A Spell of Snow

A Spell of Snow Read Free

Book: A Spell of Snow Read Free
Author: Jill Rowan
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eventually I spotted a dim speck in the
distance. As we trudged on it grew steadily larger until it became recognisable
as a window and I could pick out the shape of a house around it. It was a
small, white-painted cottage with a slate roof surrounded by a few odd
outbuildings and enclosures. It must be the boy’s sheep-farm home.
         The horse came to
a stop in a small yard in front of the house, and immediately the door burst
open and a solidly built woman ran out to meet us.
         ‘Edward? What’s
happened?’ she cried out, taking the horse by the halter and giving me a look
of confusion.
         ‘I’m all right,
Mam,’ the boy mumbled.
         I dismounted
quickly. ‘I found the horse wandering on its own,’ I explained, ‘and then it
led me to him.’
         The woman called
to the house and a girl of around my own age appeared, followed by two younger
children. The woman and the girl helped Edward down from the horse’s back, and
the younger boy, who I guessed was about ten, said, ‘I’ll take care of her,
Mam,’ and began leading the horse towards one of the outbuildings.
         The woman nodded.
‘Well done, Tom. Now then, our Edward, let’s get you into the warm – and you,
too, dearie,’ she said, glancing at me. ‘You look chilled to the bone.’
         Edward was borne
into the house, and I followed, feeling awkward and out of place. Still, it was
a relief to be in a warm room. There was a blazing open fire and two glowing
oil lamps giving it a comforting, cosy feel.
         The woman and the
girl settled Edward onto a threadbare sofa near the fire and began to remove
his wet clothes. I stood in front of the fire shuddering until the older woman
said, ‘You sit yourself down, dearie, and get yourself warmed up. Vera, go and
get a towel and a blanket for –?’
         ‘Tilly.’
         ‘Well Tilly, I’m
Edie and this is Ruby,’ the woman said, before turning back to the youngest
girl, Vera. ‘Fetch a towel and blanket, and then bring in a bowl of that broth
– poor girl looks like she could do with it.’
         I leaned back into
a chair and realized the extent of my weariness as my eyes closed. I became
aware of little more than the blurred sounds of the older woman giving orders
to Ruby, and Edward’s rumbles of protest as his arm was strapped up, the cut to
his head bathed and bandaged, and his many bruises examined carefully.
         When Vera returned
I forced myself to move again and took off my coat, wrapped the blanket around
me and scrubbed at my hair with the towel. A few minutes later the girl
returned and handed me a steaming bowl. I cupped it in my hands and took a wary
spoonful of the contents. To my surprise it was meaty and delicious. It had
been hours since I’d eaten that slice of cheese on toast and I was very hungry.
         I was just
scraping the bottom of the bowl when Edie stood up from the sofa and stretched
her back, watching me. ‘That’s it, that’ll warm your cockles, all right.’
         She turned back to
Edward as Ruby covered him in blankets. ‘Well, we won’t be getting the doctor
out to you in this weather, our Edward, but I don’t think you’re mortally
wounded, for all you’re in a lot of pain. Cuts, bruises and broken ribs heal,
and I think that wrist’s just badly sprained. You’ll feel better once you’re
warmed up.’
         The younger boy,
Tom, entered the room then. ‘Da’s on his way. I saw his lantern,’ he told Edie.
         ‘Thank the Lord
for that,’ the older woman said, seating herself on a hard-backed chair beside
the sofa. ‘We’ve had enough casualties for one night.’
         ‘Was Moll all
right?’ Ruby asked Tom.
         He nodded. ‘She’s
fine, just a bit tired. I’ve settled her down with some hay.’
         ‘Now how did you
come to be out here in this weather, eh?’ Edie said, turning back to me. ‘And
all on your own.’
         ‘Oh,

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