by Sarah Barrie
‘I read an article that said you were offered some of the top horses in the world to ride when you lost yours. But you turned them all down.’
Shut up, please, just shut up. Her throat was clogging, she couldn’t answer. She went for a nod, hoped it would do. Her gaze collided with Cam’s, flicked away as his narrowed.
‘Have you got any young ones coming on? You were involved with that big German stud weren’t you? I heard –’
‘Hey Gina,’ Cam interrupted, ‘Ebony said you’re importing another dog?’
‘Well, yes, Bob and I saw her while we were in the States …’
Had he read something in her expression? Lawyers were good at that sort of thing, weren’t they? Perhaps she was wrong. Maybe he just didn’t want to talk about her. Either way, she was grateful for the diversion, and the discussion of Gina’s trip to the States gave Ally the time she needed to compose herself. By the time Ebony reappeared with a plate of chunky cookies, she was back under control.
CHAPTER
8
She tried the tap. It coughed and started. Water poured out with plenty of pressure. ‘It’s working!’ she called with a cheer.
Lee appeared in the doorway, grinning at her enthusiasm. ‘Running water this morning, hot water this afternoon.’
‘I can’t thank you enough for this. Ebony told me you’re flat out with your own projects.’
‘No worries. We’re pretty busy, but Ebs says you’ve got something you need doing for Violet and that I have to help. So looks like I’ll be shuffling contractors around.’
‘That’s nice of Ebony but I don’t want to put you out.’
He shot her a cheeky grin. ‘You’re not. And I’d rather be put out than face a pissed-off Ebony. I still have five minutes – we should take a look at what you need. Shelter for Violet, wasn’t it?’
‘Right. I could give her room in the shed but the pens are wooden. I’d need the wood removed and iron rails put in.’
‘No wood – got it.’
‘And if you can cut a doorway through to an outdoor yard. Nothing fancy, it’s only temporary. But she can’t be locked inside the shed – ever. And I need a gate on the furthest part of the yard for external escape.’
He frowned. ‘Escape?’
‘I mean access. Is that okay?’
‘Easy.’
‘Ah … and while you’re here, could you take a look at a window for me? It keeps coming open. The front door is loose, so I understand why it sometimes slips open, but I can’t understand how the window opens, because it seems fine.’
‘Let’s see it.’
Ally led him through the house and he looked around. ‘I came in here once, to fix a hole in the roof. It didn’t look like this. You’ve really cleaned it up.’
‘I like things neat and ordered. It doesn’t cost much to clean, but there’s not much I can do about the peeling, warping and fading.’
‘The staircase is shiny.’
Ally shrugged. ‘I didn’t have much to do yesterday.’
‘If you ever find yourself lacking in things to do again, I’ll give you my address. Good job on the excessive number of fire alarms.’
She followed him up the stairs. ‘Can’t be too careful.’
He stopped, closed his eyes and scowled. ‘Oh, hell, Ally, sorry. I heard what happened. I didn’t think.’
‘It’s fine. It is excessive.’ She shrugged it off. ‘It’s this window here. I close it, it opens. The cat’s in and out of it all day. It won’t stay shut.’
Lee pulled the window closed, latched it. Tested it. Repeated the process. To Ally’s frustration, it behaved perfectly. ‘Maybe the lock slips when the cat plays with it.’
‘Yeah, maybe. Also … the house makes lots of noises.’
He sent her a sideways grin. ‘You getting spooked out here?’
Ally’s look was unappreciative. ‘Lots of noises.’
‘Rats and possums in the roof, old pipes in the walls, old wooden boards underfoot. The possibilities are endless.’
‘I’ll get used to it, I suppose.’
‘I’ll send a couple of guys out here to start on Violet’s shelter straight away. Any other work will have to wait a couple of weeks though – we’re flat out.’
‘That’s no problem. Thanks. If you’re really sure it’s not a hassle.’
‘I told you it’s not.’ His eyes filled with humour and curiosity. ‘But speaking of being hassled, Cam copped it on Friday night because he roasted you over the house sale that didn’t happen and you were too scared to come up the hill for dinner.’
