Eve and Her Sisters by Rita Bradshaw Read Free Book Online

but as Josiah rolled over and then sat up, Eve didn’t wait to see what he would do. Grabbing her sister’s hand she pulled her out of the room and down the stairs. In the kitchen she had to shake Mary hard to stop her screaming and then the child burst into noisy sobs just as Phoebe and Nell and the twins walked in.
    ‘What on earth . . .’ Nell was open-mouthed. ‘What’s happened? I thought Mary stayed at home because she had a headache.’
    Phoebe’s face, too, was a study in surprise, but before Eve could answer she heard Josiah pounding down the stairs. He burst into the kitchen holding a thick wad of blood-soaked towelling to the side of his head, and immediately Eve sensed he was going to try and brazen it out. The gasps of shock from Phoebe and Nell and cries of fright from the twins at the sight of their father’s blood-splattered clothes came in unison with Josiah shouting, ‘Aye, you might well look like that. See what that little scut has done to me? She tried to brain me’ - he pointed at Eve - ‘and all because I found the other one pilfering when I nipped back from church to make sure she was all right. At our chest of drawers in the bedroom she was, bold as brass.’ ‘You liar.’ Eve could hardly believe her ears. ‘You were . . . I found you . . .’ Her horror and disgust worked against her, the enormity of what she’d seen tied her tongue.
    Josiah was quick to press his advantage. ‘That’s right, think up some story or other, but the truth of it is I caught her red-handed and you know it. I’d got hold of her and she was yelling her head off and the next thing I know Eve’s joining in.’ He was speaking to Phoebe now, who had the baby in her arms and the twins pressed into her skirts, wailing. ‘Hit me with the water jug and damn near did for me an’ all. Look.’ He moved the towel to expose a deep cut at the side of his head which immediately oozed blood.
    ‘I wish I had done for you.’ Eve found her tongue, her voice harsh. ‘You’re filthy, filthy. He was making Mary . . .’ She didn’t know how to explain it, couldn’t find the words to describe what she’d seen. She had always known that lads were different to lassies, of course, and she had seen the twins’ naked bodies and little Josiah’s too, but never a full-grown man’s genitalia. Her father and her brothers had been private in their habits. She knew her mother had often washed the backs of the menfolk when they’d had their wash-downs in the old tin bath in front of the range, but she and her sisters had not been allowed in the kitchen until the menfolk were clothed again. And from the time her mother had died she had prepared the bath and then left the kitchen until she was called once they were dressed.That this thing males had between their legs could assume such a monstrous size was outside her comprehension. ‘He was making Mary do something to him,’ she finished thickly. ‘Wasn’t he?’ She turned to her sister, holding her arms as she looked down into Mary’s white face. ‘Tell them, lass. Tell them what he was making you do.’
    Mary stared back at her. She had stopped crying now but her eyes were luminous and glittering and she looked scared to death. ‘I - I can’t.’ And she began to sob again.
    Her voice quieter, Eve said, ‘It’s not your fault, hinny. All right? It’s not your fault, it’s his.’ Straightening, she looked steadily at Phoebe. ‘He was making her touch him there, making her hold his . . .’ She gestured with her hand.
    Josiah attempted to look outraged. ‘What did you say?’
    Undeterred, Eve glared straight into his red face. ‘You were and you know it. You’re disgusting. Now I know why you wanted us to come and live here.’
    ‘You ungrateful little scut.’ Josiah looked as though he wanted to strike her and Nell must have thought so too, because she moved quickly to stand with her sisters.
    ‘He’s been giving Mary money. We’ve bought sweets with