Bill hugged her. "Aye ye should 'ave listened to yer mother." He was still angry with her, and he wasn't sure how this would sit between them in the weeks to come. But he remembered how cold things had been at home when he had returned at last after his mistake. He hadn't bothered to stick around for long and he had never looked back. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Ruth again because she felt there was no place for her at home.

He looked up at his wife. "Aye, but we'll find the bastard and have 'im pay for t' bairn." And use his balls as fish bait.