‘Nay, he won’t. Not if he remembers that he was young himself.’ Archie smiled down at his youngest grandchild. ‘They are no bother when they are your age, but they are nowt but worry when they grow up, eh, li’l ’un?’ He listened as he heard his son raising his voice at the pair, who had just entered the farmyard on the hard-driven horse. He knew that perhaps he was to blame, after introducing Ethan to Crummock; lately he had noticed the smile on Rosie’s face whenever he was mentioned. It was worth it, just for that. Besides, Ethan was a good lad; a bit wild maybe, but he hadn’t a bad bone in his body. The back door was flung open and Rosie walked in, tears streaming down her face and her clothes splattered with mud.

‘They’ve been on the bloody train, up to Appleby. Just look at her, coming back looking and smelling like a bloody gyppo!’ Danny pushed Rosie into the kitchen. ‘That bloody lad – he trailed her up there, to be with his own. They’ll be running away together before you know it.’ He was fuming.

Rosie pulled her arm away from her father and looked at her mother and grandfather. ‘It’s my fault, not Ethan’s. He didn’t make me go. I suggested it – it was my idea. He really wanted to see if we could find his grandfather. I’m sorry I lied, but I knew you’d not let us go, even if we asked,’ she cried.

‘Too bloody right, lass. Now get yourself up the stairs, and don’t let me see your face until the morning. Just be glad you are not going to get the braying I’m going to give Ethan, before I send him on his way,’ Danny growled.

‘No, Father, please don’t send him away. It wasn’t his fault; please, it was mine. I’d rather you took your belt to me,’ sobbed Rosie.

‘Just get yourself to bed, Rosie.’ Harriet watched as her daughter, still sobbing, made her way down the passage and up the stairs to bed. ‘You can’t belt Ethan. And, like you said, you’ll need him in the next month or two for hay-time. Have a word with his father – he’ll sort Ethan out. Rosie’s come to no harm, and it’s as clear as the nose on your face that she’s sweet on him, otherwise she wouldn’t have lied to us.’ Harriet glanced quickly at Archie as she put the kettle on the now-blazing fire.

‘It’s all your bloody fault, Father. I should have said no to Ethan coming here.’ Danny spat into the fire.