The Chainmakers Read Online Free

sending him flying. The momentum carried George onwards, and he crashed into the side of the house just as Bert's wife came out of her front door.
    'What on earth's to do?' Her stony gaze took in her husband attempting to get up on the pavement opposite, and then George Gibson, who had slid down the wall and now lay on his back, waving his arms like a stranded beetle. She turned her fury on Anna.
    'Your father again Anna Gibson! 'E's a disgrace to the street!' She crossed to Bert and helped him up. ''E should be ashamed, gettin' our Bert drunk!'
    'I don't suppose Dad had to hold his nose and pour it down his throat,' Anna countered crossly. She tried to help George to his feet but he had collapsed into a stupor and it was impossible to lift him.
    'Get 'im off the pavement, I don't want 'im spendin' the night outside my front door,' Bert's wife said angrily, as she cajoled and pushed Bert across the road and into the house. 'Your Ma need put on airs an' graces, Anna Gibson, married to a drunk like 'im!'
    'No need to be like that Millie... I'll move him as quick as I can, I'll have to fetch our Will.'
    Anna sighed. It was no use trying to wake her father once he drifted off like this. She heard Millie's front door slam as she hurried down the street, trying not to notice the neighbours who had come out onto their front doorsteps or peered down from bedroom windows. The embarrassment was becoming too much, she thought, but there was little either she or her mother could do about it.
    Reaching Will's house, she knocked gently. It was a prearranged knock which signalled to Will that she needed help with their father. Within a couple of minutes the small front door opened and Will emerged, pulling on his jacket and cap.
    'What's to do this time?' he grumbled, 'I'd just gone off to sleep...'
    'He's on the pavement outside Bert Castle's. Fighting they were. I can't wake him.'
    Five minutes later Will and Anna had managed to get George Gibson into the small back room. He was a dead weight and Will gasped as he lowered him gently to the floor.
    'There.' He held his father up so that Anna could remove his jacket, and then lowered him again to rest on the rag rug in front of the fire. 'That's as far as 'e's goin' tonight. We'll never get 'im up the stairs.' He glanced up at Anna as he started to undo George Gibson's boots. 'Yo' shouldn't come out in your nightgown Anna. It ay decent for one thing, an' yo'll catch yer death for another.'
    'I had my shawl on. An' Millie Castle wanted 'im moved quick...'
    'Let 'er wait.' Will said shortly, 'An' let 'im wait an' all.' He looked down at his father, a mixture of anger and disgust on his face. 'Better get a bucket our Anna, in case 'e wakes up took short. 'E'd never make it to the yard.'
    Anna nodded and fetched the floor bucket from outside the back door. She turned a worried face to Will.
    'What about Saturday night Will? When I'm not here? Mom won't be able to manage...'
    Will grunted as he pulled off George Gibson's heavy boots. 'Do' worry our kid. I'll mek sure 'e's safe inside on Saturday, even if I 'ave to yank 'im out the pub!'
    'And Mom...? You'll...'
    'Do' worry I said!' Will gave her a wink. 'I'll mek sure they'm both safe an' sound.'
    He stood up and made his way to the back door, his big frame almost filling the space as Anna opened it. On an impulse Anna reached up and planted a kiss on his cheek.
    'You'm a gem our Will,' she said.
    Will cleared his throat, taken aback by this unexpected show of sisterly affection. 'Arr, I know,' he growled. 'It's a wonder I ay bin knighted...' And he set off down the ginnel, back to his bed.

HIGH CEDARS
    Anna stared fixedly at the picture in front of her, which Robert had propped up on a low side table so that she could see it easily without lifting her head. 'There,' he had said, 'You can sit and look at "The Chainmaker's Child", it will help you keep still.'
    The picture was a painting of herself at ten years old, bouncing on the bellows at the