Shadow On The Fells. Eleanor Jones

Чтение книги онлайн.

       CHAPTER SIX

      AS WILL MADE his way home with Max still straining on the leash, he felt a flicker of irritation at the way Chrissie made him feel so small.

      Even when he’d walked away from his career he had felt principled, never awkward or uncomfortable. He’d become totally sickened by the way the law worked, the way that clever words could help guilty men and women walk free when the whole world knew they didn’t deserve to. And the worst part was that very often they were his words. That was what had truly finished him. He wasn’t proud of what he’d done as a lawyer, and he’d made the right decision by walking away.

      Chrissie’s face slid into his mind, a strong face that didn’t need makeup to enhance it. There was something about her whole demeanor that drew him in, something starkly beautiful about the proud way she held her head and the spark in her blue eyes.

      He had come to the fells for peace and quiet, a chance to take stock and sort out the good from the bad, but already he was inviting chaos into his life at every turn. What he needed to do, he decided, was avoid Chrissie at all costs. He didn’t want any more antagonism in his life, and sparks seemed to fly whenever they met, sparks that emphasized his confusion.

      He realized that Autumn was too warm and mellow a name for the fierce, independent shepherdess. Winter, he decided, smiling at the thought.

      Back at Craig Side there were men up on the roof. He could see them clearly from the fell, little ants busily working. He’d come here for solitude, but solitude seemed to be evading him—even when he sought it out on the wild slopes. Part of it was his own fault, of course; he had called the workmen in and he had let Max chase the stupid sheep. Still, he needed to talk to Jim and Roger Simmons soon. Though, right now, getting out of his soggy sweater and warming up were his first priorities.

      Will had just managed to pull the demon sweater over his head and stuff it in the laundry basket when he heard a knock on the kitchen door. He ignored it, hoping that whoever it was would think he’d gone out. No such luck.

      “Sorry to intrude, but we really do need you to look at these plans again.” Jim Wentworth poked his gray head around the corner just as Will ducked out of sight. “But if you’re busy...”

      “No, it’s fine,” Will said awkwardly, emerging from the laundry room. “I got a bit wet, that’s all.”

      “I saw you coming down the fell.” Jim smiled. “You did look a bit sodden. To be honest, it’s always a good idea—”

      “To wear a coat when you live around here,” Will finished for him. “Autumn—I mean, Chrissie Marsh—said just the same thing.”

      Jim raised his bushy eyebrows. “You’ve seen her again already, then?”

      “Only by accident. You’d think you could never accidentally bump into someone way up here, but I’ve managed to do it twice.”

      “With better results than yesterday, I hope.”

      Will laughed. “Well, Max didn’t chase her sheep, but she presented me with a bill for one that fell down a cliff yesterday...and she let me know I was wearing the wrong clothes yet again.”

      “As I said, Chrissie doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”

      “So you think I’m a fool, now?”

      When Jim looked at him in dismay, Will placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “Don’t worry. I know that’s not what you meant. Tell you what—give me half an hour to get changed and we’ll go and meet Roger together.”

      Jim nodded. “He said he was working at home all day. I’ll give him a ring so he knows to expect us.”

      As he ran up the stairs to get changed, Will realized just how much more lighthearted he felt already, and all because his sense of purpose was filtering back. He could feel it, the drive inside him that made life worthwhile. Chrissie Marsh might have made him feel out of place and out of his comfort zone, but he wasn’t one to give in easily. At least that was one good thing to come out of being a lawyer.

      It was a culture shock, that was all. For years he’d been revered and admired; no one messed with Will Devlin unless they wanted a lawsuit on their hands, a lawsuit that they would definitely lose. He just had to adjust to the principles of life here. They were different than in the city, more basic and more honest. Better...? he asked himself. The answer came at once. Yes. Well, at least he definitely hoped so. All he had to do was keep well away from the shepherdess and he’d be fine. After he gave her a check, of course; he’d go there first thing tomorrow and get it done with.

      His cell phone buzzed as he ran down the stairs. Roy Wallis? What the heck did he want? Ice seeped through his veins, weighing down his heart once more. Would they never let go of him? Putting the phone to his ear, he pulled on his professionalism like an invisible skin. “Roy! How are you? To what do I owe this honor?”

      “Fine, and how are you?” replied the head of Marcus Finch and lawyer extraordinaire. “Feeling better, I hope.”

      “Getting my head straight, if that’s what you mean,” Will said cautiously.

      “I won’t mince words. I have a case for you, an important case.”

      “Well, give it to someone else because I am no longer a part of Marcus Finch.”

      “Look, Will...” Roy hesitated, piquing Will’s interest. Roy Wallis never showed his unease.

      “Look at what?”

      “Ezra McBride has insisted that you handle it, and I think you know what that means.”

      Will stayed silent, digesting the information. His palms were sweaty. “I guess it means a heap СКАЧАТЬ