Trust in Me (13 page)

She realised her mistake as soon as the door crashed closed against the gale – now she was going to be worried about him, too.

She paced nervously, tempted to go after him, but knowing what he’d said made sense. Not only had she found it near impossible to breathe out there, but she’d nearly been lifted off her feet earlier, despite heavy boxes weighing her down.

***

Theo made his way to the sanctuary, the wind howling and blowing debris all around him. He wondered if Rosie ever did anything without arguing, but to be fair she’d been running her own show so long she probably found it difficult to listen to advice. He was glad she’d agreed to stay home, though, he didn’t like the thought of her being buffeted around by this gale. She was so tiny she wouldn’t have stood a chance.

His hair was wet through, rainwater running freely down his face by the time he spotted the teenagers. They were outside the donkeys’ barn, both sitting on the ground and it looked as though Evie had... Heart pounding, he put his head down against the wind and broke into as fast a run as the weather allowed. “What happened?” He had to shout to be heard.

“A branch fell and hit her.” George was pale and on his knees next to a dazed Evie. “We didn’t see it coming.”

“Are you okay, Evie?” Wetness seeped through his jeans from the soft ground as he got down so he could get a better look at Evie’s injury. “That looks like a nasty gash on your forehead.”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Evie muttered, still looking a little dazed.

“Does it hurt anywhere?” He was trying to establish how badly she was injured, working out if they needed specialist medical equipment, such as a backboard and collar, before she could be moved.

“Only my head. It just hit my head.” It seemed she hadn’t suffered a neck or back injury, which was something at least.

Theo turned his attention to George. “Did she lose consciousness at any point?”

“I don’t know – maybe for a minute. She was knocked off her feet, it’s a big branch.” George waved in the direction of a branch that looked as though it was made up of at least half a large tree.

The wind continued to whip itself up into a frenzy around them. Theo wanted to shout at George for being so uncertain and for his stupidity in endangering Evie by bringing her out in this storm. But he deemed it more important at this point to get Evie out of the wind and rain and to somewhere her wound could be attended to.

“What are you doing?” George asked as Theo swept Evie into his arms.

“She’s not in any fit state to walk.”

“I’m fine,” Evie argued.

“No you’re not,” Theo insisted. “Besides, you barely weigh more than a feather, in this wind you’d find it hard going even without the injury. This is the quickest way to get us out of here.” She was bigger than, Rosie, but even so, Theo barely registered her weight in his arms. He braced himself against the wind and headed back in the direction of Rosie’s new home.

She was watching at the window and came running out into the driving rain as soon as she saw them. “What’s wrong with Evie?” she yelled over the noise of the wind.

“Nothing to worry about,” Theo downplayed the situation, despite knowing a head injury was always cause for concern. “She’s just had a little accident.”

“There’s blood. Evie, your forehead’s bleeding and your face is covered in scratches.”

“I’m fine,” Evie protested. “Thanks for the lift, Theo, but you can put me down now.”

Theo obliged and set her on her feet on the gravel driveway, near his car – the teenager swayed uncertainly. “We’re going to hospital,” he informed them mildly. “Just to have Evie’s wound cleaned up and looked at.”

“There’s no need. A bath and a bit of a rest and I’ll be good as new.”

“Stop arguing,” Rosie snapped. “We need to have a doctor look at you.”

“No way. I don’t want any fuss and I’m not going near any doctor.”

“Evie, be reasonable,” Rosie pleaded.

“I’m fifteen – old enough to decide if I need medical attention.”

If the situation hadn’t been so concerning, Theo might have laughed. Rosie was getting a taste of her own stubbornness. In contrast to her beautiful sister, however, the younger Farnham was likely to respond to his charm – a fact he intended to use to his advantage now. “Evie, it’s obvious you’re fine, but you suffered a bit of a blow to the head and I’d feel happier if you allowed a doctor to examine you.”

“Oh alright, then.” Evie nodded and immediately winced. “Ouch, that hurt.”

