Lucan bought himself an iron and was sitting looking at the heavy metal instrument when Thaiter came through the back door.

"So, she finally got at ya." Thaiter sneered and shook his head.

"What do you mean?"

"Well first it's the readin' and writin', then the way ya speak. Now it's ya clothes and the way ya dress. She's not good for you, Lucan. Mark my words she'll have ya scrubbin' floors, bakin' scones and back in church with ya hair slicked down like a town dandy before too long."

Lucan scowled. "We got it sorted that's all. She just wants me clothes ironed when we walk out together. Not such a big thing ta ask."

"Ya full of shite, Lucan, and ya know it. You've changed since being with her. Look at the times she's corrected ya speech and in front of people. Doesn't that make ya feel... ah shit... it's you're fuckin' life!" Thaiter banged the chair out of the way and stormed into the bedroom.

Lucan threw the iron onto the table. A lot of what Thaiter was saying was true. Lillian had a way of explaining things that made what she wanted from him sound reasonable. Ever since Lanigan's funeral she had been easier to get along with. Lucan felt better about being engaged to her. She hadn't wanted to announce it so Lucan had kept it to himself. After Thaiter's outburst he decided to keep it that way. Lucan thought some more. He'd organized a picnic with Lillian and the boys yesterday and had taken them to Gibbs Creek. She hadn't been comfortable with the lads but he thought it'd get better with time. A battle raged inside of him. He didn't want to have to choose between Thaiter and Lillian. Each of them had their set ideas of each other and weren't prepared to give a little out of respect for him.

*****

Covey came home the following day with welts across his palm. He tried to hide them.

Lucan noticed the odd way he held his fork. "What's goin' on with ya hand, lad?"

"Nothing." Covey shrugged and slipped it under the table.

Grabbing Covey's arm, Lucan turned the hand over to see Covey had trouble curling his fingers. "What did ya do ta deserve this?"

Covey refused to look at his father but a tear rolled down the boy's face.

"What's going on, Covey?" Lucan asked again.

"Miss Rowles ain't been so nice ta me since we had that picnic with her."

"Have you been playing up, Cov?" Lucan gave his son a stern look.

"No... I don't think so. She got real mad when I told the class about the picnic in me weekly news and since then she ain't been so nice."

Thaiter growled.

Lucan chose to ignore him and kept his eyes on Covey. "So, she caned ya hand because of that?"

"No... that was because I didn't wash me hands after play time."

Thaiter studied his nephew and Lucan's jaw tense as he pushed his chair from the table and stood up. "Ya had enough, Luc?" Thaiter asked indicating Lucan's untouched food.

"Not so hungry tonight. Think I might need a walk. Put the lads to bed will ya."

Thaiter gave Lucan a knowing look and nodded.

*****

Lucan's knock, on Missus Blake's door, boomed through the house. She opened it in panic. "Oh, it's just you, Mister Hayes. You had me worried for a moment. You'll be wanting to see Miss Rowles?"

He nodded because he didn't trust himself to speak.

"I'm sorry but she's not in tonight. That lovely Mister Lewis came and got her earlier. They had a meeting of some sort with the school committee."

"Thanks," Lucan muttered. He shoved his hands in his pockets and strode toward the school. He had no plan but his chest burned. How could she lay that sort of punishment on his boy for such a small misdemeanour?

*

He stood in the shadows. Each person said their goodbyes and took their leave. Louis Lewis closed the door. He lifted the lantern. Light shone over the steps so Lillian could make her way safely down them. Once they were both at the bottom Louis held his arm out to her and she happily took it. Lucan couldn't recall her being as comfortable with him when they walked out together. He followed at a safe distance and waited until Louis delivered her to Missus Blake's door.

Lucan walked away. Mister Lewis was more suited to Lillian than he was.

*

Thaiter was waiting for him when he returned. "I hope ya put her in her place."

Lucan shook his head.

"What? You're goin' ta allow her to do dat to your son? For fuck's sake Lucan what kind of man have ya become?"

"Thaiter, please. I'll sort it. She was in a meeting with a mob of people. I'll sort it."

"Yeah, well you fucking better otherwise ya no related to me anymore," Thaiter growled.

"Why do ya reckon she did that? Lucan sighed and slumped on a chair. "Just for not washing his hands?"

