BooksBarbecue
Back The Hollows
Chapters (77)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. PART I
  6. 1.
  7. 2.
  8. 3.
  9. 4.
  10. 5.
  11. 6.
  12. 7.
  13. 8.
  14. PART II
  15. 9.
  16. 10.
  17. 11.
  18. 12.
  19. 13.
  20. 14.
  21. 15.
  22. 16.
  23. 17.
  24. 18.
  25. 19.
  26. 20.
  27. 21.
  28. 22.
  29. 23.
  30. 24.
  31. 25.
  32. 26.
  33. 27.
  34. 28.
  35. 29.
  36. 30.
  37. 31.
  38. 32.
  39. 33.
  40. 34.
  41. 35.
  42. 36.
  43. PART III
  44. 37.
  45. 38.
  46. 39.
  47. 40.
  48. 41.
  49. 42.
  50. 43.
  51. 44.
  52. 45.
  53. 46.
  54. 47.
  55. 48.
  56. 49.
  57. 50.
  58. 51.
  59. 52.
  60. 53.
  61. 54.
  62. 55.
  63. 56.
  64. 57.
  65. 58.
  66. 59.
  67. 60.
  68. 61.
  69. 62.
  70. 63.
  71. 64.
  72. 65.
  73. PART IV
  74. 66.
  75. 67.
  76. 68.
  77. Acknowledgements

As she approached the hole the lamb finally stirred, bleating and kicking its trussed legs. Still alive, then. Liz lifted it above her head, said the words, then threw it down, turning away from the sounds that echoed up the shaft.

She smelled cooking bacon as she crossed the backyard, but this time there were no raised voices: a better start to the day than yesterday, at least. Her stomach growled; hearing the lamb being torn apart alive would’ve put many people off their food, farmers or no, but Liz was tougher than that.

Keira was at the kitchen range, with the rest of the family – bar Jess and her brat – around the table; Paul was in Liz’s usual place. Keira managed a grin, but under the bandages on her face she looked sallow and drawn. “Brew and a cob, Liz?”

Liz nodded. “Thanks, lass.” Keira had done as well as any of her boys, and better than Jess. Did no harm to show Liz valued that.

A pack of bacon stood open by the stove, more sizzled in the pan. Keira prepared a pair of cobs and handed them to Liz on a sideplate, then tossed some fresh rashers into the fat before refilling the kettle. Liz kicked Paul’s ankle. He blinked at her, then got up, scowling, and moved to the side. Liz sat down and bit into a cob. “Everyone sleep well?” she said through bread and meat.

“No,” said Paul.

“Good,” said Keira. She and Frank laughed; he touched her hand. Them or no Them, someone’d had their oats last night. Whatever got them through, Liz supposed. She’d not judge them for that.

Dom gave a weak smile and a dull laugh, then looked down at his plate as Keira’s gaze shifted towards him.

“No Jess?” Liz asked.

“Still in bed,” said Keira. “Shouted up before, but nothing. Sulking, I ’spect.”

Liz grunted. Time of month, maybe. She considered chivvying the girl or sending someone up to do it – Keira’d jump at the chance – but decided against it. Jess was worthless at the best of times. Better keeping her out of the way. Some rest would make her what little use she was again.

Liz finished the first bacon cob and began on the second as Keira set a mug of tea beside her. “Here you go,” the girl said, and Liz felt a rush of genuine affection for her. The daughter she should have had.

“Ta, love,” she said, smiling as a contented flush spread across Keira’s sallow cheeks, then waved the cob at her. “Now get us another of these.” Couldn’t let herself get too soft. She took a gulp of tea, and then another bite, as Keira bustled back to the range.

40.

40.