Hallow House - Part Two (16 page)

"My mother hardly seems real to me any more," Samara said.

"Humph. No wonder, for any notice Delores took of you. Sergei, it was forever Sergei." Theola shook her head. "The boy was ruined by her fussing and teasing."

"I'll never be able to forget my brother." Samara's voice quivered.

Theola shot her a sharp glance. "Better off without him, that is what you are. There has to be one sacrifice a generation. Better it was him than you or Johanna."

A cold trickle ran along Samara's spine. "You're talking about the curse," she said.

"The Gregory curse? I cannot put much faith in Tabitha's dreams and strange voices that spoke only to her. But I do know there has been more violent deaths here at Hallow House than seems right."

"I hear you talking out there, Theola." Adele's voice came hoarsely from the bedroom. Who are you hiding from me?"

Samara rose and went to her. "Just me. I came by to see you but you were asleep. We've been having coffee--would you like some?"

Adele, propped up in a nest of pillows, looked pale, her lips bluish, but her eyes brightened at Samara's word. "Coffee? Of course I want some."

"Shall I open the Venetian blinds?"

"May as well, even if rain is all there is to see today. I always have a bad night before a rain."

When Samara brought in the coffee, she said, "Dr. Cannon left you medicine to take when you get short of breath, You ought to pay attention to what he tells you."

"I see Theola has been talking too much again. I have never been a drug taker as I told that young man to his face. Do you know what he did?"

Samara shook her head.

Adele raised herself off the pillows. "He stuck a needle into me. Such nerve." She sipped at the coffee.

Samara hid a smile. "You have to realize you can be awfully stubborn, Aunt Adele."

"Why, Kevin is young enough to be my great-grandnephew."

"I thought you liked Dr. Cannon."

Adele finished her coffee and sank back against the pillows. "I do. Got a mind of his own. But that does not mean I have to agree with him. As stubborn as I am, he is. I asked him right out why he put off doing something about that scar he has--you read in the papers all the time about plastic surgery."

"Oh, you shouldn't have."

"Why not? Everyone can see the scars on his face, so why not mention what I see?"

But he's sensitive about his face."

Adele snorted. "That being the case, he ought to have the surgery and that is what I told him."

"What did he say?"

"He got a little fussed at first, but then he admitted I might be right but said he was not ready." Adele gestured at her empty cup. "You might pour your helpless old aunt a bit more coffee."

When Samara did, she took a sip, then said, "You have never before come by to see me quite this early."

"I woke up, remembered it was the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and couldn't go back to sleep."

"So you dressed yourself in that scarlet outfit for a couple of old ladies to admire?" Adele shook her head. "Not true. Though it is true you have to get up early to outwit that redhead who teaches the children."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Her name is Corinne, as I recall. Lately Corinne has taken to dropping in here almost every morning 'just to say hello' or to pretend she is looking for one of the children. By a strange coincidence the doctor is always here at the time."

Samara had suspected as much. "Maybe he's interested in her," she said.

Adele shook a finger at her. "The woman is eye- catching, but she is no fit wife for him. Kevin is a man, so, like all men, he does not know what is best for him. Above all, Kevin needs to be loved. Corinne is incapable of loving anyone but herself. If you doom the poor man to a lifetime with her, you are more of a fool than I thought."

"Don't you think Kevin should make his own choice?"

"My own choice of what?" he asked.

Samara whirled. She'd been so engrossed in what Adele was telling her she hadn't heard Theola let him in. "Uh--nothing important," she managed to say. "There's more coffee in the carafe--would you like some?"

"Sounds wonderful."

Samara rinsed out her cup while Kevin examined Aunt Adele, and then poured him coffee.

"Either you take the pill or you take the needle," he was telling Adele when she reentered the bedroom. "Since Frances is a nurse, she's perfectly capable of giving you a shot if I'm not here."

"I will not have that woman sticking me," Adele retorted.

"Then it's the pill, isn't it?"

"You leave me little choice," Adele grumbled.

"Good. I assure you I don't believe in drugs and don't prescribe them unless I know of a specific one to alleviate certain symptoms and make you feel better. Don't you trust me?"

"Alcohol makes one feel better as well," Adele countered.

"Ah, but alcohol is a drug."

"You always have an answer," she grumped. Turning to Samara she said, "Please send Theola in. If you and the doctor will excuse me for a few minutes, I have some personal needs I must have help with." Adele grasped Kevin's hand. "See that you stay around. I have more to say to you."

He grinned at her. "I'll bet you do. We'll wait in the other room."

Minutes later Kevin sat drinking his coffee and finishing the last of the muffins. "Good," he told Samara.

"Irma's a good cook."

"Yes, of course. You have cooks, maids, gardeners--"

Did he think she was pampered? Samara drew herself up. "I've lived by myself and I happen to know how to do housework and cook. Vera taught me before I went to college."

He raised his eyebrows. "I was just going to say I was looking forward to the time I could afford to hire a cook. Are you applying?"

She flushed, aware she'd assumed a slight where none existed.

"You might not like my cooking," she managed to say, aware the conversation was not going the way she'd planned it. Kevin's eyes were cool, she had to do something, but what?

There was a knock at the door. Knowing who it must be, Samara all but fell over her feet getting there before he could.

"Good morning, Corinne," she said, holding the door part-way open. "May I help you?"

"I was wondering if Johanna or Brian had come visiting."

