The Shadow Rises
Page 10
*****
The countryside was beautiful, wild hills and deep valleys, the road twisted and rose and fell to make its way through nature. Often a wide expanse of water lay off to one side or the other, a few boats still out on the lakes on a fine evening. With Sophie’s directions they came to the village of Keswick and were soon pulling up outside her mother’s house. It was an old cottage on the outskirts of the village and the whole atmosphere of the place was one of rough country warmth.
Hunter lugged the big bag with him as he and James followed Sophie up to the front door.
“Mum!” Sophie called out as she opened the door.
The figure of Mrs Murphy quickly came to meet them, the poor woman getting a shock at the state of her daughter; she reached out, tenderly touching the darkly-bruised face, her eyes taking in the fresh cuts on Sophie’s bare arms. “Oh my darling, my Sophie.”
Mrs Murphy was just as tall as her daughter, just as graceful in figure. It was easy to see where Sophie got her looks from. Although when Mrs Murphy finally turned to her visitors, it was with a softer expression than her daughter had ever managed.
“Mum, this is Hunter and James, my colleagues.” Sophie introduced.
All softness that Hunter perceived was suddenly revoked when Mrs Murphy worked out that these were the evil witch-hunters that had led her daughter astray.
“Mum, these were the ones that saved my life, when I was in Italy.” Sophie stressed each word, warning her dear mother to behave herself.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Murphy.” Hunter said, extending his hand.
“Please, call me Bev.” She replied with a polite smile, still undecided on whether to like these two young men. “I’m afraid all I can offer our guests is the fold-out settee in the conservatory. I’ll let you put your bags - er, bag down.”
She showed them through the small cottage to the make-shift guest room. As oldy-worldy and traditional as the cottage had looked from the outside, the interior was all cool, modern lines and light colours. Hunter and James politely dawdled in the warm conservatory, giving Sophie time with her mum. But eventually they joined them back in the small living room.
The two women were sitting together on the settee, heads close as they talked, and Bev didn’t look happy. “You shouldn’t be travelling in your condition, only out of hospital. Oh that you ended up in hospital!”
“Mum! It was my choice to do this, and I don’t regret any of it. I’ve already explained how important it is.” Sophie stressed, holding her mother’s gaze until the older woman dropped her eyes.
“Why you have to choose such danger, I don’t know. You could have left it to others.” Bev said bitterly. She then looked up, noticing the two men hovering by the door. She blushed at being overheard. “Well, I suppose none of you will have eaten. You’ll have to make do with my cooking.”
Before anyone could say anything, or offer to help, Bev took herself off to the kitchen.
“Don’t pay her any attention.” Sophie said harshly. “She doesn’t blame you guys - or at least, she shouldn’t. She doesn’t agree with my decision to join the MMC, as you probably heard.”
“She’s got a right to be worried.” James replied with a shrug.
Sophie sighed, twisting to look towards the kitchen, clearly annoyed with her mother.
“Come on, she’s not that bad for a mum, she cares for you, that’s all.” James continued. “Just wait til you meet Hunter’s!”
Hunter gave him a scathing look. “Nobody wants to hear about her. So was this where you grew up?”
“Yes.”
“What? That’s it? No childhood stories you want to share?”
Sophie looked at both of them questioningly. “No. What’s to tell? I grew up, then left to work in the city. If you’re wanting tales of mad, rebellious youth, I’ve got to disappoint you.”