The Haunting

by Raymond M Hall

  As the kitchen door slammed, the rain ceased. The storm had passed leaving the warm sun to mop up the damage. Sebastian felt released from his position, and a strange calmness descended on him as he walked out to the kitchen. He shook his head as if to clear away a bad dream and started as a knock came at the door. Opening the door and expecting to see James once again he was pleased to see that it was a young boy. The lad stood at the doorway with a sad look on his face,

  ‘If you please, sir, may I come in and shelter from the storm?’

  Sebastian looked beyond the boy at the bright sky and wondered himself where the storm had disappeared to so rapidly.

  ‘What storm?’ He asked.

  The young boy looked back over his shoulder and pointed at the already darkening sky,

  ‘The one that’s coming, sir.’

  Sebastian followed his pointing finger and saw the swirling black clouds as they quickly formed overhead. The first drops of rain were already falling as he ushered the boy inside.

  ‘What’s your name?’ He asked.

  The boy looked around vaguely before replying,

  ‘David.’ He said.

  It was at this point Sebastian noticed the dark mark around the boy’s neck, then as he moved away, he saw that his head was set at a strange angle.

  ‘What happened to your neck?’ He asked.

  David grinned mischievously but said nothing, moving towards the living room door. Sebastian followed him as he entered the room but stopped short when he saw the boy staring through the window at the crossroads. A wooden structure had appeared over the road; it looked like an old gallows. It hadn’t been there before, and he wondered who had erected it and why? Surely the local council had better things to do with ratepayers’ money than building such an odious memory of the past. He was aware that years ago a gallows used to stand on the same spot but in these enlightened days, no one wanted to be reminded of that particular piece of unpleasant history.

  Sebastian returned to the kitchen and poured a glass tumbler full of water, thinking that the boy might be thirsty. He came back to the living room with the water to find it empty. He went over to the window, idly sipping the water himself as he stared out at the crossroads. The gallows had disappeared.

  Sebastian couldn’t believe the strange day he was having, first James and now this boy, David. The second storm had passed as quickly as the first, and he studied the sky around him, searching for a third, everything in three’s he mused.

  He was still standing in the yard when Caroline appeared. She walked in around the old gate post and didn’t even pause to draw breath.

  ‘Well, here I am again, seems like we are stuck with each other. I couldn’t get any transport here from that funny little town down the road so had to walk it.’

  Sebastian was dumbstruck,

  ‘And your luggage? Where might I ask is it? Does this mean I have to find it and collect it for you? Honestly, Caroline, you really are too much!’

  She stood with her hands on hips in that old arrogant pose he so detested,

  ‘I suppose I could ask James? I’m sure he would be more helpful than you.’

  Sebastian knew he should give up now, he had never won an argument with his sister and had no reason to believe anything would change.’

  ‘You had better come in I suppose, looks like another storm approaching.’

  Indeed the clouds were once again forming up, and the first wind was already swirling around the yard, it wouldn’t be long now. Three storms in such a short space of time must be the global warming all the armchair liberals kept prattling on about he supposed.

  Caroline climbed the stairs to her old room and flung herself down on the bed.

  ‘Don’t bother with the luggage, not yet anyway, to be honest, I have no idea where it is.’ She said, raising herself up to a sitting position and smiling,

  ‘Good excuse to buy some new clothes. They were becoming a little unfashionable.’

  Sebastian grimaced, he had a good idea who would be forking out for the new wardrobe, and it certainly wouldn’t be James.

  ‘Are you going to be comfortable in here or would you prefer to swap rooms with me?’ He asked, reflecting on the last occasion she had stayed in there.

  Caroline pulled herself up to her full height,

  ‘If anybody disturbs me again they had better make sure they have plenty of insurance; I'll be ready this time.’

  Sebastian couldn’t believe the change in her, she was always full of surprises, but this took the proverbial cake. The last time she had slept in that room, she thought she had been attacked by some strange man who had beaten down the door with an axe but now Caroline sat on the same bed, seemingly unperturbed.

