will stop you.’
‘Well, it is that it won’t be you. Now, shall I be starting me carving up of your body, or shall I wait until I’m ready to have me way with you? As you know, feeling those breasts of yours gives us both pleasure, so it would be a pity if they’d been cut off before the last time I give it to you, so it would.’
Shamus was near her now, and gazing down at her. His face was unreadable, until he gathered the spittle in his mouth and spat down on her. ‘So, you’ve been carrying on behind me back. Who with? Who was that weed of a man that you held hands with, eh?’
‘A better man than you.’
His kick creased Ella in two. The pain in her leg felt as if it was broken. But that was nothing to his next kick, which landed in her ribs. Ella heard the crack as the excruciating agony pierced her. Trying to draw in breath, her last thought, before sinking back into unconsciousness, was that a broken rib could have pierced her lung.