Chapters (73)
- Cover
- Dedication
- PART ONE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- PART TWO
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- PART THREE
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- PART FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- PART FIVE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Keep Reading …
- About the Author
- Also by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Publisher
‘It’s about a girl—’
‘Not that old story, I hope. Don’t tell me he’s gone and got—’
‘No, no, nothing like that, Jack. It’s about a girl he’s keen to meet.’ After a long swallow of beer, Patrick told him the whole story about Tommy O’Hara’s letter, and, more importantly, about where Moira Aherne lived.
‘On the Ham Shank!’ Jack was frowning, and after a moment continued, ‘Who in God’s name would send a young and probably naïve Irish lass to live in that piss-pot? I suppose someone who doesn’t know what a hellhole it is.’
Patrick nodded in agreement. ‘Look, I said I’d go with Finn and Blackie next Saturday morning, to pick her up and take her to have a bite to eat at a café nearby, if there is one—’
‘Best go to the Blue Door,’ Jack interrupted. ‘You’ve always liked that place and they know you well.’
‘I agree. I was wondering if you’d come with us, bolster our numbers. How about it, Jack?’
‘Try and bloody stop me! ’Course I’m going with you. Do you think I’d let you go alone to that bleeding place? Not on your life, Patrick. Even a Saturday morning could be tough to handle. Weekends they’re all on the booze, and as violent as hell. There are a lot of brawls.’
‘My worry is that the girl is living there, apparently with an aunt or a cousin.’ Pat paused, shook his head. ‘She shouldn’t have been sent there, you know that. I can’t help feeling we ought to get her out of there, and as fast as we can.’
For a moment Jack was silent, and then he said slowly, ‘We would have to get her somewhere else to live, you know. If you’re thinking of taking responsibility, you’ll have her on your hands, Patrick. Let’s really consider this.’ Jack gave his friend a long look, his open face troubled. ‘Eileen might not like that idea at all.’
‘I realize that, and I’m not taking responsibility. I’m going to tell Finn he has to do that … at least he has to get the girl to safety because she’s been sent to Leeds by someone Tommy O’Hara knows, who could have no idea how bad the Bank is.’
‘I’m happy you understand what I’m saying – for you yourself. Blackie is a good lad, strong and tough. He’ll be of help. Yes, I’ll go with you next Saturday, and between now and then we’ll think about what to suggest to her. Maybe she would agree to move here. Upper Armley’s a safe place, and she could easily find a job, plenty of work at Thompson’s mill. Perhaps it’d be easier than in the city.’ Jack took a swig of his pint.