Free The Black Mountains by Janet Tanner Page A

relaying to Charlotte what Rosa had just told him.
    Charlotte was out in the yard, talking to Peggy Yelling, as Ted hurried up to her with Rosa.
    â€œMam, Mam, I’ve got something to tell you!”
    She turned and saw him. “Ted! Where do you think you’ve been? The others are at chapel. You’re a bad boy, going off like that …”
    â€œWait, Mam!” he interrupted her. “ Rosa knows who let the pig out. She saw.”
    â€œIt was Tommy Bryant,” Rosa put in importantly.
    â€œAre you sure?” Charlotte drew herself up. “ Well, in that case, I’m going to see Mr Durrant and tell him what I think of him, coming in like that, spoiling our breakfast!”
    â€œWon’t they be at chapel?” Peggy asked.
    Charlotte shook her head. “They haven’t gone this morning. Martha’s got one of her heads, all on account of the pig. But they aren’t going to get away with this, Peggy. And to think I was going to let them have half our parsnips!”
    Wiping her hands in her apron, she crossed to the Durrants’ door, rapping on it loudly and motioning Ted and Rosa to stay close beside her.
    After a moment, Charlie appeared. He looked anxiously from one to the other and then indicated the bedroom window.
    â€œMartha’s in bed,” he said jerkily. “ She’s bad.”
    â€œIt’s you I wanted to see, Charlie,” Charlotte told him. “ You’re the one who was throwing accusations around. Now I’ve got a witness here who saw who let your pig out, and it wasn’t our Ted. Tell him, Rosa!”
    With the safe distance of half the yard between them, Rosa glowered balefully at Charlie and repeated her story.
    â€œYou see?” Charlotte attacked him triumphantly when she had finished. “ What have you got to say to that, Charlie?”
    But Charlie in defeat was even more tenacious than Charlie on the attack.
    â€œI still say your Ted’s no good!” he maintained. “ He causes more trouble than enough.”
    â€œAnd you think that gives you the right to burst into my kitchen, accusing him of all kinds of things he had nothing to do with,” Charlotte cried, really angry now. “I warn you—any more, and I’ll have you up for libel.”
    â€œBut our pig were let out!” Charlie quivered.
    â€œYes, and that’s another thing!” Charlotte snorted. “That pig of yours is nothing but a nuisance. It shouldn’t be there at all. It stinks! We say nothing because we like to be neighbourly, but when it comes to this … Aren’t I right, Peggy?” she asked, turning to her friend. “ I bet you can smell it right down your end of the rank!”
    Peggy held back, reluctant to be involved in the argument, but just then the upper window of the Durrants’ house was thrown open, and Martha’s head appeared. Beneath her nightcap her face was pale, and she was clutching a flannel to her forehead.
    â€œCan’t you keep quiet down there, all of you?” she wailed. “And, Charlie, that dog—look what he’s doing!”
    They turned to see the little black-and-white dog idly cocking a leg against the post which fenced in the Durrants’ garden. Charlie, already incensed, aimed a kick at the dog, and it was Ted’s turn to lose his temper.
    â€œDon’t take it out on him! Here, boy, come here!”
    The dog, who had nimbly avoided Charlie’s threatening boot, cowered away. But when Ted called to him again, he came forwards warily. Ted rubbed the dog’s nose, and in return was licked with a rough wet tongue.
    â€œI reckon he’s hungry, Mam,” he said. “Have we got any scraps we could give him?”
    â€œAh, we have. A whole lot of cold, wasted bacon!” Charlotte said loudly. “ Give him that, Ted. It’s all it’s good for since Charlie made a muck-up of our breakfast.”
    The Durrants’