I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS. THEY ARE AND ALWAYS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE DAFT ITV 1.
(Sometime in the later 19th Century, in a small North Yorkshire industrial town outside Leeds)
part11
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Hazel Walsh moved the pan off from the hot Aga and came over to the kitchen table to serve up the eggs and bacon.
"There you go my little darling! But I bet it's not my cooking that's been putting a smile on your face for the last fews weeks, a?!"
Jackson looked up at her from where he sat polishing his boots near the fire, "Leave off will yah, Mum, I'm just in a happy mood at the moment, that's all"
Jerry was then stepping into the kitchen and smiled at her warmly, " I'm GLAD he's happy...because I have a feeling that after our little meeting with Mr Macey today, we are going to have a lot to smile about"
Hazel poured him his tea, " Oh? Do you think he'll invest in the business?"
Jerry tucked into his eggs and bacon, " He's got a well established memorial stone business going in Leeds...word is, that his man who ran it died of a heart attack, so he's looking for someone...well connected...to take it over"
Jackson came over to the table as he straightened his collar and tie, he sat and laughed at him, "and that's US, is it dad?"
Jerry looked at him, as he tucked into his breakfast, "What on EARTH have you got on?"
Jackson paused mid flow, the folk of egg hovering at his mouth, "Errrrrr...what's that?"
"Round your neck?", he said, eyes focusing on what he ment.
Jackson ate his mouthful and waved his hand, " Ohhhhh that! It's my new neck tie"
"Neck tie!
"Ohhhhh COME ON Dad! You've got to get with the times, NOBODY likes to where them crevats no more, neck ties are all the rage in that London"
Jerry nodded skeptically.
Hazel waved her hand, " Ohhhh Jerry, our boy is not some old duffer like you! He's with it is our Jackson"
Jerry was still skeptical, " We'll see...anyway, we best hurry it up, Macey is expecting us at his estate at half past 11, we're need to get our books prepared"
"Done it", informed Jackson with a cocky grin.
Jerry smiled proudly at him, " Good lad, I can ALWAYS count on you..."
Xxxxxx
At the infirmary, Aaron and Adam came up the dark dank corridor lined with old steel trollies and gas lanterns swinginging from the ceilings.
A nurse stepped forward, Aaron always thought they reminded him of nuns, because they were garbed up in habits and long flowing dresses with puffed up shoulders. The nurse wiped her hands over her long apron, " Yes?"
Aaron coughed , " We're here to see Alex...they ermm"
"The lad from the mine? Brought in last week, yes he is down there in bed 4" she pointed the way with a stern looking smile.
Aaron and Adam glanced at one another and then walked into the ward both removing their caps, as they did so.
There was 4 beds lined up against the stone wall. Aaron couldn't help but stare at the first patient who had been practically bandaged up from head to toe, he shuddered and saw that the next man looked half cut and smiling at him with bolt like eyes and a long scar across his cheek.
Aaron turned as Adam tapped his arm and pointed toward Alex in the end bed. He was sitting up and looked much better than he had the day they brought him in here after the accident up at the mine.
"Alright, Mate? Hows it hanging?", laughed Adam, somewhat relieved that his mate wasn't going to end up on some cold hard slab in the mortuary.
"Not much, I'm dying for abit of cunt me..."
Adam laughed out loud, " THAT'S the spirit lad!..." he turned to Aaron who stood on the opposite side of the bed, "...He's looking right grand aint he?"
Aaron half smiled, all he could smell was a cross between disinfectant and piss. He hated hospitals.
The nurse was round them again and was puffing up Alex's pillow, " Not too long please boys, he needs his rest"
"I need some cun..."
Adam laughed out loud before Alex could finish, " He's a lad!"
The Nurse glared at all 3 of them and marched off to the next bed.
"She's a right old bat her! Just because she's proberly got a dried up old snatch, she gives me THAT look", hissed Alex.
Aaron sighed at him, " at least you're back on form, mate...You're be back at work with us, before you know it"
"And WHO knows, we mind be able to sneak in Holly!" Adam told with a twinkle in his eye.
Alex cheered up at that comment, " Well best make it soon or these sheets are gonna be alot more sniffer than they already are!"
The man in the next bed was then coughing up violently. It made Aaron jump, and with his blue eyes, he watched as the nurse was accompanied by a doctor putting a stephascope around the mans chest, and the grubby looking curtain was being pulled around them.
"He doesn't sound too good" commented Adam.
Alex shrugged, " I think he's just about had it...he's got worse by the day, got Consumption or sommit I think"
Aaron was ready to go at that remark, " right best make tracks aint we..."
Adam nodded, " We'll come to visit yah soon...better go before Matron chucks us out or sommit..."
