Saturday's Child (29 page)

“What’s wrong with it now?” He looked in the mirror. He did a double take. “Wow. It’s more blond again than white. Aside from a few streaks.” He looked at her. “And your grey has almost gone, as well. Was it forgiving each other or that kiss?”

“I would imagine forgiving each other. But just in case it wasn’t, kiss me again.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” he whispered, folding his arm around her. He kissed her, slowly at first. Her arms went around his neck, fingers caressing his hair line, before winding into his hair. She responded completely, and he poured into it as much passion as he could, until her arm got wedged in the steering wheel, setting the horn off once again.

26

The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever! Psalm 22:26

Aaron grinned at her. “Horn works.” He pulled his jacket off the window at a sharp knock on the glass.

Hal stood there, hand raised ready to knock again. “Is everything all right, boss? Hey your hair is back to normal.”

“Yeah, it is.” He opened the door. “Everything’s fine. We were just talking.”

“
Sure you were
, boss. That lawyer is here to see you.”

He nodded. “I’m coming.”

Meggie grinned. “Oops.”

“Yes, oops.”

She moved her jacket to find Gareth grinning at her. She opened the door. “Did you want something?”

“What were you doing in there?”

“Talking and testing the horn,” she said. “And it works just fine.”

“Uh huh, Megs, pull the other one. What were you really doing?”

She blushed. “Talking. We’ve sorted things out. Everything’s fine now.”

Aaron looked at him over the top of the car. “Meggie showed me the photo. Mair was a beautiful baby.”

Gareth’s eyes glistened. “Aye, she was.”

Meggie grabbed the cups. “I’ll go rinse these, and get on.”

He hurried around the car and grabbed her hand, wanting one more kiss before she left his side. “Later?”

She nodded as her phone rang. She pulled it free of her jacket and answered it. “Hello?” She waved to the men as she walked across the yard, talking quietly.

Aaron watched her for a moment, before turning to Gareth. “So, what can I do for you?”

“Not here. Can we use your office or are the police still in there?”

“Probably. That’s why we were talking in the car.”

Gareth nodded. “In that case, can we?”

“Sure.” Aaron got back in the car and shut the door. “What’s up?”

“It’s these papers that you gave me to look after.” Gareth pulled them out of his briefcase. “I wish you’d shown me before you signed them.”

“Why?” Fear gnawed at his stomach. “What did I sign?”

“What did you think it was?”

“Tanis said it signed the farm over to me.”

“That’s what she wanted you to think. Did you read them?”

“Yes. No. Well, I read part of one of them. It seemed to pan out with what she said. Why?”

“Aaron,” Gareth groaned. “Never sign anything without reading it properly first. Neither of these papers you signed gives you the farm.” He held up the first one. “This is a restraining order against Megs to keep her from the farm. If she sets foot in the house or the land, then she breaks it and can be arrested immediately. This one, which I imagine is the one you thought you read, signs your share of the farm to Tanis. As of this morning, you don’t own the land at all. Tanis does. All you own is the house.”

Aaron sat stunned, the breath caught in his throat. “What?” he managed. “Say that again.”

Maybe this time it would sound better.

“Tanis owns the farm. She tricked you out of it. Sure, you get the house, but you have to drive over her land to get to it, so if she bans you from the farm, you can’t get in or out of your house. And if Megs sets foot on the farm or comes within fifty feet of you, she can be arrested.”

He slumped in his seat, his hand covering his face. He’d lost everything, Meggie and the farm.
What have I done? What do I do now?

“Do the cops know?”

“No, else they’d have arrested Megs already. I’ve spoken to that CPS barrister, Niamh Harkin, and we’re applying to have the restraining order reneged. I explained you had no knowledge of this and signed under duress. I’ll do what I can about the other one.”

“Thank you.” He sucked in a deep breath. “What do I tell Meggie?”

“Don’t tell her anything for now. I don’t want to worry her, but please avoid close contact with her. No more testing car horns. And I don’t mean that from a brother’s point of view either. Until Megs has been served with the papers, they can’t enforce them and I’ve halted it for now. Besides which, it looks as if Tanis was arrested before she filed the papers as her lawyer has no record of them.”

