Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 2: The Loner, Born Bad, Three Letters. Josephine Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ sky was full of a million cold and distant stars.

      Within the shadows of the stable block, a deeper shadow stirred, as Seamus crept about with a can of petrol. Murmuring to the horses, who whickered at the unfamiliar smell, he carefully poured some petrol into each stable. That done, he secured every door behind him, callously trapping the horses inside.

      Lastly, he came to the stallion. ‘Whisht there, Madden. Hello, boy,’ he crooned. ‘You’re a real beauty, aren’t you, eh?’ Agitated and nervous, the stallion was beginning to fidget. ‘We’re the same, you and me,’ Seamus said, talking softly. ‘We’re not loved or wanted by anyone.’ He smiled. ‘And we have the same dark nature …’

      Hearing voices, he crouched low and listened. ‘Ssh … ssh,’ he whispered to the horse. He didn’t want to be discovered now, not when everything was almost done, and all it needed was the stroke of a match.

      Over by the big barn, Maggie was saying good night to Dave and Lucy. ‘Good night, you two. See you in the morning.’ Her distinctive Scottish burr carried through the night air.

      Seamus peered over the stable door. Through the trees, he could see Dave and Lucy pressed up against a wall, kissing, too close, too passionate. He saw red. ‘That spoiled bitch’s father isn’t the only one who needs teaching a lesson! Look at her, the little whore!’

      Over by the wall, in Lucy’s hot embrace, Dave was reluctant to let her go. He longed to make love to her again – but Maggie and Frank would be waiting to see her off to bed … Blood surged through him as he kissed her deeply, again.

      ‘Bastard!’ The Irishman, watching, could hardly contain himself. ‘He stole my job, my woman and my future. I can’t let him get away with it!’

      Madden could sense danger in the air, and he fiercely resisted when the man saddled him up, ready for a ride. When the animal threatened to rear, Seamus gave it a hard thump across the head.

      ‘Don’t start your tricks with me, or you’ll be sorry!’ Taking a whip from the wall, he held it where the stallion could see. ‘Want me to lay this across your back, d’you?’ he growled.

      Over by the barn, Dave thought he heard something.

      ‘What’s wrong?’ asked Lucy.

      ‘Ssh!’ Dave quietened her and concentrated. ‘I thought I heard something over by the stables.’ His neck hairs stood on end. ‘I’d best go and check.’

      ‘I’m coming with you.’

      ‘No!’ If there was anyone lurking about, it was best for her to remain here, safe. ‘Do as I ask. Stay here. Don’t move, and don’t make a sound.’

      Sensing something bad, Lucy did as she was told.

      Stealthily, Dave made his way towards the stable block. He was coming up the slight rise when all of a sudden, Madden burst through his stable door with Seamus on his back. Like a madman, the groom rode straight at Dave, the stallion beneath him wild-eyed and terrified, leaping and rearing at the sight of Dave running towards him.

      ‘You’re too late!’ Seamus screamed. He struck the match against his boot, and for a second he held the flame high for Dave to see.

      ‘Good God!’ Dave realised with horror what he was about to do. ‘NOOooo!’ His frantic cry was lost as Seamus threw the match, and instantly there was a whoosh as the first stable was lit from within.

      ‘Tell your best friend Frank there’s more to come!’ the Irishman bawled.

      Dave didn’t hear his threat as he ran to the stables, his shouts alerting everyone. ‘FIRE! FIRE AT THE STABLES!’ Shocked by the speed of the flames, he ran from door to door, opening them to let the horses out, desperate to save as many of the terrified animals as he could. But the fire was rampant, spreading so fast he was all too quickly beaten back by the heat and licking flames.

      Having heard the pandemonium, they came from all directions … the stable boys and girls, Frank, still in his pyjamas with his dressing-gown thrown on top, and Maggie, her hair in curlers and her slippers on. And here was Lucy, yelling desperately for Dave to get clear.

      Running up fast, the stable hands went in search of the horses that had fled in terror when Dave threw open the stable doors. Incensed that some of the horses had been saved, Seamus turned on Dave who, blackened and exhausted, was limping away from the inferno that was now engulfing the block.

      ‘I couldn’t save them all,’ Dave almost wept to Lucy, who came running towards him. ‘I couldn’t save them, my love.’

      Having been traumatised by the fire, the big stallion would go neither forwards nor backwards. Desperate to punish Dave, to run him down, Seamus was viciously wielding the whip, again and again. ‘Come on, you bastard … move!’ he roared, foam on his lips. ‘MOVE, I SAY!’ Another crack of the whip and the horse went up on its back legs, almost unseating its rider. Then, with a mighty thump it was down on all fours again, racing away, wanting only to run from the carnage and that pitiful noise of its fellow creatures, trapped inside the stables and roasting to death.

      In the panic and confusion, Seamus finally managed to turn the stallion towards Dave. ‘Time you got your comeuppance, gypsy boy!’ He was laughing, his crazed mind shot by the turn of events. ‘I told you I’d be back – that you hadn’t heard the last of me!’

      Things happened so fast, there was nothing anyone could do. Head down and driven by the devil himself, the horse careered towards Dave, and with no time and nowhere to run, Dave thought this must be his last moment on earth. When he heard Lucy crying his name, he knew she was too close; his heart dropped like a stone inside him. ‘Go back, Lucy! For God’s sake, go back!’ he roared.

      A cry went up and now Frank could be seen running forward, a look of desperation on his face. But it was too late. Seamus had what he wanted. He spurred the stallion into a frenzy, and when it seemed that Dave would die under its hooves, Lucy shot forward; the horse came down, and it was she who took the full force of the blow.

      Shouts and screams turned to a deathly silence, broken only by the sound of burning wood and a horse’s hooves as the stallion raced away out of control, the rider screaming for someone to help him. But there was no help. Only retribution.

      Later the horse was found in the thick of the woods, so badly injured it would have to be put down, and alongside him, the body of Seamus, almost decapitated when the horse careered into the overhanging branch.

      Lucy lived, long enough to tell Dave and her father how much she loved them; and their grief was immense.

      Lying in her bed, in the pretty bedroom upstairs in the farmhouse, the girl had looked so beautiful; a soft blush on her face and her hair spread out over the snowy pillows. But it was all illusion. Madden’s hooves had caught her in the chest, causing massive internal damage, and beneath the lace nightdress, Lucy was bleeding to death.

      Drugged by morphia, and with the light in her eyes growing dim, she whispered feebly to Dave, ‘Remember the summerhouse …’ Aware that she was dying, Lucy wanted him to know she was glad to have died a woman – his woman – body and soul.

      ‘Daddy, I’m going to be with Mummy now,’ she promised. ‘Look after Maggie, won’t you? СКАЧАТЬ