Youll hand over your girl for my sake, and Ill keep my mouth shut.
Im sorry, I missed it. Be a decent man, Edward, dont ruin everything
What am I to you, Edward? Have you forgotten how to address me? To you Im Thomas Grey.
Have mercy, dont drag this to court
Edward rose, straightened his shoulders until his shirt strained. A fierce fire burned in his dark eyes, scorching the frail Thomas, whose shoulders drooped in terror. Thomas had been a foreman for years, but only a year ago hed become the squire of the parish. At first the folk doubted him he was barely twentyfive. Yet the shire officials, seeing his grip on the farms affairs, his zeal and common sense, gave him their blessing.
Youre a thief, Thomas Archibald, Edward said, his voice metallic. When I speak, you cant turn away; Ill bend the law to my will.
The stacks vanished, just as spring came. Do you think Ive forgotten? Ill hand you over to the magistrate!
Ive always worked the fields with honesty. I swear I didnt take anything. Edward, perhaps we can strike a bargain my wife wont survive this, and my children
Children, you say? Edward mused. A deal, you want? You wish protection, but whats my risk? If I cover you, there must be something in it for me.
Thomas tensed, watching the squire, feeling perhaps a sliver of goodwill.
And your girl, sweet and pretty what if I marry her? Ill take her as my bridetobe.
Thomas paled. Think, Edward, shes still a child.
A child? Edward laughed. I saw her on the farm the other day, a proper bride
Shes only just turned seventeen, still a girl, a doll shes not yet given up, being nursed by her mother.
Its time she grew up. Heres my condition: you hand me your daughter, Ill keep quiet about your mistake. Defy me and Ill inform the shire officials, and youll face the courts. So choose: give me your girl or keep grinding biscuits, and perhaps youll never see your family again.
Thomas fell to his knees before the squire. What do you demand? Its an impossible burden. How could I force my daughter into this? Am I a monster?
Edward returned to the table, sat down, and pulled a sheet of paper. Then we shall record it: Thomas Grey went against the authority, meddled with the common good
Wait, dont write, Thomas whispered, Ill speak with my daughter this very day.
Do that, then. Shes a stubborn one, ready to argue yet you call her a child.
Well, youre at fault, you took her, she was frightened.
If youre willing, Ill pull the strings, Edward smirked.
Thomas sighed heavily. If only my soul were strong
That evening Thomas returned home, sank onto the bench, and began untying his boots.
Whats wrong, love? asked Mary.
On the table lay a pot of boiled potatoes, while fresh bread baked in the oven sent a warm scent through the cottage. Whats the gloom?
Ethel! he called his daughter. Shes just come out of the sittingroom, her braid unfinished.
What, Father?
He looked at her. Our squire has his eye on a bride says he wants to marry you.
Ethels lips trembled, her hands fidgeted with the tangled braids, and she stood like a trembling birch. Why would he want me? I dont want this
Mary clutched a chair and sat down, horrified.
Thomas breathed heavily. I know you dont want it, and I dont either. Its too early for you but what can we do?
Father, why are you putting us through this?
Thomas, who thought it proper to force a girl into the parish council? Were not living in the old days
The squire thought it proper, and now the officials loom over us
Just refuse, thats all, Mary suggested.
Father, I wont go to him, hes cruel, everyone fears him
Their younger son, Charlie, leaned against the hearth, listening intently.
Im to blame, I missed the haystacks this spring
Oh, Father, theyll lock you up
Edward will lock me away he promised to hide me, not keep his word.
Whats the point, if he wants to take Ethel as a wife, hell leave you like a discarded sack
Exactly, Thomas agreed, give my daughter for my mistake I dont need such a soninlaw.
Father, complain, Charlie interjected, age thirteen.
Silence, Ill manage without your advice, Thomas snapped. If you speak, youll be the one hauled before him, the squire, still greenhorn
Father, Im scared of him, Ethel sobbed.
Thomas looked at his daughter, then at his wife, sighed and began to gather his things.
Where are you going? Mary asked.
Gather your things, Mary, dont forget your shirt, and the biscuits Ill go to Edward tomorrow, let him arrest me if he must. Im not an enemy of my daughter, but I wont hand her over, its too early for her.
