Vagabonds by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788632973
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2018-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

Part Two

1887

Life is a thread;

So easily broken.

J.C.

Chapter Eight

‘What d’you mean… “she’s gone”?’ Mick Darcy’s face fell with disappointment. ‘Where’s she gone? When will she be back?’

His heart sank inside him as the young man slowly and solemnly shook his curly head. ‘I’m sorry, Darcy, but Molly won’t be coming back… “not to these parts ever agin” was what she told me mam.’ Joey Watson’s tone softened when he saw what a devastating effect his words were having on the bargee. ‘Didn’t she let you know? I were given to understand that you an’ Molly had a, well… a particular understanding?’

‘No.’ Mick smiled, but it was a sad and sorry expression. ‘Not that I wouldn’t have welcomed a closer understanding between us. But if you knew Molly at all, you must know how devoted she is to that husband of hers.’ He suddenly realized that he was openly discussing Molly’s private affairs and he was shamed. ‘Me and Molly had no such understanding, young man. It was my privilege to be a good friend to her, that’s all… as I know your mother, Tilly, was.’ He paused, allowing his statement to sink in. ‘So, you’ve no idea where Molly might have gone?’

‘None at all, and if me mam were in, she’d tell you the very same… Molly was cagey about where she was headed.’ Joey rubbed his thumb along the dark fuzzy stubble on his chin, at the same time scrutinizing the bargee. He knew well enough how this broad, handsome fellow idolized Molly from next door because hadn’t his mam said time and again, ‘that Mick Darcy thinks the world o’ Molly… tek her and the three kids at the drop of a hat he would, and he’s a fine catch by any woman’s standards. By! If that Molly had any sense at all, she’d bar the bloody door agin that useless husband of hers… and snatch Mick Darcy’s hand off with his offer! Oh, but she won’t! Not while she’s besotted with that waste o’ timer, Jack-the-Lad. But mark my words, our Joey… she’ll come to regret waiting for that bugger. Oh, yes, there’s no doubt she’ll come to regret it. Tuh! If I were in that gal’s place, you wouldn’t find me turning down a fella the likes o’ Mick Darcy!’

‘Taken all her belongings, has she?’ Mick glanced towards the unkempt little house that had been Molly’s pitiful abode.

‘Well, she didn’t have much to take, but yes, she went away pushing a cart piled up with bits o’ this and that. The littlest o’ the lasses were sat atop the jumble, with the cripple. The one called Sal trotted alongside her mammy, helping to push the cart.’ He shook his head and pursed his lips, making a sucking sound. ‘They made a sorry sight and no mistake.’ He deliberately kept back one significant piece of information. It wasn’t often that folks hung on his every word, and even though he felt a measure of sympathy for the bargee

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