The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.)

by Marnie Perry

  He smiled, ‘is that why you bought it, because the name sounds romantic?’

  ‘Of course.''

  He laughed and she said, ‘no, I’m joking, well, partly joking. I’d seen this house many times on my walks as a child and promised myself that one day I was going to live there in Farrier’s Keep.’

  ‘And now you are.’

  ‘And now I am.’

  ‘So your childhood dream came true.’

  ‘Yes, which proves even seemingly impossible dreams can come true. You just have to be patient.’

  ‘And you’ll live there with your husband.’

  Her face was pink, ‘I don’t have one of those.’

  ‘I meant when you do have one.’

  ‘Well, yes, probably.’ She grinned, ‘I’m not moving anyway.’

  He laughed and she said she was going to get a dog, that she had always wanted a dog but her mother had not liked the mangy things. And she was going to buy a horse and learn to ride. He told her that if she had set her heart on a dog and a horse then he was sure she would get her hearts desire. That she seemed a very determined woman. She blushed and looked away across the room. He said that she would have to live up to the house’s name and learn how to shod horses and generally care for their feet. She said she hadn’t thought of that but she was sure she would enjoy doing it.

  He asked more about Cornwall and Devon and she told him he must come there one day for a holiday and stay at Farrier’s Keep. She said he could stay in the loft space above the barn, she wouldn’t charge him too much for room and board and he laughed out loud. The fact that he was laughing a lot was not lost on him.

  The door opened and Hennessey who was facing it looked up as he had done every time it had opened, it was a lesson he had learned over the years and had served him well. It always paid to have a good view of the door and to watch and size up anyone who entered.

  Most of those he observed had given them a cursory glance at first, but then had looked over with interest as Bob filled them in on who his companion was. But this time he stiffened as the figure entered and glanced around, his eyes coming to rest on the two of them.

  CHAPTER 14.

  Hennessey sat back in his seat and watched the man approach. Sheriff Taylor ignored Hennessey as he took off his hat and said, ‘good evening, Miss. Faraday.’

  She looked up and smiled, ‘oh, good evening, Sheriff, it’s nice to see you again.’

  ‘Nice to see you too. I hope Bob has taken care of you.’

  ‘Yes indeed, Iris too. We’ve eaten here, we had the spicy meatballs. Delicious.’

  ‘Yes, she’s renowned for her food, especially anything spicy.’

  He now looked at Hennessey and Adela said, ‘oh I’m sorry, this is Sterling Hennessey, he’s staying in Eden, at the Horse and Hind.’

  The sheriff studied Hennessey’s face and Hennessey had the feeling that he was already aware of his name and that he was weighing him up and found him wanting. The sheriff was not as stupid as he looked.

  The sheriff said, ‘can I ask your business here in Eden, Mr. Hennessey?’

  Sheriff or not, Hennessey knew he had no legal reason to ask him that question, but it might seem odd if he refused to answer so said, ‘I’m just passing through on my way to North Carolina for a family wedding. I thought I would take time out to visit old haunts.’

  ‘You’re from these parts?’

  ‘I was born here in Mississippi but I now live in Texas.’

  Lomax nodded but did not seem to be overly impressed that Hennessey was one of his own; on the contrary he seemed disappointed. He said, ‘well, welcome to Eden, Mr. Hennessey.’

  His welcome was as insincere as Hennessey’s smile. ‘Thank you, sheriff.’

  The sheriff said, ‘you’ll see Miss. Faraday safely home now, Mr. Hennessey.’

  It wasn’t a request but an order and Hennessey had the sudden urge to punch the guy, instead he said, ‘of course, sheriff. You can rest assured she will be more than safe with me.’

  Lomax held his eyes a moment longer then turned back to Adela, the hard lines of his face softening, ‘you have yourself a nice evening now, Miss. Faraday.’

  ‘Thank you, sheriff, you too.’

  He nodded at her then at Hennessey but it was more a reinforcement of his earlier request that he keep her safe than a farewell.