"No. I haven't seen them."

Corinne smiled. "Well…"

"Is there anything else?"

"No." Corinne shrugged and turned away.

After Samara shut the door she found Kevin standing behind her. Did he intend to go after Corinne? She started to stand aside and then stopped.

Don't be the fool Aunt Adele accused you of being, she admonished herself. Act now.

She raised her hand and deliberately touched Kevin's scarred face, the skin rough under her caressing fingers. Looking into his eyes, she saw his shock.

Chapter 30

Standing with Kevin in the outer room of Adele's suite, Samara took a deep breath, knowing she had to talk fast, before she lost her nerve.

"I don't mind your scars," she told him. "That wasn't why I pushed you away when you kissed me." She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. "I pushed you away because I was afraid of the way you made me feel. If you weren't so wrapped up in yourself, you might have realized that."

He blinked, then took her hand, holding it in his. "How did I make you feel?"

She shook her head. "You'll have to figure it out. I'm not going to tell you."

He smiled and bent to kiss her gently, his lips lingering on hers until she put her arms around him. Then he gathered her close.,

"My goodness." The two old ladies spoke almost together, as Theola assisted Adele into her rocker.

Neither Kevin nor Samara had heard them enter the room. He released her saying, I can't stay now, but I'll call you tonight." Turning to Adele, he added, "You behave yourself." Then he was gone.

"Oh dear, I forgot to give him another one of the journals," Adele said.

"I'll give it to him," Samara said dreamily. "I may see him tonight."

"Came to your senses, did you?" Adele asked.

Samara bent over and hugged her, "What else could I do after your lecture?" With another hug for Theola, she left them.

In her room, Samara put the leather-bound journal on her bed, then sat next to it, staring off into space, feeling she was floating on air. Did Kevin feel the same?

After a time, she reached down and picked up the journal, idly turning the pages. Was Kevin really interested in her great-grandmother or was he only being polite to Adele? What could be in Tabitha's account he would want to read?

A few words caught her attention and she began reading with more interest: "...for there are ways the books have told me of, ways I cannot reveal to anyone, for they are all unbelievers. I have taken certain precautions, for the room is mine alone and no one shall forbid me its use. In the past it was said Massachusetts bred witches and, perhaps, that will prove to be true..."

Samara thrust the journal from her as though it were a scorpion, staring at it in distaste mixed with fear. Why did Kevin want to read such things? Tabitha's journals should have been destroyed long ago.

Deciding not to give this one to him, she started to slide it into her dresser drawer when a knock came at the door, followed immediately by Johanna bursting into the room.

"What're you doing?" Johanna asked.

"Just putting a book away."

"In with your underclothes? That's a funny place."

Samara slid the drawer shut and faced Johanna. "Maybe you should learn to wait after you knock until someone invites you to enter."

"I'm sorry. I keep forgetting. What I came for—Corinne went into Porterville with Kevin so we won't have any lessons this morning. Could you take us riding? Mama won't let us go out alone."

Corinne was with Kevin? Why?

"Well, will you?" Johanna repeated. "Please?"

"Is Corinne sick?"

"I don't know. She told Irma to tell us."

"Okay, I'll take you riding if it doesn't rain."

"How soon?"

"About an hour."

"Oh, boy!" Johanna rushed off, presumably to spread the word.

Samara's mind whirled with conjecture as she changed into riding clothes. Why hadn't Kevin mentioned Corinne was riding into town with him? Do they have some kind of understanding? Picturing Corinne--red hair flaming, tawny eyes inviting--made her feel colorless in comparison, like the difference between Technicolor and black and white in the movies.

Did Kevin mean to juggle the two of them? Like Mark, who'd slept with Marie and flirted with Rosita all the while he swore undying love for her. Mark, she was now convinced, had cared for none of them.

Was Kevin the same? Was in interest in her because of the Gregory money? While Sal claimed this was an obstacle in his eyes, might not it be an invitation to Kevin, who couldn't wait to hire his own cook? Samara closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall. Please, no, she thought, don't let it be that way, don't let me be hurt, I can't go through it all again.

At the stables, she studied the sky while everyone saddled up. Though today's sky was heavy with gray clouds, the winter rains had not yet begun.

"I'm going to get a horse next year," Naomi announced, "'stead of this fat old pony."

"Me, too," Katrina said, but she hugged her pony's head and stroked his nose.

"Daddy said you had to be ten before you can have a horse," Johanna reminded them.

"Brian's only nine and he gets to ride a horse," Naomi pointed out.

"He's a boy,"

Naomi scowled. "So what if he is? He doesn't really belong here, he's just here as a guest. I heard Irma say so."

"Shut up!" Johanna cried. "Brian's going to s-stay at Hallow House f-forever. Don't you d-dare say anything different."

Samara hadn't heard Johanna stutter since she'd come home--not until now, when she was upset. "All right , girls," she said firmly. "That's quite enough. Naomi, it's not polite to talk about someone who's with you, nor is it appropriate to repeat servant's gossip. Any more of this and we unsaddle the horses and go back to the house."

All the children stared at her.

"Button your jacket all the way, Johanna," she added. "The wind's cold. Brian, you've got the cinch too loose--tighten it a bit."

When they finally set off on the ride, Samara decided the wind was more than cold. It seemed to blow from the Arctic as it whipped her hair and blew under her riding coat.