The Cottage of New Beginnings

by Suzanne Snow

  ‘Fine.’ She didn’t try to disguise the huffiness in her tone as his hands fell away from her, only the note of pleasure that they were going out together, reminding herself of the reason for it. They strode through the yard, Annie half running to keep up, and out into the lane, and the pace didn’t change as they reached the high street. Lights were flaring into life as people settled down for the evening, unaware of the drama taking place outside their doors.

  ‘Do you think he’ll be okay?’ Annie looked sideways at Jon, having to tilt her head to meet his eyes when they turned to her. She saw the quick hesitation in his before he replied.

  ‘I hope so. But he’s vulnerable and the longer he stays out the more trouble he’ll be in.’

  ‘Have you had to search for him before?’

  ‘No. He likes to walk and although he’s a bit more rambling, or confused now, he’s generally kept himself out of trouble and stayed near the village, according to Robert. I don’t think he’s too worried, to be honest.’

  They passed The Courtyard, closed now, and dropped down onto a bridle path beside the water. Jon turned to face her, raising his voice over the rushing water.

  ‘Stay on this side of the river, Annie, I’m going to cross over. Keep looking for anything he might be using for shelter or a likely place to have fallen in. It’s not that deep but he wouldn’t last long if he’s slipped and knocked himself unconscious. His name’s Bill, by the way.’ Jon lightened his words with a quick smile. ‘Be careful, okay? Don’t put yourself at risk.’

  Jon set off first, crossing the river at a footbridge just ahead of her. They walked on, not too fast, not too slow, trudging carefully alongside both banks as they hunted through the fading light, their torches flashing through the dusk. Jon had given her the easier path as she saw him pushing his way through low-hanging branches and forging a track of sorts through the weeds. It was dirty, muddy work and Annie skidded over a couple of times, scrambling back to her feet in the wet undergrowth, stinging her hand on a clump of nettles she hadn’t spotted and already feeling the scratch of rough stems on her face. They had been searching for a good twenty minutes when he called across the water to stop looking. He picked up his radio, listening carefully, and shouted over to her.

  ‘They’ve found him. They’re bringing him straight down to an ambulance.’

  She sighed with relief, raising a hand to show she’d understood, and they began the return journey, the path slightly easier this time, worn down by their stomping. She reached the footbridge first, waiting for Jon, and he joined her a few moments later. She questioned him about Bill immediately, knowing how worried Elizabeth was, and no doubt Robert too underneath his bluster.

  ‘Not sure. He’s alive but injured. Could be a broken ankle at least but I don’t want to say too much until we know there’s nothing even more serious. He’ll almost certainly be hypothermic too.’

  ‘Where was he?’

  Jon rolled his eyes, looking at her through the gloom. ‘Not that far away, just beneath Ellerby Moor, as Mark suggested.’ He paused, bending his head to stare more closely. ‘Hey, are you okay?’ He raised his torch, shining it on her face below her eyes. ‘You’ve been scratched.’ He reached out, gently holding her jaw with warm fingers for a few seconds, tilting her head to get a better look at the ugly slash already stinging her face. His torch swept down her body as he let her go and Annie was horribly conscious of the mud clinging to her legs between her boots and her cropped, filthy jeans and the redness creeping over her face. She tugged at the leaves trapped in her hair with muddied and stinging hands. ‘Are there any others?’

  ‘Don’t think so,’ she said casually, shrugging off his concern. ‘I’m fine, nothing that hasn’t happened before. I’m more worried about how I’m going to get these boots off with the amount of mud that’s inside them.’ The gentleness in the blue depths of his eyes as he examined her and the distracting touch of his long fingers on her face had moved her more than she wanted to show.

  Jon grinned, glancing wryly at his own clothes in a similar state. ‘Happy to help.’ Her raised eyebrows told him she could manage just fine. ‘Keep an eye on that scratch. Come on, let’s get back to the farm and clean up and let them know about Bill. For now, at least, it’s good news.’

