Part 7 (1/2)

'I've jus' seen Oxford bring a young gel in the yard,' he exclaimed loudly.

The elderly accountant peered over his gla.s.ses. The figures did not seem to be making sense that afternoon and he was feeling irritable. 'It's nothing to do with me,' he replied. 'Go and tell Mr Tanner.'

Darbo hurried from the yard and looked around. The foreman was most probably up in the large stable, he thought. There was no time to waste. Anything could be happening to that child.

He hurried to the store shed and peered in. It was all quiet. As he turned to leave he saw the girl and the yard man walking to the gate. The gangling figure stared after her and gave her a wave as she disappeared along the turning. Darbo's immediate reaction was to confront Jack Oxford, but as he watched the yard man loping up the long ramp he thought better of it. Best wait until Sammy gets in, he decided. People like Oxford could be violent at times. Sammy would be able to handle the situation if it got dangerous.

When Sammy Jackson drove into the yard fifteen minutes later he was confronted by the excited Darbo, and while their animated conversation was taking place George Galloway drove his trap into the yard with Geoffrey sitting at his side. Immediately the two carmen hurried up to the trap and Sammy leaned on its bra.s.s side-rail.

'Yer've got a dirty ole git workin' fer yer, Guv',' he said quickly. 'Go on, Darbo, tell the guv'nor what yer jus' told me.'

When Darbo finished his account, George Galloway, turned to Sammy Jackson. 'What d'yer wanna do about it?' he asked.

Sammy clenched his fists and nodded in the direction of the upper stable. 'I've got young kids meself, Guv'. I reckon we ought ter teach 'im a lesson 'e won't ferget.'

George nodded. 'It's up ter you what yer do. I 'ad no part in this, understand? If yer do dust 'im up, don't go too mad. I don't want a b.l.o.o.d.y murder on me 'ands.'

As Sammy and Darbo hurried towards the ramp, Geoffrey turned to his father in disbelief. 'Are you going to let those two loose on Oxford without finding out exactly what did happen?' he asked incredulously.

George smiled crookedly at his son. 'What would you do in the circ.u.mstances?' he asked.

'Well, I'd at least call the man into the office and confront him,' Geoffrey replied, staring hard at his father.

'An' what's 'e gonna say? ”Yes, Guv', I've jus' molested a child.” Grow up, Geoff. Those two 'ave got more chance o' gettin' the truth out o' the man than me an' you.'

Geoffrey bit on his bottom lip and glanced anxiously towards the stable. 'They could kill him. I'm going to stop them.'

George put out a restraining hand. 'I said leave 'em,' he growled. 'That b.l.o.o.d.y idiot's bin a burden ter me fer years now. I dunno why I listened ter Tanner in the first place. I should 'ave done what I intended ter do an' sacked the dopey wh.o.r.eson long ago.'

Geoffrey got down from the trap and made his way to the office. 'Where's Tanner?' he asked the accountant, who by this time had finally sorted out the figures and was leaning back in his chair looking exhausted.

Horace Gallagher shook his head. 'He had to go out. One of the carts broke an axle. What's going on?' he asked, noticing the young man's worried expression.

Geoffrey ignored the question and stood by the door, gazing across the yard. Horace Gallagher had worked for the Galloway company for a number of years and he had witnessed some strange goings-on but on this occasion he had a strong feeling that he should make himself scarce. He quickly gathered up his ledgers and stuffed them into his tatty briefcase, then putting on his trilby he squeezed past Geoffrey and hurried out of the yard as fast as he could.

When Sammy and his friend Darbo reached the upper level they saw the yard man raking over the bedding at the end stall.

'Oxford, we wanna word wiv yer,' Sammy growled, his face contorted with anger.

'Yer'll 'ave ter wait. Can't yer see I'm busy?' Jack called out.

The two carmen walked along the stable and Darbo put his foot on the end of the rake as Sammy walked up to Jack and took him roughly by the collar of his s.h.i.+rt.

'What's goin' on? Leave me alone,' Jack croaked.

Sammy forced the yard man against the wall, his large fists pressed up under Jack's chin. 'Leave yer alone? Why yer dirty ole b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Why d'yer bring 'er in the yard? What yer bin doin' ter that little gel? Darbo saw yer bring 'er in.'

Jack felt he was going to choke and he gulped for breath. 'I didn't do nuffink. She wanted ter come in. I didn't make 'er,' he gasped.

'Well, I'm gonna show yer what we do ter the likes o' you,' Sammy spat out, releasing his hands from the unfortunate's throat and giving him a heavy back-handed slap across the face.