Mary rushed to him, embraced him, and called out. Ethel retreated to her room and lay on the madeup bed, listening to her mothers cries and her fathers sighs. She hadnt even noticed any of her friends; only little Fred, Matron Marthas son, a year older, seemed to notice her. The squire, Edward, never crossed her mind. He was older, always stern, constantly scolding, demanding, a stranger to her.
She felt sorry for herself, not having time to look around before a forced marriage loomed, especially to a man like Edward Zorin. She also pitied her father, who might be taken away forever. She began braiding her hair, tugging at it in frustration, feeling only anger and despair. She went to her parents, took the satchel from her father’s hands.
Dont go anywhere, Father, she said, finally addressing him as a man.
Thomas, bruised in his chest, replied, If youd agreed, I wouldnt be hurting like this. Youll have a hard time with him Ill serve my time, but youll have to live without tears.
Father! Ethel clutched him. Dont leave! Hell lock us up, and everyone will point fingers at me, at Charlie, and at my sister Annabelle, who already has a husband and children.
Thomas slumped onto a chest by the door, which served as both storage and bench. I know, Annabelle will also suffer, the shame will fall on the whole family, theyll say Thomas Grey stole the hay
Tell him tomorrow Ill agree, let the matchmakers send word, Ethel begged.
Mary packed the belongings, placed them by the stove, and wiped her tears before setting the table.
That night Thomas and Mary lay awake, tossing and turning, hearing Ethels cries from the next room.
No, Mary, shes scared of him, marriage will be a burden, especially now. Get my bag in the morning, Ill go to the yard and then to Edward, let him do what he wants, but I wont give her away.
Mary, hearing this, pressed close to him. Thomas, as you say, well manage without you
At dawn they rose, careful not to wake the children. While they worked in the yard, Charlie slipped out the back gate. By the time they stopped, the sun was high.
Wheres our little one? Thomas asked.
I think he ran to school, I didnt see him this morning, Ethel replied.
Hell come back. Ill stay a bit longer at home.
Thomas, stay home until lunch, we wont have the rogue Edward for long, Mary said, still hoping the trouble would pass.
Thomas decided not to rush to prison. Meanwhile Charlie rode on a cart with Uncle Matthew, heading for the district centre.
Where are you going, lad? Matthew asked.
Ive got a errand from school to fetch certificates.
Matthew chuckled, urging the horse onward. In the district centre they met the first secretary of the council, Mr. Gushin, a solid, taciturn man in his midforties. Charlie, thinking quickly, claimed he needed to see Alexei Mitford, the official.
What do you want, boy? Gushin asked, surprised.
Im looking for Alexei Mitford.
Why?
I have business.
Children have no place here.
At that moment Gushin himself appeared. Charlie, flustered, babbled, confusing the secretary.
Hold on, dont shout, this cant be sorted. Come in, the council has arrived from Murrow.
Do you even know who youre accusing? Youre slandering the squire, the secretary snapped after hearing Charlies tale.
Its the plain truth! My sister Ethel doesnt want to marry him. He invented the missing haystacks to force her hand
Where did you hear that?
From Edward Archibald, who wants to take Ethel as his wife
Gushin, hearing this, sent a clerk to the parish office. Edward Zorin, having given orders and touring the fields, was busy reprimanding an errant tractor driver. When he saw Gushin, everyone fell silent. Edward stood upright, ready to report on the parishs matters.
Charlie lingered near the council building, watching the windows. He didnt like complaining, but his fathers plight moved him.
Tell me, how do you run things here? Gushin asked.
Alexei Mitford, as usual, we try
I see youve lost hay this spring, yet you only now raise a storm. Why stay silent before? Waiting for a convenient moment? And why are you so sure my foreman Grey is guilty? Because my daughter rejected you, so you resort to blackmail?
Edwards face grew pale with each question.
Im guilty, he admitted. It wasnt proven that I took the hay; someone else did I tried to scare him.
Youll answer for that, Gushin said softly but firmly. Ill send you to trial for overstepping.
Charlie burst in, pointing at the radio. Turn it on, please, theres news
They switched it on and heard the announcement of war, the date read 22 June 1941.
