Chapter 28: Chapter 28

He’s gripping her arm, tugging her towards the stall. She tries to break away, but for all his disgusting ways, the old tramp is strong. His work is hard, and his muscles are tough and sinewy. With her free hand, she tries to punch, but he snatches at her fist, gripping her wrist with his hand, pushing her inside and down into the straw.

“In you go,” he mutters. “We’ll have a little privacy in here.” He’s pulling at her clothes, tugging the tee-

shirt up, as she struggles against him. But Dancer is screaming now, kicking at the door and the slats separating the stalls. Charlie, bucking and pulling against her tether, tosses her head and the loosely looped rope comes free. She surges into the stable, teeth bared, her hooves iron-shod hammers.

And now the shrieking rage of the stallion is overlaid by running footsteps, many running footsteps.

Jenny is fighting, yelling, trying to free herself…. “Get off me!”

…. but the old man screams as the mare batters at him with hooves and teeth. Tom charges in, pulling the tramp away from the downed girl, hampered by the mare who has her jaws around his arm. There’s an ugly snap and Jacob shrieks once, then collapses, unconscious.

Brett is trying to catch the rein of the enraged mare. Finally snagging her bridle, he holds her head, talking softly as he calms her then leads her outside. Next door, Nathaniel is trying to pacify Dancer.

Soft words and the bribe of another apple soothe the stallion, and again, he is led out, to be securely tethered next to Charlie.

Tom crouches by the sobbing Jenny. His arms hover over her shoulders as he tries to touch and not touch at the same time. “Jenny, it’s alright. It’s alright. You’re safe.”

Mrs Collier stands, white-faced in the doorway, looking in. She calls across the yard. “Diane, call Chad.

Get him here quick. Then, call a doctor and the police.”

Swollen-eyed, Jenny looks up from the straw, wiping at her face. “No, not the police.”

Mrs Collier kneels beside her. “Jenny, he tried to…. Jenny, they’ll arrest him. Take him away.”

“Please, not the police.”

The woman’s head tilts. Glances are exchanged all around. “Alright then, not the police. But I want a doctor to look you over. And he….” She spits the word at the unconscious Jacob…. “He can go in an ambulance. You can be sure he’ll not be coming back; here or anywhere else nearby.”

Brett kicks the prone tramp in the ribs. “What do we do with him for now?”

“Lock him in the roots shed. Padlock it,” she says. “When the ambulance arrives, you can pile him, and anything of his, in there. He’ll not be coming back here. Nathaniel, give Dancer and Charlie a bucket of mash apiece. Tom, help Jenny across to the house. I’ll run her a bath, and then it’s straight to bed for you, my girl.”

*****

Nathaniel broods over his beer. “Why do you think she didn’t want the police? Most girls would have been happy to see a bastard like that in cuffs.”

Brett takes a long swallow from his drink, downing half the glass in one go, then, “We don’t know a lot about where she came from. Who knows what happened to her before she was here? And remember too, kids from bad backgrounds have often been taught that the police are the bad guys.”

Nathaniel takes a sip, then puts his glass down. “Doesn’t seem to taste right today, somehow.”

“Chad will settle her. He’s a good lad, Very gentle. And she wasn’t actually hurt. Just got a fright.”

Tom studies the contents of his glass, not speaking.

*****

Jenny sits up in bed, Chad perched on the blankets beside her, holding her hand.

There’s a sharp tap at the door and the kind of short hesitation that suggests the maker of the rap might be allowing a moment’s grace before entering.

The door swings open and Mrs Collier steps in with a tray. “I’ve made you chicken soup, Jenny. You’ll be staying to eat with us of course, Chad?”

“Thank you, Mrs Collier. I’d like that.”

She places the tray down on Jenny’s lap. Pale creamy soup, fragrant with thyme and sage and….

something else wonderful…. steams gently up. “If you want more, there’s plenty where that came from.”

“Thank you. It smells lovely.”

The woman flicks non-existent crumbs from her apron. “I’d like you to know, Jenny that, while we will all respect your wishes not to bring the police into this, Jacob is in hospital and whatever happens, he won’t be coming back here. We have also put the word out that he is unwelcome here to all the neighbours, but we have not told them why. We see no reason to cause you further distress.”

The girl stirs her soup, not looking up as she breaks in bits of bread. “Thank you.”

“I’ll leave you with Chad then.”

As the door clicks closed, Chad angles a look at Jenny. “Do you realise this is the first time she’s ever let us be alone in the bedroom together?”

Jenny’s smile is a bit wan, but it is a smile. “Yes, it is. Chad….”

He interrupts her, a finger across her lips, then leaning in, kisses her. The kiss is soft and warm. And as he comes close to her, she scents him, sweetly masculine.

He leans away again. “Jenny, I know people think we’re… er…. you know….”

She nods. “I know.”

“Well, I just wanted to say…. The first time when we…. I want it to be special for us. I always have, but especially after something like today. I’d like us to wait until we’re married. Is that alright with you?”

“Yes, that’s alright with me.”

“Good.” He brushes her cheek with a finger. “And then our wedding night will be something we can both remember.”

*****

Later that evening, Jenny has another visitor. There is a quiet knock on the door. “Can I come in?”

“Hello, Tom. Yes, that’s fine.”

He enters hesitantly, offering something to her, a book. “I went to see Mr Kalkowski, asked him if there was something you’d want to read. He gave me this to give to you.”

She looks. Principles of Geology. “Um, I’m not sure….”

“It’s alright,” he says. “I told Brett if he doesn’t like it, he can argue with me.” He stands, looking awkward, then, “Jenny, I’m sorry. I wanted to apologise.”

Her eyes are wide. “What for?”

Tom doesn’t seem to know what to say. “It’s… I don’t…. Just… I’m sorry. I’m going to make it right.”

And he turns and goes, leaving Jenny with her book and a hanging jaw.

*****

The school day is over. All the children have gone home, and Mr Kalkowski settles to an hour or so of marking essays. As is his habit, he works through the stack to find Jenny’s offering, takes it from the pile and moves it to the bottom. He can be sure that he will end this tedious task on a high note.

There is a knock. A head peeps around the office door. “Mr Kalkowski. Do you have a minute?”

“Of course I have. What can I do for you, Jenny?”

“Well….” She bites at her lip, weaving her fingers together. “I wanted to tell you…. I know that you wrote the letters and filled in the forms for me, but I've decided that I’m not going to university.”

Mr Kalkowski frowns, his lips puckered. He sits up, placing his pen carefully down on the desk. “May I enquire the reason for this change of heart?”

She winds her fingers together. “Everyone thinks it's a bad idea. Even Chad, I think, even if he doesn't say so.”

He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket, takes off his spectacles and polishes one of the lenses. He doesn’t look at her as he speaks. “And what do you think, Jenny?”

There’s a gloss to her eyes. “Everyone's been so kind to me here. Before I came to the farm….” She stumbles her words. “…. Before I came here, everything was so different.”

She speaks with the air of having practised what she is going to say, reciting the words. “I wouldn’t be like I am now if it weren’t for everyone here. So, I'm going to marry Chad. And we’ll have a family and I'll do my best to make him happy. So, I’m sorry…. But I can’t go to university.”

Mr Kalkowski still doesn’t look at her, instead polishing the other lens. “I’m sad to hear that, Jenny. But it is, of course, your decision. If you should change your mind, you know where to find me.”

After she leaves, the old man sighs, makes himself a pot of tea and then, wincing a little as he sits, stares out of the window while the tea grows cold.

*****