THE MOON SLID behind a cloud again and Matthew held the lantern high. Rosa stood in the doorway of the granary and John Byrne was behind her, one hand resting familiarly on her shoulder.
‘Let her go!’ Matthew’s voice was full of controlled anger. ‘What sort of a man are you to hide behind a woman?’
Byrne drew in a gasp of fury. ‘I know what kind of man I am, I’ve served a long apprenticeship. Not like you,’ he sneered, ‘just off his mammy’s breast.’ He put his free hand on Rosa’s other shoulder, holding her fast. ‘But you’re mistaken, I’m not hiding behind her. We’ve had a little chat, Rosa and me, and if I don’t get cooperation from you, then she’s agreed to come with me. Isn’t that so, Rosa?’
Matthew saw the fear in her face and said quickly, ‘What is it you want from us? Haven’t you done enough damage to this family already? Why don’t you just go? The law will catch up with you if you don’t.’
The moon slid out again and illuminated Byrne’s face. ‘Me?’ he said. ‘Done damage to your family! Sure you don’t know the history, do you, Matthew? Has your daddy not taken you on his knee and told you the tale of the Byrne brothers and Señor Carlos? No, I can see from your face that he hasn’t.’ He stroked Rosa’s hair and Matthew felt his hackles rise. He couldn’t endure seeing Byrne touch her.
‘Well,’ Byrne said softly. ‘Rosa’s father and the Byrne brothers and your father had a good little business going. But there was some double dealing going on and I’d swear on my mammy’s head that Carlos and the eminent Mr Drew, aided by young Jim, decided to go into business together and cut us out. The Customs swooped on the ship where my brother and I were waiting and Carlos conveniently disappeared.’ He gave a half smile. ‘You’ve not heard that story before, Matthew?’
‘No,’ Matthew said bluntly. ‘And I don’t believe it.’
‘Ah! It’s true enough,’ Byrne said pleasantly. ‘I could tell you so many stories about your father, Matthew, but I wouldn’t sully Rosa’s ears in the telling of them. Ask him sometime, man to man, about his trips into Hull to visit the ladies of the night. Oh,’ he said in mock anguish. ‘I really didn’t mean to tell.’
His voice hardened as he continued. ‘And if your conniving dissolute father thinks that because I’m on the run now, I’m going to leave all those goods behind for him, like last time, then he’s very much mistaken.’
‘What do you want from us?’ Matthew was shaken by what Byrne had said, but as he spoke he heard the sound of the gate creaking and hoped that it was Jim, home from the Ship. Byrne heard it too and pulled Rosa back into the granary.
‘Get inside,’ he spat at Matthew. ‘The girl will feel my hand round her throat if you don’t.’
Matthew believed him. He wished he’d picked up the axe instead of the lantern, but he came inside as he was bid. ‘It’s Jim,’ he urged. ‘Tell us what you want and be gone.’
‘I want a waggon to hold the goods and a couple of strong horses to pull it. I also need a driver, because,’ he smiled at Rosa, ‘I shall be under the covers, cuddling up to Rosa, making sure that we get into Hull safely.’
‘You want me to drive you into Hull?’ Matthew was incredulous at the gall of the man.
Byrne nodded and looked out through the door to where Jim could be seen crossing the yard. ‘Yes, or Jim,’ he added thoughtfully. ‘We know that Jim is a good fellow. Always does as he’s told.’
He leaned towards the doorway, still keeping hold of Rosa. ‘Jim,’ he called, and it came home to Matthew that John Byrne knew no fear, even though there would now be two men against him. Except that he still held Rosa fast for his own protection and surety.
Jim looked towards the granary. ‘Who’s there? Matthew? Is that you? ’Barn door’s open!’
Byrne kicked open the granary door. ‘Well, who in the name of heaven can have done that, for it wasn’t me!’
Jim stopped. ‘Byrne?’ he said warily. ‘I thought you’d gone from Sunk Island! They’re starting another search in ’morning.’
‘Is that so,’ Byrne answered cheerily. ‘Well, I’ll be long gone by then, me and Matthew and Rosa. Why don’t you come in,’ he persuaded. ‘We’re all here and telling a few tall stories. Reminiscing, you know. We’re having some real good crack.’
‘Matthew – Rosa! What’s going on?’
