Blood Brothers by Josephine Cox Page B

the future. When she spoke again, it was to voice a sneaking doubt. ‘I hope I’m doing the right thing,’ she confessed in a whisper. ‘I thought I loved Frank, but now I’m not so sure. I’m not even sure if I really know him at all.’
    She leaned back into the hay. ‘What am I saying? Of course I love him. I wouldn’t be with him now if I didn’t love him!’
    The enormity of what she had said was shocking to her. ‘No! Frank means the world to me. I can’t wait for Saturday to come.’
    She remained there, slumped into the hay, eyes closed and head bowed, and her heart sore. Was she fooling herself? Was she marrying Frank just so she had someone to love her? Or was she doing it to get back at her mother for rejecting her? No! She would never do that. She did love Frank! She really did love him!
    The sound of her quiet sobs echoed across the barn.
    Just a few strides away, Joe was torn by emotions. He had heard everything. He felt her pain. He needed to hold andcomfort her. He wondered if he should make his presence known, or leave quietly.
    Hesitant, he took a step forward, making as much noise as possible, deliberately allowing Alice time in which to compose herself.
    Startled, Alice looked up, anxious to see who had discovered her there. Fearful that they may have overheard, she quickly sat up, waiting to see who it was out there, in the half-light.
    On realising it was Joe who had found her, she was immensely thankful, feeling instinctively that any snippet he may have overheard would go no further; though of course she hoped he had heard nothing at all.
    ‘I’m sorry, Alice,’ Joe explained with a lop-sided grin, ‘I didn’t realise it was you! I thought I might find a pack of thieves, looking to steal goods or livestock. I happened to catch a glimpse of light from the tilly lamp, so I thought I’d best come down and investigate.’
    Carefully, he laid the gun on the ground and sat beside her. ‘So, what are you doing out here, in the early hours of the morning? Come to check on our little friend, have you?’
    Alice merely nodded; while discreetly wiping away the tears.
    Joe felt his heart melt. ‘Did I frighten you?’
    ‘No.’ Fearful he would know she’d been crying, Alice kept her gaze averted.
    ‘Is there something wrong, Alice?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Do you want me to go away, leave you alone?’
    Panic-stricken and in need of a friend, she grabbed hold of his coat. ‘No! I would like you to stay. Please, Joe? Stay with me, just a while longer?’
    Joe sat beside her. ‘Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?’ he enquired gently.
    ‘There’s nothing wrong.’ She gave him her brightest smile. ‘Why would you ask that?’
    Joe paused a moment, unsure of himself, and yet not wanting to deceive her. ‘I have a confession to make,’ he said in a low, sorry voice.
    Instinctively wary, Alice asked him, ‘What do you mean a confession? What kind of confession?’ Something about Joe’s expression worried her.
    Joe chose his words carefully. ‘Just now as I came in, I thought I heard you crying.’
    ‘Oh?’ Smiling, she put on a brave face. ‘So you thought I was crying, did you?’
    Joe looked her in the eye. ‘You were crying.’ He gave a reassuring smile. ‘I think I might know when a girl is crying, but don’t worry. I promise, your secret is safe with me.’
    ‘I’m sorry, Joe. You’re right, I was crying, but it was nothing, really. Just pre-wedding nerves. I expect every bride gets them.’
    Joe was careful not to reveal how he knew of her doubts concerning Frank. Instead he reached out, and placing his hand beneath her chin, he lifted her face to look at him. ‘Frank upset you tonight, didn’t he?’
    Alice drew away, ‘Yes…I suppose.’
    ‘He didn’t mean to,’ Joe assured her. ‘Sometimes he lets his tongue run away with him; speak first, think later, that’s Frank I’m afraid.’ He laughed. ‘You were more than a match for him though,’ he said proudly.