  The room became dark as the storm settled in overhead. A flash of lightning lit up the room, immediately followed by a thunderous bang. Caroline didn’t even flinch while Sebastian clutched at his chest in fright.

  ‘Bloody hell! That was right above us.’ He yelled.

  Caroline smiled up at him strangely. Then the rain came, not in little shower bursts but a torrential downpour, drowning out all other sounds. It was so loud Sebastian put his hands over his ears, while Caroline remained on the bed with the enigmatic smile still in place.

  Sebastian turned and went down the stairs to the kitchen, at least there was an additional floor to absorb some of the sound. The lightning flashes came thick and fast followed each time by a clap of thunder; the house seemed to shake in protest. He was suddenly aware of a door slamming somewhere and opened the kitchen door to look out. The bakery door, always open, was swinging to and fro violently, slamming into its frame one moment and then being wrenched open to hit the brick wall with a crash. Sebastian wondered how long it could stand up to such violent treatment? He thought for a moment of racing out to secure it but reflected that it never stayed shut anyway. Perhaps it deserved to be torn from its hinges; he could then replace the whole thing with a modern one that did as it was told.

  Sebastian closed the door against the wild elements outside and stood against it as if to ensure it too would not fly open. In a matter of seconds, a silence descended. The sudden quietness after all the noise from the storm was eerie coupled with a strange light coming in through the window. He opened the door to be confronted by a scene of complete tranquillity. The rain soaked yard was drying rapidly, giving off a light mist, and the birds had returned, chattering as if discussing the storm.

  Sebastian lounged against the door jamb wondering at the dramatic changes the countryside could bring thinking he should fetch Caroline so she could witness the breathless beauty after such violence when the crunch of shoes on gravel alerted him to the presence of another. It was James; Sebastian’s immediate thought was, why was he not drenched, he hadn’t heard a vehicle draw up? And furthermore, what the hell was he doing back at the bakery he had only left a short time ago? James was carrying on like it was the first time he had visited that day.

  ‘What ho!’ Exclaimed James, ‘That lovely sister of yours about?’

  Sebastian remained silent wondering how the hell James knew Caroline was back; she had only just arrived.

  He was saved from answering by a gentle cry from behind,

  ‘Hello, James, come to welcome me back?’ Said Caroline, edging past her brother to go out into the yard.

  ‘Yes, indeed and to invite you to dinner.’ Said James, that bloody annoying smile firmly imprinted on his fat face thought Sebastian.

  ‘Good idea, want to join us Seb?’ Caroline asked.

  ‘Yes, Seb, do come along we can be the three musketeers, what.’

  Sebastian had enough problems with his sister shortening his name let alone this pompous twit following suit.

  ‘No thanks, if it’s all the same to you I’ll stay in tonight, you two go and have fun.’ He replied, emphasising the last word rather more sarcastically than he intended. He couldn’t understand why Caroline would even contemplate seeing the odious James again after th
e last debacle. She had said, never again but here she was positively glowing over him. They were behaving like a pair of love birds, and Sebastian found the whole thing rather distasteful.

  ‘Pick you up at around seven then?’ Purred the cat-like James.

  ‘I’ll be ready and waiting.’ Said Caroline in a return purr.

  Sebastian turned and entered the kitchen thinking he might just throw up if the scene outside continued for much longer.

  Caroline swept back into the room like a prima donna,

  ‘Don’t bother to cook for me Seb.’ She said graciously.

  ‘Yes, I heard, I was standing right there you know. I thought you hated the man and wouldn’t be seen dead with him again?’ Sebastian retorted, becoming annoyed at his sister’s apparent laissez faire attitude.

  ‘Oh, James isn’t so bad really and he can be fun you know.’ She said.

  Sebastian thought she sounded a little wistful and was about to remind her of her account to him of James’ penchant for a little violence in the bedroom but thought better if it. She was a grown woman and would, and always had, made her own decisions in life. Far better that he let things lie and instead prepare to pick up the pieces of another broken romance, as usual.

