Ebb Tide

by Leah Murray

  `Jo, I’m staying with you until it ends, now stop worrying about it. You ready to head back home?’

  She frowned but nodded, not sure exactly where they’d gotten with that conversation.

  Back in the car she was silent, brooding.

  `I miss my cat,’ she said after a minute and he glanced across at her.

  `Well, I can ask Julia to bring her tomorrow if you like. You’ll have to handle the introductions with the dogs though. I wouldn’t leave her alone with the two of them together but individually they should be okay.’

  `Really? Are you sure you don’t mind? I mean … well, now it’s me and my cat and …’

  `Jo,’ he said, his tone exasperated and she leaned over, kissed him on the cheek.

  `Thanks. I’ll make sure she doesn’t make a mess. She’s really quiet you know, basically just lies in the sun sleeping all day.’

  She sat back against the seat, turned to look out the window. `Anyway, hopefully it won’t be for too long,’ she said.

  He didn’t reply.

  CHAPTER 20

  WILL WASN’T SURE WHAT WAS worse - the sudden chaos as Whiskers escaped her cage and was chased by Jess and Nemo up the oak tree in the back yard, or the rush of noise as everyone arrived at once. He was balanced precariously on the back of a chair, trying to get Whiskers out of the tree, while Jo doubled over with laughter and Julia stood beside him, tut-tutting.

  He sighed. At one time he’d actually thought he could live a simple, peaceful life out here.

  `Come here you damn cat,’ he muttered under his breath, edging closer to Whiskers as she backed against the trunk of the tree, hissing, her back arched.

  He made a sudden lunge, grabbed her by the neck and only narrowly avoided braining himself by jumping backwards off the chair as it upended, Whiskers dangling from one hand and mewing pitifully.

  `Bloody hell. Down!’ he yelled as Jess leaped up at him.

  `I see it’s all fun and games out here,’ Gus said, walking over, not bothering to hide the grin, and Will glared.

  `Try make yourself bloody useful and take this,’ he said, shoving Whiskers at Gus, who grabbed her in reflex, wincing as she stuck her claws in his neck.

  Will grinned, gripping Jess by the collar to keep her away from Gus and the cat. Luckily, Nemo had given up and flopped down under the tree.

  `Now that’s what I call divine justice. Where’s Jo got to?’ he asked as Gus glared, awkwardly balanced Whiskers on his shoulder, holding her steady with one hand.

  `She’s gone to help your mother bring stuff in from the car. What the hell am I supposed to do with this thing now?’

  `Oh for God’s sake. You two are just like little boys. Here, give me the cat,’ Julia said.

  `Where’d you go? You were supposed to be holding the damn chair,’ Will said, turning to her, and she rolled her eyes.

  `To see if Shaun was here yet, you looked safe enough. Anyway, give me the cat,’ she said again and Gus relinquished Whiskers with obvious relief.

  Julia headed inside, cuddling Whiskers and cooing at her in a soothing tone as Will dragged his hands through his hair. `God, what a day,’ he said.

  Gus grimaced, nodded, pulled his shirt aside and gingerly ran a finger over the scratch. He looked back up, turned his attention to the large, stainless-steel barbecue, which stood to one side of the tree and let out a low whistle of appreciation. `Nice.’

  Will grinned. `Yeah. It’s electric and check this, it even has automatic shut-off and a thermostat.’

  They were standing staring at the barbecue, discussing the relative virtues of gas versus electric, hands shoved casually in their pockets, when Hayley came over to join them.

  `Here,’ she said, handing them each a beer.

  `Thanks,’ Will said, twisting the top off and taking a swig. `Hmmm, good. Ice cold. Where’d you get it?’

  `Your fridge.’

  `Really?’ he asked, surprised.

  Hayley rolled her eyes. `You’re unbelievable. Hey, what happened to you?’ she asked, suddenly spotting the faint trail of blood on Gus’s neck.

  `Jo’s cat.’

  `Ah,’ she said. `Oh, that reminds me. Jo asked if you could go help her with something in the kitchen Will. I can’t remember what.’ She smirked. `Probably it was getting your mother out of there, she’s kind of taking over again.’

