Flowers on the Mersey Read Free

thinking ofhow close the bullets had been and of the two men’s blood on the ground. Then she heard running feet and turned and saw Daniel.
    ‘I just wanted to check you were all right,’ he said.
    ‘Of course I am!’ There was a touch of anger in her voice as she began to struggle to her feet. He took hold of her shoulder and helped her up.
    ‘Leave me alone.’ She was near to tears as she pulled herself free. ‘Why bother with me? You must see dead men all the time. What’s one stupid girl, sickened by the sight of blood?’
    ‘I didn’t fire the gun,’ he said in a low intense voice. ‘And I don’t see death as often as you seem to think. I’ve said I’m sorry. I can’t do anything else, except perhaps see you home?’
    ‘I don’t want you to.’ She turned her back on him and looked over the river. ‘Just go away.’
    There was a silence but she knew he was still standing there behind her. She was filled with a strong feeling of apprehension. He was not going to go away. Why? And why be scared? She only had to scream and someone would come to her help. ‘Please go,’ she whispered unevenly.
    ‘I’ll see you home,’ he insisted. ‘Could you wait here for five minutes?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘That’s a daft thing to say.’ Her tone was incredulous.
    ‘I suppose so. You could still wait. Or is it that you’re going for the soldiers?’
    ‘It’s what my father would have me do.’ She paused, thinking of the brutality of some of the Black and Tans. ‘But I don’t like what the soldiers do either.’
    ‘Good.’ There was relief in his voice. ‘My brother’s a hot head and he shouldn’t have done what he did, but I’m glad you’re not a girl who’d go screeching to the military.’
    At that she turned and looked at him. ‘Maybe I should have screeched when you brother first fired. Sniping at people is despicable! Or perhaps, when he touched me, I should really have yelled. He should not have hurt me – where he—’ Her voice tailed off and a line of colour ran up under her skin.
    ‘No, he should not have,’ said Daniel, shoving a hand into a jacket pocket. ‘And I know it should be Shaun saying sorry, but I couldn’t get him to do that. Surely you’ll accept my apology?’
    ‘I don’t know why you think I should,’ she said coolly. ‘But it does say in the Bible that we should forgive our enemies, so I suppose I’ve got to accept your apology.’
    A smile lightened his expression. I’m no enemy of yours. And I’m thinking that some girls would have made a worse shananakins of it all, but you’re a rare one with a head on your shoulders.’
    She frowned at him. ‘If I had screeched like abanshee then I don’t doubt your brother would have shot me.’
    ‘Perhaps. He’s more nervous than he appears, you understand.’ His voice was serious.
    She raised her eyebrows. ‘He surely has cause to be if he goes shooting off guns! Someone else might have seen him.’
    ‘They’ll keep their mouths shut,’ he said with a certainty that she understood.
    They fell silent and she looked away, flustered by his stare. ‘Your brother said that Old Mary was your aunt.’ Her tone was stilted. ‘She never mentioned having family alive.’
    ‘She isn’t a real aunt. Was it her soul you were after?’
    Rebekah felt like laughing hysterically. ‘That’s the kind of thing you Catholics said to my great-grandmama who came over from Lancashire during the Great Hunger to help feed the starving! Your faith is priest-ridden so I know when I’d be wasting my time.’
    He grinned. ‘What’s your name?’
    She hesitated before saying clearly, ‘Rebekah.’ There was a hint of hauteur in the look she gave him. ‘And yours, I remember, is Daniel – a good Bible name.’
    ‘Aye. He had to go into the lions’ den.’ His smile faded. ‘I’ve got to get my brother away, but I’d still like to see you home.’
    Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ‘You don’t trustme, that’s