Legacy of Hunters Ridge

by Sarah Barrie

  ‘I don’t know. But Lee’s pretty sure Ben doesn’t think Rob has been taking it seriously enough.’

  The bell sounded out the front, followed by booted feet coming down the hallway.

  Cam emerged through the door first, a case of beer under each arm. Lee and Ben followed, carrying even more alcohol.

  Cam put down his boxes by the outside fridge. ‘Afternoon, ladies.’

  ‘What’s all this?’ Ebony asked.

  ‘We’re hosting a little celebration,’ Lee replied. He was already ripping open boxes and stacking the fridge.

  ‘So Ally said. But what for?’

  ‘Finishing the renovations – to let the town see the new clinic. You gonna help bring stuff in? There’s more out front. Oh, and food.’

  ‘More? Just how little is this celebration going to be?’

  The men looked at each other. ‘Oh, we’ve only invited –’ they debated lightly between themselves for a moment, ‘– roughly half the town.’

  ‘But the word’s out,’ Lee added, ‘so we should get more.’

  Ebony looked shell-shocked. ‘What time?’

  ‘We left it open. I think a couple of cars have just arrived,’ Cam said.

  Ebony jumped to her feet, looked down at her clothes and grimaced. ‘You’re insane. Did you bang your heads together? Inhale toxic fumes? Smoke something illegal? It’s got to be some kind of allergic reaction to reality. For heaven’s sake, why?’

  ‘We told you that already.’

  The bell sounded again, and Ben went to see who it was.

  ‘Why’s he here?’ Mia snapped at Cam after Ben left. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘He thinks the guy might show,’ Cam said quietly. ‘If we can draw him out, he might give something away.’

  ‘Oh, this will be fun.’ Ally suddenly felt sick.

  ‘It will,’ Cam told her, giving her a squeeze. ‘Let Ben worry about that. You just concentrate on enjoying the party.’

  The place was packed. Humans – large and small, old and young – stretched from the street to the back lawn. Cam had volunteered to play barman and he was rushed off his feet. Nothing less than he deserved, Ally thought, after he’d tricked her and Mia into arriving early to help clean the place up.

  ‘She’ll be glued to him all night,’ Ally said, watching Vicki elbow to elbow with Cam at the makeshift bar.

  ‘So go give him a big sloppy kiss,’ Mia suggested wickedly.

  ‘No, it’ll be more satisfying to ignore her, then have Cam come over and give me one.’

  ‘Go, you! He’s out of my league.’

  ‘I think he actually likes my craziness. Go figure,’ Ally replied with a sideways grin, then her face sobered. ‘I should probably mention: Cam said Lee might ask you out, but the thing is, Ebony kind of has a thing for him. So it’s up to you, of course, but you should know, that’s all.’

  ‘Thanks. If necessary, I’ll deflect.’ She watched Lee across the room, laughing at something. ‘Shame.’

  As Ally mingled, she thought about the possible threat. The few people she’d met were interspersed with a lot of strangers. She couldn’t help but look and wonder – was there someone here who’d been in her stables that night? Nothing came to her, no faces triggered any memories. She concentrated on the men Ebony pointed out as belonging to the hunting group. Nothing. Maybe she hadn’t even seen anything. Maybe there was nothing to remember.

  ‘Hey.’ Cam came up behind her and put his arms around her. ‘Have I mentioned how beautiful you look?’ His breath in her ear had her shivering pleasantly.

  She grinned. ‘How did you get away?’

  ‘Vicki came over to help, so I thought I’d take a moment.’

  Yes but –’ Ally turned to see Vicki handing out drinks and sparing them several glances, ‘– I don’t think her intention was to be left by herself.’

  ‘It’s calmed down. There’s hardly anyone there just now.’

  Ally tipped her head back to look at him, wondering if he could genuinely be so clueless. ‘Let’s go outside then, it’s hot in here.’

  ‘How’s Ebony going? I haven’t seen her much tonight.’

  ‘She and Mia were talking to a couple of guys out the back here before.’

  Lee joined them. ‘You’ve escaped.’

  ‘Hi, Lee. There they are.’ Ally pointed to the corner of the lawn where Ebony and Mia had the interest of four rather good-looking men. ‘Ebony looks gorgeous. That guy with the dark hair has been salivating after her all night.’