  Will sighed, looked Heavenward and started towards the kitchen, shaking his head at the crowd of people filling the room. Samuel, Grant and Shaun were standing in the doorway, discussing the latest football results. Shelley was unwrapping the plastic from various dishes set out on the kitchen bench while Jo and Audrey were bent over the fridge, trying to find room for a large square dish containing what looked like trifle.

  `You should keep the smaller stuff on the top shelf dear, it makes it easier to fit things like this in,’ Audrey was saying and Will could hear the slight tinge of annoyance in Jo’s tone as she replied.

  `Yes, I guess that’s a good idea but it’s not going to help now as this dish is simply too big. Maybe if we move the wine into the side of the door.’

  `You could do that but-‘

  Will saw Jo clench her fist and decided it was time to intervene.

  `Hi mother,’ he said and Audrey turned, beamed, reached out to hug him and kiss him on the cheek. He winked at Jo over Audrey’s shoulder and she smiled, mouthed a `thank you’ and hurriedly shoved the bottles of wine into the side of the door, placed the dish on the shelf where the wine had been and went over to help Shelley.

  After extracting himself from his mother’s embrace and promising her a long chat later on, Will opened the pantry cupboard to take out the meat, which Jo had set in a marinade earlier that morning. He headed out to the barbecue, saying a casual `Hi’ to his father, Shaun and Grant on the way out. They followed him, beers in hand, and soon all of them were standing in a circle around the barbecue chatting while he and Gus started cooking the meat.

  Audrey, Jo and Hayley were walking back and forth between the kitchen and the new outdoor table while Julia and Shelley set up various dishes of chips, a cheeseboard and some dips. Hayley came up to offer round some chips and Will took a handful, munched happily and grinned at the hive of activity. He scanned the garden with the new furniture, the blaze of orange and yellow from the flowers Jo had planted earlier that week, and shook his head, not quite believing the transformation that had taken place in so short a time.

  `Place is looking good,’ Gus said, following his gaze, and Will nodded, the grin widening.

  `Yeah it is isn’t it?’

  `Told you I liked the girl,’ Gus said and Will punched him casually on the shoulder, not bothering to reply. Besides, he didn’t know quite what to say. If anybody had told him three weeks ago he’d be standing in his own backyard barbecuing with almost a dozen people, his cupboards full, his garden packed with plants and a new resident cat locked in his spare room, he would have laughed. Loud. Now he actually looked forward to coming home each night. He shifted, uncomfortable with the thought.

  Jo sat back in her chair, flanked by Julia and Shelley, and smiled, content. Will, Gus, Hayley and Shaun were attempting to play a modified game of football, hampered by the fact that Jess and Nemo decided to chase the ball at random points in the game, grab it and run, growling, whenever anybody attempted to retrieve it.

  Grant, Samuel and Audrey were deeply involved in a conversation at the far end of the table, laughing every now and then, but Jo couldn’t make out what they were discussing.

  `Great day,’ Julia said suddenly and Jo turned to her, nodded.

  `Why aren’t you playing?’ Shelley asked and Jo wrinkled her nose.

  `Um, I can’t. Two left feet I’m afraid. I’m as likely to trip myself as manage to kick anything. You should have seen me at school, I got a good few black eyes in netball and tennis. I’ve absolutely no hand-eye coordination when it comes to sports.’

  Both Julia and Shelley laughed.

  `I’m
about the same,’ Julia said. `Was much more into art and swimming than any of the team sports. Hayley was always in the thick of it though. She’d follow Will and Gus everywhere, try keep up with them on the swims, runs, you name it. They thought it was a big laugh, kept pushing the limits to see if they could break her but she kept right up with them most of the time.’

  Jo grinned. `Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.’ She turned to Shelley. `What about you Shelley? You into any sports?’

  Shelley shifted, patted her stomach. `I was.’

  `Shelley played hockey nationally,’ Julia said and Jo raised an eyebrow, impressed.

  `Really? I’ve never even tried to play hockey. Valued my ankles too much.’

  Shelley grinned. `You get used to it. So you weren’t into any sports at all?’

  Jo sat back in her chair, turned to watch Will again. `I did some running but that’s about it.’

