"Nothing. I came in to fetch the brandy and found Claire here in darkness, looking out of the window." Dennis sounded aggrieved.
"That's all?"
"Sure. I don't know what's wrong with her. She was brandishing a can of hairspray, nerves I expect. She was real upset though, so I poured her a brandy, cheers, Claire." He lifted his own glass and took a drink.
I lifted my head, "Thanks, Dennis."
"Hey, you didn't whisper!" Dennis pointed out.
"Right—come on, young lady, bedtime for you!" My father spoke quickly to cover up my blunder. I nodded and we headed for the stairs. "Den, go tell your Mom what's happened and tell her I'll be right with her once I've settled Claire down for the night." He guided me with a large hand on my shoulder. Dennis saluted comically and went to find his mother.
Inside my room, my father shut the door firmly and locked it behind him. I flopped onto the bed shaking still. "Now, Nicky, tell me everything." He hunkered down in front of me and took my hands in his. "Tell me, child," he coaxed gently.
I took a shuddering breath. "Someone tried to drown me in the bath. They held me down under the water… they were choking me. Oh God, I know exactly how my sister died—how much she suffered... I"
"Goddamn it! Hush now, hey there, hey daddy's here, I'm right here!" He gathered me into his arms and rocked me. The tears finally came in a torrent and I sobbed out my fright. My father held me silently, stroking my hair back from my face before saying. "This has gone far enough. I'm gonna call this thing off right now. I don't know what I could have been thinking, risking your life this way!"
I pulled back from him, horrified, swabbing at my drenched face. "No, no you mustn't do that… we're getting close… don't you see?" I gripped his knee saying urgently, "Whoever killed Claire was in the house tonight—I have touched him—I have touched my sister's killer!"
My father reached into his pocket and bought out a clean white handkerchief and he mopped my face, finally holding the cloth to my nose. "Blow!" he ordered.
"Now then, Nicola, just you listen to me. I cannot take the risk of losing you too. I have lost one daughter and I refuse to let this go on until I lose you as well! Where the hell is Jules? Dammit, the woman's supposed to protect you! This is…"
As if on cue, there was a soft knock at the door and Jules whispered, "It's me, let me in." My father leapt up, unlocked the door and let Jules in.
One look at my face and Jules knew that something dreadful had occurred. My father filled her in briefly and she listened gravely until he had finished. Then she turned to me.
"I am so sorry about the walkie-talkie. I simply forgot to pick it up after I went to the bathroom." She paused but when I simply nodded, thinking it was a pretty amateur mistake to make, she continued. "Well one thing's for sure; it was someone on the ranch. I was outside watching the house and no one came in or out of either the front or side kitchen entrance. I didn't see or hear any vehicles either."
"Would you have heard a horse or someone on foot?" I asked her.
"Yeah, I think so. It was very quiet out there, but just maybe somebody on foot could have snuck around the back without me noticing them," she mused aloud.
"I think we should call this whole charade off right now!" my father said firmly.
Jules looked at him sharply. "Call it off… we are getting so close, Mr. Keedon."
My father butted in, "I know that but I won't lose another daughter! This has to end now!"
Jules pulled herself upright and glared at him. "With respect, Mr. Keedon, this whole plan was your idea. We warned you of the risks involved but you insisted on trying this. Well, now your idea is working, and I will only cry off the plan if Nicola wishes it."
Before either of them could argue further, I broke in. "Shut up both of you… I want to carry on. If I decide otherwise I'll let you both know!"
My father sighed, defeated. "Well, all right then, but I have a condition."
Jules and I waited. "Nicola and I will take a little trip after the party. There's somewhere special I'd like to take you to see, hon. We could do with a break from the awful stress of this and we can take time to get properly acquainted. I want to spend some quality time with my daughter. It will do you good to feel safe, for a little while at least."
Jules nodded. "I agree. What do you think, N-Claire?"
I nodded; it would be lovely to go away and spend time alone with my father, just the two of us.
He rubbed his hands together. "Right then, that's settled, but until we leave, I want you to sleep in here with Nicola, Miss Danker. Don't you leave her side for a single second you hear?"
"No," I said firmly, "that would just look odd."