"Thanks for coming and DO remember to bring Holly..." He held the shape of his hard cock beneath the woollen red blanket around him, " Because I can REALLY do with sorting me out!"
Xxxxx
The horse drawn coach was trotting up the gravel track that lead to Home Farm estate. It came to a halt outside the manor house's main entrance where the Macey's staff were out ready to open the door to the coach.
Jerry stepped out first, followed by Jackson.
Declan Macey came forward and shook Jerry's hand, " Mr Walsh...It's good to meet you...please come inside..."
Jerry and Jackson followed Mr Macey into the house where he instructed his housekeeper to make some mid morning refreshments to be had on the back lawn.
The back gardens were wonderful, the late Summer day making the orange leaves really standout on the trees that bordered the lawn.
The Summerhouse had it's doors open and holding her parasol, Mr Maceys daughter Mia was waiting for them with a smile on her pale face, her frilly long dress gently skimmed the grass as she came forward, " please...Mrs Chambers has brought out some delightful tea and cake"
As they came across the grass toward the summerhouse, Declan smiled at his daughter and turned to Jerry, " please, let me present Mia, my daughter...Mia this is Jerrad Walsh and his son Jackson, Mr Walsh and I are going to talk over some business..."
Jerry looked at Mia and smiled taking her gloved hand, then he had a thought, " My son, Jackson here...he'd LOVE to see the grounds here..."
Jackson shot a glance to his father, " No I don't"
"YES you do...I'm sure this delightful creature would love to show you around...", then he looked to Declan for approval.
Declan coughed as he sat in the iron chair, and picked up his cup and saucer, " Yes...I'm sure Mia would LOVE to show Jackson around...take as long as you want...Mr Walsh and I will be sometime looking at the figures"
Jackson, a forced smile spreading across his face widened his eyes, " Smashing! after you Miss Macey"
Mia laughted sweatly, because she found him amusing, " Ohhh call me Mia, I just simply hate all that stuffy etiqette"
"Oh that's good to know, because I have a problem with that inall!"
She took Jackson's hand and they walked off, leaving Jerry and Macey to begin their business meeting.
Xxxxx
Aaron and Adam propped up the bar. Chas served them their jugs of ale, " So how was he then, gettin' better is he"
Adam took a sip of his ale and had froth over his lips, " yeah, he were MUCH better thanks, he's as strong as an ox, is Alex"
"So was that nurse, by the face on her!" laughed Aaron.
Adam then slapped his mate on the back, " HEY! I nearly forgot! It's Ryans birthday today, we ALWAYS do something good on birthdays, don't we?"
Aaron shrugged, " yeah, but with Alex stuck in the infirmary and that, it's not fair...", but his serious stance cracked, and he grinned, "...but lifes a bitch!"
Chas came forward and mopped the top of the bar over with an old rag, "So what's this then?", she asked all interested.
Aaron pulled her a face, " None of YOUR business, just get us another couple of those in, yeah!"
Xxxxx
Jackson and Mia had walked the grounds of Home Farm estate. As they made their way back to the summerhouse it seemed that both their fathers had finished their meeting.
Mia turned to him, " I like your neck tie, you look very dashing...it's ALL the rage in London you know, neck ties"
Jackson chuckled as they strolled over the lawn, " try telling me dad that!"
Mia paused and Jackson turned around, " what's up?"
She smiled at him, " are you courting anyone at the moment?", Jackson was certainly caught on the hop with this question, " Errrrrr..." he tried to avoid direct eye contact with her, "no I'm not, I don't have time with all that soppy business, me"
"That's a shame"
Jerry was then coming over to them, " Come on Jackson, we've got to get back..."
Jackson hinted a smirk 'saved!', he snatched up her hand and kissed it with a cheeky get away jibe of: " It's been a pleasure, but be seeing yah"
Jackson couldn't escape into the coach any quicker. Jerry told Declan Macey to take his time with the paperwork and ordered the coach man to hurry along their way.
Inside Jerry was looking all pleased with himself, " Well, that all seemed to go nicely...I can see he's interested for me to run that memorial business of his and net in a share of the profits"
Jackson shook his head looking all pleased for him, " Nice one dad, didn't doubt you wouldn't win him over with your gift of the gab, that's where I get it from!"
His father looked at him as he leaned back in the leather seat, " I wouldn't go celebrating just yet son, he's still yet to come to a decision...that's why we need to reinforce it with good relations..."
Jackson looked abit puzzled and frowned at him, " Oh...?"
"I've ASKED him, and he says it's fine"
Jackson pulled a face, he was still confused to where this was leading, " ASKED HIM what exactly?"
