Winners and Losers by Catrin Collier

Author:Catrin Collier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

‘If you’re trying to conceal those cuts, you won’t do it with goose grease, Victor.’ Sali watched him as he stood in front of the shaving mirror in the kitchen and smoothed a film over his battered face. ‘It’s fine for stopping the bleeding and helping wounds heal, but by putting a shine on the bruises it highlights them.’

‘I don’t want Megan to worry.’

‘My face powder might cover the worst, but Megan isn’t stupid. One look at you, and she’ll know exactly what you’ve been up to.’

‘Now that is something I would like to see,’ Joey laughed. ‘Victor wearing women’s face powder.’

‘Isn’t it your turn to man the picket line outside Ely pit today, Joey?’ Billy asked abruptly.

‘Yes.’

‘Then finish your meal and get going.’

Victor had set aside a pound of his winnings to buy coal from the men who were working the illegal drifts on the mountain. He hadn’t dared work in them himself since he’d been arrested, but he had no qualms about supporting the colliers who were prepared to risk fines and imprisonment to keep the people in the valley in fuel. And since it was Megan’s afternoon off and snowing, he’d decided to build a fire and keep it in all day. Sali had taken full advantage of the luxury. Rising early, she had baked bread, made a chicken stew from an aged broiler chicken he had slaughtered and vegetables from the allotments, as well as two tarts from wrinkled apples he had stored in the attic.

Lloyd poured his father, himself and Harry second cups of tea. ‘I’ll never take the kitchen being warm, cosy and full of good cooking smells for granted again.’

‘I’ll see to it that it’s still warm and cosy for you when you come back from Pontypridd.’ Victor looked from the mirror to the window. The valley and surrounding mountains were covered in a compassionate layer of snow that had transformed the slag heaps into glistening Alps and obliterated the scars inflicted by the mines. ‘Switzerland couldn’t look better at the moment.’

‘The Swiss might think so. Wrap up warm,’ Billy cautioned Joey, as he pushed the last piece of eggy bread from his plate into his mouth. ‘Keep your temper and stay out of trouble.’

‘Do you need to ask?’ Joey flashed a smile and left the table.

‘Yes,’ Billy growled. ‘Seems to me you’ve forgotten what happened a couple of weeks ago a bit too quickly.’

‘I’m a changed man. No more loose women for me.’ Joey checked his hair in the mirror and went to fetch his coat.

‘What’s a loose woman, Dad?’ Harry asked.

‘One who doesn’t tie her shoelaces properly,’ Joey answered, earning himself a scowl from Sali.

‘If you wait, we’ll walk down the hill with you,’ Lloyd called after Joey.

‘You going down to Pontypridd with Sali?’ Billy asked Lloyd.

‘I thought I would, as it’s the first trustees’ meeting since our wedding. Who knows, Sali’s brothers and sister may even condescend to have tea with us. Geraint and Llinos haven’t gone back to school, have they, Sali?’

‘Not as far as I know.

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