‘You tell me!’ Matthew was full of fury. Jim’s manner towards Byrne was so familiar that it seemed quite possible that he had known the Irishman before. ‘I’ve been hearing that you and Da and the Byrnes were running smuggled goods together.’
Jim was silent and Byrne broke in, ‘And then you double-crossed us, didn’t you, Jim? You and your da and Carlos.’
‘Not Carlos,’ Jim muttered. ‘He wanted to finish wi’ smuggling when he married Mary Jennings.’
‘What happened to him, Jim?’ Rosa’s voice was quiet. Matthew put the lantern down on the floor as the clouds scudded away, and he saw her pale face in the moonlight. He must take his chance when he could to overpower Byrne.
‘He’s dead.’ They could hardly hear what Jim said, his voice was so low.
‘Hah!’ Byrne was disbelieving. ‘That’s what you say. So what happened to his body?’
‘He’s dead and his body is buried.’
‘Jim!’ Rosa exclaimed. ‘Where? How do you know?’
‘Yes, young Jim.’ Byrne was cynical. ‘How do you know?’
Jim raised his head and looked at them. He was standing outside, close to the open door. He looked at Byrne, then his eyes turned to Matthew, but lingered longer on Rosa who was still held in Byrne’s grasp between him and Matthew.
‘I’m sorry, Rosa.’ His voice was thick with emotion.
‘Come on. Come on!’ Byrne shouted impatiently. ‘We don’t want to dig him up! Just tell us how you know.’
‘I know,’ Jim said slowly, ‘because I killed him.’
No-one spoke for a moment, then Rosa, in a shaky voice, asked, ‘Why? How?’
‘It was an accident.’ Jim lowered his head. ‘’Gun went off. Killed him instantly.’
‘Why didn’t you tell anybody?’ Matthew said harshly. ‘Where’s he buried?’
Jim’s face was ashen and his voice strained. ‘I’d have been charged wi’ murder if we’d told,’ he muttered. ‘And nobody’ll find him now, he’s well buried. ’Customs had had a tip-off and were on ’lookout.’ He looked up and directly at Byrne. ‘He was riding into Hull to tell you, honest to God, he was! But then—’ He shook his head and his voice broke. He put his hand to his forehead and covered his eyes. ‘It was too late. I’m sorry, Rosa. So sorry.’
Rosa started to weep. ‘How could you keep this to yourself? Why couldn’t you have told me?’
‘All right,’ Byrne broke in. ‘That’s enough.’ He was agitated, as if disturbed by the revelation, and bit on his lip. ‘Leave it! Seamus always believed that Carlos was honest.’ Then he gave a short cynical laugh. ‘But don’t think it makes any difference, I still want that waggon and horses to pull it, so let’s get moving.’
‘We don’t keep any hosses here,’ Matthew said quickly. ‘One of us will have to go to Home Farm to fetch them. But there’s a waggon in ’barn, you can use that.’ He made up his mind to settle the situation.
‘Right,’ Byrne said. ‘Let’s get into the barn, and don’t try anything, either of you. I have the girl, and – ’ he thrust his right hand into his belt, ‘I also have a knife. I wouldn’t want to spoil her lovely face or that slender neck.’ He touched Rosa’s throat with the point of the gleaming blade and she flinched and swallowed.
They all moved into the barn and Jim and Matthew pulled the waggon out from one of the bays. Byrne nodded. ‘Good. Now get the casks out from behind the straw and start loading them into the waggon.’
Matthew looked at him uncomprehendingly, but Jim went across to where the straw was stacked in the other bay and, pulling over a couple of bales, revealed several casks lying beneath. Matthew gave his brother a hostile stare. Jim turned his face away from his glance and they both loaded the casks into the waggon.
‘Leave one anker,’ Byrne said with a sly grin. ‘That’s your father’s payment for us keeping quiet about his night-time activities. He’ll know that we at least keep our bargains, and,’ he added, ‘if the Customs men do come there’ll be evidence enough to show that he was involved.’
When they had finished loading the casks, Byrne said roughly, ‘That’ll do, now all we need are the horses. You can fetch them, Jim, and if you try any tricks, be sure that I shall tell the law of your confession to murder if I’m caught. If I go to jail then so do you, not forgetting your father. We shall be company for each other,’ he added maliciously. ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’
Jim cast a look of misery at Rosa, then went out of the barn door. ‘And be quick about it,’ Byrne called after him. ‘I want to be away before dawn.’ He turned towards Matthew. ‘Now then. Get moving. Get up that ladder and bring down whatever is in those crates. Leave the crates,’ he said. ‘They’re too heavy and would weigh us down. Bring down the rolls of silk and the tobacco.’
