Legacy of Hunters Ridge

by Sarah Barrie

  ‘Petrified? Hell, no. Our hero has very definitely arrived.’

  Cam searched downstairs first, switching on lights as he went. He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to find any axe murderers, but he was here, so he may as well be thorough. He caught a glimpse of the women on the lawn and grinned. He was betting Mia had made Ally call him. He had a feeling Ally would have rather dealt with the axe murderer. Ally had mentioned Mia was coming. Stunning woman, then again, moonlight was flattering. He’d reserve judgement.

  A series of noises upstairs brought him sharply back to what he was doing. He made his way up as quietly as the old stairs would allow. The noises were coming from the spare room. The door was closed. Lifting his rifle – just in case – he pushed it slowly open and flicked on the light.

  The smeared blood on the wall gave him a bad moment. Clothes from a suitcase were scattered everywhere. Toiletries lay on the floor. The bedclothes were in a mess and the smell of bleach was eye-watering. Then he heard it, a rumbling growl coming from the other side of the bed.

  He found the cat there, under the open window, guarding a headless rat.

  He leant out the window. ‘It’s okay, come up!’

  A moment later, Mia was staring at the cat, turning up her nose in disgust. ‘Well, it could have been an axe murderer. You’re going to get rid of that, right?’

  ‘But he’s enjoying it,’ Cam replied, grinning at her.

  ‘Yes but – I suppose he must have created this epic amount of destruction chasing the revolting thing.’

  ‘Which means you’ve had a tom cat and a rat all over your stuff,’ Ally said, picking up some of the mess. ‘What happened with the bleach?’

  ‘I mustn’t have put the lid on properly. Half these clothes are probably ruined.’

  ‘I think so, I – eek!’

  Under Mia’s best pair of jeans were several more rats. ‘What is it? Not the jeans! Gross!’

  ‘All this from one cat?’

  ‘He’s been busy,’ Cam said.

  ‘All their heads are off.’ Mia had moved away and was standing by the door, a hand on her stomach.

  Cam’s lips twitched. ‘That’s probably what he does: catches ’em, chews their heads off, buries ’em, keeps hunting. Then later, he can come back, have a good feed. Your suitcase is the perfect spot. Nice and secret and warm and –’

  ‘Expensive.’

  ‘I’m sorry for getting you down here in the middle of the night,’ Ally said to Cam.

  ‘It’s nearly four, I had to get up in an hour anyway. Early start.’ He ran a hand over his head and looked around. ‘If you’ve got something I can pick up the rats with I’ll get rid of them.’

  Mia disappeared and he swung his gaze back to Ally, watched her fidget. Was she nervous or embarrassed? She didn’t seem to mind that she was wearing nothing but an oversized T-shirt. She probably hadn’t noticed. He had. The way it skimmed mid-thigh and draped over her shoulders had him forcing himself not to stare. The gorgeous Mia had a prettier creation on, but he found something about the simplicity of Ally’s choice more appealing.

  Or maybe it was just because Ally was in it. Somewhere between herding cows in her pyjamas and her smartarse attitude at Ebony’s, he’d found himself wondering about her. He blew out a breath. Her cautious blue eyes were watching him. She definitely looked nervous, so he smiled. She dropped her gaze. Was he really going to go there? He didn’t think she’d be hanging around long, and she probably wouldn’t be interested – they hadn’t exactly hit it off. He hadn’t even apologised about the mix up over properties yet.

  ‘I guess your pyjamas weren’t saveable,’ he murmured, just to gauge her reaction.

  Ally’s eyes met his for a second, then her head dropped to take in her own appearance and her face coloured. ‘I wasn’t expecting company – at least, not yours.’

  ‘I’m not complaining,’ he teased gently. Mia reappeared and he dragged his eyes away from Ally, taking the garbage bag she offered. Once he’d cleared the suitcase he turned his attention to the cat. The cat growled again as he approached, snatched up his kill and leapt through the window with it.

  ‘Guess I’ll just lock him out then.’

  ‘Good luck with that,’ Ally said. ‘He can open it himself.’

  ‘So,’ Mia said, ‘as you have to be up anyway, can I make you a coffee? Invite you to join me in a ritual burning? Ally doesn’t like fires, but I think, really, it’s the only solution for my formerly much loved wardrobe.’

