Martha gave a cry. ‘No, Thomas. You wouldn’t. You couldn’t – you’re too old.’

‘Too old be damned!’

‘Thomas!’ Martha still had enough spirit to admonish him for his language, but the farmer took no notice. ‘There was a piece in the paper last week saying that they’ll take anyone – anyone, mark you – who’ll volunteer to dig trenches.’ He leaned towards her and said slowly and deliberately, ‘Now that I could do, Martha, as you well know, for I’ve dug a few in me time.’

‘Thomas . . .’ Martha wailed. ‘How can you side with – with her against your own wife?’

‘Now come, Martha my dear. You know me better than that. I’ll not take your part if I think you’re wrong – and this time, you are. I never did believe that Esther fired that stack and I still don’t.’ He laughed suddenly, throwing back his head, his great belly wobbling. ‘She’s more likely to come an’ give you a good hiding, but set fire to a stack? Never!’

Martha all but stamped her foot. Her face grew puce. She turned and, grabbing Flo’s bony arm with her fat hand, she hustled her sister away and back into the house slamming the back door behind them.

Unperturbed, Tom merely rubbed his huge hands together and smiled again. ‘She dun’t like to be beat, Esther lass, and that’s put her in her place this time – and that sister of hers – and no mistake.’

‘Oh, Tom, I’m sorry. I didn’t come to cause you trouble, but I’m glad you believe in me.’

It was a comfort to Esther to know that she had Tom’s support, for apart from the ever faithful Will, she saw no one now. Even Enid came less and less to the farm to help out and Luke, one of the younger Harris boys who had for a time tried to take Ernie’s place, had stopped coming. But Kate was still welcomed at the Point cottages to play with the Harris children – and with Danny Eland.

The only person in whom Esther could confide was Will Benson. She looked forward to the days when he visited Fleethaven Point and had his dinner with her. Sometimes she never spoke to another soul – apart from Kate – from one of his visits to the next.

‘Y’know,’ he said between mouthfuls, ‘I miss my little lass on me visits, now she’s at school. How is she? Does she like it?’

Esther frowned. ‘Oh, yes, she loves it. Getting quite the saucy minx now. All the children from the Point walk to the school in town together.’

She felt Will’s perceptive eyes upon her. Quietly, he said, ‘An’ you don’t like that because she’s with Danny Eland.’

She glanced at him and pulled her mouth into a grimace which implied agreement.