He heaved the motor on to the floor of the cave, next to McGuffey. The air filled with the smell of petrol. He couldn’t wait to be out of there again. ‘I’ll be back,’ he said as he slung his bag across his shoulders. ‘Where will ye be going in the boat? Maybe I’ll be coming with you.’

‘One of the islands off Scotland. I know people from when I fished over there. If I have the money, there are places I can hide and a doctor I can see.’

Jay mulled this over in his mind. He didn’t much care for the Scottish. They had no truck with the Irish tinkers. ‘I’ll be the first person they come after when they notice the girl’s gone. I’ll have to come with you,’ he said. ‘We could buy our own bleeding island if we get enough money out of that rich American for the girl. Don’t be going anywhere. I’ll be back.’

McGuffey lay still. Even though he was in the cave, eventually, through a parting in the curtain of vegetation, he could see night falling. The sound of a car engine thundered on the unmade road above. Life was moving on, but down there in the cave he felt as though it was slowly slipping away from him.

*

‘I’ve never seen you use this china before,’ Peggy said to Rosie as they laid the table. Rosie had rushed back from school and got Peggy to help her lift down the wooden box of best china from the scullery shelf.

‘I’ve not used it, Peggy, because we never have visitors. It’s like a breath of fresh air has swept through this village with the ladies from Liverpool.’

‘I think so too.’ Peggy beamed. ‘Mind you, ’twas the same when Joe arrived from America.’

‘No, it wasn’t really. He never came for tea, and wherever he went, the ladies went flocking, which was never in my kitchen.’ She finished placing the side plates on the fresh cloth and stopped dead. ‘Peggy, do you have a soft spot for Joe?’

Peggy flushed deep red. ‘No, I do not. It’s bloody Pete Shevlin who has my heart, but the bugger won’t take it and he won’t give me his back.’ Tears welled up in her eyes as she folded her arms.

‘Oh, Peggy, does he know?’

‘Does he know? Could I have made it any more obvious?’

Rosie knew the entire village believed it was Joe that Peggy had a soft spot for.

‘I’m going to give it one last go at the dance. I mean, what do I have to do, throw myself at him? If I have to be the one to ask him to dance, then so be it. I’ll make a show of myself, but if it works, it will be worth it.’

Rosie walked to the other side of the table and put her arm around Peggy. She could remember only too well how it felt to love someone and not have that love returned. ‘Ask him to dance if you have to, but when you do say something to him, you need to be completely unambiguous. You need to say, “Pete, I have a notion for you,” and then see what he says. You will at least know one way or the other. Some men are terrible at this, you know.’ She lifted a cake plate out of the wooden crate. ‘I don’t think Pete likes being a single man. I think he would love to have a wife and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been worshipping you from afar. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.’