whatever he said would be treated in confidence. He held the couple in high regard, so he related the story of their meeting;
“I’d set some snares and I had some time to kill before I went back to them, so I went to that barn on the roadside going up towards Halsmere. I went inside to rest and that’s when I found Ruth, she was hiding there. She came to me at the caravan and I fed her. She told me the story about her mother being arrested and how she managed to run away before they caught her too.” He paused, seeing the raised eyebrows of Mistress Sissie.
“Look, before you say anything, I’ve found out where her mother is – she’s in the gaol on the Stafford Road. I’ve been to see her and she’s being released in a week’s time. The problem is she has nowhere to go and no means of looking after herself or the child, so… I’m offering them the chance to stay with me”
Master John and Mistress Sissie listened intently without saying a word until Amos had finished and then Mistress Sissie, grasped the nettle and said,
“Well now Amos, just think fer a moment what yer doin’. You’ve looked after the child, an’ credit to yer, but when her mother comes out o’ gaol she’s no longer your responsibility, after all, yer know nothin’ about her”.
Amos drew a long breath and looked the couple squarely before answering,
“Yes, I only know what Ruth has told me, and I know I’m taking on responsibilities of which I’ve no need, but I am involved now, and in all honesty, I couldn’t turn the child away to live as she’s been living these last weeks. I’ve decided that when her mother is released I’ll offer her shelter. If she decides not to accept, that’s beyond my control, but I know that if she returns to a life sleeping under hayricks and begging for food, then not only will she become seriously ill, she’ll almost certainly end up in gaol again. At best she’ll end up in the poor house somewhere”.
“Yer a kind mon Amos an’ I hope things g’ well for yer. It’s a big responsibility to tek on, an’ a big risk – after all yer don’t know ’em. All I’ll say is just be careful, because there’s them who’d brand yer wi’ the Devil’s mark just fer associating wi’ such a woman. There’s bin a lot o’ trouble lately an’ I know feelin’s are runnin’ high”,
and with those words of warning Mistress Sissie passed Amos his drink.
He knew that what she was saying was said with only the best of intentions and deep within he knew that what she said was true. He was quite used to prejudice, as most travelling people were, but his hide was thick enough, and he would usually let unsavoury or antagonistic comments fly over his head without response.
“Yes, I quite understand what you say, but can’t believe that people can harbour such ill will against a mother and child who find themselves in such distress. The circumstances are hardly of their own making and they surely deserve a little charity”.
Mistress Sissie reached over the table and patted the back of Amos’s hand in a soothing manner,
“Yer truly a compassionate mon an’ I applaud yer for doing what yer doin’, but I felt I had to mention it. There’s many abart these parts who’d profess to be Christians but ’ould be only too quick t’ condemn yer. We’ll say n’ more except that if ever yer need a friend, then we’re here”.
Amos thanked her sincerely. There was a slight silence and then Amos, finishing his drink, rose to his feet asked,
“Right Master John, are you going to show me where these moles are that you want me to catch?”
The mole hills, of black peaty soil, were a regular problem in the hay meadows, where, if not cleared they would cause the scythes to dull at mowing and contaminate the hay. Apart from these practical problems, no farmer worth his salt would cherish the sight of mole hills on his meadows because his pride in the appearance of his land in the eyes of his neighbours, would embarrass him. Amos decided on his plan of action and then spent the remainder of the afternoon cutting hazel whips to make his traps. Ruth followed him about but her afternoon was rather more a light hearted romp with the farm dog. She was always interested in the ways of the countryside but the dog held more enjoyment at that moment.
The days were beginning to get shorter now and so they made their way back to the van, collecting firewood along the way. The fire was soon blazing and they relaxed whilst the cooking pot steamed away. Ruth had one of the storage boxes for a seat, pushed up against the caravan wheel forming a back rest. Amos watched her, thinking that she must be worn out after running with the dog. She seemed rather quiet. “A penny for your thoughts” he said and Ruth looked up at him and smiled.
“I was thinking about you and thinking about Ma. I wondered where you came from and how you came to be here?”
Amos pulled his seat to where he could poke the fire to keep it blazing, and he said,
“It’s good that you were thinking of your Ma, she’ll be back with you very soon.”
He picked up a piece of wood, drew his knife and began to whittle. The fire was rather intense and he felt it burning his face and legs so he moved away and sat next to Ruth, leaning against the wheel of the vardo. She looked at the wood that he was whittling. It was white and the slivers of shaved wood were being left attached to the main stem, curling over to resemble the ballooning skirt of some doll.
“It looks just like a fairy”, she said.
“Then that is what it will be”, he replied, “Just for you”, and he carried on whittling.
“You didn’t tell me about you, where you’re from or how you come to live in this caravan?” Ruth reminded him.
Looking at her intently he said,
“I don’t know whether you’ll understand, you’re so young, but I’ll try to explain. Some years ago my parents had a cottage in a beautiful place a long way from here in Shropshire. I remember it but I was very young. There were lots of trees to climb and a river where we swam and I never wanted to leave. Like lots of other people, they didn’t own the cottage where we lived, and they weren’t wealthy people but they kept a pig, some geese and a cow. All the land near us was open land and everyone who had animals grazed them on this common land. One day, the Lord of the Manor came along with his men and forced everyone to move their animals and they fenced the land. There was a lot of trouble and some people broke down the fences and there was fighting. The law always favours the rich, so some were arrested and taken before the courts and were gaoled. Others lost their jobs with the estate and unfortunately my father was one of those people. My parents couldn’t afford the rent for the cottage without a job, and they were finding it difficult to survive so they left the area. They bargained the animals they had for this caravan and they wandered about picking up work where they could, much the same as I do now. Both my parents are dead now but they left me this caravan. So, there you are, now you know all about me. I don’t have any other family and so it’s nice to have someone like you around”.
Chapter 6.
Bright and early the next morning they eagerly prepared for the day’s work ahead of them. Amos removed the tether from the mare and slipped the collar over her head. Her bridle in place, he attached the long reins and looped them over the hames. With Ruth astride her back and Amos walking alongside, Maggie plodded her way along the track to the farm. The painted sign at the entrance, read ‘Bright Meadows Farm’ and Amos thought, as they passed, how ironic it sounded as he looked towards the threatening sky. Master John was there to greet them as they entered the yard