"No it wouldn't, not if we say that this is the sort of scenario the doctor expected might happen. After all, that is why I am here to help you over the trauma of what has happened to you, all part of the therapy to help regain your voice."
"That's brilliant, Jules. I must admit I would feel a lot safer with you in here with me." I smiled gratefully at her.
A voice called from the stairs. "Coo-ee darlin'."
"Molly," my father muttered. "I'd better go tell them the line we're gonna use. You okay now, honey?" He looked at me anxiously.
"I'll be fine now that Jules is here. Thank you, Daddy." I stood up and we hugged.
He kissed my forehead. "My brave girl." He gazed at my face intently before leaving, gently closing the door behind him.
With Jules asleep on a 'put you up' bed across my door, I felt safe and I slept well. The following morning she de-briefed me about the events of the previous night. She asked me to shut my eyes and re-live the whole episode. I did as she asked. Jules stopped me at certain points and asked me to try and remember sounds and scents that might be important. I told her all that I could remember about the person who tried to drown me. "I am convinced my attacker was a man," I told her, my eyes shut as I relived that horrible moment.
"Why?" she asked.
"Perhaps the size of the hands holding me under in the water?"
"What else… could you smell him?"
"Yes, the smell of lemons, faint but definitely citrusy"
"Anything else? Did you grab any clothing, anything about the texture of the clothes?"
"Mmm, whoever it was wore kitchen gloves." I opened my eyes triumphantly.
Jules nodded. "Okay, good. We don't know that our attacker was male but the hands were large and had gloves on. Claire, you might recognise the citrus scent on someone at a most unexpected time; I want you to be prepared for that.
"I'm cool!" I nodded, excited at the prospect.
Jules smiled thinly. "You might find your reaction surprising. You may feel you want to attack this person or maybe you will feel overwhelmed and tearful. The thing is you must keep your emotions under control. Give nothing away. It won't be easy you know… not after last night."
I nodded, chewing my bottom lip anxiously. "What happens if I do, you know, crack up?"
"Don't worry. I will be close by; I'll step right in and arrest them. Now let's get some air. Have you visited that horse of yours yet?"
"No, I'm not really very good with horses," I confessed.
"Well you're supposed to be brilliant with them, so let's go make a big fuss of… Sable, isn't it?"
I laughed, "No, it's Sasha—yeah, I'll take some mints for her, 'cupboard love', it always works with dogs."
Chapter Seven - Courage
The problem was that when we arrived at the stables, none of the horses had their names written up on their stalls as I had assumed they would be.
"Oh lord, so which one is Sasha?" Jules asked, looking along the row of stalls. On hearing us approach, the occupants had hung out eager heads over their stable doors, blowing softly and nodding enthusiastically for our attention.
"I have absolutely no idea." I shrugged helplessly, looking down the line of equine hopefuls.
"All right, well then, we have to rely on the horse recognisin
g you. Walk along slowly and see if one of them reacts." Jules gave me a gentle shove forward and I slowly wandered up the stable looking at each horse in turn to see if any one of them recognised me. Just when I was thinking what a total waste of time this idea was, a horse near the end of the row whickered loudly and pawed the ground. I hurried over to the stall. A lovely pale honey coloured horse with a milky coloured mane was swinging her head to and fro; I just knew this one was Sasha. The mare put her nose out and I held my hand out to her. Ears pricked forwards, she sniffed at my hand delicately and threw back her head whinnying loudly. I jumped and started backwards slightly. I stumbled into something solid behind me.
"Orf… hey, whoa there, girl!"
"Gosh I am so sorry!" I said automatically and then blushed crimson when I remembered that I shouldn't be talking and certainly not sounding so very English. It was Liam. His clear intelligent eyes studied me with interest.
"Howdy, Miss Claire. Sasha's acting kinda weird around you today." We both turned and watched as Sasha pawed the ground and shook her mane, nodding her head up and down crossly.
"She probably remembers the last time she saw me when we had our—er, accident." This time I remembered to whisper and drawl.
