by Clare Revell
“If I worry it’s only because I love you. Ring me when you get home. And have fun at the ball tonight. Find some mistletoe.”
“Of course.” Not she finished silently. Kissing some strange, random bloke wasn’t something she planned on doing any time soon. “Thanks for lunch.” Meredith fastened her cloak and pulled up the fleece lined hood. She opened the door, and breathed deep of the cold, wood-scented air. “Look, it’s snowing.”
“It won’t last, you’ll see. It’ll turn to rain again before long.” Gramps frowned. “You’re sure I can’t give you a lift?”
Meredith nodded. “Quite sure.”
“You’ve got your ticket for tonight?” Grannie called. “I don’t want you not going because you lost it.”
“Yes. I have it quite safe.” Meredith bit her lip. For a moment she’d actually considered misplacing it. Sometimes Grannie knew her a little too well.
Gramps patted her shoulder, obviously noticing. “It will be good for you to go out, and don’t stress too much over it, Meredith. It’ll be fine, you’ll see. Let us know how you get on.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow and fill you in on all the details.” She kissed him and headed up the path to the front gate.
The lack of Christmas decorations in her grandparents’ house was a shame, but nothing new. Meredith loved Christmas, the lights, trees, carols, going to church, celebrating her Savior’s birth, but Grannie just didn’t see the point of frivolity. And it was so nearly Christmas now. Just a few more days— the app on her phone had been counting down for months and was finally in single figures.
Once in the woods, she slowed her pace, despite the cold and falling snow covering the leaf strewn path. Her grandparents were overprotective as usual. It was as if they thought this town was a death trap.
Meredith admired the snow covered path. How could anything so pretty be fraught with as much danger as her grandparents seemed to think? Really, the outdoors was one huge cathedral. The trees were pillars, the snow a carpet, and the needles of the evergreens a canopy covering them. All of creation sang the Creator’s praises, from the tiniest seed to the tallest tree. So what if her grandparents didn’t decorate, no store bought decoration could ever look more festive than snow-dusted holly.
Meredith hummed a carol to herself as she walked, trying to decide what she could possibly wear tonight. Did she have anything suitable? How formal was this evening going to be? Would a church dress do, or did it need to be full length? Sleeves or no sleeves?
She shook her head. She should call Caitlyn and ask her. She reached into the bag under her cloak and pulled out her phone. On second thoughts, she decided to simply wear the new gown her sister, Annabelle, had made for her and sent to Brussels. The one Meredith had never gotten around to wearing to the concert hall.
She wondered if there would there be an orchestra tonight. Most likely there would be. She hadn’t played since the incident, leaving the once loved violin untouched in the case in the corner of her room. And there it would stay for a long time to come if she had anything to do about it. The fear it evoked was still too palpable.
As the snow fell harder, Meredith’s breath caught as something moved in the woods ahead of her. She gripped the phone tighter as a man with long black hair emerged from the tree line and blocked her path. He stood there for a moment, before stepping to one side. “Afternoon.” His dark gaze lingered on her.
The hair on the back of her neck rose.
He seemed vaguely familiar. Did she know him? Despite her unease, she nodded politely as she hurried by. She sped up, hearing footfalls behind her, muffled on the snowy path. In her haste, she missed her footing. Her feet slid, and unable to regain her balance, she fell. Arms outstretched, her phone flew forwards. She landed on the cold ground with a thud.
Meredith cried out, pain shooting through her palms as the snow-covered rocks bit into them.
Running footsteps headed her way and a pair of muddy black boots stopped in front of her. “Are you all right?”
“I think so.”
The owner of the voice wasn’t the dark haired man she’d seen. She took the outstretched hand and let the stranger help her. She gazed up into concerned brown eyes. A lock of brown hair fell over his brow under the peaked cloth cap. High cheek bones, a faint smile, and a firm grip, all took her breath away far more effectively than the actual fall did.
Wow. He was definitely not the first bloke she’d seen.
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About Clare Revell
Where faith and romance meet
CLARE REVELL is a British author. She lives in a small town just outside Reading, England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, their three children, and unfriendly mini-panther, aka Tilly the black cat. Clare is half English and half Welsh, which makes watching rugby interesting at times as it doesn’t matter who wins.
Writing from an early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fan fiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, crocheting or doing the many piles of laundry the occupants of her house manage to make.
Her books are based in the UK, with a couple of exceptions, thus, although the spelling may be American, the books contain British language and terminology.
The first draft of every novel is hand written.
She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of four registrars.
Connect with Clare Revell
I hope you enjoyed The Hector Clause. If you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. It doesn’t have to be a long or wordy one. Even short, positive, I really liked it reviews count as they show the author they’re appreciated and help point other readers to Christian fiction.
Thank you for reading.
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Please visit Clare’s website for more of her books:
www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell
You can also find Clare on social media:
UK
US
Other Titles By Clare Revell
Clare’s books can be found at:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Pelican Book Group
CHRISTMAS
Season for Miracles
Saving Christmas
Times Arrow
An Aussie Christmas Angel
Fairytale of Headley Cross
Christmas Eva
A Mummy for Christmas
Down in Yon Forest
NOVELLAS
Cassie's Wedding Dress
Carnations in January
Violets in February
Daffodils in March
Sweet peas in April
Lily of the Valley in May
Roses in June
Water lilies in July
Gladioli in August
Forget-me-nots in September
Marigolds in October
’Mums in November
Holly in December
Married by Easter (coming 2017)
NOVELS
After The Fire
Monday's Child
Tuesday's Child
Wednesday's Child
Thursday's Child
Friday's Child
Saturday's Child
Sunday's Child
Turned
FREE READS
Kisses from Heaven
Shadows of the Past (Times Arrow Sequel)
Dutch Crocus (Flower series finale) (coming 2016)
PASSPORT TO ROMANCE
Vegas Vacation
Welsh Wildfire (coming 2017)
PUR
E AMORE
(Subscription from Pelican Book Group)
Battle of the Flowers
Keepsake
All That Glitters (coming 2017)
YOUNG ADULT NOVELS
November Charlie – Signal Me #1
Delta Victor – Signal Me #2
Echo Foxtrot – Signal Me #3
ANTHOLOGIES
Red (Anthology of devotions)
Cooking with Grace (Anthology of recipes)
I Thirst (Anthology of devotions)
