She was confused and tried to remember, it was as if a light bulb went off in her mind. “It’s her. The lady from the chair, oh... You don’t believe me.”
He rubbed his hands through his hair, what should he believe? “I don’t know,” he said. “Lauren I’m sorry, but we can’t do this to the kids.”
Her face dropped. “Oh God, Steve go to them see they’re all right.”
He looked at her bound hands and legs, he wanted to free her but what would she do? “I don’t trust you, not after.”
“Then tie me to the bed, I’ll stay here till you get the truck fixed.”
Should he leave her free, untie her hands?
“No,” she said. “Tie me up and gag me - just in case.”
He tied her gently to the bed and replaced the gag. He ran a tender hand under her chin, brushing off dust and god knows what, and then kissed her cheek before rushing out, he had left the children too long.
Chapter Eighteen
Steve raced out of the cabin and across the grass to the car. His heart pounded against his chest like a drummer from a rock band and he could feel a tightness there. Chase stood beside the SUV his face drawn with worry. In the back Lucy was still strapped into her seat. She swung her legs and clutched Bunkie to her chest, as if she would never let him go. Steve pushed his hand through his hair and thanked his lucky stars the kids were fine. He wanted to hug them tight and never let them go, but realized he must act as normal as possible. The lighter he made of what just happened the easier they would forget it.
“Is Mum okay?” Chase asked.
“She’s fine, but we need to get her to the doctor.” Steve pulled out his mobile. The flashing no-signal sign felt like a punch to the guts. He shook the phone and checked again.
“We can get a signal at the top of the pass,” Chase said.
Steve nodded, hopped on the car bumper and then pulled himself up onto the roof. He held the phone up high, but they were surrounded by hills and miles and miles of forest. The cabin was a magnificent remote retreat but they had never been able to use their mobiles. That had been one of the things that Lauren loved and he hated. This trip it had been him glad they were cut off from her work, but how things had changed.
“Top of the pass, Dad,” Chase repeated.
Steve climbed down from the car and ruffled his head. “Yes I know, but that’s too far for tonight.”
“Dad, Daddy,” Lucy called from the car. “Can I have some food that doesn’t have any wormies in it?”
Steve and Chase laughed. “How about a cheese toasty?” Steve asked.
“Deeeelicieious, can Mummy have some?”
“Yes she can, but you two leave Mummy to me. Keep away from her until she’s better.”
***
Steve left the cabin and stepped into the dark. The chill air flattened his skirt to his chest and sucked the breath from him causing a shudder to run down his spine or was it something else? The deck was in deep shadow, there was no moon and very little light this far from any habitation. He looked up to an ink black sky, dotted with a million stars all clearly visible, they could have a frost tonight. He pulled his gaze back down to the deck, the job in-hand. When he decided to do this, inside the warm and cozy cabin he had felt stupid, but here in the frigid dark, it seemed insanely dangerous. The chair stood to one side and despite the darkness of the night it was clearly visible. It appeared to be lit by moonlight but the moon was nowhere and provided no illumination. For once it was still.
He walked across the deck, his footsteps sounded hollow on the seasoned wood and a feeling of dread settled deep within his gut. He pushed at the runners with his toe and the chair rocked gently, quietly, it looked so ordinary.
He kicked it harder and the chair responded to his anger. It jerked backwards and then lurched towards him. Light emphasized the deep cuts across the arms, what had caused them, had someone tried to cut it up? He felt a deep foreboding and wanted to dive back inside, but slowly, deliberately he turned and sat down in the chair.
Nothing happened, what had he expected? He pushed back a little. The chair creaked beneath his weight and rocked gently, backwards and forwards. He closed his eyes and put his hands on the chairs arms. A shudder ran through him as his fingers traced the ragged ridges. Just nerves? He rocked, gently backwards and forwards, all the time his muscles tense, held ridged as he waited, for something. For what he did not know, but all that happened was the longer he rocked the more the seat hurt his back. He kept his eyes closed tight feeling for anything unusual, but all he felt was impatient and a little anger. This should have been a great holiday, the last they would have here, why had things gone so wrong.
