Replenish the Earth by Anna Jacobs Read Free Book Online Page B

of them, Sarah didn’t wait to see who would win, but snatched up a wooden platter, waited till the intruder’s back was towards her and hit him hard on the head. He roared in pain, staggered and stopped fighting to clutch his head.
    For a minute it was touch and go whether he’d attack Will again, then he glared at them both and began edging sideways towards the door. ‘I won’t forget this, Pursley.’
    ‘Neither will I, Tensby. You’re trespassing and if I find you here again, disturbing Mistress Bedham, I’ll have you up before the magistrate.’
    ‘I’m here at Mr Sewell’s behest and he won’t forget your behaviour, either!’
    ‘He has no rights here.’
    ‘He’s buying the rights - not trying to steal them like she is.’
    Breath hissed into Will Pursley’s mouth and his fists clenched again, but he held back. ‘She’s the rightful owner,’ he said.
    ‘We’ll see about that.’
    The man outside got to his feet, clasping his jaw. For a moment, the two bullies stood shoulder to shoulder, and the malevolence on their faces made Sarah shiver. Then they turned and strode off. A minute later there was the sound of horses trotting away.
    Will rounded on Sarah and asked angrily, ‘Why did you not wait for me at the inn today?’
    She blinked in surprise at his sharp tone. ‘I had no intention of wasting the whole morning - and how did you know I was here, anyway?’
    ‘I saw you drive past the farm, so finished what I was doing and saddled Dolly.’ He ran a hand through his hair in a vain attempt to smooth it back and brushed some of the dust off his jerkin.
    She felt obliged to say, ‘I’m grateful for your intervention.’
    For a moment a grin creased his face. ‘I should thank you as well. Not many ladies would have been so – er, resourceful.’
    She smiled back, then felt the smile fade as the worries returned. ‘ Who are those men and why do they feel they can just - walk in here and attack people?’
    By now, Mary’s son had crawled out from behind the settle. ‘Hit him on the head, the lady did,’ he announced, beaming at Sarah and miming her action. ‘Hit him hard. Bang!’
    Will turned to Petey, his voice gentler now. ‘You go and give Dolly a drink, lad. Give Dolly a drink. Clean water, mind.’
    Petey nodded and went outside to pick up the horse’s reins and lead it across the yard, talking to it, repeating his tale of, ‘Hit him on the head, she did,’ several times, as if the animal could understand.
    ‘Let me show you into the front parlour, Mistress Bedham. We’ll be more comfortable talking there - and more private, too. Mary, shout for me if they return.’ Will looked at Sarah as she moved towards the door. ‘I should have told you yesterday about - about the danger you’re facing.’
    ‘You should indeed.’
    He led her along a dark passage, whose only window was smashed and the gap boarded up.
    ‘Why are so many of the windows broken?’ she wondered aloud.
    ‘Sewell’s men do it.’ He opened a door and led the way out into a broad hall, which led in turn to the front door she had knocked on in vain. Striding across to the left, he pushed a panelled wooden door open and ushered her into the room behind it. ‘This is the great parlour. Your grandfather always sat here in the evening, so it’s in better condition than some of the other rooms.’ He frowned round. ‘But it still needs attention.’
    The place was filled with huge pieces of furniture, many shrouded in coarse sacking and yellowed cloth. It must have been very grand once, Sarah decided. The ceiling was patterned plaster, its white panels outlined in gold, but it was badly stained in one corner where rain had leaked in. As in the rest of the house, the windows were grimy with dirt and festooned with cobwebs. One pane was broken, another cracked. The hangings were deep red in colour, but were stiff with dust, and cobwebs stretched from their top corners to the wall. Over the fireplace hung a