  Hennessey watched him walk away then turned to Adela who said, ‘he’s a very nice man. Do you know he sort me out on my first day here and welcomed me personally to Eden?’

  ‘Really? He certainly seems the kind of cop who goes above and beyond the call of duty.’

  She laughed, ‘you mean you didn’t get the same welcome?’

  ‘'Fraid not.’

  ‘Obviously you’re not as important as me.’

  He narrowed his eyes in mock impatience at her teasing, ‘obviously not. But you wouldn’t get the same treatment if you didn’t have that cute accent.’

  ‘Ah but I do, so that means I take precedence over you in this town, so there.’

  He pursed his lips in exasperation and she laughed and after a second or two he joined in.

  She said, ‘you know your name means money where I come from.’

  ‘Money?’

  ‘Yes, as in pounds Sterling.’

  ‘Really? Well I always wanted to be worth something.’

  ‘Although in the current climate you’re not worth as much as you once were.’

  He laughed and wondered what five million dollars was worth in pounds Sterling.

  Suddenly she yawned and immediately covered her mouth and said, ‘oh God, I’m so sorry, I don’t know where that came from.’

  ‘Must be the company.’ He reached into the back pocket of his pants for his wallet.

  She blushed bright red and was very quick to reassure him, ‘oh no, not at all. I’ve enjoyed this evening very much and the company is excellent. Honestly I’m just…’

  She broke off as the grin spread across his features and she realised he was teasing. She said, ‘you’re mean.’

  He laughed, ‘sorry, I was just getting my own back for your comments about my not being worthy of the sheriff’s personal greeting.’

  ‘I know now why.’

  He laughed again and said, ‘but you’ve obviously had a long day, what with all that sight seeing and confronting big bad truckers in diners, not to mention cleaning up after clumsy waitresses.’

  Her smile faltered, ‘now that is mean, she was not clumsy just nervous. It was only her second day there.’

  Again she had leapt to the defence of another, first Lando then the waitress. No, Desi was the first person she had protected and defended since she’d arrived in this country. She seemed to have a penchant for helping people. It probably stemmed from looking after the mean minded mother.

  He said, ‘sorry, I was joking. But you’re right, it was mean.’

  She smiled, ‘you’re forgiven. Besides, you helped us to clean up too, so you can’t be all bad.’

  You’ll know soon enough how bad, Miss. Benevolent he thought, but smiled back and said, ‘well, I’d better walk you home, make sure you’re safe and sound, I don’t want to get my ass hauled off to jail by the dutiful sheriff.’

  He could she was trying to figure out whether or not he was making fun of her again. He was, and the sheriff too, but he smiled as if he was joking and she returned it.

  He threw enough cash on the table to pay for their meal and drinks plus a good tip.

  She rummaged in her bag and said, ‘please, let me pay for this as a thank you for this afternoon, for helping me out, and the ride home.’

  ‘There’s no need to reward me for that.’

  ‘But you did me a favour and I’d like to repay you, please let me take care of this.’

  He felt the irritation growing in him. He said brusquely, ‘look, I didn’t help you out or give you a ride for a free meal. I asked you to dinner and where I come from that means I pay, so unless you w
ant to stand here and argue all night I’m paying, okay?’

  He had seen her redden with embarrassment before but now her face was almost beetroot and he instantly regretted his outburst. Before he could speak and apologise she said rather dejectedly, ‘of course, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. And thank you.’

  God, but what the hell was it with this woman, he’d snapped at her and she’d apologised. The strange thing was he was sorry, he’d embarrassed and upset her and spoilt a very nice evening, and now she would leave with his anger on her mind and not the pleasant time they had spent together. He was angry but with himself, because she might not want to see him again and that would spoil his carefully laid out plans. But part of him, a part he did not want to admit to, didn’t want her go back to her cabin thinking he was a short tempered sexist pig. But the thought of her paying for dinner when she was the means of earning him five million bucks sickened him and he did not like that feeling, it felt too much like guilt.

