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Wade rolled his eyes. “You’ve eaten at her restaurant now for the past four years.”
“But not as her special guest.” Prescott gave a wink and headed for the barn.
Wade offered a fleeting glance to see him disappear behind the building’s large double doors and once again wondered how on earth the two could possibly be related. Prescott was such a softy. Wade was tough and hard. Prescott had always needed a woman to complete his life. Wade needed nor wanted a woman in his life. Ever since their childhood, he could recall Prescott claiming the weight of Kathleen’s attention and demanded their mother declare him her favorite.
So it really was not surprising six years after being sent to England to receive a solid education, he met and married a proper English wife. Their mother couldn’t have been more proud until Prescott announced he and his new wife had decided to take up residence in London. Wade benefited greatly in this arrangement. After the death of his father, he had inherited all Louis Haddock’s property and financial affairs in England. A matter Prescott readily took upon himself to oversee while residing at the family’s ancestral estate, and Wade was able to concentrate solely on the ranch.
With Prescott out of the way, Wade had thought he would finally be on the receiving end of his mother’s love and attention, but instead she spent the rest of her years grieving her favorite son’s absence. Prescott, on the other hand, did not appear to befall the same fate and thoroughly enjoyed life in London. Until tragedy struck.
After ten years of marriage, his wife passed away from smallpox. The couple had been unable to bear children and with no one behind to keep him in England, Prescott returned home to Canada. For the first time, Prescott was not his usual beaming self. The life had gone out of him and Wade nearly came to believe Prescott had truly loved his
wife.
His pain had reached their sister and like the past, she drew Prescott into her comforting and loving embrace. This time, however, Wade had not minded as much. She had stayed at the ranch for nearly six months before returning to the city to her husband and children. But the magic of Kathleen had done its thing.
She matched him up with the widow Elizabeth, the restaurant proprietor from town. It didn’t take long before Prescott’s eyes glistened with the look of a man foolishly believing himself in love, and in the process shed serious doubt in Wade’s opinion for the love he claimed for his late wife.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day.” Prescott had exited the stalls with his mount directly behind him and his head tilted toward the sky.
Wade followed his gaze. The sky was a warm blue contrary to the chilly autumn air. Puffs of frosty breaths billowed from their horse’s nostrils. Strangely, he actually agreed with his brother. It must have been on the account of their sister’s expectant return to the ranch, but the day felt full of excitement. Almost as if his world was about to be altered forever.
“Then let’s make the best of it.”
* * *
The woman stayed close to the earth, crouched low beneath the large oak tree near the water’s edge. She was shivering but didn’t notice. Her eyes strained straight ahead without blinking. She didn’t dare move or make a sound. The sun was up entirely now and shone bright over the earth, not a cloud could be seen in the sky. The cloak of the night was no longer her sanctuary. She knew she had to find shelter and soon.
From her vantage point the home looked deserted. There was no life moving about or fire burning from the several chimneys on the roof. Further down the property was another set of buildings, which from her distance looked like barns. She decided to head in that direction and get a better look. Crouching down on all fours she slipped through the tall grass and made her way slowly toward the compound.
A small flat building was situated closest to where she crouched, while two larger barns sat to the far side of the property. Out behind them were three holding pens, a corral, and two paddocks where she saw a lone bull sleeping leisurely in the morning sun. But there was no other sign of life.
She moved forward and only paused when she heard a sound. It took a moment before she recognized the squawk of a chicken. Moving closer, she saw them appear in a large pen sandwiched between the first and second building. There must have been fifty or more.
Her eyes widened automatically as she realized how terribly hungry she was and felt the first cold shudder ripple across her half-naked form. She turned her head toward the house to ensure there was still no one about. The fact there was livestock on the property indicated the place wasn’t abandoned as she initially assumed. Since the chimney showed no sign of smoke, she guessed the owners were not home, however knew someone was sure to be around to tend the animals.
A chicken squawked loudly, startling her and letting her know she had been spotted. Drawing her attention to the area surrounding the pen, she noticed a door slightly ajar in the barn closest to the coop. She made her way toward the entrance, stopping every so often to listen for movement.
When she felt it safe to continue, she moved forward and slid quietly out of sight and into the sanctuary of the barn. There was no sound from within, leaving her to wonder if she had been heard and someone was waiting to spring on her. But a greater fear forced her onward. She needed to find a place to hide away unnoticed.
It was dim inside so she allowed the few minutes needed to allow her pupils to dilate. There was a strong musty smell in the barn as she entered an area used to store horse equipment. Against the one wall were large storage bins piled high, while overhead an assortment of leather straps and halters hung on wooden pegs.
A chill unexpectedly ran down her back and the woman looked around for a blanket to warm herself. She found one easily enough folded on a nearby crate. Lying next to it was a knife. Without hesitation, she snatched it up, holding it defensively against her chest while her eyes darted about the room. There was evil nearby. She could feel it.
Shooting into a corner furthest from the door, she curled up into a ball and stared hard at the entrance, the knife clutched between her breasts. Silence filled the barn. She waited in that position at length until at last she began to relax.
Next to her she spotted a large bag of potatoes, which the knife was obviously meant to peel. She snatched one up and ate it vigorously. She had never thought she had ever tasted anything so wonderful in her life. Except perhaps chicken.
They had so many. She doubted they would even notice if one went missing. She polished off the potato before pulling the blanket closer and headed toward the exit once more. Something reached out and touched her cheek. She spun around, jabbing the air with the knife, causing some hard crusted strands of hair to whip across her cheek.
Nobody was there. With a start she realized her mud encased hair had been the culprit. Lifting the knife in one hand and her hair in the other she sliced away until the long strands fell to the floor.
Without giving it any further thought, she dropped the blanket, took a cautious step outside, looked around thoroughly, then slid inside the chicken coop. Like a lioness she watched her prey with intent eyes and moved ever so slowly and quietly inside the pen. Surprisingly, they did not so much as make a fuss. Almost as if granting her permission. The woman smiled, then leaped, catching a bird in her first attempt.
Only then did the chickens begin to squawk, the one in her arms the loudest, but with a quick thrust of the blade she silenced him forever. She felt the squirt of its blood explode on her hands the same moment she felt its small body go lifeless.
A flash of memory. A momentary numbness. Her chest squeezed as if her internal organs were wrapping themselves around her lungs. Panic started to rise. Then it stopped.
Quickly, she slipped out of the pen and back to her hiding spot in the barn with her prey. The blade was sharp as it easily tore the bird apart. She devoured the creature with delight. It did not take long for her to consume the animal in its entirety, minus the bones and feathers, and satisfy her empty stomach. Helping herself to another potato before drawing the blanket close, she searched out a corner to curl up into.