  Chapter Six

  By Sunday evening Annie was feeling cooped up and surprisingly lonely in the cottage. She still hadn’t begun her schoolwork and the peace she had longed for was altering into an unexpected isolation, seeping through every part of the house and driving her cherished memories further away. When she had ventured into the village on Saturday afternoon, so many people had stopped to welcome her that she realised she simply couldn’t wander around unnoticed. Outside the pub she’d bumped into Charlie Stewart, the vicar, and knew immediately she was going to like him. He was friendly and younger than she’d expected, in his early thirties, and with unexpectedly marvellous legs revealed by navy blue shorts. She’d heard through Elizabeth that Thorndale was his first parish after curacy, having given up a promising career as a professional rugby player, and Annie had been firmly intrigued.

  She was cross with herself for still thinking about Jon, and she had tried to push him from her mind. But it wasn’t easy, especially after a lorry had turned up on Saturday morning and carefully deposited its load of fuel into the tank in her garden. Each time Annie closed her eyes she could see his inviting expression when he looked at her, or how his eyes would darken without explanation and leave her afraid of trying to decipher their meaning. After the search party had returned on Friday evening, they’d all congregated in the Howards’ kitchen for hot drinks and a debrief. Robert had gone in the ambulance with his dad and Elizabeth had followed later in the car, and the initial news about Bill had been encouraging. Jon had walked back to the cottage with Annie and his ‘good night’ had been pensive when they had eventually parted.

  She had managed to get the Rayburn going again and was eating an early supper, sitting outside on the tatty old bench in the back garden. Despite the lotion she had slathered on, she was certain she was beginning to freckle under the warmth of the evening sun on her pale skin. She had never minded her colouring, inherited from her father, and over the years her hair had gradually changed from dark red to a rich auburn. She thought about the past, remembering the times she had sat in this very spot with Molly on countless summer evenings and a slowly growing pleasure began to emerge at living in this house. Birds were calling in the evening light before dusk arrived to claim their silence, flapping through the hedge at the boundary of the garden.

  She heard the church bells ringing for evensong, smiling as the familiar call to worship echoed through the village. Molly had insisted on sending her to Sunday school, even though she didn’t often attend the services herself, and Annie wondered why it had become more difficult to go to church once she had left Thorndale, despite the certain belief in God that she always carried with her. She had resented it then, furious to forego her freedom while Kirstie had been able to race off on adventures without her. Annie felt sure that Charlie Stewart’s services would be different from those she remembered and decided to go and find out for herself. As she left the house, she knew the village would be quieter now as the day visitors began to return home, the weekend ending all too soon.

  On the green beside the high street the teenage girl from the post office was sitting with a friend and Annie offered her a smile when their eyes met. The girl’s cropped blonde and black hair framed her face, emphasising its delicate shape, and she gave Annie a fleeting smile in return before turning her glance back to her phone. Annie followed the narrow, shadowy lane towards the church, feeling cooler as the sunlight disappeared behind a canopy of leaves. The old trees and tidy hawthorn hedge surrounding the church disguised stony paths swirling around the building to the graveyard, edged with stout shrubs and vibrant summer plants. A wide lawn separated the church from the village hall next door, and she noticed that the hall had been modern
ised with new windows and a smart wooden veranda. Annie heard the bells again and looked to the church. The big wooden door had opened, and people were spilling out onto the path between a pair of ancient yew trees, the noise increasing in the evening light. Surprised, she glanced at her watch. She was too late. The service was over and when she saw Charlie appear to bid everyone good night, she decided to go home.

  Her stomach disappeared into a spin as Jon emerged, talking animatedly to an older woman alongside him. Memories of his finding her in the garden and of searching for Bill together just a couple of days ago tumbled into her mind and she hastened away beyond the churchyard, hoping to be out of sight before he saw her.

  ‘Annie! Hey, wait!’

  Jon’s long stride carried him to her in moments and she finally paused as he reached her. She stilled as she looked at him, seeing his expressing becoming more intimate as his eyes met hers, and it was impossible not to notice how dark grey jeans with a navy blazer over a white T-shirt casually emphasised his broad shoulders. His face was shadowy with stubble again and she could all too easily imagine reaching out to trace the roughness with her fingertips. She clenched her hands tightly, trying to send the tantalising thoughts away.