  Cam squinted. ‘Brendan Madden? He won’t live to see morning.’

  ‘You may have to take a few of them out then, he’s not the only one.’

  ‘They’re more interested in Mia,’ Lee declared.

  Ally slanted him a smile. ‘Not from where I’m standing.’ She watched Brendan lean in and whisper something in Ebony’s ear. Ebony laughed, put a hand on his arm. Brendan took it, kissing her fingers theatrically.

  Lee scowled, looked at Cam. ‘Guns or knives?’

  ‘Why?’ Ally asked innocently. ‘She’s not yours.’

  ‘No, but –’

  ‘The two of them would make an attractive couple. Could be the start of something serious.’

  ‘I’m going to get a drink.’

  Ally’s smile broke free as Lee stormed away.

  Cam was watching her closely. ‘What?’

  Ally lifted her hands and shook her head. But she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She knew jealousy when she saw it. She slid her arms around his neck and stood on her toes to press her lips to his.

  Gradually, the numbers began to disperse, with most hangers-on congregating in the courtyard. Ally went inside the empty surgery and looked around. The place was a mess. If she could clear some of it now, she could go home tonight without feeling guilty about leaving it all for Ebs.

  She began by putting bottles in the recycling. The one bin was never going to hold it all, so she bundled some more up into boxes, and put some general rubbish into garbage bags.

  ‘Hey, I was looking for you.’ Cam wrapped her in a hug that ended with a kiss. ‘You don’t need to do that. We’ll help Ebs fix it tomorrow.’

  ‘Yes, because you know your sister is the type to let this mess stew all night. And she’ll never get rid of the smell.’

  He sighed, looked around. ‘Unfortunately, you make a couple of valid points. Okay, I’ll help.’

  Ally took another load out to the bin. It was quiet on the street. Laughter broke out from Ebony’s courtyard, but then it died down. The night was quiet again. As she put down the rubbish bag, she heard the crunching of footsteps on gravel. She knew Ebony’s neighbour had a pink gravel garden, and her gaze went to it, but she saw no one. She started back towards the clinic with a little shrug, then stopped. Someone had begun whistling ‘Old Macdonald Had a Farm’. It seemed odd and a little creepy in the darkness.

  And then it hit her.

  And she was no longer in the car park. She was back in her stables.

  The flickering of a candle by the doorway, the soft glow of others on the stairwell, the breeze through the open office door. A rustling of paper, a tall white pillar candle, a single red rose with a sweet perfume. Her husband’s scrawled handwriting on the paper.

  Up the steps, one, two, three … Oh, the things she was going to do to David. Amazing, wonderful David.

  The main room of the loft was set up with more candles, more flowers. A blanket was spread on the floor. Cushions were scattered, an ice bucket sat close by, empty wine bottles were on their sides, scattered. The remains of a Chinese meal sat on a table. Two glasses stood by the leftovers, not quite empty, one smeared with lipstick.

  Her stomach clutched as she realised what she had walked in on. Who was with David? Disgusted, she scanned the room. Where were they? As the pain lodged in her chest and lead settled in her feet, she stood there, trying to think. The floor must have become too uncomfortable in here, or were they hiding from her? A quiet la
ugh came from the bunkroom. Whistling: a stupid nursery rhyme. A woman’s moan, a muffled shriek, a man’s chuckle. Her stomach rolled.

  Let them hide.

  She backed out, devastated. She didn’t want to face him, not with her – whoever she was. She’d just go, head to Mia’s. She’d stay with her sister tonight, face David in the morning. She pushed a fist against her mouth, stifling the quiet sob that wanted to break free. Then she turned and fled, ran to her car, sped to Mia’s.

  The quiet chuckle, the ridiculous whistle, replayed in her mind, grew louder, more taunting. She threw her hands up to her ears, it made no difference. Even as the world around her became more real than the flashback, the sound of that tune continued to echo.

  Her legs collapsed, she sank to the ground, curling into a ball, lost completely in the flashback. Vaguely she thought she heard Mia’s urgent call, but the stables were burning, the flames grew in size, expanded until the fire was everything, everywhere, roaring, consuming. She heard the shouts, but in her mind they were screams, she smelled the smoke and it choked her.

