Catherine of Deepdale Read online

  The warmth of the fire made her drowsy. Her eyelids grew heavy, her eyes closed and her head nodded. Fighting off the urge to sleep she shook herself awake. What if she let lack of sleep get the better of her, if she let the fire go out and the cold crept into her bones and she died? The thought of what it would do to those she left behind brought tears to her eyes. She thought of what she would miss. The joy of watching little Robbie grow up, and the things she still had to do, but most of all being with Norrie. What a time to realize how much she loved him. She had been so annoyed with him when he’d come home drunk and she’d lied to the police to protect him. No doubt he would get up to other pranks, but that would be the Norrie she was going to get to know.

  Mentally she shook herself and counted her blessings. She was safe and under cover. She was used to night shifts so she wouldn’t let the fire die out and she would still be there in the morning. She put some more wood on the fire. Her socks and shoes were not dry, but almost, so she put them on and got up to walk about and get her personal central heating system moving. She switched on the torch to look in the box-bed to see if any treasures had been left behind, but there was nothing save a pile of old rags. She shone the torch into every corner, only to find that the place had been emptied of anything that had been worth taking. There was a heap of something to the left of the hearth and under the window, a heap of something that could be anything. She looked more closely at it, stirred it with her foot; was it … could it be peat? It was.

  Using the hard, dry slabs she made the biggest fire the hearth could hold. Then, on the floor in front of it, with her arm crooked beneath her head to make a pillow of sorts, she lay down. She had wrapped Noble’s tether round her wrist. She slept then, a restless sleep on a hard bed. She dreamed of Robbie, her husband, saw his smiling face and heard him say, “You’ll be all right.” She raised herself up to feed the fire from time to time, then slept soundly. She woke at last to hear Noble moving. She sat up as he padded softly past her on his way to the door.

  ‘Is it time for home then?’ she said. ‘Wait till I put my shoes on.’

  Dry-shod again, as Noble hopped through the gap by the door Catherine followed him and stepped straight into a snowdrift. She was going home now, so it didn’t matter. Standing straight, she looked for sign of dawn. A thin veil of light filled the sky; she looked to see where it was brightest. A narrow sliver on the horizon told her which way to go.

  The snow was deep and before she had gone very far her trousers, socks and shoes were wet again and her feet were freezing. But she didn’t care; she was alive and soon she would see someone coming to find her. That someone would be Norrie and maybe with Daa not far behind. But she was on the wrong side of the hill and had to go back up and across the moor before she would be in sight of home. She wished she had a staff to help her but she struggled on, stepping and almost falling into drifts until she reached level ground. Water lay in dark pools and sheep that had started moving about long since had left trails for her to follow. Thanks to them the moor was not difficult to traverse. At the top of the track leading down to the road, with Deepdale just beyond, she looked to see if anyone was coming. A figure, no more than a dark shadow against the snow was moving, a man and with him a dog. Was it Norrie? Was it?

  And then she was going down. Yes, it was Norrie. She called his name and pulling on Noble’s tether began to run, but Noble held her back so she abandoned him, ran, fell, picked herself up and ran again. Slipping and sliding, unable to stop laughing through tears of joy, she crashed into Norrie’s open arms and knocked him down. Lying there, holding on to him as though she would never let him go, she smothered him with kisses.

  ‘I thought I was never going to see you again,’ she cried. ‘Oh, Norrie, Norrie, you’ll never know how glad I am to see you.’

  ‘Not half as glad as I am,’ said Norrie. ‘I’ve been worried out of my mind. I came to look for you last night, but it was hopeless. I thought you were dead. Oh, lass, don’t ever put me through that again.’ She clung to him and cried, let the tears she had fought back in the night flow free, tears mingled with her kisses as she kept telling him how much she loved him. And then he said, ‘If you hadn’t said you’d marry me, I’d have had to make you do it if only for your own safety. You need someone to look after you.’

  ‘And I’ll be very happy for you to do that,’ said Catherine.

  ‘Ay, but hold off a minute. I ken you had me on the ground once before and had your way with me, but do you not think the rug we have now is too cold?’ Though there was a grin on his face she could see the concern for her in his eyes.

