Free A Cuckoo in Candle Lane by Kitty Neale Page A

eyes dark with lust.
     
    Their lovemaking had been passionate, and now Barbara lounged satiated against the headboard, one arm thrown back supporting her head, and deep in thought. Ken was getting five hundred quid from Harry, but would it be enough? She had always wanted to live by the sea and dreamed of having a little bed and breakfast place of her own, but until Ken mentioned his scam that was all it had been – a dream.
    She thought about the King’s Head and the years spent grafting behind the bar. The landlord was a lazy bugger, leaving her to do most of the work and only showing his face when she wanted a barrel changed. He even left her to do the cashing up after every shift, trusting her to put the money in the safe, and just checking it before paying it into the bank every week.
    An idea began to form and she narrowed her eyes. It was no more than the lazy git deserved; after all, she was the one who did all the work.

Chapter Nine
     
    S ally awoke to the sound of raised and angry voices.
    She stumbled sleepily out of bed, rubbing her eyes with her knuckles as she crept nervously onto the landing, listening to the row downstairs.
    ‘No, Ken, no! You can’t leave me!’
    ‘Get out of my way, you silly bitch.’
    ‘No I won’t, you can’t go!’
    ‘Move, Ruth. I won’t tell you again.’
    There was a scream, followed by a scuffle, and her dad appeared in the kitchen doorway, carrying a suitcase in each hand. Sally ducked down, terrified he would see her.
    She peeped over the banisters again, just in time to see her mum grabbing his arm, her face twisted in anguish.
    ‘No, no, please don’t leave me!’ she cried. ‘What will I do without you? Please, Ken, why are you going? What ’ave I done?’
    ‘Done! You ask me what you’ve done?’ he spat. ‘’Ave you looked in the mirror lately? You’re a bleeding mess. But worst of all you landed me with a cuckoo in the nest and I’m sick to death of the pair of you.’
    He jerked his arm violently, trying to loosen her grip. ‘As for what you’ll do without me, you can get yourself a job or sell your body – though looking at the state of you there won’t be many customers,’ he said cruelly. ‘Now, let go of me arm, or you’ll be sorry.’
    Sally watched anxiously as they tussled together. Her mum was hanging on desperately, refusing to let go. ‘Get off me, or I’ll smash yer bloody face in!’ he yelled.
    To Sally, her dad suddenly took on the form of the devil. His face, contorted in anger, looked dark and evil. He was going to hit her mum again – she had to stop him!
    A surge of anger and hate suddenly catapulted her down the stairs and she flew across the hall. ‘Leave her alone, you bully!’ she yelled, running up and kicking him, feeling agonising pain as her bare foot connected with his shin. His arm came up, and the last thing she remembered before blackness descended, was the feeling of flying through the air.
     
    Ruth stood paralysed, looking at her daughter lying crumpled on the floor; her eyes still filled with the sight of Ken lashing out at Sally before he slammed out of the door. Oh, my God, she thought, she’s dead, he’s killed her! What sort of mother am I? Why didn’t I protect her? Oh my baby – my beautiful baby. She slumped down onto the floor, reaching out to touch Sally’s face. It felt cold, so cold.
    With a hand covering her mouth in horror, she stumbled to her feet and staggered into the kitchen, half-falling onto a chair.
    Leaning forward, arms wrapped around her waist, Ruth rocked back and forth, oblivious to the keening, wailing sounds that were torn from her throat. Tears cascaded unchecked down her face. She was wrapped in a nightmare, an agony of self-recrimination. It should be me that’s dead, she thought, over and over again. I ain’t fit to live.
    Gradually her thoughts became still, and numbness permeated her mind. She felt as though she was sinking into a black tunnel of oblivion, and went