survival depended on Leon Price - a man she wanted to hate, but couldn’t.
So many things had happened over the past few hours. She was totally bewildered, and had no one to turn to but him. Deep inside her was an ache, like an injury that hadn’t quite healed. She also felt lonely. Yet she wasn’t alone - and she was glad she wasn’t.
‘Thank you for being kind to me, Leon,’ she said, and her words rekindled the ashes of his smile, melting away a tiny portion of her loneliness.
Nevertheless, she was thinking as they made their way towards the main building of the inn that she’d refund every cent as soon as she had sufficient funds .
Constable Watson arrived just as they’d reached the coffee stage. ‘He said he’d appreciate a private word with you both, and he brought this,’ Shirley whispered, handing over her bag.
They met him the foyer and he gazed awkwardly from one to the other for a moment. ‘I’m sorry if I was rough, Miss Channing. It was unintentional. To be quite honest I didn’t recognize you. I’ve been working up north since I graduated from the police academy, and have only just been posted back here.’
Full of Greek salad and fortified with a couple of glasses of Chardonnay, Darcie was inclined to be magnanimous. ‘Apology accepted.’
‘It wouldn’t look good on my record if a complaint was made. I’m a married man.’
Interest piqued, Darcie stared at him. ‘Who did you marry, Jeff, anyone I know?’
‘Her name is Jenny. She’s not from round here though, I met her in Perth.’
‘Have you got any children?’
‘One.’ A smile transformed Jeff’s homely face into one approaching beauty. ‘His name’s Sam.’
‘Why don’t you join us for coffee and chat? Have you got a photograph of him on you?’
Jeff darted a look at Leon, who remained stonily impassive. ‘I’d better not stay. I’m expected back at the station. I just wanted you to know –’
‘Miss Channing won’t be making any official complaints, despite her injuries, constable,’ Leon intervened smoothly. ‘But there’s something you could do for her if you would?’
‘If it’s within my power,’ Jeff said cautiously.
‘Miss Channing’s father accidentally died a few months ago when she was abroad. Because her cousin is away she’s been unable to discover the nature of the accident or where he’s buried. Naturally, she’s distressed ...’
‘I’ll do what I can to find out.’
‘Thanks, Jeff. Now you remember who I am you can inform Sherlock Homes that I’m not a burglar.’
‘I have, but he still insists on checking. He’s not from around here, so you’ll just have to ride it out.’
They exchanged a smile before he left, then Darcie placed her hand on Leon’s arm. ‘Thanks, I wouldn’t have thought about asking him to check.’
‘Elementary, my dear Darcie.’ He covered her hand with his. ‘Now, what say you and I finish our coffee, then get changed and take that lout of a dog for a walk along one of the bush trails whilst the sun is still shining? I don’t want him demolishing the chalet.’
Within the hour they were winding their way through the forest. Its peculiar smell of damp leaf litter reminded Darcie of her childhood, and the cathedral air of quietness, despite the bird-song and rustling foliage, was a healing balm to her soul.
Neither of them spoke for a while, but after half-an-hour when the path began to wind uphill, Leon drew them to a halt. ‘I don’t know where this trail leads, do you?’
Capturing a stray strand of hair Darcie tried not to smile as she tucked it into her scarf. ‘It joins the main trail that winds upwards to the bluff and lover’s leap. There’s a great view from there but it’s a steep climb.’
‘How long does it take?’
‘About two hours.’ He still seemed fresh but it was obvious he wasn’t used to bush walking. His shoes were unsuitable for scaling rocks and a faint sheen of perspiration glistened on his
So many things had happened over the past few hours. She was totally bewildered, and had no one to turn to but him. Deep inside her was an ache, like an injury that hadn’t quite healed. She also felt lonely. Yet she wasn’t alone - and she was glad she wasn’t.
‘Thank you for being kind to me, Leon,’ she said, and her words rekindled the ashes of his smile, melting away a tiny portion of her loneliness.
Nevertheless, she was thinking as they made their way towards the main building of the inn that she’d refund every cent as soon as she had sufficient funds .
Constable Watson arrived just as they’d reached the coffee stage. ‘He said he’d appreciate a private word with you both, and he brought this,’ Shirley whispered, handing over her bag.
They met him the foyer and he gazed awkwardly from one to the other for a moment. ‘I’m sorry if I was rough, Miss Channing. It was unintentional. To be quite honest I didn’t recognize you. I’ve been working up north since I graduated from the police academy, and have only just been posted back here.’
Full of Greek salad and fortified with a couple of glasses of Chardonnay, Darcie was inclined to be magnanimous. ‘Apology accepted.’
‘It wouldn’t look good on my record if a complaint was made. I’m a married man.’
Interest piqued, Darcie stared at him. ‘Who did you marry, Jeff, anyone I know?’
‘Her name is Jenny. She’s not from round here though, I met her in Perth.’
‘Have you got any children?’
‘One.’ A smile transformed Jeff’s homely face into one approaching beauty. ‘His name’s Sam.’
‘Why don’t you join us for coffee and chat? Have you got a photograph of him on you?’
Jeff darted a look at Leon, who remained stonily impassive. ‘I’d better not stay. I’m expected back at the station. I just wanted you to know –’
‘Miss Channing won’t be making any official complaints, despite her injuries, constable,’ Leon intervened smoothly. ‘But there’s something you could do for her if you would?’
‘If it’s within my power,’ Jeff said cautiously.
‘Miss Channing’s father accidentally died a few months ago when she was abroad. Because her cousin is away she’s been unable to discover the nature of the accident or where he’s buried. Naturally, she’s distressed ...’
‘I’ll do what I can to find out.’
‘Thanks, Jeff. Now you remember who I am you can inform Sherlock Homes that I’m not a burglar.’
‘I have, but he still insists on checking. He’s not from around here, so you’ll just have to ride it out.’
They exchanged a smile before he left, then Darcie placed her hand on Leon’s arm. ‘Thanks, I wouldn’t have thought about asking him to check.’
‘Elementary, my dear Darcie.’ He covered her hand with his. ‘Now, what say you and I finish our coffee, then get changed and take that lout of a dog for a walk along one of the bush trails whilst the sun is still shining? I don’t want him demolishing the chalet.’
Within the hour they were winding their way through the forest. Its peculiar smell of damp leaf litter reminded Darcie of her childhood, and the cathedral air of quietness, despite the bird-song and rustling foliage, was a healing balm to her soul.
Neither of them spoke for a while, but after half-an-hour when the path began to wind uphill, Leon drew them to a halt. ‘I don’t know where this trail leads, do you?’
Capturing a stray strand of hair Darcie tried not to smile as she tucked it into her scarf. ‘It joins the main trail that winds upwards to the bluff and lover’s leap. There’s a great view from there but it’s a steep climb.’
‘How long does it take?’
‘About two hours.’ He still seemed fresh but it was obvious he wasn’t used to bush walking. His shoes were unsuitable for scaling rocks and a faint sheen of perspiration glistened on his
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