asks Charlie where he took me?’
‘Jessie, whether you realise it or not, your husband has more enemies than friends. Believe me, when I say Charlie has more reason than most to hate him so he will keep your secret.’
Jessie briefly wondered what reason Charlie could have to hate him, but there were more pressing things to concern her just now. They had only arrived at the gate, when the mail van came into view. Jessie shook Fred’s hand and thanked him. The old man had tears in his eyes as he said good-bye to them. ‘I will write, Fred, and let you know how we are.’
‘You do that lass, and take care of yourself. Have you got the envelope I gave you?’
‘Yes Fred, it’s in my pocket.’
They climbed into the back of the van, amid the mail. Jessie was not a hundred per cent sure that this was legal, but she did not care. Fred stood in the middle of the roadway and waved. They waved until they could no longer see him. They were on their way to a new life.
Chapter three
Jessie leaned back and closed her eyes. She enjoyed the gentle rocking motion of the train, as it carried them on their journey. Allison was sound asleep, with her head resting on the railway pillow. They were travelling on the night train to Christchurch. Following their journey in the mail van, they had caught the bus into Invercargill. They spent the afternoon wandering around the shops. However neither of them had been in the mood for shopping, it merely had been a means of passing the time. Finally they went to the station to wait for the train. Jessie thought it highly unlikely, but she dreaded the thought of Paul turning up and making a scene. The sooner they were on their way the better. They had sat in the waiting room and eaten the doorstep sandwiches that Fred had so lovingly made for them. They purchased their tickets and pillows. Then they watched the hands of the big Railway Station clock, as it moved ever so slowly, towards departure time. Finally, the Guard blew his whistle, and with an almighty lurch forward, the train slowly gathered speed.
Allison had never been on a train before and she held her mother’s hand tightly out of fear and excitement. Fear soon gave way to joy, and soon she was peering out the window, with fascination at the passing scenery. At one of the seemingly never-ending stops, they had bought a railway pie and a cup of tea. They laughed at each other’s effort, as they struggled to get back on the train, trying not to spill their tea. Some time later when daylight had given way to the night shadows, Allison drifted off to sleep. Jessie leaned over and brushed a feather-like kiss on her brow. She now had the enormous responsibility, of looking after her handicapped daughter. She determined that she would do everything within her power to make her happy.
It was now nearly midnight and she was still awake. It had been such an eventful day. Although very tired, sleep continued to evade her. She wished that she had thought of bringing something to read. Taking out the envelope that Fred had given her, earlier in the day she decided to read what he had written for her benefit. Now as she studied the envelope she realised that it was quite thick. In the dim light of the train she opened it and took out the contents. Encased in a single sheet of writing paper was five hundred pounds. Jessie let out such a gasp that, she immediately clasped her hand over mouth to stop any further noise. It was then she realised why he had not wanted her to open the envelope until later. Choking with emotion, she put the money and the letter back into the envelope. ‘Thank you Fred,’ she said quietly. She vowed that at some stage later, she would repay him every penny. She cried silent tears into her pillow, before finally drifting off to sleep.
The next thing she knew Allison was shaking her awake. The Guard was making his rounds checking everyone’s tickets. Only half awake she fumbled in her bag before producing the tickets.
‘Good morning to you both. And a lovely morning it is. We will be arriving in Christchurch in less than an hour. Breakfast is being served in the cafeteria.’ He punched their tickets. He carried on down the carriage bidding everyone a good morning, and informing them about the arrival time and breakfast arrangements. He spoke in such a loud voice, that right from his very first passenger everyone had heard.
They sat in the cafeteria and surveyed the breakfast set before them. Bacon, eggs, kidneys and tomatoes, toast and marmalade and a huge pot of tea. They were both ravenous and ate with relish the huge breakfast. Later after making a few inquiries they found their way to the bus terminal. After living a lifetime on the farm and never going anywhere, they were both understandably feeling travel weary. However there was only one leg of the journey ahead of them. During their ride on the bus Jessie explained to Allison about the cottage that Fred had so generously given them to use. She became quite emotional when she told her about the money that he had put in the envelope. Allison looked at her mother in wonderment. Five hundred pounds was almost more money than she could comprehend. ‘What will we do with all that money?’
‘I am not going to spend it unless it becomes absolutely essential. I am going to deposit it in the bank. In time when we become established I plan to return the money to Fred, after all he is an old man. I am sure that one day he will want to retire.’
‘How are we going to earn money? I can’t to leave school and find a job for at least two years.”
‘You are not leaving school when you are fifteen as your brother has done. I want you to have a proper education. Just you leave the matter of earning money to me.’ Jessie had spoken so sternly to Allison that she acknowledged her mother’s authority by not arguing. Instead she leaned back in her seat and enjoyed the constantly changing scenery.
An elderly woman sitting in a seat opposite had watched the mother and daughter converse in sign language, and thought it a shame that such an attractive young woman, should have such a handicap. ‘Has your daughter always been deaf?’ She politely asked. Jessie did not immediately recognise that the woman had spoken to her. In her troubled mind she was considering whether she had been right to leave the relative security of her home. Even as a mother she felt like a failure, going off and leaving her son without any regrets. Then the mental picture of Steven sniggering at her, as she recoiled from Paul’s fist convinced her she had been right. Neither of them was worth worrying about. She became aware that someone had spoken to her. ‘I am sorry, did you speak to me?’
‘I asked if your daughter had always been deaf.’
‘Yes, she has.’
‘I think it is amazing, that you can converse apparently so fluently with your hands.’
‘It was not always so easy. It took a lot of patience in the beginning.’
‘I am sure it did. Are you travelling far?’
‘To Nelson.’
‘Really. I am as well. I holiday there with my sister every year.’
‘That’s nice.’
‘Are you going on holiday?’
The conversation was taking a turn that Jessie was not entirely happy with. She knew that the elderly woman was only being polite. Yet she asked more questions than Jessie had answers for at this point. ‘Not exactly, we have been given the use of a cottage and we plan to stay for a while.’
The elderly woman could tell by Jessie’s tone, that she did not wish to impart any further information. Not being one to pry, she took out her knitting and settled back in her seat. Later she was to tell her sister, that she thought that the young woman on the bus had run away from something or somebody. Pleased that the woman was no longing asking questions Jessie closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. She closed her eyes but her mind was reeling with what
