always put duty first before,’ Tom replied reassuringly.
‘From what I recall about his letter, Joe seemed happy enough,’ Tom reminded her. ‘He was making good money working the fairground, and he’d palled up with another lad. So, when the boss offered them the chance to go to Europe with the fair, they jumped at it!’ He chuckled. ‘I don’t mind telling yer…if I’d been offered the same chance when I were Joe’s age, I’d have been gone like a shot!’
‘So, you think the only reason he left was because he wanted to see the world?’ Nancy asked.
‘That’s exactly what I think, yes.’ Tom was not a natural liar, but he had to put Nancy’s mind to rest.
The last thing he wanted to do was alarm her with his own suspicions about why Joe left.
In fact his thoughts on the matter were so unsettling, he had never once shared them with Nancy.
Nancy was like a dog with a bone. ‘Are you sure he didn’t say anything to you?’ she persisted. ‘About why he was rushing away, or where he was headed?’
‘He said nothing to me, but like I’m telling you, it’s likely he wanted to see what the big wide world had to offer before he settled down.’
Tom thought of his own life and how his world had only ever been this farm, rented from the landowner by his grandfather and father before him. ‘I remember when I were twenty-five,’ he remarked thoughtfully. ‘I were still working the land morning ‘til night, seven days a week.’
‘Ah, yes, but that was then and this is now,’ Nancy reminded him. ‘Times change, don’t forget that.’
‘I’m not likely to, because here I am, an old man plagued with aching bones and a nagging wife. I’ve two grown sons: one of ‘em’s fled the nest, and the other’s straining at the leash to get wed. I’ve a heap o’ responsibility weighing me down, an’ after all these years hard work, I haven’t even managed to buy a house to call our own!’
Nancy was taken aback by his outburst. ‘In all the years we’ve been married, I’ve never once heard you talk like that.’ It worried her. ‘Are you saying you regret your life?’
‘Absolutely not!’ Giving her a reassuring wink, Tom reached out and kissed her on the mouth, before revealing sincerely, ‘I don’t regret a single minute of it, and as for you and my boys, you are my life. That’s what it’s all been about and still is. And there isn’t a day passes that I don’t give thanks.’
Feeling emotional, Nancy told him passionately, ‘You’re such a good man, Tom.’ She gave him a look that only a woman in love could give. ‘Since you first asked me to dance at the village hall, I felt proud to be with you. I always will.’
‘Thank you, sweetheart.’ He smiled into those pretty brown eyes. ‘I’m proud of you an’ all, and I’m proud of our two sons. Different though they may be, they’re both good, fine fellows.’
‘Tom?’ There was something else playing on her mind.
‘What now, sweetheart?’ He so wanted to get back to his horses.
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I was wondering, what d’you think to Alice? Do you really think her and Frank will be happy together?’
‘Mmm…’ He chose his words carefully. ‘If I’m honest, I reckon she might be a bit young. She’s not yet twenty, and Frank is nearly seven years older. That said, she thinks the world of our Frank, and he adores her. So what do a few years matter, eh?’
‘So, you really think she’s the right one for our son?’
Remembering what he had witnessed that night a year ago, Tom chose his words carefully. ‘Well now, I don’t have a crystal ball, but I would say Alice has the true makings of a farmer’s wife.’
He paused, remembering how calm and helpful Alice had been when they had had a bad incident with a month-old foal. ‘D’you recall how that young postman ran to tell us how Alice was in trouble and needed help? Youngsters from the town had smashed part of the fence down at the far field, and one of the foals had got caught up in it?’
Nancy recalled it vividly. ‘Its mother was running crazy, and wouldn’t let anyone near.’
He reminded her, ‘I reckon that mad mare would have killed anyone who went near her young ‘un. The vet couldn’t get anywhere near until Alice calmed the mare long enough for him to tend the foal.’
Nancy remembered it well. ‘She’s certainly got a way with animals. She’s not afraid of hard work neither. All in all, I think you’re right. Young Alice will fit in with the family very nicely.’
She added reluctantly, ‘I’m not sure Joe approves of her though.’
Tom was surprised. ‘What put that idea into yer head?’
‘I might be wrong,’ she replied thoughtfully, ‘only I got the feeling that he would rather she wasn’t here, that’s all.’
Tom was quick to dispel her fears. ‘Honestly, Nancy. Fancy thinking our Joe would take a dislike to a girl who wouldn’t harm a fly! I expect he had his head so full of adventure, he didn’t even notice her!’
Nancy seemed relieved. ‘Yes, that must have been it. Forget what I said.’
Tom watched her as she ambled across the room. Leaning her elbows on the window sill, she gave a soft laugh. ‘Hey! Wouldn’t it be something if he turned up with a girl on his arm?’
‘I shouldn’t think our Joe will bring a woman home just yet,’ he told Nancy now. He then muttered under his breath, ‘Why would he do that, when the girl he fancies is right here?’
Tom had long suspected that was why Joe had gone away: because he had fallen for his brother’s woman, and he couldn’t deal with it. Neither could Tom, for it was a terrible, shameful thing.
All the same, Tom understood how sometimes love grabs you when you least expect it, and no one could control who they fall in love with.
He didn’t blame Joe. He didn’t blame anyone; though he had secretly admired his son for doing the right thing in putting a distance between himself and Alice.
He felt a sense of unease. ‘I hope to God our Joe’s over her. If not, it could really put the cat among the pigeons!’ he whispered to himself.
‘What was that you said?’ Nancy swung round.
‘What?’ Pretending he was deep in his newspaper, Tom looked up, ‘I didn’t say anything!’
‘I thought you said something about a cat among the pigeons?’
‘Naw. Yer must be getting old. Hearing voices in yer head now is it?’
Sighing, Nancy ambled back to her chair. ‘I’m all wound up,’ she said, ‘I’ll be all right when Joe gets here.’
As Nancy sipped her tea, Tom took a moment to look at her. As a girl she was much like Alice: the same long brown hair and inquisitive mind. She hadn’t changed
