‘I agree.’ Bob stood up. ‘I still hope you will get some use back in your legs, but if that doesn’t happen, you mustn’t think your useful life is over. Adjustments will need to be made, but I’ll help you. You have full use of your arms and shoulders, so there is a lot you will be able to do.’
Steve nodded. ‘I’m trying to come to terms with what has happened to me, but it’s damned hard. And watching my wife and kids suffering is tearing me apart. If you hadn’t turned up, I don’t know what state I would be in now.’
‘You’re a strong man, Steve, and you would have managed. The sooner we get you a wheelchair the better. Daisy seems calmer this morning, so will you be all right for a while? Eddie will pop in at lunch time.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
Bob wasted no time and was soon on the train to Kent.
The first person he saw was the captain returning from his morning ride and heading back to the house.
‘Bob, it’s good to see you, but I hope it isn’t bad news that brings you here. Is Steve all right?’
‘There isn’t much improvement, I’m afraid. I’m here because Dad said you once offered to help and they refused to let you. Well, I’m not refusing.’
‘Good, come in and tell me what you need.’
As soon as they were settled with a trolley of refreshments, Bob told the captain what they planned to do for Steve. ‘I need to buy a wheelchair, but we are almost out of money. Trade at the market is slow at the moment, and Eddie brings in precious little as an errand boy. In fact we’re all struggling. Mrs Cooper can’t help much because she’s had a breakdown.’
‘This is dreadful.’ Ben was dismayed by the news. ‘I’m glad you came to me. Of course I’ll help in any way I can. Green!’ he called, and the butler arrived at once. ‘Send someone to the Gatehouse and bring the wheelchair back here, please.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Mother used a chair towards the end of her life. You can have that if it’s right for your purpose; if not I’ll get you another one.’ He opened the drawer of his desk and took out several five-pound notes. ‘This will help the family for a while.’
Bob gazed at the money on the desk. ‘No, sir, I can’t take that. If I arrive back with plenty of money in my pocket they will want to know where it came from.’
‘Ah, the Coopers don’t know you’re here?’
‘Only Steve and Dad. It’s very generous of you and I appreciate your kindness, but at the moment we are scraping through. I only came to ask your help in buying a wheelchair.’
Captain Russell was clearly disappointed that Bob wouldn’t take the money. ‘Will you at least let me pay for your fare today?’
‘Thank you, that would be welcome.’
There was a knock on the door and Bob couldn’t believe his eyes. He had expected the chair to be a relic of the past, but this was one of the latest models. When he’d looked it over, he said, ‘This will be perfect, Captain, but it’s a very expensive chair. Could I borrow it until we can buy a cheaper one?’
‘It’s yours.’ When he saw Bob hesitate he became exasperated. ‘Dammit, you won’t take my money so at least take the chair as my gift to Steve. I like the man and I care what happens to him and his family.’
Bob shook hands with him, accepting the generous gift. Then he sat in the chair and manoeuvred it around the room, smiling with pleasure. ‘This is just what Steve needs. It will get him out of that bed and give him a degree of freedom.’
‘I’m happy to see it put to good use. Now, you said Steve has shown no sign of improvement, so have you spoken with his doctor?’
‘Yes.’ Bob got out of the wheelchair and sat in an armchair. ‘I did that as soon as I arrived back because I didn’t want to risk doing any damage to him. He told me that he’d been crushed under heavy boxes of falling cargo. When I explained what I had been doing, he told me to go ahead as there was nothing else he could do for him.’
‘Did they seek a second opinion?’
‘They couldn’t afford to. The medical bills had already drained them dry.’
‘If I sent a doctor at my expense would they see him?’
‘I doubt it,’ Bob told him. ‘And I’m sure Steve wouldn’t let another doctor in the house. They are all finding life very difficult at the moment and Daisy’s mental health is very fragile. She will recover in time, but I don’t want her disturbed in any way.’
‘Then we mustn’t do anything to upset them. What about bringing Steve here and we’ll put him on a horse?’
‘Good heavens!’ Bob looked at him in amazement. ‘I never thought of that. It might help, and it would certainly give him a sense of freedom. But could he sit on a horse, I wonder?’
‘We could ride either side of him and hold him in the saddle.’
A broad smile spread across Bob’s face. ‘Captain, you’re a genius! Now all I’ve got to do is get him to come here.’