"Sure is strange how your voice comes and goes like that," he said mildly, shaking his head and giving me a searching look with those bright eyes of his. I glanced around in panic for Jules. She was seemingly engrossed in the horse tack hanging on the wall on the other side of the barn. Shit, why didn't she come over here and rescue me?
I realised that Liam had spoken and was waiting for me to reply. "Sorry? I missed that," I whispered. Liam nudged back his hat and gave me a long look. I squirmed and felt the tell-tale warmth of yet another blush creeping up my neck. What was it about this guy that made me so gauche and unreasonably angry with him every time I laid eyes on him?
"Have you no work to be getting on with, O'Donnell? There's a party to organise for next Saturday—I'd have thought you'd have plenty to do!" I hissed nastily at him. He gave me a strange assessing look and then his face broke into grin and he nodded agreeably.
"You sure are a different girl since you went and banged that pretty head of yours. If you don't get that sweet personality of yours back real soon, I can help you find it—upside down across my knee—I mostly find a toasty butt sweetens a little girl up real fine! So, shall we call this 'strike one'?"
I flushed to the tips of my ears and was so flustered all I could do was look down at my toes. Liam spoke again as if nothing untoward had been said "So, Claire, what theme do you want for the hoe-down this year?"
Blankly, I muttered, "Hoe-down?" I was still in shock, vividly picturing myself upside down getting a toasty bottom.
"Yeah, your daddy's birthday gig."
I thought quickly. "Well, er, how about Mexican, we didn't have that last year did we?" I asked him.
"Nope, good idea, Mexican it is then, any other ideas?"
I nodded, "How about Chinese paper lanterns and lots of colour. Oh, and a few big potted cacti dotted around."
"Okay, I'll get on to it right away." I thanked him and wished he would go away; he made me nervous.
"D' you want Sasha tacked up? I'll do her for you, if'n you've forgotten how what with your accident an' all."
I spun around and turned my back on him, saying haughtily over my shoulder, "No thanks, Liam, I am quite capable of saddling my own horse, thank you very much. You get on back to your chores… after all, don't you have rather a lot to do before next Saturday?"
Liam shrugged. "Please yourself, princess. Sure is strange, your voice works one minute and not the next." He wandered over to Jules and started to chat with her while taking down various pieces of tack and examining them. I turned to the stall and gulped when I saw all the harnesses, now what had I let myself in for? What was it about that man that made me behave in such a foolish way whenever I was around him? Then it struck me. I stood stock still. I felt as though someone had suddenly dowsed me in icy water. What had Jules told me only an hour ago—I would probably feel strong anger or emotion around the man who had attacked me—that's how I would know him—so it must be Liam! It had to be him. However, I had to be certain. How could I tell whether he was my sister's killer?
"Having trouble over there, Miss Claire?" Liam's lazy voice called over. I ground my teeth and turned to face him, a false smile plastered across my face.
"I've changed my mind I just don't feel up to riding today." Once again, my whisper was more of a hiss.
Liam's grin vanished and he strode over to me. "Hey now, that's no good. If'n you take a fall, you know the rule—you climb right back up there and get on with it. Otherwise the fear stays with you. You should know that, Claire." He called me Claire, without the preceding and mocking 'Miss.' Startled by his earnestness, I found myself nodding dumbly in agreement. He spun around and fetched the tackle and saddle. I hesitated for a moment, gaining courage and then with a deep breath opened the stall and held out one of the mints for Sasha to take. She put her head forward and blew on my hair, before her soft velvet nose lowered to my outstretched hand and, with soft nibbling lips, she gently took the proffered treat. Pleased, I reached up and patted her neck. Liam opened the stall wider and stood aside as Sasha walked out and stood as gentle as a lamb while Liam saddled her for me. I watched as he moved his hands over her flanks, all the while talking soothingly to her in his deep, treacly drawl. I shivered and looked away. Jules caught my eye and grinned. She had tacked up her own horse very efficiently and was waiting for us.
"Will you join us, Liam?" she called over. I glared and shook my head slightly at her, rolling my eyes to convey my displeasure. She grinned back and mouthed, "What?"
I tossed my hair crossly and turned back to Liam, who was intent on tightening the girth and hadn't noticed our exchange. "As much as I'd like to ride with you girls, I have much too much to do today as Miss Claire so kindly pointed out," he replied, a small smile playing about his mouth.