  ‘Oh, Norrie,’ she cried, ‘please take me home.’

  THIRTY EIGHT

  DAA TOOK CATHERINE into his arms and hugged her. ‘Jannie telled me I was not to come back without you,’ he said. ‘I didn’t sleep a wink last night for worrying about you. I thought you would freeze to death.’

  ‘I was in the ruined house.’ She gave a wan smile. ‘I always wanted to look in it; now I have and I never want to see it again.’

  With one hand clasped tight by Norrie, holding Noble’s tether with the other and he trailing behind her, Catherine walked between Norrie and Daa. She was wet and cold to the knees; on feet that seemed to be made of lead and devoid of feeling she plodded on. She had not realized how cold she was, but now that she was moving her body was coming to life; with life came pain and with every step she took it became more and more intense. She was bruised and shaken and aching from the fall and from lying on a hard floor with only her arm for a pillow.

  Daa would not let Norrie take Catherine to her home. ‘No,’ he said, ‘she has to come to us; Jannie wants to help and no doubt she’ll be looking out for us.’

  When Jannie saw them she clapped her hands. ‘Thanks be to God,’ she said. The kettle was boiling, porridge already made and a blanket warming on the pulley. She held out her hands to Catherine and looked as though she wanted to embrace her, but then led her to Daa’s chair. ‘Come sit by the fire,’ she said.

  After the freezing cold of the night the Jameson kitchen seemed to Catherine almost tropical. Norrie knelt before her and took off her shoes and socks. ‘You need to take off your trousers too,’ he said.

  ‘She cannot do that wi’ you here, Norrie Williams, get away out,’ said Jannie. ‘And you,’ she pointed a finger at Daa, ‘give the lass some peace.’

  ‘I’ll no’ be far away,’ said Norrie. ‘I’ll get you some dry clothes.’

  ‘And I’ll see to the ram,’ said Daa.

  With the men gone out Catherine took off her trousers and Jannie gave her a bowl of hot water to put her feet in. She let down the pulley, gave Catherine a warm towel to dry legs and feet and the blanket to wrap round her, then hung the wet garments over the pulley and hauled it back up. Daa had given Catherine a cup of tea, now Jannie gave her a bowl of porridge laced with cream and sugar.

  ‘I ken that’s how you from south like it,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Catherine. Jannie was being kind. It was too much. She had done what everyone warned her not to, had gone up the hill giving no thought to the weather, and it had overtaken her. She was exhausted, her defences were down and she was vulnerable. Only now did she realize how much danger she had been in and how much worry she had given these people. Kind words always tripped her up and to hear Jannie saying them pierced her heart. Hanging her head she wept, the tears tumbling down her face and dripping into the dish of porridge.

  ‘Lass, lass,’ said Jannie, tears in her own eyes, ‘you don’t have to cry. I shouted to tell you not to go but you didn’t hear. I should have run after you. I thought I was never goin’ to see you again.’ Jannie wrung her hands together, seemed not to know what to do and Catherine, looking up at her, could see how stressed she was. ‘I ken I’ve not been good to you,’ Jannie went on, ‘and I thought about my Robbie and what he would have said.’

  Wiping away her own tears Catherine said, ‘It’s all right, Jannie, it
wasn’t your fault. I should have known better, but I didn’t stop to think. Anyway,’ she gave a little smile, ‘I’m still here. I didn’t die.’

  ‘Ay.’ Jannie nodded. She looked relieved. ‘Now eat your porridge or it’ll be cold,’ she said as she too wiped away a tear.

  Norrie knocked and asked if it was safe to come in, then lifted the latch and did so. ‘I’ve got some dry stuff from your house,’ he said. ‘Hope you don’t mind.’ He was carrying shoes, socks and a pair of trousers for Catherine.

  Jannie looked at him disapprovingly, it wasn’t right for a man not your husband to go looking through your things. Catherine stretched her feet out towards the fire and wriggled her toes; they had passed the stage when returning warmth brought pain. Daa came in, there was more tea for everyone and he was asking Catherine if she was all right and had she been fed and warmed up.

  ‘I’m fine, just so glad to be home,’ she said. ‘I’m so sorry I made you worry.’ Then she gasped, ‘Ah, I forgot about Noble? Where is he?’

