Riding by Malcolm Archibald

Author:Malcolm Archibald
Format: epub

“You’ve been busy, William,” Smith said, looking around the yard.

“Yes, Mr Smith,” William agreed. “It’s been hectic since Lucy persuaded me to accept your partnership offer.”

Lucy smiled at him. With straw in her hair and mud on her hands and forearms, she was working as hard as William. “Mr Smith paid your debts, William, released you from jail and got rid of that Skinner fellow. Now he’s poured generous amounts of money into the business. Agreeing to a partnership was the least you could do!”

“I am not being altruistic, Miss Beeching,” Smith said. “I don’t work for charity. I am investing in William’s business.”

“We are immensely grateful to you, Mr Smith,” William said. “And I have a couple of proposals for you.” He stepped away from the wheels of his newly purchased carriage and glanced at Lucy, who nodded her support.

“Proposals?” Smith cut himself a quarter inch of tobacco and crushed it between finger and thumb for his pipe. He offered the wad to William, who shook his head.

“No, thank you kindly. I don’t indulge. I’ve been thinking of our coach, Mr Smith, and I am sure I can improve it.”

Smith nodded acknowledgement at William’s use of ‘our.’ “How and why, William?”

“The why is easy, Mr Smith. A more comfortable ride will be better for the passengers, and they’ll prefer to use our coach rather than our competitors,” William said. “Although since Yellowhammer held up the Appleby Flash, many of their passengers have transferred to the Express.”

“I’ll have to thank Yellowhammer if our paths cross,” Smith said. “And the how?” He knew that Lucy was hovering at his shoulder, eager for William to reveal his ideas.

“I wish to improve the wheels and springs and make descending hills more efficient.” William spoke rapidly, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

Smith felt Lucy’s excitement. “What are your ideas, William?”

“I want to shrink a metal band tyre around the wooden wheel rim,” William said, “but I’m unsure how. I’ll need a sympathetic blacksmith to help. The springs need to be improved, too. I don’t like these elbow springs that act on both sides of a fixed point.”

Smith smiled as Lucy nodded, looking at him to ensure she shared her enthusiasm. “You’re too technical for me, William. Do you have any more ideas?”

William nodded eagerly. “Dozens of them, Mr Smith! When we drive a coach downhill, we have to jump off the driver’s seat, run to the back and insert a skid shoe under the rear wheel to prevent it from turning.”

“I can’t think of another system,” Smith admitted.

“I can,” William explained. “I have in mind a leather or wooden block that presses on the wheel rim with the same effect.” His grin took five years off his age. “You see, Mr Smith, I want to connect the block to the driver’s seat by a cable and operate it with a lever without leaving my seat.”

“That’s innovative,” Smith said. “Can you do it?”

“I can try,” William said. “There’s one more thing.”

“Only one?” Smith allowed himself to smile.

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