Katy's Men Read Online Free

facts of life but that had been just talk. Experience was something else.
    Ethel fumbled with the fingers of one hand with those of the other, took off a plain, gold ring and held it out to Katy: ‘My mother gave me this. Put it away until you’re older.’ And as Katy took the ring, Ethel went on, ‘I’ve got some things for your sisters. I’ll treat you all alike, as I’ve always done.’ But Ursula and Lotte had always taken their father’s side while it was Katy who cared for her mother. The two older girls respected and feared his strength and power. They had some affection for their mother but he came first in their thoughts because he made the rules. Now Ethel pushed up from the pillows and urged her, ‘Be a good girl. Try not to get across your father. I’m only trying to save you from a lot of grief. He can have a terrible temper.’
    Katy knew what was meant by this warning. Over the last few months she had taken over a lot of the work of the house because of her mother’s illness. The two elder girls had been excused because they were at work and putting money in Barney’s pocket — and Ursula, the eldest, was his favourite among the girls. So Katy had been working with or for her father and had begun to question his orders and argue against his judgments when she thought them wrong or unfair. She had been browbeaten and shouted down by him but had not given up. Her mouth had set in a stubborn line now at thought of him, but softened with her mother’s eyes on her. ‘I will, Mam.’
    Ethel sank back on the pillows, satisfied with that assurance. ‘You’ll be finished with school before long. Your teachers said you were a good scholar and there’s a job waiting for you in Mrs Turnbull’s shop. Your dad has arranged it.’
    Katy knew this and was not enthusiastic. She did not know what she wanted to do when she left school but hated the idea of serving behind a counter in a small corner shop. But at that moment she did not care. ‘Thanks, Mam.’
    Her mother smiled at her weakly. ‘I didn’t want to keep on at you, but I worry about you. You’re such a bonny little thing.’ She reached out to stroke Katy’s hair then let her hand fall. ‘Give me a kiss now and let me have a word with Winnie.’ So Katy left and cried in the kitchen.
    Ethel asked Winnie, ‘You’ve done what I asked? You’ll not let me down?’
    Winnie, not jolly now but close to tears herself, held Ethel’s hand, soothing: ‘I’ll see they get their rights. Just as you want.’
    Ethel said, ‘You don’t need to worry about Barney.’
    Winnie agreed, ironically, ‘No.’
    Ethel smiled faintly, ‘He cares for me, you know. He hasn’t — been near me for months — close on two years, in fact. Because the doctor said, you know, I couldn’t ...’ She paused, embarrassed.
    Winnie said quickly, to save her from it, ‘You told me.’ ‘Aye.’ And then after a time: ‘There’s somebody else.’ Winnie protested, ‘No, Ethel.’
    ‘ There is,’ Ethel insisted gently. ‘I know. I can tell from the way he walks out of here some nights, and then he doesn’t come home till late. But he can’t help it. It’s just the way he is. He’s hidden it from me — or thinks he has —because he doesn’t want to hurt me. So don’t blame him. Promise me?’
    Winnie had to agree, ‘I promise.’
    Ethel managed to laugh softly. ‘Promises! It’s like we were two little lasses again. We had some fun in those days, didn’t we?’ And they talked of the old days and old friends, of when they were children playing in the street, until it was time for Winnie to go home and Ethel was exhausted.
    Winnie saw that and said, ‘I’ll come round tomorrow.’ Ethel sighed, ‘Aye. Tomorrow.’
    But there was no tomorrow for Ethel because she died in the early hours of the morning.
    Ursula and Lotte had a day off work for the funeral while Katy and the two boys stayed home from school. They stood around the grave, shivering in the