  She was paralysed. The screaming amplified, began to incorporate hoses and helicopters, sirens, the flames shot higher and hotter, the terror was complete. She couldn’t breathe, everything hurt.

  ‘Get her inside!’

  Cam and Mia, talking rapidly. Then she was moving.

  ‘Ally. Slow it down. You’re okay.’ Cam’s voice, calm, steady.

  ‘The horses,’ she choked.

  ‘What horses?’

  ‘She’s dissociating.’ Mia’s voice.

  ‘She’s what?’

  ‘Flashback.’ Mia got in Ally’s face, spoke calmly and clearly. ‘Ally. Ally, look at me. It’s Mia. You’re in Ebony’s surgery. Feel the floor, Ally, feel it. Look around. You’re safe. You’re with Mia and Cam. You’re at Ebony’s. Come back.’

  Ally’s fingers slid over the smooth lines of the tiles under her hands. The sensation clashed with the spiky grass in her mind.

  ‘Slow it down, Ally.’

  Breathe in, breathe out, slow it down.

  ‘That’s it.’

  The flashback slowly faded, the surroundings came into focus. They were in Ebony’s office. Cam and Mia were with her. Then Ebony came in, followed by Lee. She was handed a glass of water. Ben stood in the doorway, hanging back.

  ‘Take it, Ally,’ Mia ordered. ‘Just hold on to it.’

  She made her hands move, took the glass, it helped to ground her, to bring her all the way back. She was sitting on the floor. Mia was squeezing her hand, Cam was supporting her. She was safe.

  And as reality crept in, so did the humiliation. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘But are you all right?’ Ebony asked.

  She nodded mutely, took a few more steadying breaths, then remembered and her head snapped up. ‘He was there! Out the front. The guy from the fire.’

  Ben spun and disappeared.

  ‘He gave me a fright.’

  ‘No kidding,’ Lee said.

  She looked up and saw the grin. She also saw relief and her cheeks burned again. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘You said that. We don’t need either apology.’ Cam took the glass from her fingers and lifted her to her feet. ‘Steady?’

  Ben came back in, shook his head. ‘There’s no one there. What happened, Ally?’

  ‘I heard him. I heard the whistle. And I was back there. I – oh God. I heard – he was – the others were – I left them.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I left them with him and they were still alive!’

  Back in her house, Cam pressed his lips to her forehead and held her for several moments before letting her go.

  ‘I’m okay, I am, really. I just need to sleep.’

  ‘You do that. I’m not far away.’ He closed the door to the spare room and went downstairs. He doubted she even realised she’d just been put into a bed.

  Mia was sitting outside. She must have heard him coming because she quickly swiped at the tears on her cheeks.

  ‘Hey.’ He sat beside her and, sensing she needed it, put an arm around her. ‘I was rough on you with the whole over-protective sister thing, but tonight you came through. I didn’t know what to do, and you did. It scared the hell out of me and you were a rock. It can’t have been easy for you. If Ben did that to her in the hospital, I can see why you were so against her having anything to do with him.’

  ‘I know I’m over the top at times but you’re right – you didn’t see her after he’d been at her. I thought I was going to lose her the first time. She’s been so much better. She was losing that haunted look, but tonight it’s come back. Now she’s got it in her head the psycho was in there hurting them and she ran away and left him to it. I think that’s worse – worse than the candle. I don’t think she’ll survive anything else.’

  ‘If she hadn’t run, she’d be dead too. I’m sure of it. She couldn’t have known what was going on. No one knew they’d been physically subdued prior to the fire, but from Ally’s description of what she heard, we now have a better picture of the person we’re dealing with.’

  ‘But it’s not a reassuring one. What are we going to do?’

  ‘We’re going to find him. He’s watching, listening, and he has an ego, but not a lot of self-control. He couldn’t resist showing off, couldn’t resist scaring Ally. Every little thing helps put the pieces together.’

  ‘Yeah. I want to be here all the time, but I can’t get time off. I’d have to quit and I just don’t know how I can afford to. But I will if you think it would be better, I’ll figure something out.’