‘Don’t tell him where you’re taking him.’
Bob tipped back his head and laughed. ‘You’re devious, as well.’
‘When I have to be.’
Bob folded the wheelchair and picked it up. ‘Any chance of a lift to the station?’
‘Green!’ The butler appeared. ‘Ask Jim to take Bob to the station now, please.’ Then he scribbled a number on a piece of paper and handed it to Bob. ‘We do have a telephone and that’s the number. Phone and let me know when you’re coming and I’ll arrange for you to be collected at the station. You’ll need money for fares, and don’t you dare argue about it,’ he ordered, as he placed money in Bob’s hand.
Knowing that he would need the fare money, Bob nodded and placed it in his pocket, thanking Captain Russell. ‘I’ll let you know when to expect us.’
‘Where did you get that?’ Eddie shot to his feet when Bob walked in with the wheelchair. ‘It looks brand new!’
‘I had a bit of luck,’ he said, setting up the chair. ‘I’ll bring your dad down so he can try it.’
Heading for the stairs quickly to avoid answering questions, he left the boy inspecting the chair. Daisy was sitting by the bed doing some sewing, and smiled when he came in. ‘What are you making?’ he asked, pleased to see her doing something instead of just sitting.
She held up a small garment. ‘I’m helping Ruthie. She’s got an order for this.’
‘That’s lovely, and she needs all the help she can get to keep the stall going. You’re both very good at needlework, aren’t you?’
‘I used to do it before we were married.’ She smiled affectionately at Steve. ‘And I taught Ruth when she was very young, but she’s better than me now.’
‘I don’t believe that, darling.’ Steve squeezed her hand. ‘Ruth’s good because she had an expert to teach her.’
She studied the work she was doing and nodded. ‘I am still quite good, aren’t I? If I didn’t come up to Ruthie’s standards then she wouldn’t ask me to make clothes for her stall. She’s very fussy, you know, and has a good reputation for doing beautiful work.’
‘And I’m sure she wouldn’t do anything to lower those standards,’ Bob told her. ‘Now, I’m going to take Steve downstairs, Daisy. I have a surprise for the both of you.’
‘Oh, I wonder what it can be? I’ll go down and put the kettle on.’ She gathered up her sewing and left the room.
‘How are you?’ he asked Steve when they were alone.
‘All right. Eddie’s been up to see to me. How did you get on this morning?’
‘Captain Russell has given us a wheelchair his mother used. It’s practically new. We’ll go down now so you can try it.’
The chair was just what was needed, and Steve stayed downstairs learning how to move himself around. Some pieces of furniture had to be rearranged to allow him a clear run, but he soon got the hang of it.
Bob watched for a while and then placed a hand on Steve’s shoulder. ‘That’s enough for now. Rest for a while.’
‘Oh, yes, I mustn’t overdo it at first, but it feels so good to be able to move around.’
‘Once your bed is down here and fixed up with the frame I’ll be able to show you how to get in and out of bed on your own. Then we’ll rig something up in the outhouse so you can manage that as well.’
‘That would be wonderful.’ His expression was full of gratitude. ‘I know what you gave up to come here, Bob, and I want you to know that we are all very grateful to you. You are throwing away the best chance you have had of becoming a teacher.’
‘You don’t have to thank me, Steve. We help each other and that’s the way it’s always been. And as for becoming a teacher, well, my path seems to be going in a different direction, and it’s one that feels right. The future will take care of itself; we have to deal with the here and now.’
‘You’ve become quite a philosopher,’ Steve joked.
‘You can blame that on Sister Headley. She’s a great one for putting things in their proper perspective.’ Bob smiled as he changed the subject. ‘If the weather’s good tomorrow I’ll take you out somewhere.’
‘Would you? I’d like to go to the market and help Ruth on the stall. I need to feel useful, and that’s something I could do, isn’t it?’
His enthusiasm was heartening, and Bob was delighted to see he was beginning to take an interest in doing things again. It was a good sign, and he would give him all the encouragement he could. If he was going to remain in the wheelchair then he had to begin reshaping his life. ‘You could certainly help on the stall. We’ll start slowly and gradually build up until you’re strong enough to do a full day there. That will give Ruth more time to make goods for sale.’