He stood up, took one last look at the chair and shook his head. Overwhelmed with fatigue and sadness he walked back into the cabin.
***
Steve slipped quietly into the bedroom, with a tray in his arms. Lauren looked contrite sat tied to the bed, her hands and legs bound and a gag in her mouth. A mixture of emotions rushed at him, guilt, sorrow, anger and fear. He searched her eyes for... what for madness? She looked tired and sad, but it was his Lauren, the woman he would die for.
He put down the tray and undid the gag, she released a huge sigh, as if she had been holding her breath, he swallowed but his throat was dry as bone.
“How are the Pumpkins?” Lauren asked.
“They’re scared but strong, Lucy thinks it’s a game.”
“I’m sorry. I just feel like I’ve woken from a nightmare. One I barely remember.”
“No, I’m sorry.” Steve fumbled with the rope. He reached out a hand to rub her wrists where the skin was abraded and sore.
“Forget it.” She took his hands and held them.
He sat on the bed and offered her a cheese toasty. “So much for a relaxing holiday.”
She picked up a sandwich, but her stomach contracted and her throat was dry as sand, she could not eat. “How are you, any pain?” A deep crease of worry marred her forehead.
“I’m fine, no pain, and no tightness. I’m my old self.” He kept his face neutral. She did not need more worry. He changed the subject. “Have you any idea why?”
Lauren took a bite of the sandwich, now it was her who wanted to avoid the question. “Why I would eat insect pie?” She chewed mechanically, not really wanting the food, but she needed something to take away the taste. The toast was like putty in her throat. The more she chewed, the more it clogged her mouth and the harder it was to swallow. She looked at him, knew she had to tell him, but knew he would never believe her. She swallowed and the dry toast seemed to scratch her esophagus as she forced it down. “The rocking chair, I think it’s... possessed.”
He rubbed her knee gently and watched her for a moment. He was teetering between hysterical giggles and deep fear. Taking a deep breath, he said, “I thought you didn’t believe in all that mumbo jumbo.”
She was floundering, desperate for an explanation, any explanation. “You know Mum believed, she always said I was sensitive too.”
“You thought your Mum was nuts, remember.” He could see the flash of anger and hurt his careless words had caused and wanted to take them back, too late.
“Then sit in the damn thing won’t you.”
He hesitated, could he make things worse? But she had to know. “I have.”
“And.”
He rubbed a hand through his hair. “It’s just a chair, not that comfy. If it bothers you keep out of it. Look Lauren it’s just stress, we need to get you to a doctor.”
She dropped her eyes and stared at her hands. “You don’t trust me.”
He put a gentle hand under her chin. “I’m scared Honey, for you, for the Pumpkins and for us.”
She nodded her eyes moist with tears of shame.
“Eat your food. We have to walk to the top of the pass tomorrow, to get a signal.”
She nibbled at the food. “That’s a long walk.”
Chapter Nineteen
Steve and Lauren
sat on the sofa in the cabins small rustic living room. Lauren leant against his shoulder, her golden curls bright against the red of his trapper’s shirt. She seemed relaxed, seemed normal. He had an arm around her shoulder but was still tense. He waited for the next problem, the next episode and would not relax until they had the option to leave. The curtains were drawn tight against the night and a fire burned in the hearth giving the room a warm and cozy orange glow. The children sat on the floor and on the old telly 101 Dalmatians was coming to a close.
“That was so cool, can we have a puppy?”Lucy asked her blue eyes large in a face that was hard to refuse.
Steve groaned and Lauren chuckled.
“Wow, that would be cool. I could look after it. Take it for walks, and teach it tricks and things. You’d never know we even had one.” Chase was excited, more excited that he had looked for a long time.