  Norrie was sitting by her side. ‘Daa’s put him in the shed; he can stay there till I mend his tether. You didn’t think we’d let him go again, did you?’

  ‘I would hope not.’

  ‘What is all this runnin’ about?’ It was Mina.

  ‘It’s a long story,’ said Catherine. ‘I’ll tell you later.’

  ‘The ram broke his tether and ran off and she went after it,’ said Jannie. ‘She was on the hill all night.’

  ‘Then why are you not dead?’ declared Mina.

  ‘She spent it in the old house,’ said Jannie. ‘Made a fire to keep warm.’

  ‘My dreams came true.’ Catherine laughed. ‘There was nothing else to burn so I had the greatest joy in pulling a box-bed to pieces and putting it on the fire.’

  ‘And what is that Norrie Williams doin’ gittin’ hold o’ her hand?’ said Mina. Norrie was sitting on a stool at Catherine’s feet, he smiled at her. ‘Do you think we should tell them?’ he whispered.

  Catherine shook her head, ‘Too soon. Let’s get it organized first.’

  Mina, straining to listen, said, ‘You’re plannin’ somethin’. What is it?’

  ‘Um … Christmas … for Robbie,’ said Catherine.

  ‘Are you ready to go home?’ asked Norrie.

  ‘Yes.’ Catherine stood up. She took the blanket from her shoulders and gave it to Jannie. ‘Thank you for looking after me. I’m very grateful.’

  ‘It was no more as I should do,’ said Jannie.

  As Catherine walked beside Norrie she said, ‘Shouldn’t you be at work?’

  ‘Ay, but there were more important things to do,’ he said, ‘like lookin’ for some lass as got herself lost.’

  ‘It’ll never happen again,’ said Catherine.

  ‘No, it won’t,’ said Norrie. ‘That’s why you have to marry me.’

  While Catherine had been having breakfast, Norrie, as well as fetching dry clothes, had lit her fire. When she opened the door to go in the room was warm.

  ‘You are good to me,’ she said. ‘I think I shall like being married to you.’

  ‘And when is that going to be?’ said Norrie.

  ‘Say a month from today?’

  ‘So it shall be,’ said Norrie.

  THIRTY NINE

  ‘ARE WE GOING to walk then?’ asked Catherine when Norrie called for her.

  ‘I don’t have much petrol in the van and it’s not far.’

  They were going to see the minister at Broonieswick. The November snowfall hadn’t stayed but nightfall had brought frost. A shard of moon hung among the stars and grass stood stiff and sparkling in the moonlight.

  ‘What do you think he’s going to say to us? Do you think he’ll give us a lecture?’ said Catherine.

  ‘I wouldn’t know,’ said Norrie, ‘never having been wed before.’

  ‘The preacher that married me and Robbie did go on a bit about being faithful and all that, so I suppose it’ll be more of the same.’

  But the minister was a kind, benevolent man and welcomed them into his study. ‘I have no doubt you are aware of the responsibilities you are about to take on,’ he said. ‘A marriage should be built on trust; be faithful to one another and strive to be a good example to your children.’ He smiled at Catherine. ‘It’s for you to lead them in the way of God,’ he said; then, as he turned to Norrie, ‘But I have known you since you were a small boy, Mr Williams, and I think I need have no worries on that score. We all have our weaknesses, of course, and if at any time you have troubles you find too hard to bear, please remember that I am always ready to listen and help if I can. Failing that, God is always on your side.’

  ‘There won’t be many people at the service,’ said Catherine. ‘Do we have to have hymns?’

  ‘Not if you don’t want them. Might I ask why there will be so few?’

  ‘My parents live in the south of England and Norrie has no relatives here, so there will only be about ten of us.’

  ‘But would you like the organist to play?’

  ‘That would be nice.’

  ‘Now,’ went on the minister, ‘let me get my diary.’

  Sitting beside Norrie Catherine turned to him and smiled, and so the wedding was arranged.

  ‘Do you want to tell Jannie?’ said Norrie when he and Catherine were on their way home.

