Hallow House - Part Two

by Jane Toombs

  She nodded.

  "I'll go with you."

  "But," she protested, "you're wearing a suit."

  "Do you think the horse will mind?"

  She gave him a reluctant smile.

  "Then let's go." He took her arm and led her to the door.

  Outside, he paused to lock his medical bag in his car while she wondered why on earth he'd decided to go riding with her. As he turned their glances met and held. She found she couldn't look away from what flickered in the cloudy green depths of his eyes. When he finally moved and broke the spell, she found she'd been holding her breath.

  Don't be so susceptible, she warned herself. Haven't you learned anything. You know better. Or ought to. Still there was something about the way he looked at her that set her on fire.

  Samara rode her father's newest purchase, an Arabian mare named Tanya. Kevin chose a palomino named Tolstoi. How odd he looked riding in a business suit.

  "To the grove of sycamores and back?" He pointed.

  She nodded and soon they reined in by the stream that cut across the property. The sky had clouded over and the bare limbs of the trees promised winter.

  Kevin dismounted and so did she. Without any warning whatsoever, he took her in his arms and kissed her. His lips were hard and uncompromising, but at the same time sensual. She found herself returning his kiss without restraint, molding her body to his. Warmth shot through her and she fought to regain her senses, knowing she was in danger of being swept away.

  At last he raised his head to look into her eyes, still holding her. Desire darkened the green of his eyes, a desire she herself felt. Something she'd sworn would never happen to her again.

  "No," she whispered involuntarily, struggling to free herself.

  He let her go, his eyes hardening.

  "Kevin," she began, but he gave her no chance to go on. "I should have expected it." His voice was flat. He turned away, mounted Tolstoi and was gone before she could move.

  She didn't follow, instead riding into the hills until she grew chilled, her mind a kaleidoscope of confusion and fear. Her feeling for Mark had been like this--sudden, urgent. Kevin was as much of a stranger as Mark had been, how could she trust him? Men who could evoke such a response in her were dangerous.

  It wasn't until she rode back to the stables that her mind fastened on what he'd said when she broke away. I should have expected it.

  Good heavens, he must have thought she'd rejected him because of his disfigured face, as another woman had already done.

  "No!" she said aloud. "Oh, no."

  But when she got to the house, his car was gone.

  In the days that followed, she couldn't seem to find a chance to talk to him. For one thing, Corinne always seemed to get there ahead of her and Samara shied away from joining them.

  She lay in bed at night reliving the moments in the sycamore grove. What was it, exactly, that she'd felt? A physical attraction or something more? She'd once believed what she'd felt for Mark was love--now she knew better. She'd been infatuated, that's all.

  Was her surging need to see Kevin the same thing? How was she to tell? The warm affection she had for Sal was safer, less demanding. Sal's kiss had been merely pleasant, though he'd suggested he could make her love him. Samara shook her head. She might not trust love, but she knew in her heart that desire had to be involved. What she felt for Kevin was almost frightening in its intensity, though.

  Dear God, she couldn't afford to make another mistake.

  As for Sal, he hadn't called her, she somehow knew he wouldn't unless she initiated a different relationship. If she tried to, she might spoil his chance with Rosita while not being able to give him what he wanted from her. Because it wasn't Sal she wanted. More than she'd ever wanted anything, she wanted Kevin..

  On December seventh, Samara rose early. Four years ago today she'd been in Palo Alto listening to the broadcast about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Kevin had gotten his injuries at Anzio--that was May of '44, if she remembered right. She'd been a WAVE at Balboa Naval Hospital then. If Kevin had been in the Navy he might have been sent there to recover and she might have met him. Then they'd have had a chance to get to know one another before she got caught up in such intense feelings about him.

  A silly daydream, she said to herself as she pulled on a red skirt and twin sweater set dyed to match. He's here, I'm here, and somehow I have to reach out to him if there's to be anything further between us. I can't let bitter memories of Mark destroy the rest of my life. Whatever happens between Kevin and me, I already know he's not like Mark.

  Checking her image in the mirror, she added red lipstick and told herself he couldn't overlook her in this outfit. Before going down to breakfast, she knocked on Aunt Adele's door.

  Theola opened it, obviously surprised to have a caller at this time of the day.

  "I know it's early," Samara said. "Is Aunt Adele awake."

  Theola shook her head. "It was one of her bad nights. When she gets short of breath she becomes frightened and that makes everything worse. She finally fell asleep about an hour ago."

  "Hasn't Dr. Cannon left any medicine for when she gets short of breath?"

  "She is that stubborn! Adele has always believed drugs of any kind were for the weak-minded. I tried, but she refused to take the medicine he left, the way she often does."

  "I'll have a talk with her when she wakes up. She must be made to realize she needs to do what he tells her to."

