Saturday's Child (19 page)

“Stiff. How long did I sleep for?”

“All night. You were sleeping so soundly, and looked so peaceful, I decided rather than wake you and tell you to go to bed, that I should leave you where you were. I slept in the chair next to you. I put dinner in the fridge. I figured I’d reheat it for lunch for the farm hands.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Told you last night, stop apologizing. I put a change of clothes in the bathroom for you, along with a plastic bag to cover your cast if you want a shower. And a tube of arnica cream for those bruises. It’ll bring out the swelling.”

“Thank you.” He took a deep breath. “Is that bacon I can smell?”

“Sure is. Bacon, eggs, sausage, and beans for you and the farm hands. They’ve all been here since before dawn doing all the chores.”

“That makes them sound like school kids or scouts.”

Meggie laughed. “Think bob-a-job week has long since been done away with, unfortunately. Although it’d be nice if the scouts started it up again. Just think of all the useful jobs they could do.”

“It’d cost more than a bob.” Aaron stood up slowly. “Now they’d want at least a quid. If not more. Morning, Hal,” he added, seeing his foreman come into the kitchen.

“Morning, boss.”

Meggie looked at him, worriedly. “Hal’s gonna sit outside the bathroom while you shower. That way if you need help he’s there.”

Relief filled him. “Thank you. Don’t take it the wrong way, Meggie, but I was hoping you weren’t volunteering for that one.” He held her gaze. “Maybe after we’re married.”

She tilted her head. “Me thinks the drugs are still addling your brain, because that sounds like a proposal.”

He grinned at her. “I’m going to go shower and change. Think of it what you will.” He headed from the room, Hal behind him. Had he meant the comment as a proposal? Maybe not at first, but if that’s how she took it, would he object?

No. He had to agree, through his drug-addled-brain as she so charmingly put it, he wouldn’t object at all.

17

I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. Psalm 22:17

Meggie kept a close eye on Aaron the rest of the day. He was probably sick of it by the time dinner was ready at six thirty, but he hadn’t complained. Had he meant the comment about marriage? Was it a proposal? The painkillers talking? Or was it rather just an offhand joking remark between two friends?

OK, she’d only known him one week, two days, six hours and fifteen minutes, not that she was counting, but she couldn’t imagine not seeing him on a daily basis. He filled her thoughts and hopes in a way that no one ever had.

She’d learned from Hal that in the old days, before Aaron’s father died, it was tradition for them all to meet for prayer first thing and have at least one meal a day together in the kitchen. Her parents did exactly the same thing. Always lunch time, as the men had their own homes to go to in the evening. This morning she’d done them breakfast and then lunch as well.

Not that Tanis would do it when she got back. But maybe Aaron would ask. She’d seen the light in his eyes when the men came in to eat and he’d joined in the conversation, and teasing. She picked up the tray and carried it over to him. “Here you go. I made shepherd’s pie because you can eat that one handed.”

“But I only have one shepherd. Who’s going to look after the sheep if you cooked him?”

“Oops. Sorry.” She giggled and went back for her own plate. “He didn’t complain too much.”

Once she’d sat, Aaron said grace, and then began eating. The silence between them was comfortable, as if simply being with the other was enough.

“Did you want me to stay over again tonight?” she asked.

Aaron looked at her and finished his mouthful before replying. “No, I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

“It’s not a problem, and you’re not taking up my time. I made use of your Internet while you dozed and worked on the stuff Pastor Jack emailed over.”

He smiled, still lopsided, but better than it had been. The bruising was looking pretty, no doubt thanks to the arnica cream she’d given him. “Cool, but even so, I’ll be fine tonight.”

“OK. I’ll make tracks after I’ve shut away the hens and done the dishes.”

“Thank you. Will you come back tomorrow? Help me make the guy?”

“Sure. Can’t have a bonfire without a guy. I’ll bring over more bonfire stuff after lunch.”

****

Meggie laughed at the story Aaron told as he stuffed newspaper into one of his old shirts. “I wish I had seen that.”

“Hey,” he said in mock shock. He raised an eyebrow in that so charming way he had that sent those butterflies lekking again. “Did your mother not teach you never to insult your host under his own roof? And speaking of insults, you never did tell me what that long Welsh phrase meant?”

