His hair combed through, he’s finally read, happy at the thought of sitting to breakfast with Celie, Harry, Zak and Cassie. He knocks on Harry’s door and pushes it open. The boy is already awake and pulling on his jumper.
“I’m nearly done,” he beams back at Rick.
“Good lad. That goat’ll be fit to bursting if we don’t get to her soon,” he says.
Getting up this early, before the others rouse, is the only time he feels at ease these days. He treads gently along the landing and stops outside Cassie’s door. Noises from inside tell him that she’s up and getting ready for the day and as he takes the first step down the stairs her bedroom door opens. She stops, smiles then walks to Celie’s room. He watches her back until, after a light knock, she opens the door and calls for Celie to wake. As she pulls back and turns again to the stairs he looks away and takes the steps at a quick pace until he’s at the bottom, ready to make breakfast for them all. He walks to the pantry, flicks the switch and reaches without thinking to the shelf where the large glass jar of porridge oats sits. His hand grasps at nothing. He remembers. Damn that Sebastian! His belly growls as he stares at the empty shelves.
“Now what?” he sulks as Cassie walks through the door. “Are we just meant to wait until his lordship comes down before we can eat?”
“I guess that’s the gist of it,” Cassie replies and walks across to the kitchen counter then pulls a tall glass from the cupboard. A large barrel sits beside the sink. She holds the glass beneath its tap, turns it on, then waits as a trickle of water fills it. “At least we’ve got water,” she says with a wry smile. She passes the glass of water to Rick then reaches for four more glasses. He drinks his water, thankful for its coolness, and manages to smile as first Harry then Celie and Zak join them in the kitchen.
“It’s nice in here this morning,” Harry states as he takes the glass from Cassie.
“Nice?” Rick asks.
“Yes, quiet—with just us.”
“Yeah—without them!” Celie says nodding her head towards the door and the hallway.
Rick smiles in agreement. “I wanted to make your breakfast, but we’ll have to wait until we’ve done the milking this morning,” he explains as the children pull at the chairs ready to wait for their food.
“Oh?”
“It’s not a bad thing,” Cassie soothes. “You’ll really work up an appetite if you do your jobs first. We can make the porridge with lovely fresh milk too,” she smiles. “And if you’re really good then perhaps Rick will let you have some of his special strawberry jam.”
“Well … I don’t know about that,” he jokes as he looks at their expectant faces. “Oh, alright, go on then,” he relents. “If I can find it!” he mutters turning to the kitchen window and looking out over the yard. He frowns. Through the glass is movement. Sebastian and Victor are already out there.
“Cassie, looks like we’re not the only early birds.”
“Huh?” she says then follows his gaze. “Weird. I’ve never known them get up that early before. What’re they doing?”
“I don’t know. Moving stuff by the look of it. Perhaps they just didn’t go to bed?”
“OK. Well, let’s not let it get in the way of us having a good day, ey? We’ll milk the goats and by the time we get back Becca will be up and then we can have some brekky. OK?” Ricks belly growls again.
“Was that your belly?” Zak exclaims as the rumble continues.
“Yep,” he laughs, “and I might have to eat the goat at this rate.”
Out in the yard Rick ignores the scraping noises coming from the sheds and walks with the others to the large area of fenced garden where Sarah the goat is kept. Her udder, bloated with milk, swings beneath her belly as she trots across to the gate. She nuzzles at Rick as he pushes his way through, nibbling at his coat. “Not the jacket, Sarah,” he says pushing at her gently. Cassie takes the rope tied to her collar and leads her to the platform and holds her head firm as first Harry then Celie take it in turns to milk her. The liquid sloshes in the bucket.
“Zak,” Becca shouts from the gate. All four turn to look. “Come here. You’re needed at the house.”
Zak looks from Becca to Rick. “What’s she want?”
“I dunno. She’s probably got a job for you. You’d best go.”
“Yep, off you go. We can finish up here.”
“I hope it’s breakfast!” says Harry as he pushes up from the stool.
Rick watches as Harry and Celie run ahead of Zak across the grass and through the gate then disappear.
Cassie pulls at the teat for the last time and sits back, watching as the white liquid swirls around the bucket.
“She’s done,” she says to Rick and stands, pulling the bucket to her side.
Rick takes the rope and loosens it, gives Sarah a gentle push of encouragement and waits for the goat to jump off the platform before offering a handful of freshly tugged grass. The goat takes it greedily and Cassie laughs as Rick’s belly growls again.
