Catching The Eagle by Karen Charlton

Author:Karen Charlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing
Published: 2011-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The relentless rhythm of rural life meant there was little time for celebration or for Jamie to gently regain his strength; the harvest needed fetching in. With William in gaol, Carter Moor was a man down. Even in his prime, Jamie had never been a match for William when it came to hard work, physical strength and concentration on the job. Now this shell of a man had to pick up a scythe and take his brother’s place in the fields.

Yet, when William strode out of Newcastle Keep two weeks later – proudly bearing Jamie’s precious coat in his arms - the experience hardly seemed to have touched him.

With William’s return, the mood lifted instantly at Carter Moor. Ann started smiling again and John breathed a visible sigh of relief. After a hearty meal prepared by his delighted mother and a good bathe in the river, Will changed his clothes and persuaded Jamie to go with him for a celebratory drink to Ma Shotton’s.

Apart from two trips to chapel to thank God for his release, Jamie had not left the farm in two weeks. A fortnight of good home cooking had started to put flesh back on his bones, but he was still struggling to cope with the psychological effects of his incarceration. As they strode across the parched fields of stubble towards the flickering lights and smoking chimneys of Ponteland in the gathering dusk, a fox barked in a nearby copse. Jamie flinched at the sudden noise.

He stopped dead on the threshold of the Seven Stars when he saw Michael Aynsley’s two eldest sons inside the inn. William pushed him firmly forward.

There was a flurry of excitement amongst the regulars when the Charlton brothers walked in together. Many of the men shouted out support – and some even offered to buy them drinks. Several - who obviously still believed that Jamie was guilty – laughed and clapped him on the back and told him that he was a ‘lucky sod to have got away with it!’

Their younger brother, Henry, was already drinking in Ma Shotton’s with his friends. He invited Will and Jamie over to join them at their table. This took them nearer to the glaring Aynsley brothers who watched the Charltons sullenly from their table by the fireplace.

For a while the two groups of men studiously ignored each other but two weeks of surviving in Newcastle Keep had hardened William. It had made him angry and defiant,and much more susceptible to the effects of a couple of glasses of brandy.

‘Mick? Joe?’ he shouted across to Aynsley’s sons. His eyes shone with alcohol and mischief. ‘Will you not join us in celebrating our Jamie’s release from gaol?’

The public house fell silent. Everyone in the inn now turned towards the two groups of men and waited for the Aynsleys’ reaction.

Mick Aynsley snorted into his ale.

‘I’d rather have a toast with the devil himself!’ he declared hotly.

‘Unfortunately,’ William said grinning. ‘I don’t see your father here tonight. How is

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