‘Hellbound! Son of Satan!’ Matthew cursed as he climbed the ladder.
‘Names don’t hurt me,’ Byrne mocked contemptuously. ‘And look to your own when scoffing and see if you can hold your head up.’
Matthew looked down at him. Byrne held Rosa with one hand and in the other he held the knife. She seemed calm, yet her mouth worked nervously. Byrne had the advantage. He had Rosa. Jim wouldn’t tell anyone that Byrne was here, not when his own life could finish in jail. Matthew’s regard for his brother and father reached the lowest possible ebb. What would Rosa think of them now? She had been cheated by the Drew family, and any hopes of her joining her life with his faded rapidly. She would surely put a great distance between them.
He turned and continued up the steps. Despair and anger battled in a storm within him. But, he resolved, he would gain the day. He would outmanoeuvre Byrne. Somehow he would make retribution to Rosa for the wrongdoing of his father and brother. If it took the rest of his life he would make amends and be happy to do so. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, lose her.
Jim’s heart was pounding by the time he reached Home Farm. He had run practically all the way, stumbling over the fields of stubble and jumping over narrow ditches to save time. He must move fast to outwit Byrne. I must make up for what I’ve done, he panted. Another wrong won’t put it right. God in heaven, help me to be strong this time. Help me to oppose my father for he will surely be against my plan. Ma! If you can hear me, give me ’courage which I lacked when I was alad.
Sweat streamed down his face as he hammered on the door. ‘Delia,’ he called. ‘Delia! Let me in.’
Delia opened the door cautiously. ‘Jim! It’s you! I thought it was Matthew and Rosa. They’ve gone across to Marsh Farm.’
‘I know. Listen, Delia. You’ve got to help me! Put on some warm clothes. I want you to ride to Hedon.’
‘What? At this time of night! You must be mad!’
‘I am mad,’ he agreed. ‘But listen to what I have to tell you. Byrne is at Marsh Farm and he’s got Rosa and Matthew.’ Quickly he filled in the details, or as much as he thought she should know, but leaving out his own involvement in Carlos’s death.
‘I want you to ride to Hedon, go to Fred and tell him what I’ve told you. Tell him to alert ’constable that Byrne is dangerous and not to put Rosa’s life in peril cos she will be with him. Matthew will be driving ’waggon and I’ll tell him to go through Keyingham marshes.’
Delia had been silenced by what Jim had told her. Now she said, ‘They’ll get ’wheels bogged down!’
‘That’s ’general idea,’ Jim said. ‘It’ll give us more time to get men together. I’ll call on John Gore and get him to ride for ’Patrington constable in case Byrne teks it into his head to go that way.’ He helped her into her heavy cloak. ‘Come on, there’s a good lass. I’ll saddle up a steady hoss for you.’
‘It’s pitch black!’ She hung back, wavering at what lay in front of her as they went out into the yard. ‘I’ll tummel into a ditch. It’ll take me hours – you know I’m no good on horseback!’
‘You can do it, Delia,’ he persuaded. ‘It’s onny low cloud coming in from ’river. See, it’s lighter inland and ’moon’s up.’ He helped her mount and, looking up, took hold of her hand and squeezed it. ‘Our lives depend on you, Delia. Mine and Matthew’s as well as Rosa’s.’
She nodded and her lips trembled. ‘I’ve not been good to Rosa, Jim. I’ve allus been jealous of her.’ She swallowed her tears. ‘But I wouldn’t want her to get hurt.’
‘No,’ he said softly. ‘We’ve done enough of hurting folks, you and me. So now’s ’time to make up for it. Go on, now. Ride as fast as you can. Thank God for that Ottringham road. Then stay with our Maggie and Mrs Jennings till all’s done here.’
He heaved a deep breath as Delia rode away. It had only taken minutes to persuade her to go. Now he must bring out two waggon horses, not so fast that they’d make speed, but with feet used to wet ground and pulling a heavy load. He harnessed them and brought them into the yard, then with an acute sense of foreboding went back indoors to waken his father.
He was still awake and came to the bedroom door when Jim knocked. He was in his bed shirt, with a nightcap on his head. ‘All’s up for us, Da,’ Jim began. ‘Past has overtekken us.’