  They were silent for a minute and Jo couldn’t help but appreciate the view when Will pulled his shirt off, wiped his brow and threw it on the ground, jogging over to wrestle Nemo for the ball.

  `So how’d you manage to talk him into having this barbecue?’ Julia asked.

  Jo grinned. `It could’ve been his idea.’

  Julia laughed at that. `Oh no. He’d never come up with this on his own. He’s more likely to show up at my place bored and looking for food than cook it himself. It’s my mother’s fault, she’s spoiled him. He’s always had some woman looking after him.’

  Jo nodded, didn’t reply, not particularly wanting to hear anymore about the various women Will had had looking after him.

  `Nemo’s recovered well,’ Shelley said and Jo shot her a grateful look, glad of the change of subject.

  `Yes. Amazing how quickly they can recover from that sort of thing.’

  `Have you heard anymore about Jack?’ Julia asked and Jo shook her head.

  `No. I was telling Will yesterday that it’s almost worse not hearing from him. It makes it so hard to relax, never knowing what he’s going to do next.’

  Julia reached over and squeezed her elbow and Jo smiled, ducked suddenly as the ball came flying between them.

  `Hey watch it,’ Julia yelled and Jo grinned as Shaun shrugged his shoulders, lifted a hand in apology.

  Will came jogging up, leaned down over Jo’s chair to get the ball, his sudden proximity setting her heart racing. He turned his head as he reached down, grinned up at her, his eyes darkening to a deep blue as he saw her watching him.

  He grabbed the ball, kissed her as he stood up, nipping the tip of her ear gently before heading back over to where Gus stood waiting.

  She laughed, rubbed at her ear and tried to wipe the silly grin from her face.

  She didn’t quite succeed and flushed as she looked over at Julia, caught the knowing smile passing between her and Shelley.

  `Time for dessert?’ she asked, standing up and heading into the kitchen for the trifle.

  `So – did you like it?’ Jo asked, snuggling up to Will on his bed after everyone had left.

  He grinned, tightened his grip on her shoulders and hugged her closer. `Yep. It was a good idea. Maybe we can do it again sometime.’

  She sat up, raised an eyebrow. `Maybe?’

  He laughed. `Ok, we will. Soon.’

  She settled back down, sighed with pleasure, ran her foot up his leg, sneaking a glance at him under her lashes, collapsing with giggles as he rolled her over, started tickling her.

  `No, stop. Ouch! Stop it. I’m ticklish. Will!’

  He pinned her arms behind her head with one hand, tickled her with the other, bending to kiss her while she squirmed under him, laughing.

  He tugged at a button with his teeth and she heard a popping sound, looked down at her pajama top.

  `Stop it! You’re going to sew that back on!’

  He grinned. `Okay’ he said, bending down and popping another one.

  `Will!’

  He met her gaze, a wicked gleam in his eye, and bent his head. Soon she wasn’t bothered by the buttons, lost in the sensation of his mouth moving over her body.

  They were woken sometime after midnight by a sudden loud knocking on the front door.

  `What the?’ Will swore as Jo sat up, switched on the bedside light.

  He squinted against the sudden glare, rubbed at his temple and stood up, pulled on a pair of boxers.

  `I’ll go see who it is.’

  `Okay,’ Jo muttered, wrapping the sheet around her and lying back down, yawning, still lost midway between sleep and wakefulness.

  She heard Will open the door downstairs and the sound of muffled voices but sat bolt upright at a sudden loud exclamation from Will.

  `Fuck.’

  She heard him take the stairs two at a time, and he rushed into the bedroom, suddenly wide awake.

  `Who was that?’ she asked as he reached for his jeans, pulled them on.

  `Grant. Shelley’s gone into labor. He’s taking her to the hospital.’

  Jo frowned. `Why the panic? The due date was two weeks from now, everything should be fine.’

  Will paused in the doorway, looked at her with a blank expression.

  `I know. Shelley’s fine. But someone’s set fire to the maize field. We’ve already lost most of the crop.’

  CHAPTER 21

  HE STOOD BY THE WINDOW, took a long drag from the cigarette as he watched the bright orange flames spread across the hillside. A deep sense of satisfaction welled up in him and he smiled, looked over at the woman sleeping on the bed.