‘Yes, yes,’ he nodded, pleased at the prospect. ‘And I promise I won’t try to overdo it at first.’
‘You won’t have a chance because I’ll wheel you straight back if I think you’re looking too tired.’
The next day dawned bright and clear, just right to take Steve out for the first time since the accident. They hadn’t told Ruth they were coming because Steve wanted to surprise her. She saw them long before they reached the stall, and ran to meet them, taking the wheelchair from Bob so she could push it.
‘I’ve come to help you,’ he told his daughter.
‘Lovely! You can serve while I get on with some sewing. I’ve just received an order for a christening gown, and you know how much work there is in one of those.’ She smiled at Bob, thanking him silently with her eyes.
‘I’ll be back for you in two hours,’ he told Steve. ‘I’m just going to have a walk round.’
‘All right.’ Steve wheeled himself into position, and was already talking to people looking at the baby clothes. He was obviously happy to be out of the house and involved in something.
Bob was satisfied with what he saw, knowing how important this was. He left them and headed straight for the junkyard. Eddie had mentioned it, so it must still be there.
It was, and it hadn’t changed at all. It was still piled high with junk of every kind. He should be able to get everything he needed here.
‘What are you looking for, mate?’ a man asked Bob while he was moving old doors to get at something he thought might do for making the bed frame.
‘I need some pieces of strong wood.’ He hoisted more junk out of the way.
The rag-and-bone man watched as heavy items were tossed aside as if they weighed nothing. Bob finally reached the wood he was after and pulled it free, examining it carefully to make sure it was sound. ‘How much do you want for this?’
‘Five bob to you,’ the man said with a perfectly straight face.
‘Do I look daft? I’ll give you a shilling.’
‘I’ll go out of business if I charge prices like that. Half a crown.’
Dusting off his hands, Bob looked thoughtfully at the pile of wood he had gathered together. ‘Got any rope?’
‘There’s some in that box over there.’
He strode over, tipped the large box upside down and began sorting through lengths of rope until he found some suitable pieces. After tossing the rest back in the box, he walked back and dropped the rope on top of the wood.
The man was still watching him with interest.
‘I tell you what I’ll do. If you take the wood and rope to my house for me I’ll give you two shillings.’
‘Sixpence for the delivery.’
‘Two pence only.’
The man sighed. ‘You’re not easy to do business with, mate, but I’ll do it for that price as long as you load it on to my cart, come with me and unload it at your place.’
‘Done!’ Bob handed over the money, lifted the wood on to his shoulder, headed for the cart and tossed it on. ‘Where’s your horse?’
‘On a bit of spare ground behind the shed.’
‘All right. Hitch him up because I’m in a hurry.’
The man was soon back, leading an ancient but sturdy-looking animal.
After patting the horse, Bob began to fix him into his harness.
‘Ere, you know what you’re doing, don’t you?’ A calculating look came into his eyes. ‘Strong devil too, aren’t you? I could use someone like you.’
‘Are you offering me a job?’ Bob couldn’t keep the amusement out of his voice.
‘Might consider it. You interested?’
‘Not right now.’ He patted the horse again as it nuzzled him.
‘Shame. I’ve only got one son and he’s hurt from the war. Can’t use his right arm no more.’
Bob was about to get in the cart when he stopped. ‘I’ve been working with injured men. Would your son let me have a look at him?’
The rag-and-bone man gave him a doubtful look, then shrugged and shouted, ‘Dave!’
A young man in his late twenties came out of the shed, and Bob studied him carefully as he walked towards them. He was around five feet nine, with dark hair, and when he reached them amusement was showing in his dark eyes.
‘You called, Dad?’
‘Let this bloke have a look at your arm.’
His mouth twitched. ‘Which one?’
‘Stop mucking about, son. The one what’s hurt, of course.’
The young man still had a sense of humour, Bob noted, and that was a welcome sign. He said nothing while Dave looked him over.
‘You a doctor?’
‘No, but I’ve been trained to look after injured men. I haven’t got anything to prove to you that I’m a physiotherapist, but I’ve been taught by one of the best. I might be able to help you. No promises though.’
‘Go on, Dave,’ his dad urged. ‘Can’t do no harm to let him have a look.’
Giving a shrug, he removed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt to allow Bob to examine his right arm and shoulder.