Blood Brothers by Josephine Cox

then decided against it. ‘I can handle this,’ he muttered, ‘No point in waking the others.’
    Hurrying to the sitting room, he quickly pulled on his trousers and boots. Grabbing his coat he threw it on over his crumpled shirt. ‘The buggers!’ he kept saying. ‘Thieving buggers!’
    Before rushing out the front door, he reached under the sideboard and drew out his father’s shotgun. Checking it through, he then tucked it under his arm.
    Careful not to alarm the others who were still fast asleep, he softly switched on the porch-light then closed the door before walking along the path. Wary and alert, he was now ready for unwelcome intruders.
    A few minutes later, having located the source of light, he was amazed to see that it was Alice in the barn. He was even more amazed when he saw how she had her hand halfway in the cage, her fingers tenderly stroking the falcon’s wings. The bird made no move to back off. Instead, he had his head turned towards her, as though studying her.
    In all the years he had been growing up on this wonderful farm, Joe had seen many amazing things, but he had never seen a wild bird so close and easy with a human.
    Mesmerised, he remained out of sight, watching and listening; reluctant to let Alice know he was there.
    ‘I’m glad Joe saved you,’ Alice spoke to the bird softly. ‘It would have been so cruel to let you die out there.’
    Having stood the lamp on a safe, upturned metal crate, shesat on the hay bale, her fingers delicately stroking the falcon’s head, while unperturbed, the bird preened his feathers and occasionally trained his glowing eyes on her.
    Oblivious to Joe’s presence, Alice addressed the falcon as though he understood. ‘We’re all looking forward to the village dance,’ she explained. ‘Nancy’s right, when Joe turns out all dressed up in a suit and tie, smiling that deep, quiet smile, the girls won’t be able to take their eyes off him.’
    She mulled over the evening in her mind. She could see herself and Nancy, leaping and dancing, and laughing so much they could not go on.
    She laughed now. ‘You should have seen us.’ Excitedly sharing her joy, she described the evening. ‘Me and Nancy were doing Irish dancing, oh but it was such fun!’ As an after-thought she added sadly, ‘in fact, it was the best fun I’ve ever had.’
    Unaware that Joe was watching her every move, she stretched out her legs and set her feet a tapping. Happy of heart, she giggled at the thought of her mother’s disapproving face. ‘I can’t even imagine what Mother would have said if she’d seen us?’
    In a way, she wished her mother had seen them. That way she would know how the other half lived, and how you could enjoy life and be happy with what you had, rather than be miserable wanting the world.
    She recalled Tom’s remarks about her mother choosing her bouquet. Nancy was so different from her own mother. Alice often felt like she’d been a sorry mistake. Her mother always gave Pauline a free rein on everything, they discussed business, clothes and were generally as thick as thieves.
    Alice had never felt close to her parents.
    Her father was a stern man, who rarely resorted to cuddles or small talk. Unlike his wife, he did not treat Pauline any different from his youngest daughter. He treated them thesame; always encouraging obedience as they grew up, and advising them when they were adults. Whenever he had close discussions with his wife, it was always about business and money.
    Alice was fond of her father.
    Her mother though, had caused her much heartache, in that she treated Pauline as her equal, while her youngest daughter was of little consequence.
    Alice opened her heart to the falcon. ‘It was Mother who said I should ask Nancy if I could stay here for a couple of nights.’ She had thought that was a strange thing to do, especially with the wedding so near. Yet she was glad Nancy had said yes. ‘I expect Mother wants me out of the way, while she and