Edward, pale, said, I accept my guilt, but now is not the time. Dont take this to court; let me go to the front, Ill be conscripted anyway.
Gushin, stunned, contemplated Edwards fate.
The hay is gone, we dont know whose cattle ate it. Im needed at the front now.
Who will stay here? Gushin asked.
Therell be other men, like Matthew Ellis, whos too old for conscription but can serve as a squire
Fine, Zorin, I have other matters. Ill think about you later.
A week later, near the parish hall, a crowd gathered, some weeping, some singing, some laughing. Edward bowed, took off his satchel, and entered the circle. He stretched his arms, started dancing, his rigid demeanor softened as the villagers clapped around him.
Ah, Edward Grant, your hands could cradle a wife, yet now youll have to cradle a rifle, remarked Matthew Ellis, now acting as squire.
The Grey family saw their soninlaw off, Annabelle clung to him like a whip until a command was given: To the carts!
Hard winters, unpredictable springs, and grim days followed, with news of the front arriving.
Oh, Mary sighed, looking at her daughter, we thought wed escaped one trouble only to face another. Now the old sorrow seems dimmer, like a dying fire in the hearth.
Four years later, Murrow had thinned, widows and orphans multiplied, but spring of 45 revived hope as victory approached.
Frederick returned in March, wounded but home, having been called up at eighteen.
Why turn away Fredericks face, Ethel? Mary asked. Where else will you find a groom now? Turn your face away, and hell betroth himself.
I understand, Mother, but I feel nothing
What feelings, Ethel? Youll stay a girl forever.
A month later Edward Zorin came back. Women stared as he walked the dusty road, his coat missing a sleeve. He was not yet thirty, yet gray hair showed at his temples.
Good day, ladies! How are you faring? Wheres my mother?
Oh, what joy shes on the farm, you must go and cheer her, todays a celebration my son is home.
Soon Edward was back at work, and at the first meeting they suggested he become squire again.
We have a squire, Edward said, Matthew Ellis kept the farm running through the war, should he stay on his old post?
A selfremoval? the villagers asked.
Thats the idea.
He changed, both outwardly and within. No longer the boastful, proud man of before, the war had tempered his nature.
Good to see you, Thomas Archibald, Edward greeted first, were reunited.
Good to see you, Edward Grant.
Forget the patronymic, Im younger than you. I used to brag, but I thought of you through the war, regretted not asking forgiveness. So I say now: forgive me for those haystacks, I knew I wasnt at fault
Thomas coughed, Then you, Edward, forgive me too, I moved those stacks
How so?
We had no feed for the calf, but the higher command forbade touching the stacks. I ignored the order.
Thomas removed his hat, clenched it, But I took nothing for myself, thats not my fault
Thats the story, Edward said. You fed our cows anyway, let the past be past; it was long ago, before the war.
Father, why are you talking to him? Charlie asked as Thomas stepped away. He was a snake, now his venoms been ripped out.
Charlie received a swift reprimand.
You know little! You havent lived, yet you judge. Edward, with two medals, was no snake.
What, father? Im recalling the past
Forget it know this: its easy to err, hard to amend. He patted his sons shoulder. Alls well, son, the wars over, well live.
Soon the cartload of milk barrels was ready for delivery. Edward, tying a horse with one hand, turned to Ethel, who helped with a barrel. Hold on, lets do it together, he said, taking the other side. While moving the barrels, he eased the horses reins, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. Dont worry about me, Ill manage.
Ethel, feeling a strange pity for Edward, watched him work. Days passed without his return, replaced by the Voloshin brothers. One warm May day she saw a familiar silhouette, a lone figure emerging from the distance.
He leapt from his cart, smiling. The wars over, Ethel, our curse is ended. He embraced her, her head resting on his chest. What good news, weve waited so long.
He whispered, My hands arent enough to hold you. She replied, I have two hands, together well have three. He brushed a loose scarf from her hair, kissed her tearstained cheek, and held her close, breathing hard. I wont let go. I survived for a reason.
Mary sorted the chest by the door, filling it with embroidered blankets, towels, and sheets. She placed a set of pillows for Ethel, the dowry that now seemed a treasure.And as the sun set over the quiet lanes of the village, Edward and Ethel, hand in hand, finally found the peace they had both longed for.