  Caroline fluffed around for the rest of the day making herself beautiful, and although she had no fresh clothes, she managed to look more than presentable as the time approached for her ‘date’.

  At seven on the dot, Sebastian heard the roar of James’ car pull up outside. The thought occurred to him that earlier on, just after the storm, he had not heard any signs of a car and after James had left there was only silence. He was still deep in thought when Caroline swept past him and opened the door to her ever smiling beau.

  ‘What ho, old boy, sure you won’t join us?’ James offered.

  ‘No, thanks, I’ll stay here, you two run along and have fun. Shall I leave the door on the latch?’ He added meaningfully, looking at his sister.

  She glanced at James and chuckled before saying not to bother. Sebastian squirmed inside thinking that this was too much information, she was his sister after all.

  The pair of them disappeared into the evening, and Sebastian closed the door as James started his car. He turned back into the kitchen and immediately clutched his chest again in fright. There, standing in front of him was Briony.

  ‘Where the hell did you come from?’ He asked, in a voice sounding an octave higher than normal.

  ‘Hello to you, too.’ She giggled. Sorry to almost give you a heart attack, but I slipped in when the other two were fawning over each other. You were so intent on them you didn’t notice me.

  Briony approached and put her arms around him, he immediately relaxed and felt his heart slow down to its normal rhythm.

  ‘We can spend the whole night together if you like?’ She whispered in his ear.

  ‘Oh, yes please.’ He replied, ‘You mean you’ll be here when I wake in the morning?’

  ‘Yes.’ She answered softly.

  ‘I do so hate it when I wake up, and your side of the bed is cold.’ He murmured into her hair already feeling his passion rising. Briony was aware of his needs and taking him by the hand led him upstairs,

  ‘Love first, eat later.’ She said.

  Sebastian said nothing concentrating instead on the beautiful outline of her body through the thin dress. ‘Yes, eat later.’ He agreed.

  Chapter 34

  Daily life at the bakery became routine and predictable. Luke worked most of the night and early morning, so Rose had their shared bedroom to herself. Hugh seemed more than grateful for Luke’s help in the bakery and relished the company of another man instead of the constant whining and bullying of his stepson. He and Luke worked side by side while Robin made up the fire, they were able to turn out twice as many loaves as Hugh and Robin alone. A fact not appreciated by Robin who did his best to slow them down at every opportunity.

  By the time Luke came in, Rose was up and about working in the kitchen helping Lilly. Luke would sit at the kitchen table with Hugh and Robin while the women served the meal. Hugh would concentrate on his plate while Lilly tried to exchange covert glances with Luke; who felt uncomfortable and kept his eyes downcast. Robin made no attempt to conceal his ogling looks at Rose, and stopped at times to salaciously lick his lips while looking straight at her. Rose did nothing to discourage Robin’s behaviour; rather she smiled at him every time he did it. After the meal, the women cleaned up while Hugh and Luke loaded up the cart to take the freshly baked bread to Upper Marston.

  They didn’t possess a horse to pull the cart, so they stood side by side between the shafts and pulled it themselves. Luke could see the pain on Hugh's face as he struggled to pull the cart and stopping, yelled at Robin insisting he take Hugh's place. Hugh shook his head and said he would be okay, but Luke was having none of it. He sensed the fear in Hugh as Robin approached. A fine son, he thought then remembered that Seth was the father, not Hugh. Robin was his brother, and at times he could see Tom in him, that same evil temper and selfishness to spare.

  Together, they began the journey along the rutted and dusty road to Upper Marston, Robin grumbling that Hugh was good for nothing and should either be put out to pasture or put down.

  As they passed out of the yard, Luke was struck by the appearance of the old gallows still standing on the corner. It leaned rather sadly at an odd angle, and he wondered why it had not been dismantled when the remainder of the village had burned down the night Seth had finally cracked.