Jack slid down the wall, blood starting from his nose and lips. 'I ain't done nuffink. Leave me alone,' he whined.

Sammy stood over the b.l.o.o.d.y figure with his legs astride and he turned to Darbo. 'Go down ter the shed an' get the 'orse-shears. 'Urry up.'

Darbo was beginning to feel anxious. 'What yer gonna do, Sammy?' he asked.

'When I've finished wiv 'im, 'e won't be able ter molest anyone any more. Now go an' get them shears.'

Darbo hurried down the ramp to the yard, wondering whether Sammy would really go as far as mutilating the man. As he returned from the shed holding a sharp pair of shears he saw the bulky figure of George Galloway in the office doorway. The man made no attempt to stop him and Darbo noticed the broad grin on his face as he turned to hurry back up the ramp.

'What's he got those clippers for?' Geoffrey asked his father anxiously.

'It looks like Jack Oxford's gonna get a short 'aircut, if I'm not mistaken,' the elder Galloway remarked.

'Go and stop 'em,' Geoffrey pleaded. 'They'll kill the man.'

George chuckled and leaned back against the doorjamb. 'They won't kill 'im. They've got more sense. They jus' wanna put the fear o' Christ inter the bloke.'

When Darbo walked back into the stable, he saw Sammy bending over the huddled figure of Oxford. The yard man's face was streaked with blood and his eyes were wide with fear. 'No, don't! Please don't 'urt me! I didn't do nuffink. Honest ter Gawd I never,' he wailed.

Sammy's face was contorted with rage and there was a white smear of foam on his lips. 'Grab 'im,' he snarled, taking Jack's arm and pulling him to his feet. 'Lean 'im up against the stall.'

Darbo did as he was told and Sammy nodded over to a length of rope that was hanging from a wall ring. 'Bring me that,' he growled.

Jack closed his eyes and prayed hard as he felt the rope slip over his head and tighten around his neck. He winced with pain as his arms were yanked backwards and pulled down behind the board and he felt the rope tighten over his wrists. He tried to kick out at his tormentors with his feet but Sammy had slipped the end of the rope around his ankles and pulled the knot tight. Jack groaned in anguish. He was trussed up like a chicken and they were going to mutilate him for nothing. Why didn't they believe him? He had done no harm to the child. 'She only wanted a kitten,' he cried out, tears beginning to run down his ashen face.

Sammy did not hear, consumed with blind hatred and disgust. He could still hear them all calling him a monster for chastising his own daughter. They had all shunned him and called him evil when he took the whip to her, but she had deserved it and needed to be punished. The weals on her body had healed in time and she had learned her lesson. He was right to do what he had to do; he was no monster. Not like this perverted wreck, who had molested an innocent child.

'The shears. Give us the shears,' he snarled at Darbo as he quickly unbuckled his victim's belt and yanked down his trousers.

Darbo was holding the sharp animal-shears limply in his hands. He took a step backwards. He had never seen Sammy like this. The man's mad, he thought. He's really going to do it. 'No, Sammy!' he shouted. 'Yer've scared the life out of 'im. That's enough.'

The maniacal carman stepped forward and grabbed the shears from Darbo's grasp. ''E won't trouble no ovver little gel in future,' he said in a voice that made Darbo shudder.

'Don't, Sammy. Leave 'im alone.'

Sammy's wild eyes fixed on Darbo who was backing away towards the ramp. 'I told yer I'm gonna fix 'im, Darbo. I don't need yer anymore. I can manage wivout yer. 'Oppit!'

Down in the yard the rest of the carmen were standing together in a bewildered group. They had been ordered to stay out of the upper stable by George Galloway. As they stood beside the tired horses, talking in low voices, they saw young Geoffrey come out of the office. He looked agitated, saying something to his father then pulling away from his restraining arm and hurrying across the yard towards Will Tanner's approaching figure. The men saw the two speak together for a few moments and then the yard foreman broke away and ran towards the stable. At that moment Darbo came running down the ramp, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. 'Quick, Will!' he screamed. 'Sammy's gorn roun' the twist. 'E's gonna cut 'im up!'

Before William could move, a loud piercing scream carried down into the yard.

'Oh my Gawd! 'E's done it!' Darbo cried.

William pushed the horrified carman to one side and ran up the ramp. As he dashed into the stable he blinked to accustom his eyes to the dim light, then saw the tethered Jack Oxford with his head sunk forward on his chest. Sammy was standing in front of him, his face twisted in an evil grin. 'Stay away, Tanner,' he called out.