by Marian Phair
“I carved a candle for Liam, and I did the chanting spell. Mum almost caught me, but I was quick, and hid it under my skirt before she could see it.”
“I didn’t mean for you to try these things, Sally. Its wrong. As a priest I should have known better than to fill your young head with such nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense, Father. I believed in the candle spell, and it helped me.”
Father Patrick studied the serious look on her pretty face, unsure of his next step.
“What did you do with this candle of yours, and where did you get it?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, Father, I took it from your supply box. You have so many, I didn’t think that you would miss one. I knew you wouldn’t mind anyway Father, after all, it was you who taught me the spell.”
“So it was, Sally, you don’t need to remind me. I don’t know what possessed me to do such a thing!”
The priest didn’t want to enlighten the child that there were certain coloured candles attached to these spells. Also, special conditions and setting’s were required for them to work. He had no intention of getting drawn into the arts of the occult.
“Where is the candle now, Sally? Perhaps it would be better if you gave it to me to dispose of.” He stood, waiting patiently for her answer.
“Oh, no, you can’t get rid of it, Father, I’ll keep it safe. It’s hidden in a secret place, where no one will ever find it.”
He didn’t wish to press the matter any further. Should anyone ever come across it, what, if any, significance, would they put on an alter candle, with a few symbols and a name crudely carved into it?
“Well, Sally, I suggest we forget about this now, and put it behind us. Remember this, stealing is a sin, and when you take something that belongs to someone else, without first seeking that person’s permission that is stealing.”
“Sorry, Father. It won’t happen again.” Sally was contrite.
He rose from his seat and stood looking down at her, wondering what was going through her head.
“Well, young lady, its lesson time. So, if you’ve finished your milk, I think we should make a start. I have a phone call to make first, so if you go along and get your things ready, we will begin in a few moments,” and with that, he left to make his call.
Dialling the number of his doctor’s surgery, he wondered why he had left it so long to seek medical help. He needed some form of medication, something to help him sleep, and to calm his troubled mind. Just lately he had been experiencing severe headaches, which he had at first, put down to lack of a good nights sleep. Now, he knew the cause of his disturbed sleep. It was due to the terrible nightmares he had been having lately, which were so real, that once he had awakened from them, sleep escaped him for the rest of the night. These nightmares were now accompanied by memory-loss. He would sometimes find himself naked, or wake to find he was lying on the bedroom floor, fully clothed, when he knew for certain he had been in his pyjamas when he got into bed. At other times he would be in another room, without knowing how he got there, or why he was in there. His appointment made, he went to his study, where Sally was sitting, waiting patiently for him to start the lessons.
Closing the door to his study, he settled in his seat, and the lesson commenced.
“Now, Sally, for the next hour, I want to take you through the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. Consider this as part of your religious studies. Try to remember them in the order I give them, and then we can go through them one by one, and you can ask any questions if you’re unsure of something, at the end of each section.”
He paused for a moment to make sure she was paying attention, and then asked.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Alright, if you’re ready, we’ll begin with Baptism. This is followed by Penance, also known as Confession. Then comes Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Matrimony,
At the mention of the word ‘Matrimony,’ Sally’s mind drifted away, and the last two sacraments were lost on her.
Her thoughts were back in the past, with Liam, whom she was to have married when they were both old enough. She wondered if she would ever find a husband when she grew up, now that Liam had gone. Would anyone else want a blind girl for their wife? Her mind continued to drift along on these lines, whilst the voice of Father Patrick droned on in the background. Then a voice in her ear, startled her.
“I do hope you’re paying attention and not daydreaming, Sally. Otherwise, it’s a waste of my time, and yours.” He said crossly.
“I’m listening, Father. I’ve heard every word that you’ve said.”
“If that’s the case, then you’ll have no problem in repeating the Seven Sacraments to me. Will you?”
“No, Father.”
“Well then. What are they?”
He studied her pretty face, her brow furrowed as she tried to remember what he had told her. She started counting them off on her fingers as she relayed them back to him.
She remembered the first three and then got lost. Father Patrick, feeling slightly exasperated with her and not wanting to lose his patience, took several deep breaths before he spoke again. His head was starting to throb again, and he wanted this particular lesson over and done with.
“Alright, we’ll go through them once again, and this time, Sally Ann Ferguson, you’d better be paying attention. BAPTISM, PENANCE…
CHAPTER 26
Ruth was in an emotional turmoil. She had inadvertently overheard a conversation with Father Patrick and Scott. One that had caused panic to rear its ugly head, when she heard Scott say he was thinking of returning to America at the end of the month. The end of the month was only two weeks away. In two weeks, he would be gone from their lives, almost as quickly as he had entered them. She didn’t want him to go back to America; she wanted him to stay here, in Abbeville. She wanted to be close to him, but, when she was, she found she couldn’t be in the same room with him for long without wanting to get even closer, yet, at the same time, being scared to death at the thought of that happening. She just couldn’t get Scott out of her head. The scent of his aftershave only added to her desire to be near him. Was she lusting for this man, who was practically a stranger to her? She knew she couldn’t be in love with him.
