Saving Willowbrook (10 page)

That was how their great love had ended. With a bang. Then she'd been left to whimper on her own. She'd wept a good few times. They'd had irreconcilable differences, life goals that diverged. He'd wanted to travel the world and specialize in emergency medicine. She'd wanted to stay –
needed
to stay, because she could only work on her project here.

A piece of loose stone fell off the edge of the battered outer wall, as if to emphasize that he was right. She did need to move out. The cottage was probably safe. It'd lasted over two centuries already, but if old Doc Paige wanted her out, she'd go.

Not because Oliver said so.

She could go to Ella, didn't need to ask to know she'd be welcome – only that was a long way out of town when you were working late at night and came home exhausted. It'd be more sensible to take the flat, as long as the rent wasn't any higher. Surely she'd be able to avoid seeing much of Oliver.

He brought back too many memories of a time she'd been young and optimistic about love and life.

She and her cousin had both been disappointed by their early choices in men. They were wiser now, knew better than to trust anyone.

Ella took the key off the hook and led the way out to the barn. Once she'd not have bothered to lock it, but since the break-in she'd become more careful. The incident had made her feel unsafe in her own home and she resented that bitterly.

It was a large key, black, made of iron, the circle at the end smooth to the touch. How many people had used that key over the centuries? she wondered as she fitted it into the lock.

She flung open one of the big doors and Cameron followed suit with the other, then stood there looking round.

‘It's a cruck barn!' he said in amazement. ‘I wondered, but – wow, I can't believe it's so well preserved inside! What happened to the outside?'

‘My ancestors made so many changes over the years, they covered a lot of the old building.'

He walked slowly round, his face alight with interest and excitement, reaching up to touch the old wood where he could and pacing the place out.

She stiffened. If you measured it inside and out, you'd find it didn't quite fit. No, he'd not bother to do that accurately, surely?

He turned to her from the other end. ‘I walked along the outside when I was waiting for you. Unless I'm much mistaken, there's a difference of a couple of yards at this end. Did you realize that?'

She couldn't think what to say. Miles hadn't once thought to do this, not in all the years he'd lived here, and now this stranger had found one of the old place's secrets within a day of coming here.

He stared at her. ‘You already knew, of course you did.'

Reluctantly she nodded.

‘Is there a hiding place?'

She didn't know what to say.

A little of the excitement died from his face. ‘Sorry. I'm probably intruding on something private. Of course you won't want to share your house's secrets with a stranger.'

‘No one else has ever guessed.'

‘Old houses are a bit of a hobby of mine. I love history.'

On a sudden impulse she said, ‘I'll show you, then. A special treat.' She went to the wooden wall which separated two of the storage spaces and pressed one of the upright planks in a certain way, as her father had shown her when she was sixteen, a rite of passage into adulthood. It was a bit stiff. She'd need to oil it again.

The door opened slowly. ‘Come inside.' She took the candle and matches her father had always insisted on keeping ready and lit it.

Cameron followed her inside, touching the rough wood of the door, then running his fingertips along the walls.

She pointed to the little bench. ‘They even provided seating.' She didn't close the door because some people got claustrophobic.

When she sat down, he joined her, not speaking just studying their surroundings with a half-smile on his face.

‘Did you play hide and seek here when you were a child?'

‘We usually get shown the secrets of Willowbrook when we're about sixteen. Amy doesn't know about this place yet, because she's a bit young to keep a secret. I never even told my ex about it. Well, he wasn't interested in ancient monuments.' Miles had several times called this place an old ruin.

‘Then I'm honoured that you trusted me. I'll keep your secret, I promise.'

She was surprised to realize she'd never doubted that. What was there about this man? She looked sideways and found him watching her.

He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek. ‘Thank you for sharing this with me.'

After they'd closed the hidey-hole up, his mobile phone rang.

‘Excuse me. I'm expecting an important call.'

He moved away, but she couldn't help overhearing.

‘No, it's been switched on for the past hour. No, it definitely didn't ring before.' He sighed in exasperation. ‘Look, I don't intend to be available twenty-four seven, Ray. I do have a life of my own, you know.'

She walked back to the kitchen, leaving him to his phone call. She had more than enough to do today, shouldn't have taken even an hour off. And she felt more tired than usual, having to force herself to keep going. Which wasn't like her.

When she got there, the phone was blinking and she checked who'd rung. Rose. She glanced out of the window. Cameron was still talking on his mobile, not looking best pleased, so she rang her cousin back.

The phone rang a few times and she was just going to put the handpiece down when the line crackled and she heard Rose's voice, a bit breathless as if she'd been running.

‘Ella. Thanks for ringing back. I just wanted to tell you my news. Brett Harding had an accident last night and crashed into my cottage. He knocked the corner walls down.'

‘He was drunk when he left here.'

‘He's not been pestering you again?'

‘Yes.'

‘He's a sleaze. But never mind him . . . Oliver Paige is back!'

‘I heard that he was coming. How do you feel about seeing him again?'

‘Same way you'd feel if Miles came to live nearby.'

‘Ha! There's no hope of that. He hates country life. Are you going to take the flat Doc Paige has offered? There's plenty of room here if you don't fancy that.'

Another silence, then, ‘Thanks but the flat's more convenient for my work at the pub.'

‘Well, if things change, you know you can come here.'

‘Thanks, love.'

As Ella put the phone down, the door opened and Cameron came in, his expression serious. ‘There's some sort of minor crisis concerning a project I've been working on. They won't discuss it over the phone. And I have a final few things to tidy up, so I'm going up to London to do everything at once.'

