Scarlett The Devil's Daughter (10 page)

We are soon busy and don't get much time to
chat. After the lunches are over I find myself out the back with
Kitty having something to eat. Drake and Dylan are covering in the
bar and we sit there eating just enjoying the rest. Kitty looks at
me happily. "I am glad that Drake has found you Scarlett. He works
very hard and is so good to us. I worry that he is not enjoying
himself as much as someone his age should." I smile at her. "He is
a credit to you Kitty. In fact they both are. They have made me
feel so welcome and despite everything they are always so upbeat."
Kitty smiles sadly. "It's been a tough time for us all. Their
father was the life and soul of this place. He spent all his time
here and made it what it is today. The accident has changed all our
lives and has certainly tested us as a family. Without my two sons
I don't know where we'd be." I can see her eyes mist over and reach
out and give her hand a squeeze. "Is there any hope that he can
recover and maybe come back to work?" Shaking her head sadly she
looks at me with tears in her eyes. "No, he will not walk again, in
fact there isn't a job that he can do given his disability. He
hopes that Dylan will take this on but I know that his heart isn't
in it. This is Bob's dream not Dylan's." My heart aches for them
all. "What is Dylan's dream if it's ok to ask?" Kitty smiles. "He
would like to go to college and study law. He has always been the
brains of the family and has a huge interest in it. The trouble is
we had to sink both their college funds into this place so that is
all it is, a dream. Drake has his music but I am not sure how far
he can go with that. We've had offers from various people to buy
this place but they just aren't enough to dig us out of the hole
we've dug." I look at her with a thoughtful expression. "What about
Drakes grandparents house. Can't you sell that to raise some
money?" Kitty looks horrified. "Oh no that isn't an option. We all
love the place; it would be like selling our soul." I smile at her
gently. "It's a special place alright. You know I admire you all.
You are finding things tough but you still keep upbeat and don't
give up. That says a lot about you as a family. You will find a way
you know, things may be bad now but I have always found that things
have a habit of working themselves out." Kitty smiles and stands
up. "You're a sweet girl Scarlett. I am just sorry that you will be
leaving soon. I haven't seen Drake this happy in months." She heads
back to the bar and tears fill my eyes as I think about what she
has said. I want for everything to work out for them and for them
to be happy again but more than anything I don't want to leave
Drake. I have made myself not think about my inevitable departure
but hearing her voice it out loud brings home the reality to me.
The trouble is now that I have let love into my life I don't want
to ever let it go.

The place soon fills up and I watch as Drake
gets ready to sing. I love watching him perform. He is in his
element when he is singing and playing his guitar. I laugh as I see
his usual fan club arriving. They don't worry me anymore. Drake
makes me feel secure and loved and I know that they mean nothing to
him. Once again we are rushed off our feet. Listening to him sing
distracts me from the noise of the bar. It is as though he is all
that I can hear and his voice fills my soul. Taking a minute I lean
against the wall and watch him play. He gets that far away look in
his eye as if he is transported to another world. Every so often he
finds me and stares at me with so much love that it brings a lump
to my throat. How can I leave him? My heart will break I just know.
Suddenly I am aware that someone is standing next to me also
watching him. Looking across I groan inwardly as I see that it's
Taylor. She fixes me with a cold stare. "Better make the most of it
Scarlett. The clock is ticking and soon the next semester will
start. It's just a shame that long distance romances are doomed to
failure. It's a long time to be apart from your summer love, soon
the winter will set in and Drake may well decide to move on with
someone else, shall we say a little closer to home." Willing myself
not to rise to her obvious desire to start something with me I just
smile sweetly at her. "That may be Taylor, but you see I may decide
to stay after all. You see I have that choice. Either way it will
be fine, you see when you find true love nothing gets in the way of
it, not even a jealous old flame that has long burned out. Anyway
I've enjoyed our little chat but I have work to do. If you'll
excuse me." I move quickly away but not before I see the alarm on
her face.

