The Village of Gerard's Cliff

by Carol Anne Vick

  Chapter XX

  "Allie...try to drink some of this." Connor held a steaming cup of chicken broth closer to her face, as he noticed her eyelids flutter. He saw her eyes open wide in confusion, as she tried to look around the room to get her bearing. She squinted at the sunlight streaming in a window near her.

  Connor smoothed her hair back off her cheeks with one hand, as she leaned her head forward, allowing him to put the mug up to her lips with the other. She sipped the hot liquid, then dropped her head back on the pillows. "What happened? Where are we?" She glanced at him briefly, then closed her eyes again.

  "You passed out last night." Connor continued to softly stroke her hair. "Ben offered to take us in for a couple of nights."

  "Oh..." Allie's voice was low. It was all starting to come back to her now. She remembered now. She tried to raise up off the sofa. "I need to get up," she protested, as Connor put his hand on her shoulder.

  "You need to take it easy, Allie, at least for a couple more hours." Connor looked down at her seriously as she propped up on both elbows, returning his gaze. "It's early yet. You need to get your strength back before you tackle everything." As Allie reluctantly propped herself up on the pile of pillows behind her, she noticed that she was wearing a pair of very large, blue flannel pajamas. "Oh..." Connor grinned, seeing her brows knit. "Ben lent us both pajamas last night, so we could wash and dry our clothes. They were pretty filthy. You slept on the couch, and I took the recliner."

  Allie took the cup from Connor and sipped the hot liquid. She reached down to feel the texture of the home-made, multi-colored afghan that covered her, realizing that she remembered nothing of the night before, after hearing those strange, far-away voices. Connor could see that she was beginning to seem more like herself.

  "Ben said that his wife had made these." He was trying to give her time to drink the broth. "Mine kept me very warm last night."

  "Ruth was a sweet person." Allie's gaze was distant, as she took another sip. "Ben was heartbroken when she died." She looked around. "Where is Ben?"

  "He and Tilda went into the village to get a newspaper, and groceries." Connor leaned back, jutting his elbows out and stretching his shoulder muscles. At Allie's inquisitive look, he continued. "Tilda heard about the fire and came by this morning. She's going to cook you your favorite food, she said." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, one fist under his chin.

  "You know, Connor, it just occurred to me...that, I'm...homeless." She shook her head slowly, staring at the cup of broth. "I have to figure out what I'm going to do." She looked at him solemnly.

  "I know." Connor could only imagine how hard this was for her. "You know. You could stay with me in Maryland. I'll have to go back in a couple of days."

  Allie searched his eyes thoughtfully. Connor already knew her answer. "That would be wonderful, and I appreciate it, but..." she looked toward the window that faced her inn. "There's so much to do." She sipped some broth and her eyes darkened. "Is there a notebook or paper I could use?" She suddenly perked up a little. "I need to make a list."

  Connor found a lined notebook on Ben's desk, and flipped through it quickly. "Here, this looks empty." He grabbed a pen, and brought them both to her. "I'm going to the village when Ben and Tilda get back. I have to meet with the police and other federal agents." He put his hands on his hips, looking down at her. "Make a list, if you would, of what clothes you need, and, you know...shampoo...things like that, and I'll get them while I'm in town."

  "Connor." Allie looked up at him. "Thank you for telling me everything last night...in the woods. I never really believed that you killed that man at the bar."

  He smiled down at her, but his eyes were serious. "If anything had happened to me, I didn't want you to remember me as the bad guy." He searched her face.

  "I don't want anything to ever happen to you." Her eyes started to well up, as she scanned his face. "You have a very dangerous job, you know."

  Connor was thoughtful as he took the mug from her, and laid the notebook and pen on her lap. "Well, you needed to know the truth, and..." he paused, searching her beautiful face. "None of us knows what the future holds."

  The sounds of a door opening, voices, and paper rustling, made them both turn toward the kitchen. Tilda emerged from the dining area, her plump arms outstretched.

  "Oh Allie, I'm so glad you're okay." Connor moved aside as she leaned down and gave Allie a giant, heartfelt bear hug. Connor expected Allie to burst into tears, but she didn't. Tilda stood up, wiping her eyes. "Now, you leave everything to us, sweetie. I know you have a lot on your mind." She sniffed, then smiling, glanced at Connor and winked.

  "All of you...don't have jobs now." Allie began. "I feel so awful about that."

  "Allie, don't you worry about us, I mean it. I can take that temp job on full time if I want." She glanced over at Ben, who was standing in the doorway, his arms crossed. "Ben doesn't need to work, and Sarah still has her other job." She shook her finger at Allie. "We will be alright. You will be alright. You're one of the strongest people I know."

  "Thank you, Tilda." Connor saw Allie's eyes well up again, as Tilda and Ben headed back to the kitchen. She turned to him. "I'll make that list for you, Connor. Then, I really have to get up and start making some phone calls."