  She was pretty in an obvious sort of way, pretty enough to make the job enjoyable as well as useful.

  But she wasn’t Jo.

  He sighed, looked back at the blazing hillside, felt a small pang of regret. If only she’d listened to him none of this would have happened.

  And now the whore was screwing him around, fucking that bastard.

  Well, hero boy, he thought, we’ll see who wins this one. She’s mine and I’m not going to let her go. Not now, not ever.

  He took a deep breath, told himself to be calm, patient. Soon this too would pass, the guy would be history and Jo would be back, begging him for it. And he’d give it to her.

  Then he’d kill her.

  He glanced down at his watch, went over to the chair and pulled on his clothes, the adrenalin suddenly rushing through his system. Time to execute part two of the plan.

  …

  Jo hurriedly pulled on a pair of track pants, sneakers and a T-shirt, rushed out the room, found Will in the kitchen on the phone to Shaun. He hung up, locked the back door and headed back upstairs.

  `Where are you going? Shouldn’t you go see what’s going on outside?’ she asked, following him up the stairs.

  `I am. No point trying to fight the fire, it’s too far gone and I can’t do anything by myself. Grant’s already called it in and Shaun’s on his way over.’

  `What are you doing then?’ she asked as he went over to the cupboard.

  He didn’t reply, instead opened the door and pulled down a shoe box.

  Her jaw dropped as she saw him take out a gun, load the magazine, snap it into position and pull back the slide.

  `What the hell are you doing?’ she asked, shocked.

  He stood up, looked at her, calm, his gaze steady. `Stay here, lock the front door after me and don’t leave the house until Shaun or I call you.’

  He walked past her and she stood, staring after him, frozen in shock until he was at the end of the passage. Then the adrenalin kicked in and she raced after him.

  `Wait. No way am I staying here alone while you go off with that … that thing,’ she said, jogging down the stairs after him.

  He didn’t reply, instead opened the front door and turned. `Lock it. If you follow me, I’ll take you upstairs and lock you in the damn room.’

  `You wouldn’t dare.’

  `Try me.’

  His voice was steady but the threat was obvious. She stared at him, knew he would do it, clenched her
fists, her stomach churning with anger and frustration.

  `Lock it,’ he said again and stepped outside, the door slamming shut behind him.

  She stared at the door for a second, gritted her teeth, debated going after him anyway, knew it was futile. So she locked the damn thing, kicked it in anger then switched the lights off, went over to the window to try see what was going on outside.

  Nothing. Only the hot blaze of the fire on the hillside opposite, too far away to illuminate the pitch black darkness in front of the house.

  She felt her stomach knot with anxiety, strained her ears for any sound but all she could hear was the rhythmic knocking of Nemo’s tail against the leg of the table.

  She patted his head absently, glad to not be totally alone, trying not to feel the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.

  God. This was taking forever. What the hell was going on out there?

  She must have been standing for close on twenty minutes when she felt Nemo’s body tense, saw his ears prick forward. Her heart stopped as his hair stood on end and he let out a low growl, started towards the window. Jess came inching up behind him and Jo jumped as she let out two sharp barks.

  There was a sudden crash and the sound of breaking glass.

  Terrified, Jo rushed out the room, ran into the kitchen and battled with the back door, looking over her shoulder anxiously, her hands fumbling in her desperation to escape.

  At last the door opened and she rushed out, ran straight into a solid mass, felt arms tighten around her and screamed as someone pushed her roughly to the ground, twisted her arms behind her back.

  `Miss me, Jo?’

  She froze at the sound of his voice, couldn’t move, couldn’t believe what was happening.

  He pulled her roughly to her feet, snapped her head back by yanking on her hair and she flinched, heard his low chuckle against her ear.

  `Thought you’d get away, did you?’ he asked, almost conversationally, yanking harder on her hair and she felt tears welling up at the sudden pain.

  `That’s it, you’re going to do more than cry when I’m finished with you,’ he said menacingly, his breath chilling her cheek as he held her against him, forced her chin up, bent his head and kissed her roughly, forcing his tongue into her mouth.