Free Ruby McBride by Freda Lightfoot

shopkeeper?’
    ‘We only take what’s due to us, from them who can afford to spare it, and allus share equally with the rest of the lads in the gang. It’s vital that everyone plays fair. Right?’
    ‘Right!’
    ‘Aye, well, so long as that’s understood. You’re either with us or against us.’
    ‘I understand.’ Ruby felt a shiver of apprehension at the stark anger in his face. He obviously liked things to be done his way, a message that had come across loud and clear. She swallowed a spurt of anxiety and offered him a radiant smile which, unknown to Ruby, made her look suddenly pretty. ‘What else do you do?’
    He tapped one finger on the tip of her nose. The gesture made her blush bright pink. ‘Questions! Questions! You’ll find out soon enough, if you hang around long enough.’
    The chill of her reservations melted under the warmth of his grin, and the prospect of hanging around with Kit Jarvis for any length of time brought a burn of excitement to Ruby’s heart, a sensation quite unlike anything she’d experienced before.
     
    The days passed in a whirl of activity. There always seemed so much to achieve and so little time in which to do it. Finding sufficient food for them all to eat, and fuel for the fire so they could keep warm, was a relentless, all-consuming task. And since there were so many of them in the Jarvis household, Kit’s share had to stretch further. Ruby, still fearful of becoming a burden, was not surprised when one morning, over their usual cuppa together while Kit was at the docks, Marie asked how much longer she would be staying. It was gently done, with shamefaced reluctance, but the meaning was clear.
    Quick as a flash, and without giving it a moment’s thought, Ruby answered. ‘We’re leaving today, s’matter of fact. Meant to tell you but I forgot.’ She could feel her cheeks growing warm at the lie but Marie didn’t notice, or if she did, chose not to question the decision. ‘It’s long past time we moved on but thanks for your help. We’ve really appreciated it.’ She kissed the baby’s cheek, hugged Marie, and then ordered her somewhat stunned brother and sister out of the door. Billy, as always, blindly obeyed, having made up his mind that so long as he stuck fast to Ruby, he’d be all right. Pearl was not so easily budged. She stood on the steps in a sulk.
      ‘Do we have to go now? This minute?’
    ‘Yes, Pearl. Come on.’
    ‘But where will I sleep?’
    ‘You’ll sleep with us, as always. Come on, Pearl, we haven’t all day.’
    ‘But where are we going?’
    ‘We’ll talk about that later.’
    ‘What if I get cold or hungry? What will I do then?’
    Ruby felt close to panic, not having a single idea in her head as to where they should go or what they should do, yet desperate not to be a nuisance to anyone. Pearl’s selfishness wasn’t helping. ‘Stop saying I ... I ... I! There’s three of us here. We’re all in this together.’
    ‘You don’t have to rush off this minute,’ Marie said, having followed them outside. ‘Wait till our Kit gets back at least.’
    ‘No thanks, best if we get on our way.’ Now that she’d made up her mind to accept the inevitable, Ruby knew that seeing Kit again would only undermine her resolve.
    Coping alone on the streets proved to be every bit as dreadful as Ruby had feared. She did her best for her family, but somehow the tricks she’d learned from Kit didn’t seem half so much fun on her own, or half so easy to accomplish. They were chased off the allotments by an angry old man when he caught them pulling carrots, and Pearl nearly fell in the river when they tried, and failed, to catch fish. Billy found what might have been mushrooms but since Ruby wasn’t sure, she made him throw them away in case they were poisonous toadstools. The little boy didn’t even have the energy to cry.
    Unfortunately, not even exhaustion kept Pearl quiet. ‘I’m hungry,’ she’d wail, or ‘I need a rest,’ at what