But Lottie had a warning of her own. ‘You can’t be there all the time, can you, Molly?’

Molly knew it was the truth. She also knew Lottie well enough to believe she would carry out her threat. ‘But you’re so young, Lottie. Too young to be all alone in the world.’

In a rare moment of tenderness, Lottie took hold of her sister’s hand. ‘I won’t be alone,’ she answered. ‘I’ve got Dave. And besides, I’m not all that young. I’ll be sixteen next birthday. Noreen Taylor got wed when she were sixteen and now she’s only eighteen and already got three kids.’

Seeing her argument crumble before her, Molly was momentarily lost for words.

‘I’ll be all right, honest I will. I can take care of myself.’ The younger girl smiled. ‘Besides, if you make me come home, I’ll only run away, and I’ll keep on running, until one day I’ll be so far out of your life you’ll never, ever find me. You wouldn’t like that, would you?’

Molly’s answer was to fold her arms round Lottie’s neck and draw her close. ‘You know I wouldn’t.’

‘I do love you, Molly. I want you to know that.’ Her voice broke and, like Molly, she could not stop the tears.

‘I’ll keep in touch,’ she promised. ‘Wherever I am, I’ll let you know.’

In the background, she saw Dave waiting on the steps of his wagon. ‘Come and meet my sister properly.’ Lottie was confident Molly would not now disclose her age.

Arrogant as ever, Dave remained where he was.

Realising he had no intention of making the first move, Lottie made excuses for him. ‘He’s a bit wary of folk,’ she told Molly. ‘His mam were a bit of a pig and he’s been on the run for a long time. He’s learned not to trust folk, but he’s a good sort, Molly. You mustn’t worry.’

Unconvinced, Molly walked up the steps to where he sat. Looking up at him, she saw the defiance in his eyes, and it struck her how alike these two were.

For his part, Dave observed how she was not as pretty as Lottie, and decided he’d got the best bargain. Admiring her boldness in coming to him when he wouldn’t go to her, he held out his hand. Taking her small fist in his, he said, ‘I’m Dave. Nice to meet you.’

Molly nodded. ‘I’m sure you know that I don’t want her to go with you?’

‘So I understand.’

‘Do you think I’m being unreasonable?’ She needed to dig beneath that hard exterior and find out what he was really thinking.

He smiled. ‘No. If it were my kid sister, I’d want the same.’

‘Will you help me?’

Again he shook his head. ‘Sorry. It’s not up to me.’

‘She might listen to you.’

‘It’s not my fight. I’ve made it a rule never to get involved in family matters.’ With that he thrust his hands deep into his pockets and, looking beyond her to Lottie, he made an impatient, beckoning gesture with his head.