“You’re really going for it this morning!” she says at the rumble.
He rubs at his stomach. “I’m starving Cassie. What I wouldn’t give for a full English”
“Well, you can have that soon. We’re supposed to be slaughtering one of the pigs later in the week so you can even have black pudding if you want it.”
“Sounds bloody lovely! Worth hanging on around here just for that,” he says eyeing up the house.
“We’ve got everything we need here, Rick. I’m scared to leave.”
“I know.”
“But I’m more scared to stay,” she says catching his eye.
To her surprise he takes her hand and pulls her to his chest, wrapping his arm around her back. She doesn’t resist. “I know,” he says patting at her back. The gentle strength of his arm around her is intoxicating and she rests her head against his chest then slips her arm around his back. A thrill runs through her as he strokes her hair then tips her chin upwards. She keeps her eyes closed and waits for his kiss. It’s been such a long time! She can sense him lowering his lips to hers then she’s overwhelmed by the softness, the gentle pressure of his warm lips on hers.
A shout cuts through the air and she jerks her head away, following the noise to the house.
“Zak!” she shouts, recognising the voice.
Rick keeps pace with her as she runs across the pasture to the yard. The cry comes again and she stops to listen.
“It’s coming from the sheds,” Rick says then darts to the brick buildings at the far side of the yard.
Faster than her, Rick reaches the shed first and grabs the door. It doesn’t budge, just rattles in its wooden frame.
“Open up!” he shouts as Zak shouts again.
Above his cry a crack sounds.
“Open up!” Cassie shouts and bangs on the door then runs to the window. Her eyes widen as she looks inside. The room has been emptied, apart from a wooden table.
“Break down the door Rick!” she shouts as she watches in anger. The brethren are gathered in a circle and at the centre stands Sebastian, riding crop in hand. Bent over the table is Zak. He yells again as Sebastian whips the crop down onto his backside. She bangs on the window catching the man’s attention. He holds the whip in mid-air, looks at her, smiles, then cracks it down again against Zak’s leg. As he watches, Rick bursts through the door, forces his way to the middle and wrestles the crop from Sebastian’s hand. Without wasting another second, she leaves the window and runs into the room. Rick manoeuvres Sebastian into an armlock, the riding crop still gripped in his hand.
“Get to the house,” she says as she grabs Zak from the table and pushes him towards the door. “Go to your room with Harry and Celie, and lock the door.”
As Zak runs through the door to the yard, she turns to Sebastian. He grunts as she grabs the riding crop from his grip. Rick tightens his hold around Sebastian’s neck and she glares at the men gathered there. They make no attempt to intervene. She holds up the crop in
her fist and shakes it at them.
“You got him Rick?” she asks as she glowers at the brethren
Sebastian gurgles, his words squashed beneath Rick’s arm. One of the brethren steps forward.
“Move and Rick’ll break his neck,” she threatens as the circle tightens. Sebastian grunts in pain, his face puce, his eyes beginning to bulge. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she shouts down at him.
“The boy stole,” one of the brethren says with defiance as Sebastian only manages a grunt in reply.
“Zak would never steal, and even if he did, this isn’t the way to punish him.”
“Spare the rod, spoil the child,” another man pipes up.
Cassie’s anger riles. Sebastian was unbearable before, but now …
“You still got him?” she asks.
“Sure do,” Rick replies.
Walking behind Sebastian, she takes a firm grip on the riding crop. “Then let’s see if he can take his own medicine, shall we?” She raises the crop high above Sebastian’s back and brings it down in a powerful arc. He grunts in pain as it makes contact with his backside. “Let’s see if we can make him squeal like Zak!” she shouts as adrenaline powers her anger. She lifts the whip again and swipes it down on Sebastian’s arse with the greatest force she can muster. A collective intake of breath travels through the room as Sebastian grunts again. Dissatisfied, Cassie reigns the sharpness of the crop down against his legs and buttocks until he screams for her to stop. Flushed and with sweat beginning to collect at her hairline, Cassie relents and drops the whip to her side. She steps in front of Sebastian and crouches.
“I’ve had enough of you, Sebastian. You may have these men under your rule, but you’ll never control me, Rick or the kids. You’re a bully and, believe me, I’ve had enough of men like you in my life. You come near my kids again and it won’t be your arse that’ll get a beating. Do you understand?” He’s silent. She cracks the whip against the brick floor and Rick pulls his arm tighter around Sebastian’s throat. “You lot,” she says with strength as she stands and turns to look at the brethren. “Do one—get out!”