She grinned. “
Am ddyn Saesneg, rydych yn ‘n bert da yn chwilio
means for an English bloke, you’re pretty good looking.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Anyway, did you get hold of your brother or sister?”

Aaron’s face fell. “I…yeah, I did. Basically, they don’t want to know.”

“Why not?”

“They think I stole the trust fund money. Isaac said until I give the money back, he wants nothing to do with me. Same goes for Leah. I wish…” He sighed. “I wish I had a family like yours.”

She shoved the scrunched up paper into the trouser leg. “Yeah, I guess I am fortunate in that respect. But we’ve always been close.”

“I thought the three of us were,” he said, grief flashing across his face. “Guess I was wrong about that, too.”

“What else were you wrong about?”

He looked at her, about to say something, when the kitchen door blew open and the ambient temperature dropped by several degrees. Tanis stood on the threshold.

Aaron’s face fell. “Hi,” he said. “You’re back.”

“Hello, Aaron, yes I am. Don’t look so pleased to see me. What have you done to your arm?” Tanis dumped her bags on the floor, stamping her feet on the door mat.

“I fell from the barn roof and fractured my wrist. Meggie’s been taking care of me.”

“Has she? That’s kind.” Tanis turned to the tall imposing figure behind her. “Come on in, Drake. Make yourself at home. Aaron, you know Drake Stormcrow. He’ll be moving in for a while.”

Aaron opened his mouth to reply but she cut him off.

“And don’t bother to make up the spare bed. He’ll be sharing my room.”

Drake held out a hand. “Nice to see you again.” He shook Aaron’s hand then held a hand out to Meggie. “And you are?”

“Meaghan Knight, a friend of Aaron’s.”

His touch was ice cold, and Meggie shivered. Dark eyes stared straight through her, and he held on for longer than necessary. She pulled free of his grip and looked at Aaron.

He reassured her with a smile. “How long are you staying for, Mr. Stormcrow?”

“I’m not sure. It depends how long I am needed.” He took a deep breath, and turned to Tanis. “I see what you mean about the house. Its sense of balance is out of alignment.”

“Let’s go upstairs and dump the bags, and then I’ll take you around the farm, tell you my plans for it.” Tanis looked at Aaron. “Did you cook dinner?”

“We’ve eaten. If I’d known you were coming back, I’d have saved you some.”

She nodded sharply, picking up her bags and sweeping from the room. Drake followed her.

Meggie shivered as they left. “The house is out of alignment?” she repeated. “With what?”

“I dread to think.” He held her gaze. “Just glad we’ve already eaten.”

“Me too.”

“Meggie, don’t take this the wrong way, but you should go home.”

“I’m sorry? Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“No, not at all. It’s just this guy that Tanis brought home…let’s just say he gives me the creeps and I’d rather you not be around him, that’s all.”

She looked down at the half built guy. “Look, he’s not far off being done. Half an hour to finish him off, and then I’ll go.”

“OK.”

“Where are we going to put him when he’s finished?”

“In Mum’s art studio under the barn. He’ll be safe there.” Aaron paused and grinned. “You realize we’ve just referred to an inanimate object as he.”

“Well, my car’s a she, so it’s not like we haven’t done it before.”

He leaned forwards and kissed her, the short touch to her lips leaving her senses reeling. She slid an arm around him, kissing him again.

Aaron pulled her close, the guy being squashed between them. She closed her eyes, letting herself be caught up in the delicious way Aaron set her body on fire with his touch and his taste.

Several kisses and an hour later, the guy was finally complete. Meggie drew on a face with a marker. She finished the last pointed eyebrow and grinned. “Do we give him pointed ears as well?”

“It’s a guy not a Vulcan,” Aaron laughed. “But sure, why not?”

Meggie laughed and drew on ears. Then she tucked the guy under her arm. “Come on then. Surprised Tanis hasn’t commented on the smell of the paint yet, or noticed the spare room.”

“She probably has as there isn’t much that gets past her. If anything does. She’s most likely biding her time.”