So it had to be lust. It had been so long since she had lain with a man. So many lonely months, that had turned into long, lonely years. The last man to hold her close, and make love to her, was long gone, and that man, had been her late husband, Jack.
Now, as the anniversary of his death approached once more, she would have given anything, right then, to have him with her. She had never felt his loss so keenly, nor felt so lonely, as she had these past few months. She needed to feel the warmth of a man’s arms around her, to be held close, to feel cherished, and loved. Most of all, she needed to feel like a woman again.
To take her mind off her problems, she got stuck into her chores, and in no time at all, she had the rectory shining. In Sally’s room she gathered her daughter’s discarded clothes from the floor, determined to give her a stern talking to about this untidiness. Sally had been told time and time again, to put her soiled clothes into the wash basket in the bathroom. Ruth noticed that Father Patrick was putting out more washing for her to do just lately. She had to change his bed linen twice a week now, where once used to suffice. As she opened the door to the bathroom, she noticed the knob was still loose, and guessed, that also meant, that the faulty lock hadn’t been fixed either. They would still have to use the wooden chair under the door handle when taking a bath or shower, to avoid, walking in on each other. Men! Was she expected to sort out everything here?
The sound of running water startled her, and she spun around to face the shower, and froze. Through the frosted glass of the shower screen, she could see the figure of a man, one arm raised as he washed his armpit. She knew Father Patrick was giving Sally her lessons. The man in the shower could only be Scott, why hadn’t he put the chair under the door hand
le? The obvious answer was he wasn’t aware the door had a faulty lock. The key would turn, but the lock remained open. She knew she should sneak away quietly, but for some reason she found she couldn’t move, her legs would not obey her. She stood mesmerised, watching his form through the frosted glass screen, as he continued to soap his body, unaware of her presence. This wasn’t right, she knew how she would feel if someone was watching her take a shower.
‘Ruth Ferguson, you’re a voyeur,’ she scolded herself, and decided to leave quietly. Before she could move away, the screen door slid back, and Scott stepped out of the shower, leaving the water running. He stood naked before her. a look of bewilderment in his eyes.
Ruth couldn’t help herself, her eyes were drawn down to his penis, where it hung limp and wet in the dark curly hairs. Her eyes travelled slowly back up his body.
Scott couldn’t move. His eyes watched the flickering emotions crossing her lovely face. Not a single word passed between them. His eyes locked with hers, and he reached out with his hand. Ruth thought he was reaching for a towel from the rack beside her. Instead, he grabbed her arm and pulled her fully clothed into the shower, and under the jets of water. Still maintaining eye contact, he gave her a small, quick smile that lit up his face, and for a moment, his eyes flickered downwards to her chest. He took one of her hands in his own, then raised it to his mouth, and looking deep into her eyes, he buried his tongue in her palm and swirled it around. Ruth gasped, and felt her whole body tremble. Scott took her face in his hands, and once again, looked deep into her eyes, then closed his, as his head moved towards hers. Slowly, he claimed her lips in a feather-light kiss.
Mindless of the jets of water flattening down her blonde hair, and soaking through her clothing, she stood before him, his to command, totally lost in him. Reaching out his hands, he untied the shoulder straps on her dress, it fell into a pool at her feet, leaving her standing in her bra and panties. He could see her nipples hardening as they pressed against the flimsy fabric of her bra, made almost see-through by the water. His eyes took in the sight of her lovely, rounded breasts, the smooth stomach, and the dark mound of hair, outlined by her panties. He felt himself responding, and pulled her into his arms, water cascading over him and streaming down her face, and it felt so good, and oh, so right!
Reaching behind her, Scott swiftly unhooked her bra, releasing her straining breasts. Bending his head, he nibbled at the lobe of her ear and ran the tip of his tongue around the inside, before turning his attention to her neck. Whilst he was doing this, his hands were busy sliding the shoulder straps down her arms, and the released bra, joined the sodden dress at her feet. Then hooking his thumbs into the top of her panties, he started to pull them down her legs, as his lips sought hers.
Ruth helped him free her from the garment. Then stepping out of her dress, she used her feet to flick it, and her underwear, out of the way. She pressed her body against his, feeling his erection against her stomach. Scott’s lips sought hers hungrily, whilst his hands started working their magic on her body. One hand held her head close, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth. The other tweaked at a nipple, rolling it gently between his thumb and forefinger. Then his hand moved downwards, massaging her bare buttocks, before paying attention to her inner thighs. She moaned, as a finger slid into her, and his thumb gently stroked her clitoris.
Almost as if they had a life of their own, her hands began to explore his body; reaching out for his buttocks and kneading them together. She slid her hand between his legs, moving her lower body back just enough to give her access to him, and gently took his testicles in her hand. She gave them a ‘light as a feather’ squeeze, and then began to stroke his penis, and did her own exploring. He planted soft kisses over her face, her neck, and her shoulders, then moved on to her breasts. He suckled and licked, flicking the tip of his tongue back and forth over her nipples. Taking one erect nipple between his teeth he gently bit down on it, and pulled his head back slightly, her whole body was on fire. Having dealt with one breast he turned his attention to the other, until she couldn’t stand it any longer, and begged him to take her.