"YOU...and HIS daughter Mia, she was a little cracker wasn't she, lad? Infact YOU are taking her out later"
Jackson's bum nearly slided off the seat and he stopped himself, " Ohhh'aa...REALLY?! Errrr...I might have plans"
"yes you have, you are taking that lass out...you are going to give her a nice time out tonight, take her to that military brass band that's playing in the square, later...make her laugh...get her on side, get her to tell her father how much of a good investment we are", he said with some authority and persuation.
Jackson wasn't liking this one little bit, but he managed to plaster on a smile, " smashing, can't wait! When am I picking her up?"
"Mr Macey is expecting you to arrive at 7 in the coach for her, you are to get her home no later than 10"
"Can't wait", he said with a under currant of flippancy his father didn't detect.
Jackson held on to his smile until his dad looked away toward the window, Jackson's smile faded to discomfort as he turned to look out the opposite window...how on earth was he going to get out of this?!
Xxxxx
Ryan didn't want to go out for his birthday. He had protested at first, saying he would rather have a nice shag with some tart in the ginnal and then sink down a couple of jars, but Aaron and Adam were not having it...it was THEIR night in all.
After making Ryan dress in his sunday best, as did Aaron and Adam, they all hiked it over to the west end of town to some brass band playing at the bandstand, that somebody had heard about.
As they entered the square, they saw it was lively with folk. Gentlemen and their ladies gathering around a tethered rope barrier where beyond was a band playing in the bandstand.
It was a military brass band, the soldiers done up proudly in their red and blue uniforms and highly polished helmets.
A drummer boy was keeping to the rhythm of what ever they were playing because Aaron didn't know the names of any music that bands played.
Ryan laughed and got winking to a young pretty 'well to do' girl who was out with her 'stiff upper lip of sorts parents'.
Adam tapped his shoulder with that cheeky grin, " Blimey mate YOU don't give up, do yah? Shes proberly about 15, her"
Aaron laughed, " and YOU like them alot older, by the look of what I saw ther other night"
Adam was feeling out of the loop here, " What's this about...?"
Aaron decided he couldn't answer that, not with the older woman being the poor lads Mum, and doing it over the kitchen table while her son was bladdered and out of it slumped next to the fire was not quite the thing to say.
"I've been swore to secrecy, me", he joked, making it not sound like a lie.
Aaron saw a stand where something was being cooked up and it was making him hungrey. He turned around to see what the stall sold, but something else took his eye...
Jackson.
What was HE doing here?
Then it fell into place, some gigglely girl dressed up in some daft hat and flowing cape was all over him, he was laughing back at her and she had her arm linked beneath his...like they were...
All of a sudden, he had lost his appetite.
All he could hear, and it was annoying him now, was that stupid band playing their instruments and that drummer boy banging on that drum...he knew where he wanted to shove that! Drumsticks inall.
Ryan and Adam were still going on and on about the girl Ryan had taken a fancy to, " I BET YAH...I'll bed her in a week, pal..." he could hear Ryan wager, "...what'll YOU say Aaron?"
Aaron thinned his lips, and stared over at Jackson and that girl, he bared his teeth, he was getting jealous.
The girl had stopped, and Jackson bought her something from a stall, a rose...and he KISSED her on the cheek!
Aaron shook his head and backed away, he just wanted to go home if only to stop himself from dragging that bitch away from Jackson by that silly hat.
But Jackson happened to look his way, his grin faded as they made eye contact.
Aaron just shook his head disapprovingly and put his back to them, then stormed off through the gathered crowds who had flocked to the square to watch the brass band.
Ryan and Adam frowned at one another as they saw the back of Aaron disappear into the crowds.
"WHERE'S HE OFF TO?!"
Jackson was hot on his heels and grabbed him just as he was going to leg it up the street, "Aaron Wait!"
Aaron swung around and shook Jackson's hand off him, " Just do one yeah! Go and play with your lass!"
"Aaron, it's NOT what it looks like..."
Aaron gave him a fleeting 'tell somebody who gives a shit' look, " Not bothered mate, do what you want...JUST NOT WITH ME!", for a split second Jackson could see the hurt in Aaron's blues eyes...
But it was only for a split second...because with that, Aaron bolted off.
Xxxxx
Aaron ran and ran until he had to stop because he had to catch his breath back. He was feeling angry, upset and confused.
He wanted to cry, but that would make him weak, so he didn't let himself, so it just over spilled into anger. LIES LIES LIES!
Back at the pub he totally blanked everyone and went straight to his room.
JACKSON WALSH COULD DO DROP DEAD!
XXXXX
MORE SOON...
SHAWN: It was Jackson who taught Aaron to sign his name...my fault, I didn't make it clear.
HOPE YOU WILL BE WATCHING MARC SILCOCK ON 'CRIME STORIES' NEXT WEEK...HIS EPISODE IS TUESDAY I THINK, WHERE HE PLAYS A COCKY DRUG DEALER (NICE!)