‘You're leaving now?'

When he nodded, she was angry with herself for feeling disappointed. ‘I'll make up your bill, then. I'll only charge you for the one night, of course.'

‘I'm coming back, Ella. I love it here. I'll pay for three nights, to show willing.'

She looked across at him uncertainly.

‘And when I come, I'd like to see more of
you
. If you'd like it, that is.'

She stilled, shocked by the gladness welling up, remembering suddenly how quickly she and Miles had become an item. Too quickly. Far too quickly. ‘I . . . don't know. It's a bit sudden, isn't it?'

‘How long does it take to be attracted to someone?'

He looked as if he was going to draw her into his arms and she took an involuntary step backwards. ‘I've not . . . I'm not sure I—'

He studied her, head on one side. ‘He hurt you badly, that husband of yours, didn't he?'

She could only shrug. She hadn't discussed her feelings about the failure of her marriage with anyone except Rose.

‘OK. We'll take it easy. Just give me a chance. I don't like the thought of you being on your own out here while I'm away, though.'

‘I've got my ferocious guard dog.'

‘You're more likely to have to rescue Porgy.'

‘Well, I don't think Brett Harding will be troubling me again.' She explained about the accident.

‘That might keep him away but it's very lonely out here and you said you'd had another break-in.'

Even as he was speaking, they heard a car coming along the drive. She moved away from him, straightened her clothes and ran a hand over her hair, which was always escaping from the scarf she used to tie it back. ‘I'll – um – just go and see who that is.'

Two elderly couples emerged from a large station wagon which had seen better days. Ella showed them the chalets then brought them back to the house to book them in, listening to the tales of their trip as if it was the most fascinating story she'd ever heard.

Cameron nodded to them and waited for her to finish.

‘Is there anything else, Mr O'Neal?'

‘I'd like a can of lemonade. Shall I help myself and put it on my account?'

‘Yes, please do. And we'll settle the account after you get back.'

He smiled at her, then the two couples. ‘I hope your stay here is as enjoyable as mine has been. Ms Turner is an excellent cook if you're thinking of eating here.'

‘Well, that's nice to know.' One of the men came across to offer his hand. ‘Joe Blake. We're only here for a couple of nights, but it'd be nice not to have to drive out again tonight, I must admit.'

Cameron went to pack his things, relieved that Ella wouldn't be on her own. When he'd put his bags in his car, he went to find her.

‘Promise me you'll be careful.'

‘I will.'

‘I'll be gone for a couple of days, three at most. If they leave before I get back . . .'

‘Cameron, I've lived here alone for the past two years. I'll be perfectly all right.'

Only when he'd driven off did she realize that he hadn't given her his mobile number, and the only address she had for him was a post office box.

He'll be back, she told herself as she began to defrost some food for her new guests. I can trust him.

I'm missing him already, she thought later as she and Porgy went to meet Amy after school. How stupid can you get?

He will come back, she thought again as she prepared a meal for her guests. Of course he will.

I'm worrying for nothing, she told herself as she got ready for bed.

But surely, if he'd meant what he said, he'd have arranged to keep in touch?

Six

In the middle of the night the security lights switched on and the buzzer linked to them sounded next to Ella's bed. She woke with a start and sat up, her heart thumping madly. Quickly she dragged on her dressing gown before picking up the old rounders bat she now kept next to her bed for protection. Without switching on the lights, she crept from one side of the house to the other, peering out of the windows, but could see no signs of movement outside.

After the usual two-minute period, the lights automatically switched off again. She waited for a while longer, roaming the shadowy house, peering out of windows, then went back to bed. It was probably some animal that had strayed on to the farm. A deer, maybe. The fence must be down somewhere.

Just as she was dozing off, the lights came on again and the buzzer jerked her awake.

Another tour of the windows showed nothing.

This happened several times, then stopped. Only she kept expecting the lights to go on again and couldn't relax, let alone sleep.

She felt very angry. Someone was playing with her. Was it Brett Harding? Why would he bother? Wasn't he in enough trouble?

And if it wasn't him, who was it? What about the people who'd vandalized her home? She still worried about why they'd picked on her.

She returned to bed but tossed and turned for a long time before falling into an uneasy sleep.

In the morning, the alarm clock woke her at the usual time. Feeling heavy-headed, she went into Amy's room, lingering a moment or two to smile fondly at the child sleeping as usual in a tangle of covers and soft toys.

By the time she got into the car to drive Amy to the bus stop, she had everything ready for her guests, who had booked breakfast for half past eight.

‘When is Mr O'Neal coming back, Mummy?'

‘I'm not sure. In a day or two – if he can. It's not absolutely certain.'

‘But he said he was coming back.'

‘I know he did, darling, but people sometimes change their minds.'

‘He won't break a promise. He's a nice man. Me and Porgy like him. Do you like him, Mummy?'

‘Yes.'

‘That's good.'

Ella didn't ask Amy to explain what she meant by that because she didn't want to get into a tangle of explanations. Some things were just too complicated for seven-year-olds.

When she got back, she checked the ground near the house and found several blurred footprints, the sort you got from cheap wellies like the ones she wore herself in winter. She stared at them, her breath catching in her throat. She'd guessed it hadn't been an animal, but this was proof that someone had been prowling round her house trying to spook her – and they'd succeeded, damn them.

Who would do that? Brett was the first name that came to mind. He'd been pestering her on and off for years, but why would he suddenly go off the rails like this?

‘Good morning, Mrs Turner.'

She jumped in shock, then realized it was the new guests, ready for their breakfast.