‘What you rambling on about? Why are you here and not abed at Marsh Farm?’ his father said irritably. ‘You know I like you to stop there, specially now if Byrne’s about.’
‘Byrne’s already there,’ Jim said and hardened his resolve to be strong. ‘So are Matthew and Rosa. Byrne’s got a knife to Rosa’s throat and Matthew’s loading up a waggon with ’run goods.’
His father’s mouth dropped open. ‘Never,’ he protested. ‘How did they get in? I put a strong lock on that barn door.’
‘You didn’t hear me, Da!’ Jim’s voice rose angrily. ‘I said – Byrne’s got a knife to Rosa’s—’
‘Yes. Yes. I heard you,’ he said testily. ‘What they doing there anyway? Poking their noses into what doesn’t concern them!’
‘It does concern them, Da. Matthew found the stuff in ’barn and Byrne told him what it was – and about us. And I told them about Carlos.’
‘You did what?’ His father stared incredulously. ‘You idiot. You blockhead! Why did you do that? Are you completely out of your senses?’
Jim nodded. ‘I probably am. But I also know that I’m sick to death of lies and deceit. I can’t go on living this half life any longer. I’ve drunk from ’cup of regret and bitterness and I’m ready to tek my punishment if I have to.’
‘Well, so you might be,’ his father grunted. ‘But I’m not.’ He tore off his nightcap and turned to pick up his breeches from a chair in the bedroom. ‘I’ll do a deal with Byrne. Get him safely off Sunk Island if he keeps quiet.’
Jim shook his head. He couldn’t believe his father’s behaviour. Had he no thought for anyone but himself? ‘It’s too late for that,’ he attested. ‘I’ve already sent for ’authorities.’
‘What!’ His father stopped in the action of putting a leg into his breeches.
‘I’ve sent a messenger,’ Jim said. ‘I’ve alerted Hedon.’
‘But not Patrington?’ His father hurriedly pulled up his breeches and buttoned them. ‘We can try to get him out over ’bridge into Patrington.’ He hesitated. ‘That is, unless they’ve put a watch on it. Mebbe we’ll tek him over in a waggon at first light. Then if he’s caught we can swear we didn’t know he was in there.’
‘Swear on ’bible, shall we, Da?’ Jim came into the room and wearily sat on the side of the bed. ‘Call heaven as our witness?’ He put his head in his hands. ‘You’re not listening to me. What would Ma say if she knew?’ he muttered. ‘Would she forgive us?’
His father looked askance. ‘Don’t dare bring your mother into this! This has nowt to do with your mother!’ His voice thundered, but had a shaky edge to it and Jim knew that his barb had hit home.
‘I won’t help you, Da. I’ve a scheme to catch him and I won’t be put off. You’ve manipulated me since I was a lad of thirteen. I’ve had ’threat of gallows hanging over me and not once have you tekken any of ’blame.’
He knew that time was getting on and that Byrne would be waiting for the horses, yet he couldn’t stop the outpouring of wretchedness. It had lain festering for so long, and now, like a foul boil, it erupted, spewing forth his regrets, griefs and sheer misery.
His father was rendered speechless and stood with one hand on the iron bedhead and the other clasped to his mouth as he gazed at him. Finally, Jim stood up. ‘So, I’m telling you. I’m going to catch Byrne and his brother, cos he’ll turn up too, sooner or later, and if they tell of what happened all those years ago and I go to jail, well, so be it.’
There was a sudden crack of thunder and a flash of lightning lit the room as James Drew said in a low voice, ‘You won’t go to jail. It’ll be me.’
‘Don’t give me that, Da,’ Jim said dejectedly. ‘Don’t start playing ’martyr now. It’s too late for that.’
‘No. No, I’m not. It was me. It wasn’t you.’
Jim looked at him. His father’s face seemed grey, even though the low fire in the hearth cast a glow to the room. ‘What was you?’ He glanced towards the window at the rosy reflection of the fire.
‘I killed Carlos. It wasn’t you. I was holding ’gun. You tried to knock it out of my grasp as I pointed it at him. I was the one with my finger on ’trigger.’
‘Da! Look! Summat’s on fire!’ Jim pointed to the window. In the blackness of the night sky came a red glow and sparks flying into the air. ‘God in heaven,’ he cried. ‘It’s Marsh Farm! It’s on fire!’