“I don’t think so,” Steve said without even thinking. They had enough on their plate with Lauren and an extra expense just wasn’t needed at the moment.
“Mummy please,” Lucy pleaded.
Steve looked at Lauren, he had expected an immediate no, but she was thinking.
“We’ll think about it,” she said. “But if we decide yes there are conditions.”
“Yes, yes yes.” Lucy jumped for joy.
“Okay mum.” Chase turned towards her to concentrate.
“First you would have to dog walk for Mrs. Wilson for a month. Then you would have to do four Saturdays at the pound and then, if you still want one, you can have a dog.” Lauren searched their faces, Lucy was pouting she did not fancy working for her dog but Chase was still excited, he nodded and then yawned, his mouth so wide it filled his face.
“Right.” Steve got off the sofa. “Bed time.”
He scooped Lucy up and carried her to her room, Chase followed.
***
It was a beautiful autumn morning, the sun shone, and the birds sang out their joy from the surrounding trees. Outside the cabin, Lucy and Chase were excited and ready for the hike. Lucy bobbed up and down, a pink rucksack on her back with the faded blue face of Bunkie poking out the top, his tattered ears bounced each time she moved.
Lauren stood to one side. She had deep circles under her eyes and seemed distracted. She looked as if someone called her and walked towards the chair. She was about to sit down when Steve appeared on the deck, he carried a larger pack and looked serious. He grabbed her arm. “No slacking.”
Behind Lauren, the chair started to rock, imperceptibly slowly, she moved to sit down. Steve felt a flash of annoyance and put himself between his wife and the chair. He pushed it with his boot, but it was hard to move, felt almost glued to the deck.
“Just five minutes won’t hurt,” Lauren said moving towards the chair.
“We need to go now.”Steve took her arm and steered her away, but she resisted a manic gaze on her face for just a second. Steve leaned in close “For the Pumpkins.”
She relaxed and they stepped off the deck together.
They walked across the grassy area before the lake, which shimmered in the early morning sunlight. As she stepped towards the forest, Lauren hesitated she looked back at the cabin, a strange almost lost expression on her face. Steve could see she wanted to go back, he tugged her sleeve and she turned towards him. She seemed angry and then it was gone she smiled and they rushed to catch up with the kids.
The forest trail was easy walking to start with. It followed a stream that bubbled and cascaded down to the lake. The water sparkled as it caught the sunlight and the sound seemed to ease Steve’s nerves, he began to relax. The trail gently wound around the side of the hill while the trees provided magnificent multi colored shade. The leaves were turning from green to brown and were currently in a kaleidoscope of reds and yellows. It was almost too beautiful and they stopped frequently to soak in the magnificence.
Chase found a stout branch and scouted ahead, pointing out a red squirrel that watched them from a branch, an acorn caught between delicate front paws. He kicked at the fallen leaves and spun around delighting in his knowledge of the forest. He was behaving as a child with that wondrous joy only the innocent can feel in each delight the walk showed them.
Lucy walked between her parents, constantly chattering about everything she saw. She had forgotten the night before and Steve was so pleased with how resilient children could be. So far Lauren seemed normal had he over reacted? Then he remembered her crunching down on the shell of a cockroach and he had to swallow to keep his breakfast.
“Can we sing a song?” Lucy asked.
Lauren smiled a happy, carefree smile. “What would you like to sing?”
“The wheels on the bus,” Lucy said.
“No many buses up here,” Steve teased.
“But Dad, I do the first line, and then we have to make it up. You know.” She had her hands on her hips.
Steve nodded and looked across at Lauren. She was totally relaxed and smiling. It was the first time in ages he had seen her looking so at ease. He felt a huge grin spread across his face. “Fire away little lady.”
Lucy hopped up and down between them, trying hard to think of a line. Her forehead was scrunched up deep as she searched for the words.
