He’s gripping her arm, tugging her towards the stall. She tries to break away, but for all his disgusting ways, the old tramp is strong. His work is hard, and his muscles are tough and sinewy. With her free hand, she tries to punch, but he snatches at her fist, gripping her wrist with his hand, pushing her inside and down into the straw.
“In you go,” he mutters. “We’ll have a little privacy in here.” He’s pulling at her clothes, tugging the tee-shirt up, as she struggles against him. But Dancer is screaming now, kicking at the door and the slats separating the stalls. Charlie, bucking and pulling against her tether, tosses her head and the loosely looped rope comes free. She surges into the stable, teeth bared, her hooves iron-shod hammers.
And now the shrieking rage of the stallion is overlaid by running footsteps, many running footsteps.
Jenny is fighting, yelling, trying to free herself…. “Get off me!”
…. but the old man screams as the mare batters at him with hooves and teeth. Tom charges in, pulling the tramp away from the downed girl, hampered by the mare who has her jaws around his arm. There’s an ugly snap and Jacob shrieks once, then collapses, unconscious.
Brett is trying to catch the rein of the enraged mare. Finally snagging her bridle, he holds her head, talking softly as he calms her then leads her outside. Next door, Nathaniel is trying to pacify Dancer. Soft words and the bribe of another apple soothe the stallion, and again, he is led out, to be securely tethered next to Charlie.
Tom crouches by the sobbing Jenny. His arms hover over her shoulders as he tries to touch and not touch at the same time. “Jenny, it’s alright. It’s alright. You’re safe.”
Mrs Collier stands, white-faced in the doorway, looking in. She calls across the yard. “Diane, call Chad. Get him here quick. Then, call a doctor and the police.”
Swollen-eyed, Jenny looks up from the straw, wiping at her face. “No, not the police.”
Mrs Collier kneels beside her. “Jenny, he tried to…. Jenny, they’ll arrest him. Take him away.”
“Please, not the police.”
The woman’s head tilts. Glances are exchanged all around. “Alright then, not the police. But I want a doctor to look you over. And he….” She spits the word at the unconscious Jacob…. “He can go in an ambulance. You can be sure he’ll not be coming back; here or anywhere else nearby.”
Brett kicks the prone tramp in the ribs. “What do we do with him for now?”
“Lock him in the roots shed. Padlock it,” she says. “When the ambulance arrives, you can pile him, and anything of his, in there. He’ll not be coming back here. Nathaniel, give Dancer and Charlie a bucket of mash apiece. Tom, help Jenny across to the house. I’ll run her a bath, and then it’s straight to bed for you, my girl.”
*****
Nathaniel broods over his beer. “Why do you think she didn’t want the police? Most girls would have been happy to see a bastard like that in cuffs.”
from his drink, downing half the glass in one go, then, “We don’t know a lot about where she came from. Who knows what happened to her before she was here? And remember too, kids from bad backgrounds have often been taught
a sip, then puts his glass
her. He’s a good lad, Very gentle. And she wasn’t actually hurt. Just got a
the contents of his glass, not
*****
Chad perched on the blankets beside
a sharp tap at the door and the kind of short hesitation that suggests the
a tray. “I’ve made you chicken soup, Jenny. You’ll be staying to
Collier. I’d
lap. Pale creamy soup, fragrant with thyme and sage and…. something else wonderful…. steams
you. It
will all respect your wishes not to bring the police into this, Jacob is in hospital and whatever happens, he won’t be
girl stirs her soup, not looking up as she breaks
you with Chad
realise this is the first time she’s ever
but it is
in, kisses her. The kiss is soft and
I know people think we’re…
She nods. “I know.”
for us. I always have, but especially
alright with
with a finger. “And then our wedding
*****
a quiet knock
Tom. Yes,
see Mr Kalkowski, asked him if there was something you’d want to read. He gave
looks. Principles of Geology. “Um, I’m