Echoes in the Woods by Georgina Scott (ebook reader web txt) 📕

the house because they drove him to distraction with the way they treated one another. Felicity and Penelope disliked Natasha with a passion. What their parents saw was Felicity and Penelope ganging up and bullying Natasha, they never wanted to see the other side of her, the really nasty horrible self-indulged, self-absorbed fucking bitch that she was. To them, she was the apple of their eyes and got anything she asked for.

Natasha treated people like shit, other than her parents, grandparents, or anyone she felt she had use for or could benefit her in some way. She was the school bully and anyone who had been on the receiving end of her temper avoided her like the plague. She could fight and it was real nasty when she got hold of you. The only person she would never cross was Kevin. He didn’t only scare her but he excited her as well.

Jake knew there was no point in monitoring Natasha, he watched her and made notes whilst she was with the gang and he knew and already made up his mind on the outcome of this gang. All he had to do now was to physically prepare and figure out how he would lure this group into the woods.

Chapter 13

Matthew was beside himself, and had been for weeks. He couldn’t talk to anyone, he bottled up his feelings and the knock-on effect to that was lashing out at everyone including his friends. Even his teachers noticed the change in him and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t say anything to anyone. His mum tried to talk to him but all he could do was to ignore and not look at her; after all the problem stemmed from her.

He loved his mum and he knew if he said anything, all hell would break loose. God knows what would happen if his dad ever found out. He grew up seeing his dad beat his mum over nothing but mostly over Jake. He thought things would get better when Jake left to go and live with their grandparents, and it did for a while, lasted for about six weeks.

There was no doubt that his dad loved his mum; well, he certainly gave that impression. It was the attack that changed everything, the drinking came not long after that and the late nights at the pub. His dad was a hard worker and farming was hard, dealing with livestock, crops and drought. He had so many skills under his belt from horticulture to metal and woodwork, there was nothing he couldn’t do. He was a really skilled man, a jack-of-all-trades. Matthew loved the farm and wanted to be a farmer just like his dad. He looked up to and admired him.

As soon as he got home from school, he did his homework and chores around the house and farm; then he was out in the field helping his dad. When his dad wasn’t drinking he was the best dad in the world. They had fun with lots of banter and messing around. That was a good day!

Sometimes Mark and Henry would tag along but that was when nothing would get done. Knowing they hadn’t done their chores around the farm, Matthew would head back earlier and quickly do it for them. Not because he wanted to, he had other things to be getting on with, but he figured if Dad was happy and not shouting and being angry all the time, then Mum, and them would be having a really good day as well.

Once John finished ploughing the fields, he and Matthew sat down under the tree, drank water and talked. “So, what’s been going on with you, these last few weeks, you haven’t been yourself?”

“Nothing is wrong with me.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I mean nothing is going on.”

“You know what I want, and you know I will get it, so c’mon start talking,” said John, looking at Matthew.

“I’m being bullied at school by three older boys,” Matthew said looking out into the distance, trying not to look directly at his dad.

“Bullshit,” taking another swig of water.

“What!” Matthew said, surprisingly looking at his dad

“That’s not what’s going on. I taught you to fight, remember. We are not leaving this spot till you tell me.”

“I told you nothing is going on,” raising his voice as he started to feel uneasy, knowing no matter what he said, he wasn’t leaving from under this tree without telling him.

“You say that one more time, I bloody dare you. Start talking!” he said sternly.

“I saw and heard them,” Matthew said in a whisper.

“Who?”

“Mum and Doctor Moody, the night you came home drunk and parked your truck in the tree.”

“What were they doing?”

Matthew hunched his shoulders and wished the ground would open up a swallow him up whole.

“I won’t ask again Matthew!” directly looking at him.

“They were kissing and holding each other and saying the L word.”

“And, where was I?”

“You were passed out on the sofa. Mum and me, got you into the house from the car, then she called Dr Moody. He came over and checked you out. Then I was sent back to bed, but I didn’t go back to bed. I sat on the top step of the stairs and saw them in the kitchen. They were talking, and Doctor Moody was telling her that he missed and loved her. They were kissing and holding each other.”

“I take it, you haven’t spoken to your mum about what you have seen.”

“No, I can’t look at her, Dad.”

“It’s okay. I already know Matthew, your mum already told me. You’re a little bit confused with the details, you should have said something sooner, instead of bottling everything up,” said John placing his hand onto Matthews shoulder and giving it a squeeze for reassurance whilst at the same time the rage inside of him boiling up like a volcano. Matthew turned tearfully towards his dad then they both hugged. “Dry your tears, wash your face and head back to