  ‘You don’t have to do that. We’ll find him, Mia.’

  ‘I hope so. Or all this has been for nothing.’

  CHAPTER

  22

  ‘Do you feel like some lunch at the inn? Ben wants you to sign your statement and Lee and Ebs are up for some food, so they said they’d meet up with us after.’

  ‘I don’t really feel like being sociable.’ Ally had finally pushed Mia out the door not quite an hour ago and had been hoping for some brooding time. Then Cam had turned up and taken over.

  Anyone would think she was some kind of invalid. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t had a flashback before. And she didn’t want to go out. The knowledge that her husband and his girlfriend had been alive, that some unknown monster had been in there with them, that she’d thought they were enjoying themselves hiding from her … It was too much.

  And Cam wanted her to go out.

  ‘I thought you were prepared to do whatever it takes to figure this out.’

  ‘I thought there was a chance I could remember something worthwhile. That it would make things better. It didn’t. Not only that, I really wouldn’t mind if a tiny bit of time could pass before facing everyone’s sympathetic looks and pats on the back.’

  ‘So you’re just going to hide here, ignore your friends and not talk to Ben?’

  She shrugged. ‘Avoidance is something I’m good at.’

  He reached out and caressed her cheek. ‘That’s not the Ally I know.’

  ‘Well, maybe you don’t know me as well as you thought you did.’ She got off the lounge and took her mug to the kitchen.

  ‘I talked to Mia about the whole PTSD thing,’ Cam said quietly, following her.

  ‘I guess that makes you an expert then.’

  He turned her around, unimpressed. ‘You need to talk about it.’

  She raked a hand through her hair in frustration. ‘I don’t know what you want from me. I did.’

  ‘Mia said you repeat what happened, but you won’t face your feelings.’

  ‘You’re making therapy recommendations now? Hey – maybe you can go talk to Dr Jackson, too. Then you can really know everything and fix it all for me.’

  ‘I’m trying to help,’ he replied, his voice rising to mimic hers.

  ‘You can’t! I can’t talk about it! There’s a dream. A nightmare. It plays in my head over and over, night after night. My
feelings? It drives me crazy. I get as far as the loft, then the rest is made up by my subconscious. It’s not pretty. I have a few flashbacks from the fire. I remember horses screaming and I couldn’t get to them. I couldn’t get to Magna. How do you think that felt? I remember wondering how my hand could be on fire and I couldn’t feel it. I remember staring at smoke and stars and thinking I was dead. Wanting to be dead. That’s how I felt. How often do I need to go over that?’

  She slammed down her mug, turned the tap on hard to rinse it. ‘I thought the nightmares would stop, would go away, because now I remember what happened in that blocked out bit. But they didn’t. They played in my head last night, over and over, just the same as almost every other night. Only now it’s worse. Because I could have got to David. I could have saved them. But I didn’t.’

  ‘Bullshit, Ally. There was nothing you could have done. You were both targets. If you’d gone in there, you’d all be dead. And that’s the only way you would have known what was really going on. So just be thankful you’re still alive and help us find the bastard behind all this.’

  She spun on him, eyes bright with the tears threatening to spill. ‘It’s so easy for you, isn’t it? Do this, do that, get over it. Get on with it. It doesn’t work that way!’

  ‘Easy? Sure, Ally, it’s pretty fucking easy seeing you passed out at a table surrounded by drugs and alcohol, or having you bolt for the stairs because I kiss you and your goddamn husband materialises in the window. But my favourite was seeing you curled up in the foetal position on the side of the road, and not knowing what to do to help you. Right now I’m just enjoying the hell out of thinking about how someone who tried to burn you to death is walking around on the main street, considering how to fix his mistake. You’re absolutely right, Ally. I’m having the time of my fucking life. So by all means, stay here and continue to feel sorry for yourself.’

  His outburst left her shaken and ashamed, but her chin came up. ‘You don’t like it? Leave.’

  ‘Yeah, because avoidance is something you’re good at. Well, avoid this.’ He dragged her in, crushed his mouth on hers. The kiss was hard and impatient, possessive. The shock of that hot mouth, the raw frustration emanating from him, had a shudder running through her.