The Blue Horse Read Online Free Page B

myself, I just couldn’t stand it another second,’ shouted Hannah.
    ‘But the worst of it, to use an innocent baby, a little child, my own little man, as a battle weapon! Your father will kill you if he hears of it.’
    ‘But he didn’t get hurt, Mam, he wasn’t crying or anything,’ answered Katie.
    ‘Your little sister all bruised and cut and upset and the baby terrified out of his wits, what kind of a girl are you?’
    Katie was silent.
    A barrage of words built up in her brain. She knew if she said one word they would all be forced out like a flood. Why should they keep out of trouble, never reply, walk away? She stayed silent.
    ‘And then the worst of it – getting your fortune told while the baby was being roasted alive in the sun. Nearly a quarter of a bottle of calamine lotion I’ve had to rub on him.’
    ‘I’m sorry, Mam.’
    ‘Hmm!’
    ‘It wasn’t Mrs Maguire’s fault. She helped us because you weren’t here. Hannah needed calming down …’
    ‘She was real nice to me too, Mam,’ added Hannah.
    ‘Now I suppose I’ll have to go down and thank her for her help. I will say this and listen to me the both of you, and you, boys, too –’ the twins and Tom were watching a black-and-white portable television up at the front end of thetrailer, ‘– keep out of trouble. There will be enough bad things that will find their way to your door, so walk away from trouble, take another road, go the long way, don’t reply, don’t answer back. Are ye all listening?’
    Katie nodded.
    ‘Yes, Mam,’ Hannah smiled nervously.
    The boys grunted some kind of answer, despite being engrossed in the TV programme. Mam seemed satisfied.
    ‘Now let that be an end to it and none of you are to let me down.’ She got the brush and began to brush Hannah’s hair.
    * * *
    At the end of the week Francis and his grandmother got ready to leave. Katie couldn’t believe it. Her new friend! He came to say goodbye.
    ‘Do you really have to go?’ she asked.
    He nodded. He was rubbing two or three leaves between his fingers.
    ‘Is it because of the goats?’ she said, thinking it was funny how a person could suddenly go off goats, take a strong dislike to them in fact.
    He shrugged. ‘They need fresh grass, some wild herbs.’ He paused. ‘Look, Katie, you know what Gran’s like. She gets notions about things – about places – she’s just a superstitious old woman. The goats are part of it but she has a real feeling we must leave this place.’
    Francis stood so close to her, his arm stretched out above her as he pulled more leaves from the ivy trailing over the wall behind them. Her head came just about to his chin. A dart of loneliness pricked her.
    ‘We’re going to Galway – it’s nice there. Gran always likes it. In about two weeks there’ll be a summer fair, plenty of people, horses, games and stalls, buying and selling!
    ‘Maybe you’ll all get up to Galway.’ He tried to sound cheerful.
    ‘Maybe.’ She fixed her eyes on one of the dogs stretched out on the grass in the distance. She could see the alsatian’s stomach going up and down, his tongue out; she could almost hear his panting.
    ‘Are you listening to me, Katie?’
    His hand now rested on her shoulder.
    ‘Our paths will cross again, you can depend on it.’ She looked into his eyes and knew he was not just saying it, they were not empty words.
    ‘I hope so,’ she whispered.
    ‘I promise,’ he said, before turning and running off back down the field.
    At midday a car and a small lorry appeared, and the goats were loaded in. Francis was sitting in the front seat with the driver. Nan got into the car which would tow the small caravan. In a small procession they left Kilcross. To Katie the place seemed strangely empty.

Chapter 6
JUMP!
    ‘I’m going to have a game of cards with Brigid,’ announced Mam.
    Katie nodded. She was glad to see Mam going out, even if it was just next door for an hour or so. The men kept disappearing off every