Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (best free e reader .TXT) 📕

why I told him she was fast asleep inside when he finds her in the tent.’ Thea stifled a sigh as they rounded the bend that took them to the side of Mill Grange. The back entrance was off to their left, and the main door in front of them. ‘Let’s zip up and see if she’s in her room. I can show you your room at the same time. That’s what I told Sam I was doing after all.’

Kicking off their shoes, the women climbed the main staircase. With every step, Thea hoped they’d find Tina safe in her room. She wasn’t sure what to say when they got there, but seeing that her friend was physically unharmed would be a good start.

Pointing to the door next to her own bedroom, Thea said, ‘You’re in there, Helen.’

‘And Tina?’

‘On the other side.’ Thea hesitated. ‘If you want to check your space out, I’ll go and see if she’s okay.’

Helen was delighting over the beautifully appointed little bedroom, with its original fireplace and the fabulous view, when Thea reappeared. One glance at her face told Helen that their search was not over. ‘Tina’s not there.’

‘No.’ Thea suddenly ran back towards the stairs, not stopping until she reached the main garden. Her palms prickled with nerves. She was going to have to go to Sam’s tent. If that meant admitting to Sam that she’d lied about Tina being asleep, then she’d just have to face the consequences. All that mattered was making sure her friend was okay.

Helen was on her heels as they stood outside the main door, when Woody came around the corner from the garden.

‘Late-night stroll?’

‘Thea’s been showing me Upwich.’ Helen waved a hand towards the driveway. ‘We took a walk after checking out my room.’

‘I don’t blame you. It’s such a lovely evening.’ He gazed at the sky. ‘I can’t remember the last time I could see so many stars so clearly in UK skies. If you were after Sam, you’ve just missed him. He’s gone back to his tent.’

Not commenting on the stunning nature of the night’s constellations, Thea asked, ‘Did Tina wake up and come back out to join you?’

‘No.’

Helen looked around her. ‘And you’d have noticed Tina would you, for sure, if she’d come out again and slipped into the tent?’

Woody’s smile faded. ‘I think so. We were facing the tent. I didn’t see her go inside. Why? What’s going on?’

*

‘Bert said I was allowed to argue, to get cross over not being consulted about what happens here, but I hate it. I don’t know how to argue anyway. I always say the wrong thing and make it worse.’

There was no response from the chickens. She couldn’t even see them; they were all asleep in the coop Tina had helped Sam build a few months ago. That had been before they were together. ‘I was chasing men with money back then.’ Tina grimaced as she thought back to some of the blokes Thea had labelled ‘Silver Foxes’. She’d hunted them out, determined to be looked after financially in her adulthood. Tina shivered at the idea of her former self. She’d never seen it as gold-digging; she just didn’t want to be alone or poor. Then Sam had come along.

‘Even you girls get to sleep in your home at night; though you do have to share Tony Stark between you. I know Sam can’t help having to sleep in a tent. I don’t expect perfect; I just expect to be included. Is that too much to ask do you think, Gertrude?’

‘Of course it isn’t.’

Tina jumped as the unexpected voice floated across the walled garden. Woody was walking her way. ‘I didn’t hear you coming.’

He grinned as he looked down at his feet. ‘I run more or less on silent, especially over grass.’

Tina blushed. ‘Sorry, I didn’t think.’

Woody asked gently, ‘Do you always apologise for things that aren’t your fault?’

‘Sorry.’

‘I guess that’s a yes then.’ He tapped his artificial legs. ‘Anyway, it wasn’t my legs I meant; it’s these trainers. Cushioned soles make no noise at all.’ He smiled wider. ‘I had a hunch you’d be here.’

‘You did?’

‘You told me the chickens were the fount of all wisdom.’

‘So I did.’ Tina shifted uneasily. ‘Why were you looking for me?’

‘Don’t move for a moment. I’ll tell Thea I’ve found you. Then I’ll come back.’

‘Thea?’

‘She and Helen have been worried sick. They’ve been all over Upwich searching for you.’

‘They have?’

‘Thea is your best friend; wouldn’t you expect her to worry when you go AWOL? Especially as your mobile was off.’

‘And Helen?’ Tina kept her eyes on the empty chicken run.

‘Was worried too. Wait there. I, as they say, will be back.’

Leaning against the wooden fence to the newly extended chicken run, Tina closed her eyes. Now she could add self-reproach to her list of confused feelings. It hadn’t occurred to her that anyone would notice she’d been out of the house, let alone come looking for her. Or did I hope they would? Did I hope they’d worry, just to prove to myself I’m here?

Opening her eyes again, Tina took her phone from her pocket and switched it on. The beeping of delivered messages echoed across the garden, until she flicked off the sound function. There were three missed calls and five texts. All from Thea.

‘Nothing from Sam,’ Tina mumbled to the slumbering chickens as the gate to the walled garden swung open behind her.

‘Mostly because I was told you were asleep.’ Sam was running across the garden, his face etched with a mix of panic and contrition. ‘Where have you been? Thea came to fetch me. She’s been going out of her mind.’

Fighting the urge to say it was nothing, to brush the hurt away and say she’d fancied a bit of space, Tina dismissed the easy way out and gripped the fence a little harder. ‘I hadn’t meant to worry Thea.’

‘But you meant to worry me?’

‘Childish perhaps, but I wondered if you’d notice I’d gone.’ Tina shrugged.