  Theola sniffed. "I wish you luck. I have talked and argued and pleaded. I have had Frances in here warning her of the dire consequences of not following doctor's orders, but Adele has a mind of her own and she will not listen."

  "Would you like some coffee?" Samara asked. "I'm going to run downstairs and get some and I'll bring extra for you, if you like."

  Theola smiled. "Such a nice girl, Samara--you always were. I would enjoy coffee."

  When she was returning to the room with a tray--Irma had insisted on including muffins hot from the oven, along with butter--Samara promised herself she'd pay more attention to the two old ladies. It was all too easy to forget about them shut away in their suite. It made her feel guilty to know she was using them today in order to be sure of meeting Kevin apart from Corinne.

  "This is nice and cozy," Theola said. "It reminds me of Celia. She was a thoughtful one for all she was so head strong. Often she went out of her way to include Adele and me in her teas and luncheons. And how she did love her coffee. I liked Celia--she was your grandmother, you know."

  Samara nodded.

  "Much as I dislike speaking ill of the dead, Celia was a better mother than Delores ever knew how to be. Favorites she might have had--we all saw how she doted on Vincent after his twin died--but she did her duty by your father, too."

  "My mother hardly seems real to me any more," Samara said.

  "Humph. No wonder, for any notice Delores took of you. Sergei, it was forever Sergei." Theola shook her head. "The boy was ruined by her fussing and teasing."

  "I'll never be able to forget my brother." Samara's voice quivered.

  Theola shot her a sharp glance. "Better off without him, that is what you are. There has to be one sacrifice a generation. Better it was him than you or Johanna."

  A cold trickle ran along Samara's spine. "You're talking about the curse," she said.

  "The Gregory curse? I cannot put much faith in Tabitha's dreams and strange voices that spoke only to her. But I do know there has been more violent deaths here at Hallow House than seems right."

  "I hear you talking out there, Theola." Adele's voice came hoarsely from the bedroom. Who are you hiding from me?"

  Samara rose and went to her. "Just me. I came by to see you but you were asleep. We've been having coffee--would you like some?"

  Adele, propped up in a nest of pillows, looked pale, her lips bluish, but her eyes brightened at Samara's word. "Coffee? Of course I want some."

  "Shall I open the Venetian blinds?"

  "May as
well, even if rain is all there is to see today. I always have a bad night before a rain."

  When Samara brought in the coffee, she said, "Dr. Cannon left you medicine to take when you get short of breath, You ought to pay attention to what he tells you."

  "I see Theola has been talking too much again. I have never been a drug taker as I told that young man to his face. Do you know what he did?"

  Samara shook her head.

  Adele raised herself off the pillows. "He stuck a needle into me. Such nerve." She sipped at the coffee.

  Samara hid a smile. "You have to realize you can be awfully stubborn, Aunt Adele."

  "Why, Kevin is young enough to be my great-grandnephew."

  "I thought you liked Dr. Cannon."

  Adele finished her coffee and sank back against the pillows. "I do. Got a mind of his own. But that does not mean I have to agree with him. As stubborn as I am, he is. I asked him right out why he put off doing something about that scar he has--you read in the papers all the time about plastic surgery."

  "Oh, you shouldn't have."

  "Why not? Everyone can see the scars on his face, so why not mention what I see?"

  But he's sensitive about his face."

  Adele snorted. "That being the case, he ought to have the surgery and that is what I told him."

  "What did he say?"

  "He got a little fussed at first, but then he admitted I might be right but said he was not ready." Adele gestured at her empty cup. "You might pour your helpless old aunt a bit more coffee."

  When Samara did, she took a sip, then said, "You have never before come by to see me quite this early."

  "I woke up, remembered it was the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and couldn't go back to sleep."

  "So you dressed yourself in that scarlet outfit for a couple of old ladies to admire?" Adele shook her head. "Not true. Though it is true you have to get up early to outwit that redhead who teaches the children."

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "Her name is Corinne, as I recall. Lately Corinne has taken to dropping in here almost every morning 'just to say hello' or to pretend she is looking for one of the children. By a strange coincidence the doctor is always here at the time."

  Samara had suspected as much. "Maybe he's interested in her," she said.

  Adele shook a finger at her. "The woman is eye- catching, but she is no fit wife for him. Kevin is a man, so, like all men, he does not know what is best for him. Above all, Kevin needs to be loved. Corinne is incapable of loving anyone but herself. If you doom the poor man to a lifetime with her, you are more of a fool than I thought."

  "Don't you think Kevin should make his own choice?"

  "My own choice of what?" he asked.

  Samara whirled. She'd been so engrossed in what Adele was telling her she hadn't heard Theola let him in. "Uh--nothing important," she managed to say. "There's more coffee in the carafe--would you like some?"