Her eyes rounded. ‘I wasn’t too scared. I just … didn’t think it was appropriate.’
He threw his tools in the back of the ute. ‘Although he won’t admit it, he’s really kind of gotten used to the animals, and he feels sorry for Mavis. She’s a difficult woman, sure, but Cam’s a softie when it comes to anyone in distress.’
‘Ebony said something similar about you.’
His brow shot up and he looked amused. ‘Did she? I doubt you were supposed to tell me that.’ He laughed at her distressed expression. ‘It’s all right, Ebony just tends to be careful with compliments. She likes to remind me I’m a mere male. Occasionally a Neanderthal.’ His grin was so huge, Ally decided that the two could be nothing but close, perhaps even romantically involved? ‘Anyway, Cam’s pretty relieved you’re not dumping the animals on him. He was already working out how to contain them all at his place while he found them homes.’
‘He was?’
‘I thought I was going to end up with something I didn’t need for sure.’
‘Well, you’re welcome to –’
He shook his head adamantly, before leaning into his ute and pulling out a clipboard. Removing a sheet, he handed her an invoice for the pump and hot water system. ‘Direct deposit works best for me. That okay?’
She checked it, and between that and the work she’d just ordered, was glad the deposit on the house had gone through. ‘Sure.’
‘Details are all there. I’m heading out to do some more work on Ebony’s. The contractors are there so I’ll talk to them about coming out on Monday.’
The vegetable garden was a raised area of earth held together with railway sleepers and protected by a gazebo frame covered in loose white netting. Ally wrestled with the netting, frustrated by its habit of snagging on everything as she attempted to pull it off. The job would have been easier had she been brave enough to step under it, but the overgrown plants and weeds, the spider webs and the general unknown was enough to keep her fighting on from the outside.
She was in a mess by the time it finally gave up and let go. A leaf was snagged in her hair in the vicinity of her left eyebrow and she wasn’t sure something wasn’t crawling along her right shoulder blade. With a shudder, she raked her fingers through her hair and removed the worst of the leaves and tangles before studying what she was left with. The garden was a disaster. Weeds, some of which were as tall as she was, tomato stakes, dead plants, the occasional unidentifiable object, all were ruthlessly ripped from the earth as she cleared and tidied. A complete replant was in order and would require some consideration.
By the time Mia’s car appeared in the drive two hours later, Ally just about had it cleared.
‘Enjoying yourself?’
‘Mia!’ She hugged her sister then stepped back apologetically. ‘Sorry, I’m a mess.’
Mia stared hard at her, tossed her head to the side. ‘You look different.’
‘Dirtier?’
‘Well, yes, but … better, I think. Are you?’
‘Yeah, I’m good.’
The pup tore across the drive and jumped all over Mia. ‘Oh how sweet! Hello, puppy.’ The puppy licked at her face ferociously. ‘I need to get my bags.’
‘Bags, plural? How long are you staying?’
Mia shot her a grin. ‘Just for a couple of days.’ She dropped her things inside the door and looked around. ‘Wow, this place is seriousl
y old.’
‘Yeah but as of this morning, we at least have a working hot water system. I’ve made up the spare room for you, upstairs.’
Mia cast her gaze over the lounge room and noted the bedding. ‘You sleeping in that chair?’
‘I don’t have a television upstairs. I can’t lie in the dark and make myself sleep, you know that.’
‘Yeah, I do. So what now?’
‘I think I’ll try out that hot water and have a quick shower, then I should probably start dinner.’ She walked back to the kitchen and pulled a couple of chicken schnitzels out of the freezer to defrost.
‘Dinner, yum. I had to work through lunch to get away at a reasonable time.’
‘Everything okay with Adam?’
‘As good as it ever is. He’s still convinced I’m secretly madly in love with him. His ego just doesn’t quit. But enough about that. Have your shower. I’m hungry.’
She did, and when she reappeared, Mia had started on a salad.
‘Is it working?’