“OK, I understand. I’m not going to do anything to put Meggie in danger. Are you staying for the bonfire tomorrow night?”

“No,” Gareth said, closing his brief case. “I’m going back to Wales from here. I won’t see Megs again tonight. I want to get back before it gets too late.”

“Have a safe trip. What’s happening with Tanis and Drake?”

“There is still no sign of Drake, but Tanis is locked up until tomorrow at least. Longer than that if the cops can get an extension for questioning her.”

“OK.” Aaron got out of the Jeep and looked around for Meggie. He couldn’t see her anywhere. Part of him knew that was a good thing, but the rest missed her already. He turned back to Gareth and shook his hand. “Drive carefully.”

“I will, and I’ll be in touch.”

Aaron walked with Gareth to his car and once he’d gone, headed into the milking shed. He smiled over at Hal. “I assume you’re coming tomorrow night?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

****

Meggie stood by the almost-completed bonfire, staring at it. She didn’t understand. She thought things were all right between her and Aaron now. In his car, he’d kissed her, a mind blowing kiss that knocked her socks off, to put it in teenage terms. But that phone call immediately afterwards, had turned everything on its head. All the time he was apologizing and kissing her, he’d had a restraining order out on her?

How could he do that?

She needed to check with Gareth, but as things stood right now, she could be arrested at any minute. But then they’d have done that by now if it were true.

She took a deep breath, common sense prevailing. It was obvious who was really behind the restraining order.

Just another one of the many lies and webs of deceit surrounding the farm and those around her. She wasn’t going to put any stock in it at all.

Pulling out her phone, she rang her brother, but it went straight to voice mail. “Hey, Gareth, it’s Meggie. Just wanted to check something about a restraining order, but I guess I missed you. It’s been lovely having you, and I’m sorry you had to go back tonight and couldn’t stay for the fireworks tomorrow. Drive safe and I’ll speak to you on Sunday. Don’t worry about returning the call. It’s going to be full on here tomorrow and I need an early night. Love you. Bye.”

The crow landed on the bonfire. Head tilted, it stared unblinkingly at her. She shivered. “Don’t you have a home to go to, Mr. Crow?” She laughed at herself. Did she really expect it to answer? She must be tired if she was talking to the birds. “Well, I do have a home, and must away to it. I need my bed, even if you don’t need your nest.”

She turned, her heart stopping at sight of the person in front of her. “How did you get here?” She backed away, panic rising, her feet slipping on the uneven ground.

A hand grabbed her arm, stopping her from falling. “Take it easy, miss. Don’t want you falling and breaking something like the boss did.”

She relaxed slightly. It must be one of the farm hands. With the black overcoat she’d thought for a moment the crow had turned into a person. “I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

“It is dark up here, and easy to mistake people. The boss wants us to cover the fire in case it rains.”

“Good idea. See you tomorrow.” She started walking back down towards the car, berating herself.
Too easily spooked, you are, Meggie. Tanis is locked up, the farm is cleansed. Nothing is going to go wrong.

****

Finished with the milking, Aaron locked up the cows for the night. He glanced at the farmhands. “Did you get the fire covered, Gerry?”

“Aye, boss. Used those old tarpaulins. Took three of them, mind, but it’s covered. Me and Tim are off home now. See you on Monday.”

“Monday?”

“Aye. You give me and him the weekend off, remember?”

Aaron wracked his brains trying to think. He had no recollection of having done so, but then he’d not been thinking clearly the past few days. “Oh, OK. See you on Monday then, Gerry. Have a good weekend.”

“You too, boss.” The men nodded and vanished into the dark.

Aaron crossed to the hen house and shut away the hens for the night. Last thing he wanted was the foxes getting them. The farm was quiet now everyone had gone. Crickets chirped in the long grass. Above him, a full moon shone in a star studded sky. A bat circled above the barn, and an owl hooted from his nest in the tall trees.

A torch light flashed in the field. He frowned. There shouldn’t be anyone over by the fire now. He grabbed the torch from the wall and shone it into the field. “Who’s there?”