  "Sounds wonderful."

  Samara rinsed out her cup while Kevin examined Aunt Adele, and then poured him coffee.

  "Either you take the pill or you take the needle," he was telling Adele when she reentered the bedroom. "Since Frances is a nurse, she's perfectly capable of giving you a shot if I'm not here."

  "I will not have that woman sticking me," Adele retorted.

  "Then it's the pill, isn't it?"

  "You leave me little choice," Adele grumbled.

  "Good. I assure you I don't believe in drugs and don't prescribe them unless I know of a specific one to alleviate certain symptoms and make you feel better. Don't you trust me?"

  "Alcohol makes one feel better as well," Adele countered.

  "Ah, but alcohol is a drug."

  "You always have an answer," she grumped. Turning to Samara she said, "Please send Theola in. If you and the doctor will excuse me for a few minutes, I have some personal needs I must have help with." Adele grasped Kevin's hand. "See that you stay around. I have more to say to you."

  He grinned at her. "I'll bet you do. We'll wait in the other room."

  Minutes later Kevin sat drinking his coffee and finishing the last of the muffins. "Good," he told Samara.

  "Irma's a good cook."

  "Yes, of course. You have cooks, maids, gardeners--"

  Did he think she was pampered? Samara drew herself up. "I've lived by myself and I happen to know how to do housework and cook. Vera taught me before I went to college."

  He raised his eyebrows. "I was just going to say I was looking forward to the time I could afford to hire a cook. Are you applying?"

  She flushed, aware she'd assumed a slight where none existed.

  "You might not like my cooking," she managed to say, aware the conversation was not going the way she'd planned it. Kevin's eyes were cool, she had to do something, but what?

  There was a knock at the door. Knowing who it must be, Samara all but fell over her feet getting there before he could.

  "Good morning, Corinne," she said, holding the door part-way open. "May I help you?"

  "I was wondering if Johanna or Brian had come visiting."

  "No. I haven't seen them."

  Corinne smiled. "Well…"

  "Is there anything else?"

  "No." Corinne shrugged and turned away.

  After Samara shut the door she found Kevin standing behind her. Did he intend to go after Corinne? She started to stand aside and then stopped.

  Don't be the fool Aunt Adele accused you of being, she admonished herself. Act now.

  She raised her hand and deliberately touched Kevin's scarred face, the skin rough under her caressing fingers. Looking into his eyes, she saw his shock.

  Chapter 30

  Standing with Kevin in the outer room of Adele's suite, Samara took a deep breath, knowing she had to talk fast, before she lost her nerve.

  "I don't mind your scars," she told him. "That wasn't why I pushed you away when you kissed me." She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. "I pushed you away because I was afraid of the way you made me feel. If you weren't so wrapped up in yourself, you might have realized that."

  He blinked, then took her hand, holding it in his. "How did I make you feel?"

  She shook her head. "You'll have to figure it out. I'm not going to tell you."

  He smiled and bent to kiss her gently, his lips lingering on hers until she put her arms around him. Then he gathered her close.,

  "My goodness." The two old ladies spoke almost together, as Theola assisted Adele into her rocker.

  Neither Kevin nor Samara had heard them enter the room. He released her saying, I can't stay now, but I'll call you tonight." Turning to Adele, he added, "You behave yourself." Then he was gone.

  "Oh dear, I forgot to give him another one of the journals," Adele said.

  "I'll give it to him," Samara said dreamily. "I may see him tonight."

  "Came to your senses, did you?" Adele asked.

  Samara bent over and hugged her, "What else could I do after your lecture?" With another hug for Theola, she left them.

  In her room, Samara put the leather-bound journal on her bed, then sat next to it, staring off into space, feeling she was floating on air. Did Kevin feel the same?

  After a time, she reached down and picked up the journal, idly turning the pages. Was Kevin really interested in her great-grandmother or was he only being polite to Adele? What could be in Tabitha's account he would want to read?

  A few words caught her attention and she began reading with more interest: "...for there are ways the books have told me of, ways I cannot reveal to anyone, for they are all unbelievers. I have taken certain precautions, for the room is mine alone and no one shall forbid me its use. In the past it was said Massachusetts bred witches and, perhaps, that will prove to be true..."

  Samara thrust the journal from her as though it were a scorpion, staring at it in distaste mixed with fear. Why did Kevin want to read such things? Tabitha's journals should have been destroyed long ag
o.

  Deciding not to give this one to him, she started to slide it into her dresser drawer when a knock came at the door, followed immediately by Johanna bursting into the room.

  "What're you doing?" Johanna asked.

  "Just putting a book away."

  "In with your underclothes? That's a funny place."

  Samara slid the drawer shut and faced Johanna. "Maybe you should learn to wait after you knock until someone invites you to enter."