‘The hot water? Yes, and after several cold showers, it’s wonderful.’
‘Are you going to need to be here much longer?’
‘That depends on Mavis. I have to take care of the animals – or find someone else to do it – until she’s gone. She’s worried about them.’
‘In your position, I’d find it hard to care.’
‘I’m coping. And I actually really like the farm.’ She filled Mia in as she began cooking the schnitzels. ‘In a way, she’s done me a favour. Coming out here has been the best thing I could have done.’
‘I’m getting that vibe.’ Mia finished with the cucumber and started on the carrots. ‘Just don’t push yourself too hard, too fast.’
Ally moved her shoulders restlessly. ‘I have some bad moments, and the nightmares just won’t quit, Violet is a challenge, and I’m either hallucinating, suffering memory loss or just generally losing the plot over what’s going on in the house. But I’m coping, Mia. I didn’t think I would. It feels good.’
‘What’s going on in the house?’
‘The window upstairs won’t stay shut, which is probably just because the cat has worked out how to open it, but still, it’s creepy to shut something only to find it open again. And I had a shower downstairs the other day because I came in half-drowned, and I would swear my towel was upstairs, where I had been showering, but when I opened the curtain, it was there, waiting for me.’
Mia tossed the vegetables into the bowl of lettuce. ‘You know the drugs make you forgetful and scatty. I’m sure it’s nothing.’
‘You’re probably right. But you should know, some girl went missing out of her car just down the road from here a couple of days ago.’ Ally filled her in. ‘I’ve been told not to go driving at night and to be a bit careful. I don’t think you should drive in and out of here after dark either.’
Mia shrugged. ‘Sounds like they’ve taken off. Got some dressing?’
‘Fridge door. The schnitzels are done.’
‘Plate up. Let’s eat. I brought two DVDs with me. I even remembered to bring the player. I wasn’t sure Mavis would have one.’
‘Ally. Ally wake up!’
Ally fought against the effects of the sedatives and attempted to pull herself out of sleep. She rubbed her face, focused her eyes, yawned. Other than the television still silently flickering, the house was in darkness. Mia was crouched by her chair.
‘Mia, what’s wrong?’
‘Shh!’
‘Are you okay?’
‘I heard footsteps, came down thinking you were awake, but you weren’t. Have you been outside? Left the door open?’
‘What door? Why are you whispering?’
‘I told you – I heard footsteps. The front door is wide open.’
‘What?’ Ally struggled to her feet and stepped into the hallway. The door was, as Mia had reported, wide open. ‘Okay, okay, don’t panic. This sort of thing has happened before, and the window does it too, remember?’
‘How is that supposed to be comforting?’
‘We’re still alive aren’t we? Ow!’ She tugged her arm away when Mia’s grip tightened on it. ‘You’re freaking me out more than the damn door is. Calm down. The footsteps are probably just the door banging.’
‘Or the guy abducting women from cars has come to visit.’
‘They’ve just taken off, remember?’ But the sight of the open front door, moonlight spilling through, was getting creepier as the reality of wakefulness set in, because the night was perfectly still, no breeze stirring it. ‘What time is it?’
‘Just after three. Why?’
‘You’ve almost creeped me out enough to call my neighbour. Which I’d sworn to myself I wouldn’t do, and won’t do – yet. I know how I’d feel if some fruitcake called me at three in the morning because of a hinge malfunction or something ridiculous.’
‘How are you being braver than me?’
‘The drugs haven’t worn off. I have to be calm. I have no choice.’
Mia attempted a laugh. ‘Suddenly I recognise the benefits.’
‘See? My towel-collecting spook doesn’t sound so silly now, does it?’
A thump from upstairs startled them. ‘I’d feel better if I had my thirty-eight.’
‘You still have that?’
‘Not with me – more’s the pity. You mentioned calling a neighbour?’
Ally looked nervously towards the stairs. ‘Yeah, but that would be Cam.’
‘The third? I thought he was a jerk.’
Ally lifted her arms and did an impression of a set of scales. ‘Jerk … murderer …’
Another quiet shuffle, a thud.