  ‘How are you?’ he asked, standing together in the lane. Somebody passed by, calling good night and Jon dragged his eyes away from her long enough to give a quick reply to the greeting.

  ‘Fine, thank you.’ She knew her voice was cooler than her face and wished it were the other way around. She cleared her throat in an attempt to sound more casual. ‘You?’

  ‘Good, thanks. Were you in church? I didn’t see you.’

  Her smile was rueful as she began to relax. ‘No. I heard the bells and thought the service was just starting, I hadn’t realised the time. I met Charlie yesterday. He seems really lovely and I thought it might be nice to see him in action.’

  Jon grinned. ‘I hope you’ll enjoy it. He has lots of strengths and leading worship is just one of them. Have you met Sam, his wife, yet?’ A car was approaching so they moved to the side of the lane, drawing closer together until it had passed by and then she sidled away, ridiculously unnerved by the brief feel of his arm.

  ‘No. Charlie mentioned that she would probably come over and say hello. I think we’re a similar age.’

  ‘I’m sure you’ll like her. She’s a breath of fresh air for the communities here, and very sincere underneath all her mischief and fun.’ Jon paused. ‘May I walk home with you?’

  Surprised, Annie nodded before she could come up with a reasonable excuse. They soon reached the high street, skirting the edge of the green. He followed her onto the bridge across the river and they slowly halted, pausing side by side to look down at the water rushing below. She was reminded of their first meeting on the green and saw the same recognition in his eyes, amused now, when she tipped her head sideways to glance at him, the sharp citrus scent of his cologne drifting across to her. She knew she was struggling to disguise the way Jon caused her senses to catapult into chaos whenever she saw him, and that her responses to him were defensive and a little impolite, and tried to relax.

  ‘Have you heard any more news about Bill?’ Annie kept her tone deliberately neutral. ‘Elizabeth says he’s coming home tomorrow.’

  ‘Only that he was very lucky, and the ankle is sprained, not broken. They put him on a drip as he was dehydrated but other than that he was fine once he’d warmed up. But Robert was right: he hadn’t gone too far and was on his way home again when he slipped. He was quite clear about where he’d been and what he was doing so that will help them to worry a bit less, I guess. That he hadn’t just wandered off and was oblivious to everything.’

  ‘I’m so glad it wasn’t worse.’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Jon’s arms were resting on the bridge as he stared at the river again. ‘So did you order more oil for the Rayburn?’

  She heard the grin in his voice and her breath caught, wondering if he was remembering, like her, everything that had happened since they met, each moment imprinted in her mind. ‘Yes thanks, it came on Saturday. And I just wanted to thank you again for sorting out the other stuff. It was really kind of you to spend the time.’ She recalled his comment about working for a mission and was beginning to believe nothing he could tell her would surprise her any more. But when Jon spoke next, she was astonished and speechless all over again.

  ‘Sure.’ He turned slowly until he was facing her, one elbow still propped on the bridge. ‘If you need anything else, places to park, a bit of plumbing, the occasional rescue, give me a call. I’ll make sure I’m available.’

  Taken aback by his directness and flirtatious comments, Annie’s lips parted, her pulse soaring as he watched her, a slow grin deepening the lines at his eyes and around his mouth.

  ‘Annie,’ he began again, becoming more serious as he continued to watch her. He straightened up until he was facing her properly, his eyes holding hers. ‘Do you think you—’

  ‘Jon, darling!’

  The sudden shriek startled them both and Annie spun around, aware of Jon straightening up. A woman was quickly heading towards them, waving breezily. She seemed familiar and Annie was puzzled by the sense of recollection as she approached the bridge. Jon sighed impatiently. The look the woman gave him was affectionate and something else more inviting. When she glanced across to Annie her beautiful eyes became coolly curious for a moment before she returned her attention to Jon.

  ‘I’m sorry I didn’t make evensong, darling,’ she murmured, dropping a quick hand on Jon’s arm as she sidled past Annie to hover between them. ‘Shooting went on much longer than expected, you know what it’s like, and I simply couldn’t get away in time. I hope you didn’t miss me.’