Once again it's been a good night and the
takings are up. Dylan takes his mother home and leaves Drake and I
to lock up. Pulling me towards him Drake kisses me deeply. Pulling
away he says huskily, "Come to the house with me Scarlett. I want
to spend every minute with you that we have left. The thought that
you will be gone in a few weeks is killing me inside." I can feel
his despair and I share it. "Come on Drake. Let's go to the house.
You're right we need to make the most of the time we do have." Hand
in hand we walk to his grandparent's house. I fully intend on
spending the night with him tonight and I don't care what my father
thinks.

We wake up early in the morning and I smile
to myself as I see him lying beside me. He is the sexiest man that
I have ever met and I trace the tattoo on his arm. He looks at me
sexily and pulls me against him. He kisses me gently and pulls back
looking deeply into my eyes. "I love you Scarlett, you are my
world, you know that don't you?" I kiss him and then groan in
desperation. "This is so unfair. Why does life have to get in our
way? I don't want to leave you Drake but I have to." Drake looks at
me with excitement in his eyes. "Stay Scarlett. Tell your father
that you want to transfer here to my school. We can be together all
the time then and nobody can come between us." I lower my eyes. "If
I could stay I would Drake. My parents made some stupid deal that I
would live with my mom and come to my father's for the holidays.
It's not my decision to make. Also living with him is a nightmare.
He's not like most fathers and my brothers are awful. The only one
I like is Luna and who knows how long she will stay around?" Drake
looks disappointed. "Think about it Scarlett. There must be a
solution; we can't give up now that we've found each other." He
kisses me and all thoughts leave my head whilst I just enjoy
feeling close to him.

For the next few days I just hang out as
much as I can with Drake. Dylan is preoccupied with the fight and
spends all his spare time training. I noticed an envelope from the
Insurance company that I set up for them come and filed it away
before they saw it. I just hope that I am wrong about what might
happen and I find myself getting more and more nervous as each day
goes on.

I spend the least amount of time that I can
at my fathers. I don't want to see him because he would discover
what I am up to in no time if he wanted to. I have to make an
appearance some time though and time it for when I know he is at
work.

The day before the fight I head into town to
sort out the next part of my plan. I make a trip to the bank and
take out as much money as I can from my account. Luckily for me I
get a good allowance from my father which I rarely spend. I am not
like my sisters who appear to spend his money as quickly as he
gives it to them. I thrust the envelope into my bag and just hope
that nobody saw me. As I reach my bike my heart sinks as I see my
brothers waiting next to it on their bikes. They see me coming and
look at me with hard expressions. Caleb turns to me and sneers.
"Look who's here. Haven't seen much of you sister dearest. Too busy
with lover boy to spend time with your family." Giving him my
filthiest look I haul myself on to my bike. "Like you care anyway,
I thought you'd be glad that I'm out of your way." Caleb laughs. "I
wish you'd take those other two with you. We can't get rid of them.
Roll on next week that's all I'm saying." I look at Ash with
interest. Like me he is due to leave next week. He lives with our
Uncle Jake in Falcondell. He has no other family and I have always
wondered why he lived there. Like me he always looks miserable and
I wonder what goes on in his life. He sees me looking and just
sneers and looks away. So much for brotherly love. Caleb grins as
he sees me start the engine. "I can't get used to seeing you on
that bike. Why didn't you go for the sports car like those Barbie
Doll sisters of ours? You're more like a boy than a girl." Tossing
my hair back I fix him with my most withering look. "Who cares what
you think. You're just worried that I'm a better rider than you."
His eyes flash. "Is that a challenge little sis?" I curl my lip.
"If you like. What do you say; $100 says I get home before you."
Marius and Ash laugh and Marius snorts, "Easiest money you'll ever
make bro." Caleb grins. "You're on little sis. I hope you've got
the money ready because I don't like to be owed anything." Revving
my engine I say, "Neither do I." We line our bikes up and I feel a
thrill run through me. I actually don't care if I win or not. I
just want to challenge myself whilst I still have the bike to ride.
I know that when I get home I'll have to rely on my friends for
lifts. My mom won't let me have a bike despite my constant nagging.
No this is going to have to last me for a few months. I know that
Caleb is a good rider and is a worthy opponent.