  She stood, picked up her bag then looked over to the bar and waved to Bob who was busy serving but not to busy to wave back and call out, ‘thank you, Miss…Adela,’ he nodded at Hennessey, ‘y’all come back soon now ya hear?’

  She waved and called back, ‘I will, and thank you.’ But there was a tension to her smile that Hennessey noticed but hoped others would not.

  Other people began to call out “see ya,” and “night now.”

  They walked towards the door, she saying goodnight to people as she passed, he nodding, a false smile fixed on his face. He opened the door for her but did not touch her as she walked by him as he had done earlier.

  They walked along the pavement towards the path that led to the woods.

  She did not speak as they walked and they had just reached the periphery of the woods when he suddenly took her arm and brought her to a halt.

  She looked up at him nervously obviously, thinking he was going to tell her off again for offering to pay for dinner. He sighed heavily and ran the fingers of his left hand through his hair, ‘I’m very sorry for my behaviour back there, it’s just that I’m an old fashioned kinda guy when it comes to paying on a date with a woman.’ He tipped his head to one side as he had done earlier and knew was endearing, ‘it’s the southern manners in me.’

  Her smile did not quite reach her eyes as she said, ‘no, don’t apologise, it was my fault, I should not have argued with you when you said you’d pay, I embarrassed you and I’m sorry.’

  He shook his head, ‘no you didn’t. I embarrassed you. I spoilt a perfectly lovely evening with my old fashioned; some might call it sexist, out look. Will you do me the favour of forgetting about the last five minutes or so and just remember that we had a good time.’

  Her smile this time was genuine, ‘of course, I’m just so glad you’re not upset.’

  ‘And I’m so glad you’re not upset, otherwise I’m in serious trouble with the sheriff.’

  She chuckled now and he was relieved. Good, all his sucking up had paid off. He wasn’t sure whether to be happy or pissed that he still had the capacity to suck up to a woman, it had been such a long time since he had felt the need.

  He smiled that disarming smile, ‘so, are we cool?’

  She laughed at the very American saying, ‘yes, we’re…cool.’

  He laughed too, ‘good.’ He was relieved that they seemed to be on the same friendly footing as before his outburst.

  When they reached her cabin he wondered if she would invite him in, if so should he go in or not? No, it would not be a good idea, that would be too intimate; he did not want to get that close to her this soon. On the other hand it would be a significant step forward.

  As it turned out he didn’t have to decide because she said, ‘well here I am safe and sound, so my friend the sheriff will be very pleased with you.’

  I doubt that thought Hennessey but laughed, ‘so I can spend the night in my own bed and not in the county lock up, what a relief.’

  Again he could see her wondering whether he was mocking her about her friendliness with the sheriff and the other townsfolk. Again she would have been correct.

  He took the key from her and opened her door. She said, ‘you’re left handed.’

  ‘Yes.’

  I noticed in the bar when you picked up my pen and you ate with your fork in your right hand.’

  ‘You’re very observant.’

  ‘Actually I’m not; I’m hopeless at noticing things. My brother had a moustache from when he was seventeen to twenty five and I never even noticed when he shaved it off.’

  Hennessey laughed and she said, ‘I must be too wrapped up in myself to notice the things and people around me.’

  Really? He might find that characteristic useful. But it was heartening to know she had observed those little things about him. He couldn't resist saying, ‘I don’t think that can be true, but if it is I’m honoured that you weren’t too wrapped up in yourself to notice certain things about me.’

  Even in the dark he could see her face redden, she said quickly, ‘thank you for your company this evening, I enjoyed myself very much.’

  ‘As did I, very much.’

  He hesitated on the verge of asking her to spend the day with him tomorrow, or at least asking if she wanted company on her trip to Jackson but decided against it, he didn’t want to appear too pushy. No, tomorrow he would search her cabin while he knew she would be out all day. So he said, ‘sleep well then, and I may catch you around town tomorrow. Oh, have a nice day in Jackson.’