  With a laugh that turned into a yawn, he shook his head. ‘No, but thanks. The property we’re visiting today’s a couple of hours away. I’ll call Lee and get him on site a bit earlier than planned, get it done.’

  As he drove away he caught sight of them in the rear-vision mirror, standing on the veranda, every light in the house blazing. He’d been less than keen on dragging himself out of bed but then again, he supposed he didn’t mind playing knight in shining armour once in a while. Or more than once in a while, as it so happened, for Ally Morgan.

  CHAPTER

  9

  Bess’s barking and the hum of motorbikes dragged Ally out of her comfy cocoon long before she’d had any intention of restarting the morning. She hadn’t even been dreaming. Grumbling to herself about it, she hurried upstairs, tiptoed past the sleeping Mia, who had relocated to Mavis’s room, and quickly threw on some cargos and a T-shirt.

  The engine sounds cut off and as she reached the bottom step, there was a brisk knock on the door.

  Two teenage boys stood on the veranda. Both lanky and lean, with reddish brown hair and freckled faces, the similarities suggested they were probably brothers.

  ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘Hi. I’m Terry and this is Kyle. We’re here to see if you still want the jobs done.’

  ‘What jobs?’

  ‘Mavis used to pay us twenty bucks to mow the lawn for her and clean the troughs every second weekend.’

  She thought about it, couldn’t see why not. ‘Sure. Thanks.’

  ‘No worries.’ With a wave they raced off, heading towards the shed. She let Luna out and, sensing fun, the pup chased after them. The morning was lovely, with, for once, no trace of rain clouds. She put the coffee on, decided she may as well feed the animals. Mia still hadn’t moved when she came back in, so she poured her coffee and sat on the veranda with her laptop.

  She was still there when the boys ran up the steps a little while later.

  ‘Thanks.’ She pulled a couple of notes from her pocket and handed them one each. ‘Would you like something cold to drink before you go?’ She yawned. ‘Sorry, we had a long night here last night.’

  The boys looked at each other. ‘Like a problem?’ Terry, the apparent spokesperson, asked.

  Ally smiled at them. ‘Just an axe murderer that turned out to be a hungry cat.’

  The boys exchanged another glance, and Kyle elbowed Terry.

  ‘Are you sure it was the cat?’

  ‘Yes, why?’

  ‘You know the house is haunted, right?’

  ‘A ghost?’ Ally’s lips turned up at the edges. ‘Well, that’s a much more plausible explanation.’

  ‘It’s Billy.’ Kyle spoke quietly, as though afraid the ghost would hear him. ‘He was Mavis’s brother.’

  Kyle leant in conspiratorially. ‘We heard him, singing nursery rhymes.’

  Terry nodded furiously. ‘Uh huh. Only, he’s not a kid, he’s a man. But Mavis said it’s Billy, so we reckon spirits must get old.’

  Ally blinked, trying not to laugh. ‘I see.’

  ‘It’s true! A while back, we came out with the scout group for a full-day clean up. Me and Terry had to tell Mavis we were finished for the day but she didn’t come to the door, so we went in, heard footsteps upstairs, thought it was Mavis. But it wasn’t. We were at the bottom of the stairs and he was at the top. He was in the shadows, and he didn’t move, just stared at us. Then he laughed and it was real weird and crazy. We ran out and called the
others and the scout leaders went up. No other way out of the house, but he wasn’t there anymore. Just Mavis in the sewing room.’

  ‘What – what did Mavis say about that?’

  ‘We told her to call the cops, that there was a crazy guy in her house. Mavis tells us, “We don’t bother the devil, the devil won’t go bothering us.” She says it’s just Billy.’ He twisted his head to look past Ally into the house. ‘You still got all those crucifixes in the house?’

  ‘Ah, I think so.’

  ‘Best leave them there. Most of the Littleton family were crazies. Heaps of them died here.’

  ‘Who are you?’ Mia said from behind Ally.

  Both teenagers stared open-mouthed. Ally pinched her lips together, fighting a grin. Mia, with her endless hair mussed around her face, her perfect figure hugged by a short satin negligée, was the picture of most teenage boys’ fantasies.

  ‘Mia, this is Terry and Kyle. They’ve been here for two hours mowing and cleaning and they have a great little paranormal theory on our axe murderer.’

