Free In Lonnie's Shadow by Chrissie Michaels

bottle.
    ‘Ungrateful slut, if yer never heard of again, no one will even miss yer,’ snarled Annie. ‘Yer depend on me, all I have to do is close this and forget about yer. That’s how easy it is, girlie.’ And just to prove her point she slammed down the trapdoor once again.
    Dread enveloped Pearl. ‘Don’t let me rot down here,’ she whimpered. Her plea dissolved in the empty air.She clutched the rusty hinge and moved back to the outer wall to continue scratching and scraping. ‘I won’t give in,’ she vowed. Not without putting up a fight.

EMPTY FLAGON

    Item No. 641

    Stoneware ginger beer or sarsaparilla flagon. Found in cesspit.
     

    Lonnie was turning things over in his mind. He was hot-headed, there was no denying it. Because of that crazy phrenologist Postlethwaite, he was going to have to find a cure for Daisy’s nightmares. So what was he supposed to do? Work a magic trick? Become a vicar or a priest and exorcise her evil spirits? He was fast realising that finding a remedy for everyone’s complications in life was not always easy.
    He stifled a yawn. It was still early, barely sunrise in fact, yet he had already worked several hours. At least it was a short shift. A few days had shot by since the Glen’s foreman had asked him to call over. Even though Lonnie had half convinced himself he might be offered a job, he wondered deep down if anything would come of the meeting. The prospect meant a lot to him, maybe a real chance of becoming an apprentice jockey. Lonnie McGuinness wearing silks? Now that would be a complication he welcomed. Still, it would have to wait.
    He finished up at work, dusted off his trousers and set off to meet Carlo. Here was another promise to keep. Next time he was going to keep his big mouth shut. Not that he really minded helping out Carlo every now and then, if only for the reason in the shape of Rose Payne.
    ‘Do ya reckon she’d ever walk out with me?’ asked Lonnie, when the boys met up outside Carlo’s house. Bella, ready to pull along Carlo’s festively-painted cart with its new blue and yellow canopy, was taking an interest. Her ears swivelled around at the sound of his voice. Lonnie stroked her mane. The cart behind was stacked high with winter fruit – pears to sink your teeth into, oranges with the promise of bursting juice on the first bite, firm yellow bananas and crisp red apples shone to a gloss.
    ‘You’re making her jealous,’ observed Carlo. ‘She’s getting a bit toey. Needs some of your whispering; those horsy things you do. Beats me why the girls all seem to like you, but. Even Bella! But you got no chance with Rose Payne. Too stuck up. Ordinarily that is. Too dangerous a name for the likes of you.’
    ‘She can’t help who her father is.’
    ‘It’s in the breeding. Stick to the girls around here. There’s Daisy for starters.’
    ‘Daise is like my kid sister.’
    ‘Pearl’s sweet on you as well.’
    ‘Come off it, she’s only a mate.’
    ‘Hey, you going blind or what? Why do you think she came to see you about the horse race?’ Carlo couldn’t resist a chuckle.
    ‘Wrong again, mate. I went to her. She didn’t come to me. If she’s so keen,’ Lonnie replied in self defence, ‘why did she stand me up at the oyster bar, and where was she when Daise and I went looking for her?’
    ‘Probably done a bunk. Scarpered for a while. You know how flighty she is. Besides, you can’t look after every skirt in Melbourne, even if they all fall for you. You’d be a bit strapped for cash with the lot of ’em on the go. Better choose one and be done with it.’
    Carlo had a point. Lonnie had to admit he was showing more interest in girls than ever before. Well, if he must, he decided to settle long and yearningly on the unattainable Rose Payne. Out of his league or not.
    ‘I’m telling you, mate, she’s too uppity. Reckon it’d empty the coffers taking her out.’
    Lonnie was not to be deterred. ‘But say I did, where’d I take