Read Chapter 9: — THE ACCIDENT

Success arrived at the same time as catastrophe.

Daniel and Stanley volunteered to accompany a delivery because the carrier had cancelled. On a wet road outside Taunton, a van crossed the centre line.

Stanley died.

Daniel survived with broken ribs, a shattered leg and fractures in both arms.

Martin reached the hospital before the police finished taking statements.

His brother lay under white sheets, swollen and barely recognisable.

"You came," Daniel whispered.

Martin wanted to answer with something strong.

Instead he cried.

Stanley's sons blamed Sunward Weaves. Insurance questions became legal questions. Had Stanley been an employee? A volunteer? A contractor? Was the delivery authorised? Had Martin's informal operation failed in its duty of care?

The old Martin would have looked for the fastest legal escape.

The new Martin hired a solicitor and told her, "I don't want to pay what I don't owe. I also don't want technicalities to become an excuse for doing less than is decent."

They negotiated compensation with the family while insurers handled the road claim.

For three nights Martin kept Stanley's framed photograph in the barn because the family had not yet decided where to hold the memorial. He sat beside it with a bottle of whisky and nearly drank himself into oblivion.

George found him on the fourth morning.

"If you want to become the second ill man in this village, carry on," he said.

Martin looked at him.

"That's rude."

"You hired me for accuracy."

The funeral was held in the barn.

Not because tradition demanded it, but because Stanley had spent his final weeks there laughing with people who had forgotten how to feel useful.

His sons attended expecting anger.

They found their father's last basket on a table beside his photograph.

Martin gave it to them.

"He made this badly," he said. "Then he made it again. He swore at me both times."

One son laughed through tears.

The dispute did not vanish.

But grief became human again.