Authors: Erin Grace
She pushed
back her sodden hair and looked out into the rain, sobbing. If something wanted
to make her suffer, then let it come and get her! She didn’t give a damn
anymore.
Dragging herself through the
storm, she headed into town. To hell with him if he didn’t want to hear the
truth.
A headlight
approached in the distance.
The roar of
an engine echoed along the road then a motorbike pulled up alongside her. Daniel.
That was all she needed. Crap.
He lifted
his visor. “Ellen. What are you doing out here?”
“Walking.
What does it look like? I could ask the same about you.” Damn it. He looked hurt.
Hell.
“I was just
coming back from the Carndonnaugh. The library is much better there.”
“Look, I’m
sorry. Just had a lousy day, you know.”
“I can see
that. Where’re you heading?”
“I don’t
know. Into town, maybe. Haven’t really given it much thought.”
He laughed.
“That much is certain. You’re soaked through.”
“Yeah.”
“Look. I’m
sorry about the other night. I was just worried about you. I guess I come
across a bit strong at times. It’s not very often I get to meet a famous
botanist.”
Guilt ran
through her, twisted her gut. She cringed. “I guess I’m just not used to anyone
really keeping tabs on me. I was just tired and a bit startled. That’s all.”
“How about
I give you a lift back home, then?”
“No.” She
couldn’t go back and see Rowan, not yet.
“Okay. How
about town? I can get you a room at the Ivy. Local’s rates.”
A weak
smile tilted her lips. “Well...”
“Or, my
place is just up ahead a ways. I can have you warm and dry in no time.” He held
up his hands, palms out. “No strings attached. I swear. I won’t even try to
cook you dinner.”
A small
laugh escaped her. “Okay. Just until the rain stops, I guess.”
“Come on,
then. Here, better wear this.” He removed his helmet and handed it to her. The scent
of warm male and nice cologne filled her senses as she slid it down over her
head. While she seated herself behind him and reached around his waist, he
looked back at her, smiling.
Something
flickered in his eyes. Doubt niggled her. Maybe she should go to town after
all. Before she had the chance to change her mind, he put the bike into gear
and headed down the road.
Once off
the main road, they travelled down a long dark laneway. A spike of lightning
lit up the shape of a small cottage on the left.
The bike
slowed down and pulled over to the house.
He turned
the engine off, dismounted and she followed suit.
“We’re
here,” he shouted through the downpour, a hand raised to his mouth. “Come on inside.”
She nodded
and removed her helmet, then followed him to the door, which he opened and held
for her as she entered.
A few
lights came on and she found herself standing in a small lounge room. At least
he had power. The sounds of movement here and there said he’d disappeared
somewhere down the end of the house. Lord, she was dripping all over his
carpet. How embarrassing.
“Here.”
Returning from the hallway, he handed her a soft white towel. “I’ll put the
kettle on. The least I can do is make you some tea.”
She smiled,
and mopping her drenched hair, wandered around.
The house
looked quaint. Cozy. An old fashioned electric heater on the kitchen floor
glowed orange, blasted her with delicious heat. The teakettle whistled.
Shortly
afterward, he handed her a steaming mug. “Here. Feeling any better?”
“Yes.
Thanks.”
“You really
shouldn’t be out in that big house all alone, Ellen.”
“Oh, but
I’m not.” Too late. Damn.
“Of course,
your groundskeeper is there, isn’t he?”
She
suppressed a growing frown. “How did you know about him?”
“You know
publicans like to gossip after a few beers.”
“Well, he’s
not there anymore.”
He sat down
opposite her. “I figured as much.”
“You did?
What made you think that?”
“Well, I
went by there the other day. Thought I might just see how you were settling in.
I saw you walking across the field.”
“I didn’t
see you. Were you spying on me?”
“No. No, of
course not. I had some more research I thought you might be interested in.”
“I didn’t
hear your bike.”
“Tell me
something, Ellen. Are you feeling all right?”
“Why?”
“Don’t take
this the wrong way, but you were talking to yourself, when you were walking.” Good.
He hadn’t seen Rowan.
“Well, I
was probably just thinking out loud. Do it all the time.”
“I see.
Well, why don’t you make yourself comfortable?”
“Actually,
Daniel. Think I will head back. Lots to do. Hope I didn’t put you to any
trouble.”
She stood,
but he blocked her exit.
“I think
not, Ellen.”
Anger mixed
with adrenaline, and began pumping through her veins. “Excuse me?”
“We need to talk. I found
this whilst on your estate.” He picked up a clear plastic bag. A wallet and flashlight
were inside.
A lump came
to her throat. “So? I don’t understand.”
“Don’t
you?”
She shook
her head.
“Okay.
Let’s play a game. I’ll suggest what actually happened at the manor the other
night, and you can tell me if I’m right.”
She glanced
around the room, hoping to locate some kind of weapon. But, porcelain
knickknacks and scatter cushions would hardly make an impact on his thick
skull. Hell. “Let me out, Daniel. I’m warning you.”
“Shh. Sit
down. I think, that these thugs did try to rob the manor, didn’t they?”
“You’re
crazy.”
“And
perhaps you’d confronted them. Maybe with a gun, though from what I understand your
martial arts skills are quite accomplished.”
“How did
you know about that?”
“Come now,
anything can be found on the web, and you’re quite a well known scientist. Wasn’t
too hard. Learning a bit more about your manor was another thing though.”