  ‘Yes, I think she and Daa should be the first to know,’ she said. At Jannie’s door she knocked, opened it, and holding Norrie’s hand went in. ‘We’ve something to tell you,’ she said as Jannie looked up from her knitting. ‘We’ve been to see the minister to arrange our wedding.’

  Daa got up from his chair and shook Norrie’s hand. ‘I’m glad to hear that. You would do well to take care of her.’

  Jannie put down her work, stood up and took both Catherine’s hands in hers. ‘I’m pleased for you,’ she said. ‘I ken Norrie’s a good man and it’s time you had someone by your side.’

  ‘It’ll be a quiet wedding,’ said Catherine. ‘I don’t want a lot of fuss.’

  ‘When is it to be?’ asked Jannie.

  ‘Friday after the banns have been called,’ said Catherine.

  ‘And will your father and mother be coming?’

  ‘No, it would be an awful journey and I doubt if Dad could get away.’

  ‘And what about you, Norrie?’ said Daa. ‘You don’t have many folk. What about your cousins?’

  ‘I wouldn’t know where they are,’ said Norrie. ‘Nobody ever writes. They could be on the other side of the world or they might be up in Yell.’

  ‘So you see, it can’t be anything other than quiet,’ said Catherine. ‘I suppose we’d better go and tell Mina and Laura now.’

  The aunts were surprised when Catherine and Norrie walked in.

  ‘And what are you wantin’ from us?’ said Mina.

  ‘We’ve just come to give you our news,’ said Catherine. ‘Norrie and I are to be married.’

  ‘Well,’ said Mina, ‘now I ken why Laura’s knitting a wedding shawl.’

  ‘You’d surely already guessed,’ said Catherine.

  ‘I was thinking that. Marriage was never to be my lot in life so I can’t give you any advice,’ said Mina as she gave way to one of her rare smiles. ‘Instead I’ll just wish you all the best for a good life together.’

  Laura was agog with excitement. ‘I’ve nearly finished your shawl. Are you going to have a bonny new dress?’

  ‘I haven’t thought about that yet,’ said Catherine.

  ‘Is your mam and daa going to come?’

  ‘Oh, goodness no, it’s much too far. It’s to be a quiet wedding.’

  A broad smile spread across Laura’s face. ‘I would’na be too sure of that,’ she said.

  ‘Rose, Bobbie, Billie and us aren’t going to be a crowd.’

  Little Robbie looked at her in silence when she told him and that they would all go and live in what had been Kay’s house. It was so long before he spoke that she was afraid he was not go
ing to approve. But then he had smiled and asked, ‘Is Norrie going to my daa, then?’

  ‘Would you like that?’

  ‘Yea, I would.’

  Now that everyone but Catherine’s parents knew she sat down to write them a letter.

  Dear Mum and Dad,

  I know you’ll tell me off if I don’t let you know what’s going on here. Well, I’m getting married. Norrie asked me and as I could see no good reason to say no, I agreed. That’s not quite right, I do love him. Little Robbie is delighted that he’s now going to have a Daa the same as the other boys at school.

  The wedding is to be on the 17th of December. It’s going to be very quiet. I don’t want any fuss and it will only be the Deepdale family who will attend as Norrie has no relations here. Don’t even think about coming up you know what the boat is like in winter don’t you Mum, and I won’t expect you.

  This is just to let you know that I’m all right and I’m very happy. I’ll write a longer letter after Norrie and I are wed to let you know how it all went.

  Wish me well, all my love,

  Catherine. X X X X X X

  She folded the piece of paper, put it in an envelope, addressed it, stuck on a stamp, then put the letter on the table. If the postman didn’t call she would post it at Broonieswick when she went to collect Robbie from school.

  The question now was what to wear. In her bedroom she looked at the dresses her mother had bought her. They were like new. Would either of them do or should she buy a new one? She was sitting on the bed, trying to decide, when someone called her name.

  ‘Where are you, Catherine?’ It was Laura.

  ‘I’m in the bedroom. Come through.’

  ‘Yon’s awful pretty frocks,’ said Laura when she saw what Catherine was holding, ‘but you’re not thinkin’ of wearing one of them, are you?

  ‘I hardly ever wear a dress; it seems such a waste to buy a new one.’

  ‘But you don’t need coupons now, so you should.’