"Oh what a shame… another time then," I hissed quickly, smugly pleased. Liam looked up at me, eyes narrowed, looking at me searchingly. Then he straightened up, still watching me. I felt the start of another blush, what the hell was the matter with me?
"I don't suppose you'd like to come with me tomorrow when I go to fetch the tables and chairs from old Harry's place? I could do with the extra help," he asked. I must have looked confused for he added, "The party, next Saturday, you know? Harry borrowed our trestle tables for his New Year's party remember?"
While I dithered, Jules stepped up eagerly. "Sure, we'd be glad to help," she said firmly. Then she added quickly, before I could spoil her plan, "Come on, Claire, mount up—let's go!" She swung herself into her saddle with ease. I, on the other hand, had not ridden a horse since the age of thirteen. I placed a foot into the stirrup and hopped about like a complete and total idiot.
Liam watched, his brow furrowed. "Hey there, Claire, take it easy girl!" He grabbed Sasha's reins and held her still. I hung onto the saddle and watched as he dipped under Sasha's head and came towards me. He hunkered down and clasped his hands together. "Okay, now try again." I was beetroot red with mortification by now but I obediently placed my foot in his joined hands and levered myself astride Sasha.
"Thanks, Liam," I whispered.
He gave me a grin. "You're a real brave girl, Claire. Only fear could affect you mounting badly that way. I admire your guts, getting back in the saddle when you're obviously terrified, well done!"
He was right there, I was very terrified. I smiled nervously and turned Sasha to follow Jules out of the stables. We walked the horses out of the corral and onto the pasture. I turned to check no one was in earshot and I saw Liam leaning against the barn watching us. I lifted an arm and waved. He didn't wave in reply and for some reason that irked me. "I think it's him," I said.
Jules looked at me in surprise. "Liam… nah!"
"Yes!" I insisted.
"You're attracted to hi
m and that is what rattles you."
"I am so absolutely not attracted to him… whatever gave you that idea?"
"Shut up! You're supposed to whisper! I'll bet he heard you, yelling at me like that."
"I did not yell. Oh for goodness sakes, do you really think he heard me?" I slowly twisted around in the saddle to see but, thankfully, Liam had disappeared from sight.
Jules laughed. "You see, I was right, you do like him!"
"I think he's the one—you know, the killer!" I insisted again.
"Okay, why?"
"You remember you warned me I might feel some anger and emotion when I met the killer and that I would sense it was him? Well, I feel furious whenever I'm around him."
Jules studied me seriously. "Okay, it's possible, but from what I witnessed back there, seems to me jus' that you kinda fancy him, hon', and you are embarrassed by your feelings and became angry, more with yourself than with him."
I reflected on her words. Could it be that, I wondered. "I am sure I never behave like that with men I find attractive!" I protested.
"Well, spending time with him tomorrow is a real good idea because you will be able to sort out how you feel about him. Land sakes, remember to whisper will you?"
"Must we go with him tomorrow? I feel so uncomfortable with him," I wailed.
"Yes, Claire, we must. The only way to sort out how you feel is to spend time with him." She smiled at me to soften her words. "It'll be okay, I'll be there too."
I sighed sulkily, realising Jules had made her mind up and to argue would be futile. "Oh very well if you insist."
"I do. Now where shall we head for? Say, can you gallop?"
"I can ride, I'm just rusty," I assured her.
"Let's go then!" Boy, did she go! She left me in her dust. I tightened my knees, Sasha and I were off, racing through scenery I'd only seen in westerns on the television set back home. It was wonderful—and so much better in reality!
The wind lifted my hair and Sasha cantered swiftly and true. I felt like I was flying.
When we finally pulled up, both laughing and out of breath, I gazed at the rugged beauty all around me and my eyes filled with sudden tears. My sister had known and loved this country, this was her home. She had sat here, perhaps in this very spot as I did now. She had ridden every inch of this land and she should be here now enjoying all of this. Instead she was laid out, cold and dead in a morgue. I shook myself out of deep reverie as I realised that Jules was speaking to me.
Twin Turmoil Page 7
