A Finer End

valid?’ she shot back.
    He stared at her. This was not going at all the way he’d intended. ‘Look, Faith, meet me tonight. We can talk about it, but right now we’re both going to be late for work.’
    ‘I can’t. Garnet wants me to study.’
    ‘Study what? The Old Religion?’ He heard the loathing in his voice.
    Faith’s chin went up defensively. ‘The first religion. You know the Christian Church just built on what went before. Even Simon says so.’
    ‘That’s not the point. You need to be doing normal, ordinary things. Finishing school. Taking your exams. Thinking about what you’re going to do with your life — and how you’re going to take care of your baby. You need to go home, Faith.’ As he said it, he knew it was a mistake, and worse, if she were to take his advice he would very likely lose her altogether.
    ‘Don’t patronize me, Nick Carlisle,’ she spat at him. ‘And don’t tell me how to live my life. I’ve done all right—’
    ‘Only because Garnet took you in, and I suspect she had her reasons—’
    ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about! Garnet understands me, and she knows I have something to do, something important — I just can’t see what yet. So just bugger off, okay?’ She spun round, opening the gate and clanging it shut behind her.
    Jumping up, he called out, ‘Faith, I’m sorry—’ but she ran down the path, away from him.
     

Chapter Five
     
We also had to meet with a certain amount of jealousy from that section of the community which regards all positive happiness as tending to evil, and all beauty as an endowment of the devil; for it did undoubtedly happen that the young things that studied with us acquired a liveliness and a physical carriage that marked them out from their fellows.
Rutland Boughton, from
The Glastonbury Festival Movement
     
    Having given Faith chamomile tea and tucked her in bed for a nap, Garnet walked down the hill towards the café, for once oblivious to the beauty of the mild afternoon. Buddy had sent the girl home after lunch, insisting that she take the afternoon off, and Garnet needed to know exactly what had transpired that morning.
    She was thankful to find the café empty and Buddy cleaning tables after the lunch rush. When she entered, he smiled and motioned her to a seat with a flourish of his cloth.
    ‘You’re a sight for sore eyes, darlin’. It’s been a bugger of a day.’ His Texas drawl had never faded, although it was regularly interspersed with English slang.
    And you’re culturally confused,’ Garnet replied. There was something about Buddy’s lanky frame and greying ponytail that still made her think of the Wild West, although he swore his only contact with cows had been on a plate and that he wouldn’t know what to do with a horse if it bit him.
    ‘Tea?’ he asked. ‘You look like you could use the real thing.’
    ‘Yes, please,’ Garnet said gratefully, and waited until he’d made two mugs and brought them to the table.
    ‘How is she?’ he asked, sitting across from her.
    ‘Sleeping, I hope. What happened this morning, Buddy?’
    ‘Hell if I know. She came in five minutes late — first time she’s ever done that — puffy-eyed and silent as a newt. Dropped things all morning like her fingers had been greased, then I found her crying in the soup.’ He shook his head. ‘Anybody could see the poor girl wasn’t fit to work, so I sent her home. She didn’t like it, though.’
    Garnet sighed. ‘I never thought I’d be looking after a teenager, and a pregnant one at that. She left the house early this morning; I just assumed she was coming in to help you.’
    ‘Think she met someone? But who?’
    ‘Nick Carlisle would be my guess, damn him. Although I’ve never seen Nick get her in such a state.’
    ‘Maybe it was someone else. What about the baby’s father? Has she ever said anything to you?’
    ‘Not even a hint. But I wonder... Faith told me last night that Winnie Catesby intends to talk to her parents. It may be that’s what has her so out of sorts.’
    ‘The priest?’
    ‘You make it sound as if Winnie has a disease, Buddy.’ Garnet laughed in spite of her worry. ‘She means well.’
    ‘Then let her send the girl home to her mom. It’d be a burden off you.’
    ‘I can’t.’ Garnet said it flatly.
    ‘And why the hell not? Sounds like the sensible solution to me.’
    ‘It would be, except that it’s not safe.’
    ‘Not safe?’ Buddy frowned. ‘You think her