Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Something the hen did made Allegra tip her head back in laughter, and my traitorous eyes shifted down her gorgeous body. Hunger like I’d never experienced in my life tightened deep in my gut and in my balls.
Fuck.
If I didn’t get out of here now, I might just give into temptation.
I pushed open the kitchen window and called, “I’m heading out. I’ll catch you later!”
Allegra turned toward me, eyes wide, lips parted as if to say something, but I turned on my heel and hurried through the farmhouse before she could come after me.
“Fucking coward,” I muttered to myself as I drove the Defender away from the house.
“I was just about to call you,” Georgie said, striding toward my vehicle as I pulled up at the field called North Creich.
His grim countenance had me jumping out of the Defender. “What happened?”
Georgie shook his head, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Someone killed a ewe.”
My chin jerked back in surprise. “Someone? What the hell do you mean?” I gestured for him to show me.
His voice was a wee bit shaky as he opened the gate. “I mean her fucking throat has been slashed.”
Rage and confusion flooded me as I followed him up the field. The sheep were gathered all together on the hillside while Georgie led me away from them. If Georgie hadn’t alerted me to a problem, the loud bleating from the sheep would have given it away. They were scared. “I don’t understand.”
Georgie led me right over to the fence that ran through North Creich and Little Ardshave. There was a dip in the land just before the fence and as we grew closer, I saw the body of the animal partially hidden because of it.
“Fuck,” I muttered, approaching the ewe slowly. Rounding her, I crouched to examine her neck and to my horror saw Georgie was correct.
This was no injury or attack from another member of the flock. The cut across her throat was too precise. A wound on her abdomen suggested she’d been stabbed there first to subdue her.
Sorrow stung my eyes.
“What kind of sick fuck does this to an animal?” I seethed hoarsely.
“I don’t know.” Georgie was visibly distressed too. “We need to call the police, though, Jar.”
Knowing he was right, I waited as Georgie called. He strode off to meet them at the gate, while I went over to make sure the rest of our flock was okay. They were nervous and frightened, and a male ran at me in warning to back off, protecting the rest of the sheep.
I called Anna to let her know what had happened and asked if she could come to move them out of the field. Considering the circumstances, she agreed to as soon as possible.
As for me, I returned to stand guard over the felled ewe, my mind racing with the possibilities. Because this was a deliberate, vindictive assault on an animal. On one of my animals.
My thoughts kept returning to one person.
Dear old Dad.
I said as much to the police when they arrived and explained my father’s threats. I even forwarded on his text messages to the constables. Anna arrived to take care of the flock while Georgie and I loaded up the ewe so he could take her to the abattoir.
And all I wanted, after running away from her this morning, was to see Allegra’s face. To take comfort in her presence.
So I followed that instinct and returned to the house, grateful to find her car still parked in the driveway. We’d gone car shopping a few weeks back and I was pleasantly surprised by her taste in vehicles. She’d ended up purchasing a Wrangler. Though she’d gone for a flashy bright yellow that made me chuckle every time I saw it.
Except for today.
I was in no mood for laughs today.
Allegra wasn’t inside the house. I quickly washed up, changed my clothes, and then headed outside. I found my wife in the back garden. She’d dragged two kitchen chairs out, one to sit on and one for her legs. Her knees were bent as she sketched on a pad that rested on her thighs. A frown of concentration marred her brow, and as I grew closer, I realized she was sketching the farm. It wasn’t the type of work I was used to seeing from her.
“It looks good,” I murmured.
She jumped, startled, those big eyes wide with surprise. “What are you doing back so soon?”
Whatever she saw on my face caused her to take her feet off the other chair and offer it to me. I sat, our knees brushing we were so close. Then I told her about the ewe.
Hanging my head as worries coursed through me, I sighed at the feel of her fingers stroking over my head. I knew I shouldn’t, but I leaned into her touch.