Good Deed Bad Deed, Marcia Morgan [summer beach reads TXT] 📗

The room had become chilly, and Valerie did her best to wrap the blanket around her shoulders. She couldn’t seem to accommodate for the arm that was stretched out and handcuffed to the radiator. Olivia had used her blanket as a pillow and continued to lie there staring at a dark ceiling, the handcuffed wrist over her head. Soon Lenny came through the front door, his heavy steps once again accompanied by the rustle of plastic bags. They heard the bags hit the table and waited quietly.

He appeared in the doorway and flipped a wall switch that turned on a glaring ceiling light. “I brought you some food. If you don’t like it, eat it anyway. I may not feel so generous tomorrow.”

Valerie summoned the courage to speak up and said, “I know you’ve given us buckets, but could we please use the bathroom. We’ve done everything you’ve asked, and now that you’re back there’s no privacy in here without a door.”

Lenny stood still and stared at her. She wondered if the next step was to slap her as he had done Olivia. She maintained his gaze and waited for an answer. Only a few seconds passed, but to her it seemed longer. “You should have used the buckets while I was gone. Remember that next time.”

Grumbling under his breath he walked over to her and proceeded to unlock the handcuffs. She quietly said thank you and tried to get up. Her body was very stiff and she let out a groan as she stood. Lenny laughed, obviously enjoying her discomfort, then motioned her toward the bathroom. She took a few steps then asked if Olivia could go as well, when she was back in her handcuffs. He grunted, which she interpreted as a ‘yes.’ Olivia smiled at her. Once they were both back in restraints, Lenny brought them each a Styrofoam box containing a Spanish tortilla, some tomatoes and a small pile of anchovies. He noticed the two empty bottles of water and fetched two more, tossing them onto the mattresses.

Valerie saw that Olivia was picking at the food. “You have to eat. We have to stay as strong as possible. No matter what he gives us, eat it. And drink your water. We can’t survive if we kill ourselves with starvation and dehydration. We don’t want to make it easy for him.”

Olivia nodded and began to pick at the egg and potato tortilla. Once she started, she began to eat faster, her basic hunger pushing ahead of the fear. Both women finished every morsel and were thankful for it. At least they knew there would be sustenance of some kind. They had water, a blanket and perhaps, just a little hope.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ben and Ana were both awake at dawn, alone in separate rooms. Without the other knowing, each had planned an early walk around the grounds. Ana was sure it would be too early for ne’er-do-wells to be up and about, and that she wouldn’t incur Ben’s wrath for having sneaked out on her own. Ben came downstairs moments later and found her sitting at the kitchen table, tying her shoes and humming. She looked up, saw him enter the room, and broke into a self-conscious smile, all the while wondering how to explain her actions.

“And just what are you up to this early in the morning?” Ben asked.

“I think the grounds are quite safe at dawn,” she answered. “I’m going out for a little walk, and I thought Sir Freddie might come along.”

“Oh you did?” He paused and gave her a ‘you won’t get away with it’ look, then continued. “Well, of course he’ll take any opportunity to join someone on a walk, but I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why are you down so early? And with boots on?”

“A walk.”

Still fussing with her laces, Ana looked up at him through her dark lashes. Her response was short. “It’s not a good idea for you either. Together then?”

“If that’s your pleasure,” he said, opening the pantry door.

Freddie bounded out, dancing circles around him and panting with excitement, as if he’d heard the plan and heartily approved. All three went out the back door and into the hazy glow of first light. A low fog during the night had left everything as wet as if it had rained. The heavy moisture had dispersed and turned into wispy clouds tinted pale orange by the sunrise. Before they had taken ten steps across the grass Ana’s shoes were wet. Ben took her by the hand, leading her back to the kitchen door and into the pantry. Two pairs of Wellies stood along the wall, and he picked up the smaller ones, handing them to her. The fit was adequate and they were on their way in a flash.

Ana followed Ben to the back of the garden and then through a wooden gate set into the vine covered wall. The surrounding property consisted of lawns and venerable trees with wide-spreading branches. Beyond the lawns and across the two-lane road was a field of Rapeseed, its brilliant yellow flowers made even brighter by rays of sun reflecting off the remaining moisture. They walked the lawns, Ana stopping at times to look up through the branches of the English oak and Chestnut trees. Sir Freddie had caught a scent a short distance away and busied himself with an investigation. Ana stopped to look at the trunk of a particularly large Chestnut and then turned around to lean against it.

Ben stopped and faced her; his arms folded across his chest. “You look relaxed, even contented, leaning against that tree.” Ben cocked his head and looked squarely into her eyes. “It’s hard to believe you’re a city girl.”

“I think I’ve made it clear that I like to try new things.” Ana smiled sweetly, but Ben found the glint in her eyes very alluring. While he was wondering about the meaning of her comment, she continued.