Cold Revenge (Willis/Carter #6)(16)

Heather nodded, still struggling to understand why her mother was suddenly telling her all this; it was as if overnight she was supposed to see things as an adult now. She was supposed to understand.

‘Tell your dad I said you could go to the farm. Now go, don’t answer back and don’t say you’re sorry – that gets him so angry – just stand up tall and tell him you’re going to study.’

Heather nodded. ‘It’s not right, the way he takes out all his anger on us. We should leave.’

‘I’m not leaving this house. I was born here. That’s enough moaning about life, you don’t know how good you have it. You should be grateful to your dad; we never expected to have another one after Oliver. I wish many a time that we hadn’t. It hasn’t been easy. I thought having a little girl would bring joy in my life but it’s brought nothing but trouble and sorrow. Now you’re a woman, Heather, I expect more from you. You want to stay in this house, you try and get on with your father and take some of the pressure off me.’

‘He hates me.’

Her mother sighed but didn’t answer. Heather slipped out of the bedroom and down the stairs, through the back door and walked across to the gate. Her father stopped working to watch her.

‘Where are you going?’ he asked.

‘To the farm, I’m studying there today. I have all my things in here.’ She patted her backpack to emphasise the point. ‘Mum says I can. I’m doing really well and Uncle needs me up there to help him today; he asked me to come early.’ Heather threw in as much as she could remember and stood tall and looked her father in the eyes.

He looked startled and nodded.

When she reached the farm there was no one in the yard. She took the shortcut across the fields to Ash’s van. She knocked gently and then opened the door. Looking inside she saw the mess and the barbecue remnants but no Ash or Elle, his mum. She waited for a few minutes, deciding what to do, before walking on across the field and onto the road and then around to the top of the lane and past the bungalow that way. As she passed, she heard women laughing and recognised Elle’s voice. The frosted glass in the bathroom was steamed up but she could make out the naked female forms moving inside.

Heather went straight down the lane and into the farmyard to Murphy’s stable and called him. He sauntered over and nestled his soft nose into her hand, looking for a carrot. She gave him one from the feed store and he crunched away on it. She slid her hand beneath his rug and along his neck and winced from the pain in her arm as she raised it. Her father’s fingerprints were pressed into the flesh on her upper arm.

Her uncle came out of his back door looking flustered and still pushing his feet into his boots as he stamped on the concrete. He didn’t glance up or say hello; instead, he hurried into the feed room and started dishing out the scoops of feed for the horses. After a few minutes, he called her in to help him.

‘Give me a hand, Heather, you can sort out the quantities and put in the scoops, I’ll read out the amounts to you.’

Heather was aware that he was sitting on the stool watching her, and it was the first time she felt embarrassed by his attention. It felt different from usual. Maybe it was because her hormones were making her over-sensitive.

When they’d finished he smiled at her.

‘Thank you, Heather, you’re a great help to me.’ She smiled back at him. ‘You’re going to have to watch it with the lads soon, Heather, you’re blossoming, aren’t you?’ he went on, staring at her breasts that were swollen and painful from her period, like two apples beneath her shirt.

She instantly rounded her shoulders and turned away, embarrassed.

‘I’m only saying,’ he continued, looking at her from his seat. ‘Your father will be beating them away from the door. You know, Heather, your aunt, didn’t come back last night.’

‘Didn’t she?’ Heather felt her face burning.

‘No.’ Truscott stood and came across to her. ‘I can still get a hug from my favourite niece though, can’t I?’

Heather smiled awkwardly but stood still whilst he hugged her and she felt her breasts being painfully squashed against his chest. She was already as tall as him.

‘You get on now; I expect you want to ride this morning, don’t you? Stay clear of that lad in the van, he’s trouble.’

Heather worked all morning mucking out the stables and sweeping the yard, grooming the ponies. She went for a ride across to Saul, the farrier.

Saul was sitting in his garden reading the newspapers. He got up to walk out into the field and meet Heather.

‘Shall I put a couple of jumps up for you?’

‘That’s okay, Murphy and I are both tired, but thanks for the offer.’

Saul patted Murphy, who was taking the opportunity to eat the grass.

‘I’m going to sit and study in the yard,’ said Heather. ‘I’ve got my exams starting next month. I’m bound to do badly.’

‘Try your best.’

‘I might not even sit them.’ She looked at Saul with a sideways glance.

‘Is that on the cards?’

She shrugged. ‘It’s quiet here today,’ she said, changing the subject.

Saul nodded. ‘Douglas and two others left early – Ash was one of them. Enjoy your ride,’ he said as he went back into his house.