Thaiter sneered. "If you come back here accepting some feeble fucking excuse from her, I'm gonna knock ya fuckin' head off! You understand me, Lucan? I don't care if she's got ya by the balls because there's no excuse for laying that on a wee lad like Covey. The boy wouldn't hurt a fly." He shoved his chair back and headed outside.

Lucan sighed again. Thaiter was right. There was no excuse. He blew out the oil lamp and went to bed. He couldn't sleep and lay thinking about Lillian. She was so different to Kat. Sometimes he hated and despised her. He had never felt like this with Kat. Why did he keep forgiving her? What drew him to her? His body ached to have her but his brain flashed constant warnings. George Hanson's words sprang to mind, get yaself into another and the want will come back. Lucan wondered if there was another woman in town who could draw his attention from Lillian. Maybe this mad drive towards her would leave him. No matter what, he couldn't allow her to treat Covey the way she had. If he were to marry her, she needed to love his children too. They hadn't talked about the lads yet or what he expected from her. It was always what she expected from him. It had to be talked about. He'd go and see her tomorrow after work.

*

His clothes were covered with soot and ash, his face streaked with grime when Missus Blake answered the door. She looked him up and down and huffed. "I'll get her for you, Mister Hayes."

Lillian gave him the same disapproving look. Tension surged in his chest. He'd been glad he hadn't spoken with her the night before when he was seething but one look from her had him teetering on the edge of boiling. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the gate. "We need ta talk."

"Lucan...!" She gasped and tried to pull free but he held on tight. He walked with her like this down the road away from prying eyes. Some small amount of respect for her remained. If this ended badly, he didn't want to be held to blame for somehow shaming her.

He put her against a tree. "Why did ya do it?"

"Are you mad? How dare you come to my house looking the way you do and drag me along the street like I'm some whore?" She raised her hand and slapped him on the face.

Lucan clenched his teeth and growled. He grabbed both her upper arms as she went to hit him again and shook her. "What the fuck are ya doin' hittin' me lad like ya did? He can hardly close his hand!"

Lillian shrank from Lucan as he loomed over her. His eyes had turned almost black with rage. "Lucan..." She gasped. "You're hurting me."

The intense fury drained from him. He let her go and stepped back a little. "Why did you do it? Why did you hit the lad like that?"

Tears rolled down Lillian cheeks. "He wouldn't wash his hands. I asked him twice but he kept playing. When he came in, he still hadn't washed them." She gulped back her sob. "He has to respect me. If we're going to be married, he has to respect me. He can't think I'll treat him any different to the others."

Stepping back again, Lucan took a deep breath and thought there she goes again, twisting it so it works in her favour. Twisting his mind so it seemed reasonable. "If it had been one of the others," he seethed. "The Baker boy for instance, would he have gone home with a hand he couldn't close?"

She shuddered, gulped back another sob and looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Lucan. I don't know. I needed him to respect me."

"How could ya possibly think to beat a child, like that, would teach him respect?" He shook his head in disbelief. "How do ya think to strip me of me pride by correcting my speech or criticizing my appearance is going ta make me respect you?"

Lucan walked away.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Lillian cried.

He stopped and turned back toward her.

Lillian rushed to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Lucan tensed. She let go immediately. "What are you going to do?" she whispered.

He felt so tired and shook his head. "I don't know but I can't have you hitting me lad like that. I need some time to think."

*

Lucan didn't tell Thaiter what had transpired. He didn't want to talk about it but every day he checked Covey over for welts or bruises.

"Da what ya lookin' at?" Covey giggled.

"Just checkin' that you're growing."

"So, am I? Am I gonna be as big as you?"

"Yeah, I think ya might be, son. How's school been? Miss Rowles, is she nice to you?"

Covey grinned and nodded. "Did you have a fight with Miss Rowles because she keeps askin' me about you?"

"Yeah." Lucan scratched the back of his head. "We had a bit of a fight."

"Was it because she hit me hand, Da?"

"It came into it but don't you worry about it." Lucan ruffled Covey's hair. "Riley's in the sandbox. Why don't you go and play with him?"

What do we think of Lillian's reason for caning Covey?  Was it valid?

Photo - The Victorian Historian