A Woman Undefeated by Vivienne Dockerty Read Free Book Online Page B

foolish girl with nothing to say because of butterflies in her head. His mother came to Maggie’s rescue, asking the outcome of the visit to the Filbey’s, which started her off panicking again.
    “Would yer look at me sitting here,” she said soulfully. “Having all the comforts while me mammy and Molly are waitin’ on me. There’s no help ter be had at the Filbey’s, ‘cos they’re leavin’ fer Australia in a day or two. But I thank yer Widow Dockerty fer all yer kindness. Though if yer don’t mind I’ll be goin’. Got to get this mattress home. They’ll be wonderin’ where I’ve got to, I’ve bin hours away.”
    In fact she had only been away two hours, though it had seemed like a lifetime to her at the time. Johnny took his fob watchout from his pocket and glanced at it. It was just gone six. He was looking forward to a cosy evening of chatting with his mother and perhaps a bit of reading before he turned in. He had reckoned without the good heart in her, as she looked at her son in a quizzical way.
    “Are you not going to help the girl down to Killala? Look at the state she’s in. How can she manage that mattress, lantern and the basket of food I’ve prepared for her family? I’m sure you’d be happy with a bit of a hand, isn’t that so, Maggie?”
    “Oh no, it’s no trouble,” Maggie began to protest weakly, though her heart lifted at the thought of him accompanying her.
    “I can manage, there’s a harvest moon that will light my way. Johnny will be tired having travelled all day from Sligo. It’s not fair to ask him.......”
    Johnny could see from his mother’s face that there was no use trying to argue. He and Ted had learnt whilst children, that their gentle mother had a firmer side. He let out a gusty sigh.
    “She’s right Maggie, I’ll help you down but only as far as the river. You’ll be fine once we get you down there. Fetch my jacket, Mother, dear, and the lantern, then I’ll get out the apple barrow to carry the mattress. That will save our arms from aching and the lantern will guide me back if the moon disappears.”
    Five minutes on, with hugs and a promise to Widow Dockerty that Maggie would return in the morning to let her know how things were down in Killala, Johnny pushed the old handcart along the track. Maggie carried the lantern, as they walked through the dark shadows and eerie silence, occasionally interrupted by the rustle of a nocturnal creature pushing through the undergrowth sniffing out its food, or the hoot of an owl as it sat wisely in a tree. The track was narrow in places and the cart seemed to have a mind of its own, as it wheeled into a shallow peat bog or became entwined in thicket. The moon was covered now by fast flowing clouds and it would have been difficult to see without the lantern.
    Not a word was spoken as they walked along, with Johnny wishing he was back in front of his mother’s fire. He had beengiven a lift to Killala earlier by a travelling tinker, though the place where he had sat on the cart had not been under cover. He had thanked God that he had brought his oilskin with him, a necessary item both on his ship and in the pouring rain! A brisk walk had brought him down from the town of Ballina, where he looked forward to a good night’s sleep after a home cooked meal. He hadn’t reckoned to be escorting home this charmless girl, who now seemed to have been struck dumb.
    Maggie was indeed feeling tongue-tied. Gone was the flush of elation at being in his company, replaced now with embarrassment at the scowl on Johnny’s face. No doubt he was only there to please his mother, and wouldn’t be wanting to spend his precious time with a young and ragged girl. She searched her mind for something to say that would break the silence, lighten his mood, make him see how grateful she was for guiding her back home. Instead her mind played tricks on her, making her dream of how life could be, if this man was always by her side.
    Was he old enough