  ‘Sounds fascinating. Why don’t you save it for the campfire, boys? It loses impact at … eleven? I slept that late? Oh, well. It was quite a night.’

  ‘Hi Mia,’ Kyle said, puffing out his chest and stretching to his full adolescent height.

  Mia lifted an eyebrow and inclined her head in acknowledgement. ‘Hi there, cutie. Does your mum know you’re here?’

  He deflated a bit. ‘Yeah.’

  Terry sniggered. ‘We’ll see you in a couple of weeks?’

  ‘Sure. Thanks.’

  Mia pushed the door closed and headed for the coffee pot. ‘Wow, I’m really warming to this place. Mavis, axe murderers, headless rats and evil spirits all in the space of one weekend. I hope you didn’t listen to any of that.’

  ‘No, of course not. Mavis did mention Billy though. Something about him liking music.’

  ‘She probably dressed up and created a ghost to keep nosey teenage boys out of her house.’

  ‘I could believe that about her.’

  ‘That damn window is open again.’

  ‘The cat’s doing it.’

  ‘Or it’s warped. That’s why the front door came open, right?’ Mia got up and examined it. ‘It looks like the wood’s been swollen with wet and it’s not quite level. Remember the laundry door at my old place that used to stick when the dryer was on, then swing itself open when the room cooled down?’

  ‘Yes, actually, I do. And the weather’s right for it. What about the lock?’

  ‘It probably disengages when it slips out of place.’

  ‘You’ve put some thought into this.’

  She shrugged. ‘It’s a theory. The most reassuring one I could come up with in the shower. And as the noise was the cat trashing my room, I think it’s probably the most likely.’

  ‘You want some breakfast?’

  Mia’s eyes went to the clock. ‘I think we missed that, going back to bed. But I needed those extra hours. How about brunch? Is there a nice café in town? I’d like to explore. See if the place is any bigger than it looked when I came through yesterday.’

  ‘Probably not, but yes, there is, and I could do with a run into town. Let me shower.’ She smirked. ‘And lend you some clothes.’

  An hour later they wandered along the main street, looking in the shop windows. Mia stared at a polo shirt in a shop window, dismissed it. Ally caught sight of another poster of Tara Donaldson’s smiling face, and wondered if she’d ever be found.

  ‘There really isn’t much to the place, is there? I mean, you’ve got your staples, your necessities, but what if you want to wear clothes that aren’t Target Country or RM Williams?’

  With a shake of her head, Ally turned her attention back to what Mia was saying. ‘I guess you go a little further afield – maybe Mudgee? Or make sure you zip up your suitcase.’

  ‘The hardware is bigger than the supermarket.’ Ally studied it. ‘It is. Here we are.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Mia looked around. ‘Looks okay. Is it table service?’

  ‘Sure is, ladies,’ a young blonde waitress greeted them. ‘Take a seat and I’ll bring you out some menus.’

  Thanking her, they chose an outdoor table. Across the road was a hairdresser and a rather charming old pub.

  ‘I can recommend the subs here. I had a really nice one for lunch the other day.’

  ‘I feel like something sweet though. I’m hoping for pancakes.’

  ‘How are you so slim? It’s just wrong.’

  ‘We have the same genes, you know. Your figure’s great.’

  ‘Yeah, but it’s not all you can eat.’

  Mia just shrugged and when the waitress reappeared, ordered them pancakes.

  They were nearly finished when a ute-load of men came down the street, hollering and beeping their horn. Another ute joined it and they pulled into the pub carpark, the first performing a noisy doughnut. An enormous black boar with the largest tusks Ally had ever seen was tied on the back of the second ute and the men jumped out, climbing all over the slaughtered animal and laughing and talking.

  ‘That’s disgusting,’ Mia said and turned away with a shiver.

  ‘Must be the hunting tour people.’

  ‘David did some of that, didn’t he?’

  ‘Yep. Oh, there’s Ebony.’

  ‘The runway vet? She looks like a princess type.’

  ‘She’s lovely. I’ll introduce you. Wait – what’s she doing?’

