Chapter 40
FORTY
Nate was propped up on his pillows in the hospital bed, a dressing covering the wound on his head, his right arm in a sling. He was hooked up to a variety of monitors and drips. Despite all of this, Lark was relieved to see he was finally getting some colour back to his cheeks.
She’d been sitting in the chair beside him for the last hour and a half, watching as he slept, his eyelids fluttering, long, dark lashes resting on his cheeks.
It had been two days since he’d been admitted to Middleton-le-Moors hospital suffering from hyperthermia and concussion thanks to the bump on his head, along with three broken ribs and a badly bruised arm.
The doctors said it was lucky he’d been found when he had.
Much longer and it would’ve been a very different story.
Their words had sent an icy shiver running through Lark.
But that wasn’t the only diagnosis he’d received.
While he was undergoing the great slew of tests to make sure he hadn’t sustained any hidden injuries, a mild heart murmur had been detected.
The medical team had informed him that it was probably the result of him being anaemic – something else their tests picked up – which had put his heart under pressure, making it work harder.
The anaemia also explained why Nate had been so pale and tired.
Lark realised she’d been right to be worried about his health.
Granted, what had been making him unwell wasn’t as serious as it had been for Greer, but it was these symptoms that had contributed to the increased intensity of the vibes she’d picked up about Nate.
They’d been sending her a warning, albeit a confusing one.
But watching him now as he slept, Lark couldn’t resist the temptation any longer.
She leant over and gently brushed her lips over his.
It terrified her how close they’d come to losing him down in that tunnel.
The doctor had told her she’d reached him at a crucial time.
Any later and he might not have been so lucky.
The implications of the doctor’s words didn’t bear thinking about.
Lark would never have forgiven herself if he’d…
She scrunched her eyes tight shut, unable to even think about that outcome.
He’d never have gone to Crayke’s Cottage on his own if it hadn’t been for what she’d said to him.
She kissed him again and his eyes pinged open. She felt his mouth pulling into a small smile.
‘Hey, you,’ she said, nuzzling her nose against his.
‘Hey, you back.’ Though his smile was weak it still managed to reach his eyes. ‘Am I dreaming? Or did you just kiss me?’ he asked, his voice hoarse.
‘You’re not dreaming.’ She kissed him again to prove it.
‘Cool.’ He smiled again before closing his eyes. Lark sat back down on the seat. ‘Didn’t think I was going to get out.’
‘You mean from the cellar at Crayke’s Cottage?’ She couldn’t imagine how that must’ve felt.
He nodded. ‘Felt so cold, everything was so dark. Hearing your voice brought me back. That and Bobby’s breath. Man, it’s strong.’ His mouth quirked into another smile and Lark couldn’t help but laugh.
‘It was Bobby who alerted me to where you were. He’s a little star. Dad’s been calling him the hero of the day. He had an extra special bowl of food that afternoon. Went down a treat. Not sure he tasted much of it, he devoured it that fast in typical Labrador fashion.’
‘Good old Bobby.’ Nate’s chuckle was like music to Lark’s ears. ‘And did you mean what you said when we were in the cellar?’ He opened his eyes, fixing them on her.
‘You mean when I told you that I love you.’
‘Yeah, that.’
‘I meant every single word.’ She leant forward and kissed him again.
‘The things I had to go through to get you to say that.’ He rolled his eyes playfully. ‘Don’t suppose you fancy reminding me, do you?’
Lark didn’t have a problem reminding him. In fact, she was so relieved he was okay, she’d be happy to shout it from the rooftops.
‘Nate Wilkinson, I love you.’
He heaved a happy sigh. ‘And I love you too, Lark. Have done for years. You stole my heart the minute I set eyes on you with all your quirky, hippie, boho stuff.’
‘It’s good to see you looking brighter.’ A smiley-faced nurse arrived at the foot of the bed, a tray of medication in her hand which Lark took as her cue to leave.
Nate told Lark later that he’d gone to Crayke’s Cottage, armed with the old key from the suitcase, and with the intention of having a final check around.
After what had happened between him and Lark, he hadn’t troubled her to accompany him.
He didn’t realise at the time how grateful he’d be for taking Bobby with him.
He’d patiently checked the walls and cupboards for any likely places that could potentially hide a secret drawer or panel, and was just about to give up when the oak panel had popped open.
Armed with a torch, he entered what he quickly realised was a tunnel and was making his way along when he heard a sound behind him.
He turned to see two men wearing balaclavas.
They immediately started demanding where the money was, saying if he didn’t tell them, then they’d lock him in there and he’d never get out.
They didn’t seem to believe that he didn’t know where any money was and started pushing him about.
They only stopped when a spine-chilling howling sound started echoing all around the tunnel.
The thugs had seemed genuinely terrified, yelling that the place was haunted and cursed.
They’d made a run for it, knocking Nate over in their panic.
It was while Lark and her dad were with Nate, waiting for the paramedics to arrive, that they realised the strange, haunting sounds both she and Nate had heard there before were nothing more sinister than the wind whistling through the tunnel and into the house.
The shrillness of the shrieking increased according to the strength of the wind.
No doubt it was where the stories of the house being haunted had originated.
Lark could imagine such rumours served the smugglers well, keeping unwelcome visitors and the prying eyes of the customs men away.