****

Aaron took Meggie’s hand in his uninjured one, and led her from the house over to the barn. The tall structure loomed in front of them, outlined against the starry night sky. Had he really fallen from up there? She was right, he could have been killed.

Her hand was warm in his, the simple touch grounding him and setting all his nerve endings aglow.

He glanced at Meggie. “You look like the
Mona Lisa
. Penny for your thoughts?”

“I was thinking about your marriage proposal.”

“What about it?”

“Well…” She grinned. “I think that only knowing someone a week makes it a little hard to base a lifetime commitment on. Ask me again in a while.”

“Sure.” Part of him was disappointed she’d turned him down, even if it had been part joke in the first place. “How much of a while?”

“A couple of days. A week. A month. Never. That’s up to you.” She pulled up the trap door and dropped the guy through the hole. “Now he’ll have a headache, too.”

Aaron laughed. “That he will. I’ll walk you to your car.” He took firm hold of her hand again and led her back outside.

He could feel the change happening already. The dark cloud forming once again over the farm. He had to get her away from here, before anything happened. Halfway across the yard, he realized it was too late. There was movement on the field.

Meggie stopped, looking over at it. “Aaron. Look.”

He reluctantly followed her gaze. Several dark figures crossed the field, flaming torches held aloft, chanting carrying on the breeze. He tugged her hand. “You should leave.”

“Don’t you want to know who they are? You have intruders on your land, Aaron.”

“It’s most likely just Tanis and some of her friends. Really, you should leave. Now.”
While you still can.
Aaron gazed at the field. There was a large glow now, along with the several small ones. Chanting faded in and out on the wind.

“It’s your farm. Aren’t you the least bit curious as to what they’re doing?”

“No.” His tone came out sharper than he’d intended and he softened it. He didn’t want her to see this—whatever
this
was. Every part of him urged him to flee, to get as far away as possible. “Please, Meggie, you will get hurt. You have to leave things alone. This farm is not worth your life or mine. I see that now.”

“No, I have to see this. It’s a fire. We may need the fire brigade out here.” She pulled free of his hand, and took the torch from her pocket. She turned it on and headed across to the field in the direction of the fire.

“Meggie, come back. We don’t need—”

He stood frozen as the torch light became swallowed up in the darkness. He didn’t need to see what the people on his land were doing. He knew. He’d always known, but like looking through a dark glass, the memories had been obscured and hidden. Now they flooded back. The true memories, not the ones he’d been led to believe were real...

Aaron sneaked out of the house, six-year-old Isaac by his side. Drawn by the pretty lights and singing, Isaac wanted to go and see them. Their mother’s stepsister had come to stay when Mum had been put to bed before the baby came. Now, their sister was here, six days old, but Mum wasn’t better. At nine, Aaron took obedience seriously, but Isaac had pleaded and cajoled until Aaron had given in simply to shut him up.

“So long as Tanis doesn’t catch us. She’s got her friends over,” Aaron whispered.

“Auntie Tanis always has people over when Daddy’s out. Especially that Drake person. Why don’t you call her auntie like I do?”

“Because she’s not my auntie, and I don’t like her.”

“I don’t like her either, but she scares me when I don’t do what she wants.”

They crept into the field, Aaron’s torch lighting the way. But he kept it pointing downwards, so hopefully she wouldn’t know they were coming. The chanting got louder and the lights brighter. The big light flickered and crackled.

“It’s a bonfire,” Isaac said, his voice catching in excitement.

Aaron grabbed his hand. “Something’s not right. We should go back.”

A cry filled the air, sending shivers of fear down his back. He knew that voice, and his head jerked upright looking for her. What was Mum doing out here? He’d only just started calling her that, figuring at nine he was too grown up to call her Mummy.

Something drew them closer to the fire. Several robed figures moved around the fire, chanting louder and louder. Smoke floated and twisted, blue flames mixed in with the yellow and orange ones. Sparks rose and popped. The cry turned into a scream.

Then he caught sight of something so awful his mind refused to register it properly. It began to shut down and blot the image out. Tanis and her friend Drake were waving something over the fire.

A tall stick rose from the center of the fire. A figure was tied to it, writhing in the flames. Or did the flames just make it look like the figure was moving?