Read The Sea Shell Girl for Free Online

eager women crowded closer to the railings, lifting their hands to their foreheads as they scoured the sea for sight of the shoal.
    Drat, thought Merry, she’d been daydreaming when she should have been paying attention. She hoped it was a false alarm, thinking of the ticking-off she’d get from Grozen.
    Her wish was thwarted as down below the lurker boat was already showing the men in the sean boat the area to be enclosed. Then the nets were shot and silence fell as everyone waited for the signal. They knew the slightest sound could send the fish scattering in all directions.
There was a collective sigh of relief as the master seaner raised his hat and the nets were taken in. Merry watched the mesh encircling the shoal as the ropes tightened. Then, as her gaze took in the thick walls surrounding the harbour, she shuddered, feeling just as hemmed in. Her friends, however, were cheering and clapping Marya on the back. They might be disappointed they hadn’t been the ones to spot the shoal but were pleased for this uncomplaining woman, with her crippled husband and seven children to provide for. Besides, tonight would see them busy gutting and salting the fish and nobody minded the extra hard work if it meant full bellies and warm firesides.
    ‘Come along, Merry,’ Jenna urged, catching hold of her arm. ‘It’ll be some time before we’re needed to help so let’s wait down on the quay and you can tell me about your trip to Plymouth.’
    Eager to delay the inevitable ticking-off she’d get from her grandmother when she found out someone else had claimed the reward, Merry nodded.
    ‘Come on then,’ she agreed, linking arms with her friend as they followed the others down the winding path.
    Those lucky enough to have dried fruit and sugar left in their pantries ran home to make hevva cakes to celebrate the catch of pilchards, whilst the rest of them, ever hopeful their friends would share this traditional fare with them later, made their way to the harbour. No sooner had they taken their seats on the steps than they all turned towards Merry.
    ‘How did you get on in Plymouth?’ Ailla asked.
    ‘What was the new agent like?’ Kelys said at the same time.
    Merry grimaced. ‘Plymouth was busy, smelly and so noisy you could hardly hear yourself think. The agent was really nice, though.’ She went on to tell them about her discussions with Mr Fairbright and the order he’d placed when he’d seen the knit frocks. The women listened attentively and were pleased for her but it wasn’t long before conversation turned to their own problems. Knowing they were unable to meet the new target they’d settled for the damping down of their knitting. As Kelys began telling them the best way to do it without being caught, Merry looked at their earnest faces and couldn’t help feeling as if she didn’t belong any more. It seemed her life was already taking a different path.
    She stared out over the water, where the fishermen were now rowing back to shore. Even from here she could see the enthusiasm in their movements, sense the exhilaration in the air. Then she felt a tugging at her skirts. Remembering her near miss in the market, she went to grab hold of her pocket, only to see a dark-haired girl of about four staring woefully up at her.
    ‘I gone wrong with me knitting, miss. Can you help afore me ma flays me?’
    Merry smiled. ‘Give it here. Are you making a trail?’
    ‘Trying to,’ the girl sighed. ‘But me can’t get the hang of this rib thing.’ She looked so forlorn, Merry’s heart went out to her.
    ‘Come and sit by me,’ she offered, patting the stone beside her. ‘What’s your name?’ she asked, as she set down her work and began correcting the girl’s stitches.
    ‘Primmy. Me sister’s Caja. She’s seven and does the plain bits. Mother does the fancy seeds and bars. She says
me will be able to do that one day but me don’t see it,’ she said, giving another sigh.
    ‘I’m sure you will; it just