  ‘I see the gallows is still standing then.’ He said, hoping to open some conversation with Robin.

  ‘There’s never been anyone hung there since the boy, so I’m told. I wasn’t even born then, but everyone knows the story. The little bugger was hung up, and his father grabbed his legs breaking his neck. They never found the body and some say you can still see him sometimes searching for his father. They say the gallows is cursed and no one will touch it. Nobody dares take it down in case the boy chooses them for a father and walks with them forever. That’s what the old ones say anyway, a lot of bloody rubbish I reckon; they’re a superstitious lot round here.’

  Silence settled over the pair as they trudged into the next village to unload their bread. The empty cart was now considerably lighter and after Luke declined the offer of a thirst quenching ale at the inn Robin suggested it would be no effort for Luke to pull it back to the bakery. Luke readily agreed, glad to be rid of this new brother who so easily fitted into the void left by Tom. At times they were difficult to tell apart, not by looks but in deeds and actions.

  Luke arrived back at the bakery and explained that Robin had stayed on at the inn for an ale or two. Lilly was in the kitchen and Rose had gone to the bakery to clean the tins for the next batch of baking; Hugh was fast asleep upstairs. Lilly poured Luke a cup of beer to quench his thirst and stayed in front of him as he drank it. He handed her the empty cup, but instead of taking it to the sink she placed it on the table and approached him.

  ‘Oh, Luke, I know it’s wrong, but as much as Hugh has been a good husband and father to Robin, I have never been able to love him. When you walked in the door all those years ago with Mary, my heart almost jumped out of my chest. But I knew I could never compete with her, she was everything to you, and I could see that she felt the same, you were the perfect couple in every way. Now, though, your poor Mary is gone, and I allow myself the hope that maybe you might care a little for me, I have always loved you with all my heart. She stood on tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips. Luke didn’t know what to say or how to react. His body did though and let him down in the worst possible way. Lilly glanced down and saw his reaction daring to reach up once again and kiss him. Luke had been celibate for a long time and thought he would never again react in this way with any woman but react he did and reaching for her encircled her in his arms crushing her against his body. She felt his need and kissed him again long and passionately.

  At last Luke broke away from
the embrace. He was perspiring profusely with the emotion of the moment and made for the stairs and his bedroom determined to curb this new infatuation.

  He closed the door to his room and divesting himself of his clothes slid under the covers of the bed which he and Rose shared. He lay there staring at the ceiling for what seemed an age, sleep eluding him completely as he relived the kisses he had received from Lilly downstairs. She was still attractive in spite of years of hardship and raising Seth’s son, but what of Hugh? How could he allow himself to complete the degradation of that good man? His stepson treated him worse than a dog and now he, Luke, was actively considering making him a cuckold! No. He wouldn’t do it, no matter how hard Lilly tried it simply wasn’t right.

  Luke lay in bed turning this way and that, trying to sleep but the more he tried, the more it eluded him. He could hear Hugh’s constant snoring through the wall and wished he could join him in the sleep of the innocent.

  He lay on his side facing away from the door when he heard the soft click of the latch. Thinking it would be Rose he didn’t move, glad that now he would be saved from temptation, at least on this occasion. The bed moved as another body slipped under the sheets, and he pretended to be asleep, Rose had apparently finished her chores in the bakery and had come in for a rest. She was very fond of her bed that girl.

  Laying there he realised he was naked, normally with Rose in the bed he would keep most of his day clothes on as a matter of propriety, but being so tired today he had stripped completely. He felt a soft hand on his arm and grunted as if in a deep sleep, daring himself not to move. The hand reached around and gradually slipped down the length of his side. He concentrated on not allowing his body to react to the caress but it was to no avail, he felt himself responding. His mind was torn in two, one half disgusted with his reactions but the other half enjoying the feelings. He could stand it no longer and turning around almost violently, and at the same time taking hold of the offending hand he called out,