‘Good point. What’s his number?’
‘Anyway I’ve rethought the jerk comment. He’d actually been quite nice. He –’
‘Ally. Call him!’
‘It’s probably just the cat.’
‘That would be the smell? I emptied a whole bottle of White King over every hard surface in the room then used a deodoriser and still I could smell it.’
Ally stilled, turned to her sister in surprise. ‘White King is bleach.’
‘So? I don’t think there’s much I’m going to ruin and it needed it.’
‘Mavis said not to use bleach in the house.’
Mia sent her an incredulous stare. ‘If I live through the night, I’ll apologise.’
More crashing and banging had Mia’s fingers digging into Ally’s arm again. It was getting louder.
‘Mia, that hurts!’
They bumped into each other as a loud scraping and accompanying whine sounded close by. Ally steadied herself. ‘That’s just the puppy. We’ve woken her up.’ She crept around to the laundry to let the pup out and she darted for the front door and disappeared. When the pup’s thundering silenced the noise upstairs, both women looked at each other.
‘Call the freaking jerk,’ Mia ordered in a desperate whisper.
‘Whoever it is might hear us.’
‘Whoever it is heard the pup. He could be coming down! Hurry up!’
Ally picked up her phone. ‘His card is still in the kitchen. I think.’
‘What do you mean, you think?’
‘We’ll get it, go outside and lock ourselves in the car. Call from there.’
‘What if you can’t find his number?’
‘Then we’ll drive up and get him.’
‘What if there’s someone else out there?’
‘Okay, freak me out a bit more, I’ll lose the plot. It’ll be a good diversion – give you a chance to escape.’
‘This is a really bad time to have a dig.’
‘It’s a really bad time to have a panic attack. Just – go.’
They crept through to the kitchen, Ally found Cam’s business card and, quietly and carefully, they made it to Ally’s car.
Locked in, Ally lit up her phone. ‘I’m going to feel really stupid if there isn’t an axe murderer in the house.’ But her nerves were jangling an
d her fingers shook as she pressed the number.
A deep, sleepy voice answered. ‘If this isn’t life or death, I will find you and I will kill you.’
‘That’s, um … interesting. Look I’m really, honestly, very sorry, but –’
‘Alissa?’
‘Good guess. I’m sorry to wake you. I really am, and it might not be life or death, but then again – hey!’
Mia ripped the phone out of Ally’s hand. ‘Hi, Cameron of the long name, right? Mia Morgan. There’s an axe murderer in Ally’s house and we were hoping you could come down here with that big gun of yours and shoot him. Please.’ She was silent a few seconds, then hung up. ‘He’s on his way.’
The puppy barked and whined at the door and Ally opened it, scooping her in. Both women looked up at the dark house. It seemed to loom with a definite sense of foreboding.
‘Bess would have barked at an intruder,’ Ally decided, spotting the old dog moving on the veranda.
‘How do you know? It could be some looney relative of Mavis’s sent to end you. Bess might know them.’
‘Good point. Settle down, lunatic.’
‘And it’s just nasty to name the poor pup after its owner.’
‘You say that and call me nasty? Besides, it’s not a name it’s just a … term. And she knows it.’
‘How about just going with Luna?’
‘Fine.’ Headlights swept the drive and Cam pulled up beside them. He climbed out clad only in jeans, the interior light illuminating his bare chest – and what a chest it was, Ally thought as he pulled a T-shirt over his head. His hair was untidy and he looked slightly pissed off, but he did bring his rifle.
Ally clambered out. ‘Cam, hi, sorry.’
‘Did you actually see anyone?’
Mia stepped out beside Ally. ‘Sorry – we didn’t go up and introduce ourselves. But the front door was open, and there was lots of noise. Then the puppy made some noise downstairs and the upstairs noises stopped.’
‘Stay here.’
As Cam strode away, Mia turned to Ally. Even in the moonlight, Ally clearly saw the ‘Wow,’ Mia mouthed.
‘I thought you’d be too petrified to notice?’