“DC Williams and Davies, sir. We’re covering the night shift.”

“Oh, right, OK. I wasn’t expecting anyone to still be here.”

“DI Welsh insisted. She said with Drake Stormcrow still at large, it was safer.”

“Good idea. Well, have a good evening.” He turned off the light and headed back across the farmyard to the house.

Letting himself in, he turned off the main yard lights and turned on the PIR activated ones. He locked the door and turned on the radio. Opening the freezer, he set about looking for something for dinner.

The contents were particularly uninspiring. He really should go food shopping at some point. What was Meggie having? Probably not a frozen dinner like him. Once this mess with the restraining order was over, he’d have her around for dinner again. Maybe even cook once this cast was off his arm. He pulled out cheesy chips and shoved them into the microwave.

The news came on the radio, and he half paid attention as he waited for dinner to cook. Everything just seemed so…normal now, he decided. And quiet. Something it hadn’t been for a while. But he missed the smile from the other side of the room and the cute Welsh accent and the way her hair never stayed tied back for very long despite her best efforts to the contrary.

He picked up the phone and dialed. It rang four times and her answerphone picked up. “Hey, you’ve reached Meggie’s place. I can’t get to the phone right now because I’m busy cleaning or watching TV or something. Please leave a message. Unless you’re a cold caller or telesales person in which case please don’t.”

He laughed. “None of the above, Meggie, it’s Aaron. I just wanted to hear your voice. Don’t worry about calling back. I’ll see you in the morning at some point. Good night.” He paused. “I—Night.”

He hung up. He couldn’t say
I love you
on the phone. That had to be said to her face. The microwave beeped, and he pulled the hot plastic container out. Covering the cheese and chips with ketchup, he settled down in his chair by the fire with a fork, and propped his feet on the coffee table. Something Tanis had never approved of. But as she wasn’t here to argue, he was going to do what he wanted for once. Besides, it
was
his house now.

Aaron said grace and began eating. The news finished and then the evening concerto began. He put down the half-eaten container and closed his eyes. Beethoven’s sixth symphony played in the background, the calming music washing over him.

Thick bitter smoke filled the air. He could taste it, smell it. See the flames leaping and consuming. Sparks flung high into the air and wood crackled, hissed and spat. He drew closer to the fire, the heat burning his face and hands
.

He tossed and turned, coughing.

The fire grew hotter and the smoke thicker. He couldn’t breathe. He had to get away, but he couldn’t move. The ground had melted beneath him, and his feet were buried to his ankles in ash and slime.

He coughed, jerking awake as someone pounded on the front door. “Mr. Field, are you in there?”

He coughed, acrid smoke swirling around him. Something crackled beyond the hall door. A pungent stench of burning filled the air.

The front door burst open, and the two police officers burst in, hands over their mouths.

He struggled to his feet. Was he awake? Was he still dreaming? He wasn’t sure as both states seemed to be the same. He automatically reached for his jacket. “What is it?”

“The house is on fire. We need to get you out.”

They took hold of him, helping him from the house into the cold night. He collapsed to the ground, coughing and sucking in huge gasps of clean air.

Flames shot high in the sky, roaring, blazing, crackling. A violent explosion shook the back of the house, sending a plume of smoke and flame soaring above the building.

Aaron clamped his hands over his ears, the smoke stinging his eyes as his home burned. Sirens filled the air, blue lights splitting the darkness as the first fire engines arrived.

27

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, Psalm 22:27

Aaron sat in his Jeep, watching the fire fighters trying to bring the blaze under control. Twenty fire fighters, from four pumps, ran hoses across the farmyard. An elevated platform targeted the flames from above. Shortly before midnight, the roof collapsed, sending a mushroom of smoke, flame and ash roaring high into the sky.

Grief filled him. The only home he had ever known was being quickly reduced to a pile of smoldering ash. Even if he could see Meggie right now, even if he had told her he loved her and wanted to be with her forever, he didn’t have anything to offer her. The land was no longer his, and the house had gone. Ash covered the windscreen, and he flicked the wipers on to clear it.