Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 55

Chapter 55

He sighed heavily. 'You're right, my dear. And I have you two and Jamie, not that there's much left for him to inherit now!' 'Oh, Lewis, don't talk like that. You can build the

business up again. He's only a baby yet.' Vi brought in the tea but Margaret rose and poured out a glass of whisky and gave it to Lewis. Her hands were shaking. This will do you more good.' She watched him drain the glass and then she turned to her step-daughter. 'Ellen, you were a very brave girl but you gave me a terrible fright!'

I'm sorry, Ma! I was so frightened for Pa that I didn't

think, and then I couldn't find my way back and...' Shock

caught up with her and she began to cry. Margaret bent and took her in her arms. 'Vi will run you a bath, now drink up your tea, there's my brave girl.'

Lewis rose and poured himself another glass of whisky. Margaret noticed he was limping. 'Lewis, you're hurt! What's the matter with your leg?'

'Oh, it's nothing! In its blind panic the horse kicked

me. It's only bruised.' 'Let me see to it!'

'Later, my dear. Later. You go up and see to Jamie and Ellen and I'll be up shortly. Besides, you've not come through it unscathed yourself. Look at your hands.'

'Oh, cuts and scratches and a few blisters, that's all.

But Margaret nodded and kissed him on the cheek. She was still shaking. She'd never been so frightened in all her life, not even during the worst of the troubles back home, but she must pull herself together for Lewis's sake and Ellen's. He patted her cheek. 'We'll sort everything out in the

morning. There'll be plenty to do, so we'd better get some rest.' 'I'll see to that leg before you go to bed. How did the

fire start, did you find out?' 'No, don't worry about that. Not now. Just go on up, you're worn out.'

As Margaret reached the bottom of the stairs she felt faint and she gripped the banister rail tightly, closing her eyes and fighting down the dizziness, then she fell to her knees as the enormity of the disaster and the dangers she had faced, overcame her.

The noise brought Lewis and Vi running into the hall.

'Margaret! What's the matter, are you ill?' Lewis was

helping her up and she clung to his arm.

'Vi, help me get her upstairs, it's all been too much for her.'

'I can manage, Lewis.' She felt a little calmer.

'I'll stay over, Mrs Vannin,' Vi stated firmly. 'You both need a good night's rest and just in case Jamie wakes, I'll be here to see to him.'

Margaret nodded thankfully and clung tightly to Lewis's arm as they both went upstairs. She could only thank God that she still had all her family safe and sound.

There had been so much to do that Margaret had hardly seen Lewis all next day and when he got home he was too tired to do more than eat and inform her that four wagons could be repaired and he'd arranged temporary stabling for his remaining horses with the Maypole Dairy. 

His men were clearing up the yard and re-building would start as soon as possible on new stables, but he'd have to sell some property to try to recover some of his losses. 'None of that matters, Lewis! We are all safe and we're

not destitute,' Margaret said. I know that, but I still have to pay my men - they I have families to feed. In addition, it will take me years to recover the custom I'll lose and I want Jamie to have a thriving business when he grows up."

'He will have, dear! Try to look on the bright side. Oh, Ernest called this afternoon, he said he was going over to see you. Did he call at the yard?"

'If he did, I didn't see him, but then I did have to go into town for a few hours. I suppose Elizabeth sent him?' 'Yes and I'm afraid I was rather sharp with him. I told

him to tell her that she should have come herself, that you

could have been killed or seriously hurt.'

'And what did he say to that?"

"That she'd heard you were safe and she didn't think we'd make her welcome." I've more important things on my mind now than

Elizabeth's injured pride."

Margaret shook her head. Would the rift ever heal? He was still limping as they went upstairs. 'Lewis, will you let me have a look at that leg? I really think you should see Doctor Salmon.' 'Margaret, I'm exhausted! Stop fussing over a scratch

- I cleaned it and it's only bruised." 'Sometimes, Lewis, you can be so stubborn,' she admonished.

For the next few days Margaret hardly saw Lewis, except at breakfast and late in the evening when he came home exhausted and haggard and she began to worry about him. He would make himself ill, the way he was working, trying to fulfil as many contracts as he could. He was even employing freelance drivers who had their own carts. When the sale of one of the properties was through, he was going to buy another lorry, he told her, as they could do twice as many trips in an hour as a horse and cart would do. 'Lewis, you're driving yourself too hard! You don't

look well."

'Let's just get this week over, then we'll be back on the road to recovery. Just a few more days, my dear. They've started building temporary stabling and the wagons will be ready in two days. I'm managing to keep things going and I'm amazed that my customers have been so patient and understanding.'

'It's because you've always dealt fairly and honestly with them, Lewis. They respect your integrity and now you're reaping the benefit of it.' But as Margaret smiled, she wondered whether anything was worth the price he was paying? She thought not.

Two days later Davies and Mr Johnson brought Lewis home. 'He just collapsed, Ma'am. We brought him straight

home, but you'd better get the doctor.'

'Oh, I told him he was working too hard. Mr Johnson,

would you help me to get him upstairs? Mr Davies, I'll

write a note and would you take it straight to Doctor Salmon? You know where his surgery is, Orrell Lane?' The man nodded and stood, cap in hand, looking around the hall until she came back downstairs and

handed him the note. 'Would you like me to stay with you, Mrs Vannin?' Mr Johnson asked.

'No, it's very kind of you, but you'd better get back. You know how Mr Vannin worries over the business. If he hadn't worried so much he wouldn't have made himself ill!'

She let them both out and then went back upstairs, a worried frown creasing her forehead. She should have been firm with him, insisted on him coming home earlier.

Now, he'd have to rest. He wasn't a young man and no matter how much he disliked to be reminded of that fact, he would just have to get used to it now. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and his face

'Lewis! I told you to lie down. Doctor Salmon's on his way. Everyone is fussing too much. I'm all right. Just tired,

was ashen.

that's all."

I won't listen to you, Lewis. For the next week or so

you're just going to have to do as you're told. Now, get

undressed and get into that bed or the doctor won't be

very pleased. Shall I help you?' No, I'm not an invalid! Where's Jamie?'

She smiled. 'Vi has taken him to the shops with her. He's fine, but he has missed his bedtime hug this week.' Lewis smiled. 'He's a "grand" boy, as you would say,

isn't he?" 'He is that! Now get into bed. I'll bring him up to see you when the doctor's gone. Vi should be back by then.'

Ellen arrived home from school as Vi returned.

'What's the matter, you look worried, Ma?'

'Your Pa's not well, Ellen. They brought him home from the yard. Doctor Salmon should be here any minute now.

He's been over-working, that's all." 'Can I go and see him?"

'No, wait until the doctor's been.'

'I think that's him now, Mrs Vannin,' Vi interrupted.

'Good. I'll go and let him in.'