He was aware of Rosie at his side, rolling her eyes heavenward, and he paused just long enough to grin at her before unlocking the car and bundling them all in.

***

Rosie sat in the front with Theo while George kept a close eye on Evie in the back. In all likelihood, she was fine – certainly if her backchat was any indication. But Rosie was glad Theo had convinced her to go to hospital for a check up. Not that she would ever have admitted it out loud, but she was incredibly impressed, not only that he’d talked Evie into seeing a doctor, but that he’d allowed them all into his car – mud and all. The pristine leather interior was now covered in dirt and he hadn’t so much as given it a second glance. And she knew how much he loved his car.

The journey took forever. There were trees down everywhere – and debris strewn across every road that made Rose fancy the place looked as though it had been through an apocalypse.

But eventually they drove into the hospital grounds and Evie was being helped out of the car and into the building.

***

“I didn’t think they’d keep her in.” Rosie looked pale and exhausted as they drove through the gates of the Farnham Manor Estate, several hours later.

“As the doctor told you, it’s just a precaution.” Theo manoeuvred his car along the driveway for a short while before taking a sharp left turn to go down to the cottages inhabited by the old rockers. He glanced in his rear view mirror at George. “Which one is it?”

George had been subdued all the way back. It was obvious he was just as worried about Evie as Rosie was. “Second one along.”

Theo kept the engine running but turned in his seat to speak to the teenager. “Do you want us to come in with you?”

“Thanks, but it’s probably best if I go in on my own. Perhaps you could have a word with them tomorrow, though. They might listen to you.”

Theo somehow doubted they’d listen to anyone, but he’d promised he’d try. The situation had gone on too long – and they had to be encouraged to see the impact they were making on their son’s life.

“What was that about?” Rosie asked after George had got out of the car and disappeared into the cottage he shared with his parents.

Theo put the car in gear and effected a three point turn in the narrow lane. “George asked for my help in trying to persuade his parents to take responsibility for themselves. He really wants to take up that college place.” He felt rather than heard Rosie’s soft sight. “What is it?”

“They’ve started to come to you for help. They already see you as their protector.”

“Is that a bad thing? If it takes the pressure off you...”

She sighed again, louder this time. “You’re right. I never realised what a burden it was, being responsible for so many adults who should be taking care of themselves.”

They pulled up at the house and sat for a moment. The wind had died down now, but they were both reluctant to venture out into the rain. “Shall we make a dash for it?” Rosie asked at last.

Theo felt the jolt of a welcome surprise. “You’re asking me in?”

“I can’t expect the hero of the hour to make his own supper at this time of night.” Before he could reply, she tumbled out of the car and ran, head down, towards the back door.

Theo followed without a moment’s hesitation.

The kitchen was warm and cosy and Rosie busied herself with preparing supper.

He glanced over from his seat at the kitchen table, to where she was toasting sandwiches on the Aga. She still looked tired and pale. Not surprising after they day she’d had – moving home was supposed to be one of the most stressful events in life and she’d had the drama with Evie to contend with, too. As his gaze clashed with weary green and the urge to protect another human being had never been stronger. “Can I help?”

He’d always guarded his heart by being a loner. But he actually wanted to spend time with Rosie. Wanted to share even mundane tasks such as preparing supper. He suspected he should be worried. But he wasn’t.

“Thanks, but I think I can handle a couple of toasties.” Her smile softened the refusal. “But you can talk to me.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

She flipped the sandwiches over. “Your family.”

“You’ve met him.”

“Lysander? But surely it’s not just the two of you. What about your parents. Where are they?”

“Dead.”

“Both of them?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.” She brought the sandwiches over and sat down opposite him.

***

“Thank you.” He reached across the table and took her hand. She liked the feel of his fingers wrapped around hers and looked up to find the gold of his eyes had darkened.

She couldn’t have a fling with him as Julia and Evie had suggested – as she was tempted to do – she wasn’t made that way. But in the short time she’d known him, she’d grown to trust him, to think of him as a friend.