“And what
conclusion have you come to?”
“That
you’re tired. You need someone to care for you, help you with your work.”
“And I
suppose you’re just the man to do it.”
He placed
the bag on the coffee table and stepped closer to her. “You know I am. We have so
much in common.”
“What if I
don’t want your help?”
“Well,
considering I called the police a few moments ago, advising them to go to your property,
it would be foolish to turn down my assistance now.”
“I haven’t
done anything wrong. You’re mad.”
“I think
you confronted the men, maybe accidently killed one of them.”
She
laughed. “What, then overpowered another two all by myself and buried the
bodies without a trace?”
“No. You
had help, of course.”
“Of
course.”
“Now, don’t
be like that. I know you had no choice. But don’t worry. I’ll protect you. Just
tell me who the caretaker man is and leave the rest to the police.”
Like hell.
“Okay. I’m out of here.”
She pushed
a chair hard against him and ran into a hallway. Damn it. She’d no idea where the
hell she was going.
“Ellen.
Calm down.” She’d give him calm down. “Let me help you.”
Then she
was at the front door. Locked, dammit. What was it with her and locked doors?
His
footsteps tramped along the hallway. Shit. She ducked back through the lounge
room, in toward the kitchen.
A darkened
doorway stood at the end of the hall. The door was mostly made of glass. She picked
up a lamp off the stand next to her and hurled it through the pane. The sound
of the shattering glass echoed through the house. She dashed outside, the rain
pelting down around her.
Off into
the darkness she ran, and quickly lost sight of the lane.
No street
lights, nothing. Hell.
She kept
running. Her heart pounded in her chest. Then his bike roared to life in the
distance behind her, and her heart almost stopped completely.
Hidden
behind some thick hazel bushes inside a field, she waited, shaking so fiercely
her stomach threatened to be ill. After a few minutes, a headlight and the
faint thrumming of his bike came toward her. She held her breath.
When it
passed, thank God, she turned and ran across the field, lit now and then by the
storm.
After what
seemed like an hour she came across the main road. Sticking close to the
fences, well inside the shadows, she walked toward the manor. Every sound made
her jump, wonder if it was Daniel’s bike and he’d found her. Bloody madman.
As she
bolted through the gates, her name was called by Daniel.
Terrified, she
finally found her voice and screamed, “Get away from me you psycho bastard!”
She ran
across the field toward the old barn, glancing back. He’d followed her. Her
lungs were at bursting point. Rowan might be in the house, so she couldn’t lead
Daniel back there. What if Rowan couldn’t de-materialize? Daniel would hand him
over to the police, blame him for the robbers’ disappearance.
Fear grew
into anger as she rushed into the barn.
To hell
with Daniel. No one was going to take her love away.
* *
* *
What the
hell? Rowan gazed down from the loft as Ellen dashed inside. He’d been there
all night, simmering over their argument.
“Ellen.”
She looked up toward him, tripped over an old beam lying on the ground and
fell. Her head crashed against the timber. “No!”
He moved
down next to her. Blood trickled from her forehead, but thank God, she was
still breathing.
Anger
surged within him as someone approached. She hadn’t been alone.
A man ran
into the barn, stopped when he saw her lying there.
Daniel. The
young man who’d visited her from the town. What in hell had the cowardly bastard
done to her?
The man ran
a hand through his hair and paced frantically before her body. “Now look what you’ve
done,” he said. “You weren’t supposed to get hurt. I wanted to help you, take
care of you. Why did you run?”
The
intruder leaned down to touch her face. Rowan grasped his hand, unseen, and
squeezed the bastard’s fingers, nearly lifted him into the air by it. An
astonished looked washed over Daniel’s face.
“Argh,” The
young man called out as he crushed his hand, ground the bones together. “What the
hell. Stop. Stop!”
He let go,
and the foul wretch dropped to his knees, whimpering.
“You will
pay for hurting her,” he said, making his voice echo throughout the barn. He remained
invisible.
Daniel’s
eyes widened, became glazed with terror. He cradled his hand. Must be broken. “Who’s
there? I’m warning you, I’m armed.”
“You are a
coward.”
Daniel
shook his head, darting glances about the barn. “No. I wanted to help her, but
she’s ill. Come out where I can see you, damn it.”
He
materialized before his face, glaring. The man paled and his brow beaded with
sweat. He could see the reflection of his green fire in the man’s eyes. Good.
Now the bastard knew what it was to be afraid.
“Who?
What?”
He reached
forward and grasped his shirt, pulled him close. The young man’s body shook violently.
“You are trespassing on Donegal land.”
Letting out
a tremendous roar, he picked him up and threw him across the barn. Daniel
landed hard against the rotted wall, going right through.
While
Daniel lay on the ground still groaning, surrounding himself with a mist of
ghostly green, he materialized in front of him.
The man
scrambled at the muddy ground, trying to get to his feet. “No. No, get away
from me.”
This craven
bastard would not hurt Ellen again. He followed him across the paddock to the driveway.
Spinning
blue lights entered through the gates in the distance.
Daniel ran
down the drive, stumbled and fell as a police car pulled up. Two men in uniform
got out and shouted for him to stay down.
“He’s after
me,” he cried.
“Who is?”
One of the lawmen drew his pistol and walked around the side of the car. “We can’t
see anyone.”
Daniel
waved his hands furiously in the air. “Of course you can’t, you idiots. He’s a
ghost!”
The two men
looked at each other.