“Not yet, honey.” he whispered throatily. It was taking all of Scott’s self-control not to ravish her, but he wanted to savour every moment, for as long as he could, and give her so much pleasure, that her desire for him, would be as great as his was for her.
Reaching out for the shower gel, and using his hands, he slowly washed her body. Starting with her hands, he soaped each finger in turn before moving on down her body, paying attention to every, little, crease. Ruth had never experienced anything like this before in her life. Scott’s hands felt wonderful as he soaped her, from head to toe, under the warm running water. Every now and then, his erect penis would brush against her. Stooping down, he washed her legs, and feet. She held onto his shoulders for support, as he lifted one foot at a time and washed her toes.
Before he straightened, he parted her legs, and she felt his tongue dart inside her. Her legs started to buckle under her, and she was almost swooning from the effect he was having on her body, and when neither of them could stand the waiting any longer, he lifted her up off her feet, and pressed her back against the wet, tiled wall.
Ruth clung to him, her arms clasped around his neck, and her legs wrapped around his waist. Her eyes were glued on his lips, as he whispered softly.
“Oh, baby, you don’t know how beautiful you look right now, or how I’ve dreamt about this moment. I think I’m falling in love with you.” He bent his head to hers, and as their lips met, in a passionate kiss, he entered her.
CHAPTER 27
The York family stood in the corridor of the Buxton police station, all that is except for Roland. He was down in the mortuary being shown the body of a young girl found dead in 34, Station Road. DCI Jake Fletcher here on another matter, recognised them as he entered Chief Inspector Mike Robbins office.
“What are the York family doing here? I hope they haven’t been caught doing something seedy.” A grin spread across his face.
The CI sat behind his desk with a sheaf of papers in his hands. He had a serious look on his face as he studied Jake over the rimless glasses perched on the end of his nose. He nodded his head towards a seat, inviting Jake to sit down.
“No, nothing like that. The body of a young girl was discovered in a house here a few days ago, along with the body of the owner of the house. It would appear she had performed an illegal abortion on the girl, and then somehow got herself bumped off.”
“So, what are the York’s doing here? I’m a bit slow on the uptake today,” Jake asked.
Before the CI could reply to his question, he answered it himself. “Ah, I remember now. Roland York reported his sister missing, last seen in the company of one Albert Brooks, my reason for being here. Oh, shit! I hope it’s not her body you’ve got here. I’ve had so many murders these past few months, with simply no connection to them.”
Just then, his fears were confirmed, as they heard the cries of anguish down the corridor, and knew that the rest of the family were being told it was Rosemary.
He heard the voice of her mother, Maisie, above the rest. The wailing of a mother who had lost her only daughter and the sound tore at his heart. Now all the York family would be left with, were their memories, their grief, and the haunting question, WHY! He asked himself that question. Why couldn’t Rosemary York have turned to her family for help? If she had, she would still be alive today.
“What about the other woman, the owner of the property?” Jake asked Mike Robbins.
“Her name was Lily White, ex-prostitute, ex-madam of a whore house, ex-abortionist, it seems, and now she’s another ex. I’ve marked her file ‘undetermined,’ until we can establish exactly what happened here.”
“Haven’t forensics come up with anything to help you solve the case?”
“You know how long these things take, detective.” CI Robbins said, with a sigh.
“It can take weeks, months, or even years
, before we have a conclusion, and can mark the case file as closed. Some of my cases never get solved, unless some new evidence turns up, or technology advances further, allowing us to look again at certain cases. There was DNA found under the victim, Lily White’s fingernails, skin samples that have so far matched nothing on our data base. Now, about your Albert Brooks”….
In the rectory, Scott was regaling Sally with funny little anecdotes from his own childhood, much to her amusement.
“I like the way you talk,” she told him. “It’s funny, when you get your words wrong.”
“How so, how do I get my words all wrong?” Scott asked her.
“Well, you say things like ‘gotten’ when you should say ‘got,’ and kinda, and sorta.”
“Oh, I see. And who’s to say that your way is the right way?” he asked, with a smile.
“You’re laughing,” she accused him. “I can tell by your voice.”
“No, sweet thing, I’m not laughing, I’m smiling, and you’re one, smart, cookie. I guess we both need to polish up on our English, eh? Miss Smarty Pants.”
Sally changed the subject. She was curious to find out more about this American, who was liked by everyone who met him. “What work do you do?” She asked him.
“I don’t go to work, honey bun, I’m retired. That’s why I’m able to have such a long vacation here.”
Scott watched her face as she pondered this. At nine years of age she was so pretty, she would be a stunner when she matured. He would have loved to have a child of his own. Somehow he, and his ex-wife, had never gotten around to having children. They had been so caught up in their careers, that they had become more like ships that pass in the night. Eventually, this had caused the break-up of their marriage, and each had gone their separate ways. They only contact had been to send each other a card when Christmas came around. If one or the other had moved meanwhile, they added their new address to the card.
“What’s a vacation?” Sally asked him.