She held his gaze. Unlike the other males who had littered her life, Theo was someone who had proved he could be trusted. Nobody else she knew would have battled through such foul weather to rescue her sister.

And nobody else would still be here to hold her hand.

Chapter Thirteen

“Keep your coat on, we’re going out.” Theo was being deliciously masterful this morning as Rosie arrived at the manor and let herself into the estate office.

“I don’t want to go too far in case Evie needs me. Besides, don’t you have a meeting to go to?”

“I’ve postponed my meeting. And you’ve just dropped Evie at Julia’s where she’s being well looked after.” Theo logged off his laptop and got to his feet.

Rosie wondered briefly where they were going, but there was a more pressing matter on her mind. “I was surprised Evie wanted to go to Julia’s. I mean, she’s only just out of hospital.”

“Evie’s not in any danger and it makes sense for her to stay somewhere she can be mollycoddled. You’re busy trying to settle into a new home and run an estate.”

“I suppose.” Her agreement was grudging. She should be the one fussing over her sister. She was family. Louise, Julia and Bob were only friends.

“What’s happening with the donkeys?”

Rosie smiled. Even with a head injury, Evie had been thinking of the sanctuary. “She’s got George overseeing her volunteers for the next few days. He’s snowed under, helping with the cleanup of the estate after yesterday, but he was keen to do something to help Evie. Why did you postpone your meeting? I thought you were needed.”

“I thought you might need me more.”

Her lips rounded into a silent ‘oh’. Nobody had ever put her first before. She didn’t quite know how to react.

“Tell me more about Julia,” he urged. “She always seems very keen to have Evie. Is she related to you in any way?”

“No, just a friend. Why do you ask?” She tried to make it sound casual, but it was odd he should ask about that – after her own recent thoughts.

His lips parted, as though he was about to say something, but then he gave a brief shake of his head. “It’s just you seem very close.”

“She’s been my best friend for five years. She moved to the village just after Dad died.”

“And you hit it off instantly?”

Rosie nodded. “It was a huge shock when I found Dad hadn’t left any provision in his will for Evie. Julia listened as I whinged to my heart’s content – she was a godsend. She’s been a really good friend over the years.”

“And she doesn’t have any children of her own?”

“She has Louise.”

“Her step-daughter?”

“That’s right. It works out really well because the girls are close friends, too.”

He nodded although she suspected he understood very little about the true value of female friendships. “So, are you coming with me or not?” Theo’s tone was one of infinite patience as he folded his arms and perched on the edge of the desk.

“That depends. Where are you going?” Rosie looked defiantly up. Despite the fact she’d agreed to marry him, and despite the fact he was gorgeous as sin this morning in black sweater and jeans, she had no intention of being pushed around.

“Shopping.”

“We don’t need any shopping. We have plenty of food.”

“Not that kind of shopping.”

Rosie didn’t like the sound of that. “I don’t want to go shopping. I don’t like shopping.”

His lips curved into the hint of a smile. “A trip into town, that’s all I’m suggesting. It will be quick and painless – I promise.”

Rosie was uneasy as she sat in Theo’s helicopter, headphones at the ready and belt buckled. Her first experience of flying – she should have been enjoying it. Instead, she sat, a bundle of nerves, worried about her sister and staring, unseeingly, out of the window at the world far below. It was a beautiful day, sun shining and not a single cloud to be seen – hard to believe it was the same world when yesterday had been so wild.

Theo had summoned the helicopter with nothing more than a brief phone call – the pilot had been on standby and had arrived within minutes. This was luxury beyond her comprehension. Luxury beyond anything she had ever expected or wanted.

“I’ve never before known a woman be so miserable when I’ve offered to take her shopping.” Theo sounded genuinely perplexed as his voice reached her through the earphones.

“Then I don’t think I want to meet the kind of women you normally associate with.”

“We’re only gong to visit a handful of shops. You need some new clothes. Much as you look edible in those worn jeans, I’d like my estate manager to have a few smart items in her wardrobe. And a couple of evening dresses for when you accompany me to functions.”

“Attending functions was never in the job description.”