  He saw the disappointment flicker across her face and he found it hard to suppress his mirth. He debated whether or not to give in and invite himself on her trip but decided to leave her guessing for a while, yank up her interest a little, let her think about him tonight and tomorrow.

  She said, ‘thank you, and thank you for dinner. Goodnight.’

  ‘Goodnight.’ He didn’t kiss her and she didn’t attempt to kiss him, but he never expected her to.

  She turned and went indoors and he began to walk down the few steps to the path, she began to close the door when he heard her say, ‘goodnight, Mr. Hennessey.’

  He turned but she had closed the door. Mr. Hennessey. Interesting. Was it just her English formality or was she mad at him for not asking to see her again? Or because she had sensed his mockery over the sheriff’s friendliness towards her? He chuckled as he walked up the path and through the woods to his hotel. Whatever, by the time she saw him again, she would be all too willing to accept another date with him. She would forgive him; he could tell she was a forgiving soul. He wondered if she would find it in her heart to forgive him the ultimate sin.

  *********

  Adela closed the door and leaned on it, disappointed and embarrassed, embarrassed over her faux pas in offering to pay for the meal. She knew now she should not have made such a fuss about it, she had obviously wounded his pride. And disappointed because he had not asked to see her again. But then why would he, they’d met in unusual circumstances then found that they were staying in the same town. He had offered her a lift home out of courtesy and because he was going in the same direction, it would have been silly, not to mention rude, not to. And they had both missed their lunch so it seemed reasonable that they should eat together. There was nothing more to it than that.

  But still the feeling of disappointment remained.

  She had liked him; to say that he was handsome would be an understatement. She had always liked a man with longish hair and his came to just below the collar of his shirt, giving him a kind of raffish air. And never had she seen such eyes, so large and clear and an indescribable blue, if she had to say what colour they were she would have said maybe indigo, but even that wasn’t quite right; they were like the colour of the sky between dusk and night. His face was slightly tanned and healthy looking, he had full lips surrounding white teeth, which were prevented from being perfect by a slightly crooked lower front tooth.

  He was a very masculine man, a man’s man a
s the saying went, also a woman’s if she knew anything. He was also charming and witty and very gentlemanly. Southern manners as he had said.

  But what struck her most, apart from his height and his eyes, was his air of confidence and self assuredness.

  Oh what was she doing, listing the attributes of a man, a man she would never see again?

  She pushed herself off the door impatiently and made for the bathroom where she got ready for bed.

  She lay on the bed and despite her tiredness sleep would not come. She thought about this afternoon and the scene in the diner and how he had come to her rescue. She wondered what he had said to the trucker man, because despite what he had told her she did not believe that he had just pulled him up about his manners. She thought about their dinner together in the bar, and how funny he had been and how genuinely interested in her he had seemed and in her trip and her life at home.

  But she knew he had been mocking her at times, like when Bob and the other patrons had been so friendly. And when Sheriff Taylor had come over to their table his hand had tightened on his glass and she had sensed his discomfort.

  She had seen the flash of anger in his eyes before he had swiftly suppressed it when the sheriff had all but ordered him to see her safely home. Maybe he had been in trouble with the law and now hated all cops, or perhaps, like so many people, didn’t trust them.

  He had also seemed uncomfortable when she had been talking about where she might go next while she was here in Mississippi, certainly he had tensed up. Where had she been talking about when he had done that, Jackson? No, that was earlier. Crystal Springs, that was it. That was when he had looked ill at ease. Still, she might have imagined it, or it meant nothing.

  She had debated asking him in for coffee but she still felt awful and awkward about making him angry, well, maybe not angry, irritated then. She wondered if she would see him out and about. He had said that he wasn’t staying long just passing through really. So maybe he would be gone tomorrow or the next day. But she had to admit she hoped that he would stay for a while, that she would meet him and that he would ask her to dinner again. Sterling Hennessey, Sterling, that was a nice name.