As they move to leave, she bends again to Sebastian and stares into his narrowed eyes. What she sees there sparks a thrill of fear, but she holds his gaze, and watches the loathing burn in his eyes. Despite his humiliation he is in no way cowed, and a man like that, she knows only too well, is a dangerous one.
“He needs to cool off,” she says to Rick as she stands. Looking back, the door’s lock is broken. “Next shed has a lock—right?”
“Right, but it’s a bog,” Rick replies with a smile as he pulls at Sebastian, keeping his arm locked tight around his neck, and walks him towards the door.
“Perfect.”
The brethren are restless in the yard behind her and Cassie watches from the doorway as Rick pushes Sebastian down on the toilet’s seat then secures his tethered wrists to the u-bend.
“Honestly, Rick,” Cassie says as he steps back and shuts the door, “there’s something wrong with that man, and I don’t think I can spend another night under this roof whilst he’s about—I just won’t feel safe.”
“Looks like we’ll be leaving today, then,” Rick replies.
“I’ll go and pack,” says Cassie, relieved and thankful at his response. “I won’t feel safe until we’re well away from here,” she continues to the background of Sebastian’s muffled and angry grunts. “That’s a tiger in there and we’ve only got him by the tail.”
She turns back to the kitchen and pushes her way through the gathered brethren and Becca at the kitchen doorway. In the hallway she takes the rifle from the cupboard all the while determining what to pack.
Half an hour later, with the children and Zak safely strapped into the back of the car, she throws the last bag into the boot and slams it shut.
“Done!” she calls to Rick as he stands guard at the outhouse, rifle in hand.
She slips into the driver’s seat and starts the car, shifts the gear into first and watches through the rear-view mirror as Rick makes his way across the yard. The brethren swarm to the toilet door as he leaves. Cool air fills the car as she blasts the misting windscreen and the door opens. Rick jumps in.
“Let’s go!” he says, his voice bright.
“Yay!” Harry shouts from the backseat.
Cassie smiles as she lifts her foot from the clutch and presses down on the accelerator. The car jolts over the potholes as they pick up speed and make their way to the gate. Behind, in the rear-view mirror, Cassie takes a final look at the farm. Sebastian stands, hands on hips staring after the car.
“See you never, loser!” Harry shouts as he turns to look out of the back window.
Zak snorts and Cassie laughs.
“Where are we going?” Celie asks.
“We’re not sure yet,” Rick answers.
“Away from here,” Cassie adds, “to find somewhere safe.” She looks at the children on the back seat. She’d make sure they had a safe place to live, somewhere proper they could call theirs and feel at home.
The story continues in The Route to Justice, Book 5 of A World Torn Down
Author Notes
Hi again and thanks for being here. I’m guessing that as we’re at the end of book 3 in the series you’re enjoying it so far. I certainly hope that is the case.
In The Path to Destruction, we’ve seen Saskia’s psychotic tendencies flourish. She’s lost the battle, but although injured, she’s far from beaten. Jackson is the new boy in town and he’s made quite an impression. Is the monster within shining through or is he just another man trying to protect his ‘family’ in their new home? Deacon’s need for revenge is blossoming, and as his story progresses we’ll see just how far he’s prepared to let it grow. Cassie and Rick have escaped from Sebastian, but what lies ahead for them? You can find out in the next instalment. I can’t wait for you to read it.
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I’ve always loved stories that pit man against the elements or overwhelming forces and wanted to write something exciting that would see ordinary, and perhaps quirky, characters in extraordinary situations. How we react to extreme situations fascinates me and it’s not always the obvious candidates that become the heroes of the hour. We’re complex beings. We have emotions, desires and needs. The quietest of men or women can become ruthless when threatened and, when the world turns upside down, we may survive by drawing on strengths we never knew we had. Those who have seemed stalwarts of morality and right can break and turn bad. The survivors aren’t always the good and the strong. What would you do to save yourself?
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Also by Rebecca Fernfield
Dark Powers Rising
If you enjoy darkly dystopian post-apocalyptic thrillers with danger and suspense and well-developed characters then you’ll love Dark Powers Rising.
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The Path to Destruction (A World Torn Down Book 4) Page 12