“I’ve got one,” Chase said.
“You can be next,” Steve was so proud of how grown up his boy had become.
Lucy giggled and started to sing. “The feet on the floor go up and down, up and down, up and down. The feet on the floor go up and down, all up the trail.” She stomped along excited at her own verse.
Steve picked her up and swung her onto his shoulders, she’s getting too big for this. “Not anymore they don’t.”
She squealed with laughter almost deafening him as she clung on tight to his neck.
Chase was next. “ The deer in the forest goes quietly by, quietly by, quietly by. The deer in the forest goes quietly by, all day long,” he sang in his high voice that occasionally broke. He really was growing up.
The family laughed together for what seemed like the first time since Steve’s illness. Holding hands they walked on.
The further they got from the cabin the more Lauren relaxed, had her hair changed again, Steve thought. It looked like he always expected her to look, long golden curls that cascaded over her shoulders. She rarely changed her hair but like most men, he would be in trouble when he failed to notice. Was she mad at him because she was trying a change, and he hadn’t noticed?
“Have you done something to your hair?” he asked, better late than never.
“As if you’d notice.” She laughed to take the sting out of her words.
“Well, you look fabulous,” He said. He watched the children as they scouted ahead. Chase still had the stick and he would stop and point out things to his little sister. He pointed at the stream, at the little stickleback that basked in a pool at the edge. She squealed with delight as normal and Chase led her further on.
So far it was easy walking but this was a ten mile hike each way and Steve knew they would get tired.
He reached out and took Lauren’s hand. It felt good that she did not pull away. He squeezed gently. “How you feeling?”
“Normal, in fact great, I think this trip was a good idea.”
He nodded, fighting back the tears that threatened to burst from his eyes.
“I’ve really missed this,” she said pointing at the kids who were bent over looking at something in the grass.
“I know. Look, I’ve been thinking. If I do one night a week consulting, you could cut down your hours, go part time.”
“Really,” she asked surprise and joy on her face.
“Yeah. I would enjoy it and we could be more of a family again.”
The joy changed to concern and she stopped and touched his arm. “Your heart?”
“Just one night a week,” he said.
They walked on, each deep in thought as the trail gradually got steeper as the path wound up to the top of the hill.
&
nbsp; Chapter Twenty
They arrived at the top of the pass. Everyone was a little less happy as they came out of the trees onto a magnificent hillock. The sun shone down on them, and Steve gave thanks for the good weather, but there was a chill bite in the wind up here, they should hurry. He took off his pack and pulled out a blanket and some food. He carefully checked the sandwiches, turning them over before handing them to the children.
Lauren noticed his care with the food and felt a deep shame, she looked away. As far as the eye could see in all directions was open countryside. The trees, in their autumn colors of reds and gold’s, were stretched down to the dark blue lake. It was like a patchwork quilt of so many colors the eye could not keep up. She breathed in and out, she was fine, it had just been stress. The other side of the hill was covered in purple heather, it took her breath away as she watched an eagle catch a thermal and soar over the vista.
She turned further round and could see a small village in the distance, it looked like a children’s toy and behind that was the deep blue of the ocean. It was a lovely place, but suddenly felt so remote, without a car they were stuck. She jumped as Steve put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s all right. I feel different now,” she said. “Maybe the walk was all I needed.”
“I still want the car fixed.” Steve walked back to the kids who were tucking into the food and juice he had prepared.
“My legs feel funny,” Lucy said chewing with gusto.
“They’re just a little tired. Eat up we’ll be on our way soon. How you doing Chase?”
“I’m fine,” he said with a brave smile, but he was also tired.
Steve felt both pride and sadness at their fortitude. He walked to the top of the hill and brought out his cell phone, he dialed the local garage.
“Hi Burton’s garage.”
“Hi, this is Steve Scott from the cabin past round tree, up the trail.”
Daddy Won't Kill You (An Occult Horror) Page 7