  Annie had an abrupt and terrible thought then, that this woman might be his partner or girlfriend and his earlier, flirty comments suddenly seemed wholly inappropriate. It was a bitter reminder of why she was in Thorndale and she gave Jon a scathing look when his eyes sought hers across the woman in between them. The woman turned her head when she saw that Jon’s attention had wandered and briefly appraised Annie once again as Annie returned the arctic gaze.

  ‘Evening, Sarah.’ Jon’s smile was bland now and Annie glanced up at him, surprised. She saw the noncommittal way he greeted the woman, his eyes altered from the intimacy of a few moments ago into casual friendliness. ‘Annie, let me introduce you to Sarah Holland. She has recently left London and bought a house in the village. Sarah, this is Annie Armstrong, who’s just moved into Willow Cottage. It used to belong to her godmother.’

  Annie politely held out her hand and Sarah’s fingers felt as cool as her eyes against Annie’s warm skin. She tried not to mind about her sun-kissed face and curling hair tumbling down her back as she admired Sarah’s stylish silk blouse, worn over skinny white jeans and a pair of wedge sandals that didn’t look as though they’d come from Primark. Taller than Annie, Sarah’s straight, caramel-blonde hair was as immaculate as her perfectly applied make-up. Elegant, toned arms were the colour of pale conkers, and Annie knew instinctively they weren’t going to like one another. Sarah could easily pass for a woman in her late twenties, but up close tiny lines around her eyes and mouth were not completely disguised. Annie felt certain her smooth expression was not entirely natural as Sarah seemed to be trying to defy the reality of her mid-thirties.

  ‘I hope you’re going to do something about the state of the garden, Annie.’ Sarah’s tone was offhand as she glanced at Annie and then deliberately looked beyond her, presumably in search of something more interesting. ‘It’s letting the entire community down, especially as the judging for Best-Kept Dales Village is about to commence. Don’t you think so, Jon? Aren’t you on the judging panel? I’ve just volunteered my services. I thought a few little Instagram shots of cute cottages and quaint gardens would be rather adorable.’

  Sarah gave her a quick, frozen smile before she looked at Jon and her eyes became flirty again as Annie tried to glare back. Before she
could think up a decent reply, Sarah was batting her long, false eyelashes at him with such vigour that Annie wanted to laugh.

  ‘I am not.’ Jon laughed, stuffing his hands in his jeans pocket and regarding Sarah evenly. ‘I’ve got enough to do without getting roped into anything else. But you should definitely do it, Sarah. I’m sure they’d love to have you.’

  ‘Well, we’ll see,’ she said sweetly. ‘I have to be so careful and not be seen to support one thing over another.’

  ‘Anyway, from what I knew of Molly she wasn’t into tidy gardens and perfect lawns, isn’t that right, Annie? Didn’t she prefer a more natural look? I’m sure the committee can overlook a few weeds if they’re beneficial to wildlife.’

  Annie opened her mouth to reply that formal gardens had indeed never been Molly’s style, when, not to be deterred, Sarah crashed on. ‘You haven’t forgotten about our date on Friday, have you, darling?’ She tucked a beautifully manicured hand through Jon’s arm, sliding a quick glance in Annie’s direction to be sure she caught the implication of intimacy. The gesture seemed to take Jon by surprise and he looked down at Sarah, puzzled. To Annie’s delight he dropped Sarah back down to earth again when he answered, his dark brows furrowed in confusion.

  ‘I thought you were having a housewarming party. I don’t remember anything else.’

  Sarah’s hand slipped from his arm as she tried to wave off his reply. ‘Just us, darling, and a very few friends from work, and of course my new neighbours,’ she said merrily, seemingly unperturbed by his remark. She tossed her head, allowing her gorgeous hair to fall across one eye. ‘It’s all very last minute and casual.’

  Jon nodded, and the brief glance he gave Annie was worth the sharp one which followed from Sarah. ‘In that case would you mind if Annie joined us, as she hasn’t been in the village very long?’ he asked Sarah pleasantly, apparently confident of her agreement. ‘It would be a great way for her to meet a few people. I know how you like to encourage community fellowship.’