We wait for the lights to change and then we
are off. I know that I will be first away as my bike is lighter and
so am I. My brothers are heavier than me and their bikes more
powerful. As we gather speed they start to catch me up. I am
prepared for it and just accept what is bound to happen. I know
that as soon as we hit the bends to get us up the hill they will
slow down. As long as I can keep close behind them I should be ok.
I feel the rush as I gather speed. My hair flies behind me and I
can feel the wind whipping across my face. I feel so exhilarated
and alive and push myself and my bike to the limit. I feel its
power beneath me and channel all of my energy into it. It is as
though the bike and I are one and the same. We have merged into one
entity and I have never felt so powerful. We get to the bends and
as I thought they start to slow down. The problem will be getting
past them and I know that they will try and stop that from
happening. I have never ridden so fast before in my life and far
from feeling afraid it feeds my obsession. This is what I love; if
I could ride all day I would. We get nearer home and I know that
the only chance I have will be on the final bend. If I can pull
level with them I will have the advantage. The trouble is if
anything is coming the other way I wouldn't stand a chance. I can
see the final bend ahead of me and push closer. As Marius slows
down in front of me I sprint past him. Ash then does the same and I
take him too. That just leaves Caleb and I sit right on his tail. I
can see the house in the distance and know that if I am to make my
move then it must be now. However I see a movement in the trees
ahead and realise that it may be an animal that may run out. I err
on the side of caution and keep close behind Caleb. Today is not
the day to prove my point. I need him to win for the greater good.
He reaches the driveway half a tyre in front of me and spins his
bike to a stop. I follow suit as do my brothers and we all sit
grinning at each other. Caleb looks at me triumphantly. "Good
effort Sis but it will take a lot to beat me. Now I think you owe
me something." Raising my eyes up I reach inside my bag for a $100
bill. "Here you go Caleb; you won this fair and square." I toss him
the money and the others laugh as he holds it above his head like a
trophy. We all put our bikes away and I see Marius and Ash head off
inside. Hanging back I look at Caleb thoughtfully. He looks at me
and raises his eyes. "What?" Shrugging I reach back inside my bag
and withdraw another $100 bill. "You have connections don't you
Caleb?" He looks surprised. "What sort of connections?" Looking
around me I lower my voice. "I want you to place a bet for me on
the fight. I can't because I'm too young but you must know who to
go to so I wondered if you could do it for me." He smirks at me.
"Well well who'd have thought our little sis was into gambling.
What do you want?" Looking at him seriously I say, "I want you to
bet all of this on Dylan knocking Marius out in the first round."
Caleb looks astonished. "You really do like to lose your money not
to mention going against your own family. Do you have a death wish
or something?" I shrug. "Look the odds are sure to be long and I
might just know something that you don't know. That's all I'm
saying ok?" Caleb narrows his eyes. "If you know something then you
better spill or I'll beat it out of you." My eyes flash and I look
at him with a sneer. "All I know is that anything can happen in a
fight. Sometimes it's worth taking a chance on something that may
give you great rewards. We all know that Marius can beat Dylan with
his hands tied behind his back, but sometimes strange things happen
and that is what I am betting on." Caleb shrugs and pockets the
money. "And there I was thinking you weren't so stupid after all.
Well how wrong was I? Oh well it's your money to throw away so what
do I care." He storms off and I watch him go with relief. I don't
really think that Dylan stands a hope in hell of landing even one
punch on Marius let alone a knock out one. No what I am betting on
is that Caleb tells Marius what I've said. I suppose you could say
that I'm hedging my bets. I hope that Marius will think that I know
something and not want to take that risk. He will knock Dylan out
right away and Dylan will be spared a beating. Now I just have one
more visit to make.