  Ebony was striding along the footpath, approaching the hunting group at an impressive pace. The group comically parted for her as she charged through, taunting her and catcalling. Ignoring them, she poked a finger in the chest of a hulk with multiple tattoos, a long black beard and a mean expression. The snarl on his face as he shook his head was frightening.

  ‘Would she happen to be suicidal?’ Mia asked curiously.

  ‘I wouldn’t have picked it, but the evidence is pretty damning.’

  Raised voices lifted over the cheers and taunts of some of the entourage as Ebony got on her toes and gestured vehemently. The large man threw up his hands and shook his head, then leant down close and said something that had his mates sniggering and laughing.

  Ally got out of her seat nervously, scanning the street. ‘I think we should find the police station.’ As she spoke, the big man patted Ebony on the head. She swiped his arm away and he took a step in, waving a fist threateningly.

  ‘He wouldn’t dare.’ Mia stood, a dangerous scowl on her face. ‘I’ve got this.’

  ‘Oh, no, Mia, don’t! Damn it, I’ll be calling the cops to rescue you. Mia!’

  Mia strode across the road, the orange juice she’d been sipping still in hand. Ally jogged behind her, hoping and praying she wouldn’t have to be brave.

  ‘Fuck off, Ebony. We’ve got a kill to celebrate.’

  ‘You’ll start listening when I start charging your business for all the treatment!’

  ‘I’m not paying you jackshit! You can’t prove it was us!’

  ‘It happens every time one of your groups goes out, Martin, it has to stop.’

  ‘Or what?’ He got in her face just as Mia appeared next to her. The man stood straighter, blinked, looked again.

  Mia smiled. ‘Hi there, I hope I’m not interrupting?’

  ‘Actually, you are,’ Ebony snapped before returning her furious stare to the big man. ‘I’m documenting all of this. The first chance I get to prove any of it, you’ll get the blame, understand?’

  Ally put a hand on Ebony’s arm and felt it vibrating with rage under her fingers. ‘Ebony, you should come with me. Quickly.’

  Ebony looked around, surprised to see her. ‘In a minute, Ally, I’m not finished.’

  ‘Yes, you are.’ Mia stepped in front of her to face the hulk. ‘You’re looking a little hot under the collar there, Goliath. You might feel better if you go inside and cool down.’

  He looked her up and down with blatant sexual interest. ‘It’s hot out here,
for sure. How about we both go inside and you can help me feel better?’

  A wolf whistle was accompanied by some general jeering.

  Mia’s smile was dangerously sweet. ‘No need. I can cool you down right here.’ She upended her juice, soaking the front of his pants.

  He roared – there was no other word for it – while fresh laughter and cheering erupted around them.

  ‘You bitch!’

  Mia stood her ground. ‘And what are you, twenty stone and sixfoot-something, standing over one lone woman with a bunch of thugs for backup? And you lot.’ She eyed each of his companions with a lethal look, effectively silencing them. ‘You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Surely you’ve got a brain between you somewhere?’

  ‘You want to find it for me, darlin’?’ one joked, deliberately rubbing his crotch.

  ‘To donate to science? Last time I came across something that looked like you, I flushed it. Come down off the testosterone, all of you, and pull your heads in!’ With that she turned elegantly, catching the arm of an open-mouthed Ebony and striding away.

  ‘Ebony?’ Mia enquired casually as they crossed the road.

  ‘Er … Yes?’

  ‘Pleased to meet you. You’re as batshit crazy as I am, but those odds, my friend, were not good. I admire your spirit, but not your reasoning. Next time make sure you’ve got backup.’

  Ebony sent Ally a sideways look of disbelief.

  Ally grinned. ‘Ebony, meet my sister, Mia.’

  Ebony managed a bemused smile. ‘Hi, and thanks, I think. But honestly, Martin’s all hot air.’

  ‘What was that about?’

  ‘He takes hunting groups into the forest and inevitably I get injured wildlife. Today it’s a wallaby with a shattered leg.’

  ‘And there’s nothing you can do about it other than take on the mountain?’

  ‘I can’t prove it. Yet.’

  They returned to their table and Ally noticed with relief that the men had gone inside the pub. The waitress appeared with Mia’s bag in hand. ‘I thought I’d better stash it for you just in case.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘No worries. I saw that, over there. Go you. Martin’s a tool.’

  ‘Well, thanks,’ Mia replied.