Katy's Men Read Online Free Page A

bitter cold. The freshly turned earth, dug only the previous day, was silvered with the frost. Katy saw her father grieving for the first time in her life, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes and wiped away on the back of his thick-fingered hand, scarred from a lifetime of fighting. She felt close to him then but it was not to last.
    Some days later, after they had all eaten the tea which Katy had set out, and when they were trying to get back to normal living, Katy asked, ‘Dad, can I have my mam’s brooch, the one she promised me, please?’
    Barney put down his cup and said shortly, ‘Anything your mother left comes to me. I’ll decide who gets what.’
    The others were listening. Ursula, stolid and unimaginative, her dark hair crinkled like that of her father, nodded at Lotte, the other girl who always sided with her father: ‘We should have first choice.’
    ‘ Aye, that’s right.’ Lotte, sallow and plain, agreed as always.
    Katy protested, ‘But Mam said I was to have it, that Aunt Augusta wanted me to have it.’
    Barney declared, ‘Nobody said owt to me. Anyway, what does a young lass like you want with a thing like that? It’s more suited to a grown woman.’
    Ursula put in, with a jealous glance at Katy, ‘You were always a favourite of that old Aunt Augusta.’
    Katy persisted, partly because she liked the brooch. It was of little value, a piece of costume jewellery Aunt Augusta had worn on stage, but it was pretty, with blue and white stones which sparkled in the light. But Katy also wanted it because it was hers by right. ‘It was Mam’s brooch and she said—’
    Barney shouted over her, ‘I’ve told you and I’ve had enough! Now shut up!’
    Katy was chalk white but for two splashes of red colour high on her cheeks. She refused to give in: ‘No, I’ll not! It should be mine! That was the last thing Mam said to me. She said—’
    ‘ Never mind what she said!’ Barney kicked back his chair and started round the table towards her. ‘I’ve told you to shut up! You’ve got too much lip — a troublemaker!’ He had his hand lifted for the blow and Katy saw the others either ducking away from him or, like Ursula, waiting eagerly for punishment to be meted out. Katy ran. Barney shouted, ‘Come back! Damn you! Come back!’
    Katy did not. She fled in terror down the passage and out into the street, then wept as she walked around and around the streets. She was bitterly glad she had hidden away the ring her mother had given her. She had, at least, kept that. Fear kept her walking but the cold and lateness of the hour finally drove her home. As she entered, shivering and frightened, anticipating a beating, Ursula gloated, ‘Serves you right. Dad’s got dressed up and gone out. But he said he’d deal with you tomorrow.’
    Ursula was to be disappointed. The next day Barney was in high spirits, grinning as he left for work and when he returned. It was a week later when Katy learned the reason. A letter arrived at the house, in a thick, white envelope addressed to Barney in copperplate. He opened it when he came in from work and nodded with satisfaction. When tea had been eaten he flourished the letter and fixed Katy with a grim stare. ‘You were supposed to have another two or three weeks at school but I’ve seen the headmaster and he’s letting you off that. He thinks you’re bloody marvellous but he hasn’t seen you around here like I have. Anyway, you’ll finish at the end of this week. I’ve got you a position through an aunt on my side of the family, never mind your Aunt Augusta. That’s Jinny Merrick as was. She married that Jim Tucker in North Shields and she’s been dead and buried these last ten years, but before she was wed she was a maid with the Barracloughs. I went up to see them the other night and it turned out they’re wanting a lass.’ He wagged the letter again. ‘Aunt Jinny was well-thought-of by them so they’re taking you on.’
    Katy whispered, ‘But