Fear
Eliza had heard the scream pierce the night air.
It caused the pigeons to flap from their roosting place at the top of the field maple.
The scream rooted her to the spot for a moment and then she began to shake.
She, too, had screamed like that once. Why would that be?
What pain could have caused such a cry? At the back of the garden all the outside lights in the farmyard lit up the night sky.
She could hear doors slamming, shouting and barking.
She heard the rapping on the cottage door, saw Jules and Tasha climb into Alastair’s jeep.
She should go with them, but where was Isaac?
She needed him to accompany her. She couldn’t face whatever had happened alone.
Eliza paced up and down the lawn. To go or not to go?
To wait for Isaac? Not to wait for Isaac?
And then he had appeared, striding across the grass towards her.
‘Isaac, where have you been? What has happened? I heard this terrible noise and I didn’t know what to do.’
Her whole form was trembling. He took both of her hands and led her to their seat beneath the willow tree.
‘There has been an accident,’ he said, pressing Eliza down on to the log. ‘It is our beloved Rita.’
Eliza couldn’t keep herself still. It was as if every part of her needed to move.
‘Is she all right?’
‘They called for an ambulance. There was blood, Eliza. She was unconscious for a time.’
He, too, was shaking.
‘And now?’
‘Now she is awake and our guest is tending to her.’
‘Thank goodness. How did this happen?’
‘She fell from the ladder leading up to the hay store. A bat startled her, I think. I tried to catch her,’ Isaac continued, ‘but…’
He lifted his hands momentarily from hers.
‘My powers of protection are not strong enough. I grabbed her around the shoulders to prevent her from hitting the floor headfirst, but she twisted in mid-air and I couldn’t stop her knee smashing into the floor. For a moment there was complete silence, Eliza. I thought…’
‘Shh, my love.’
She put an unsteady hand to his anguished face.
‘It was such a terrible scream,’ Isaac said. ‘I should have done more.’
‘Oh, Isaac, but if you hadn’t caught her, it could have been so much worse. What was she doing climbing up to the hayloft at this time of night?’
‘I gather there was a disagreement with Christabel earlier in the evening and Tasha ran off.’
Eliza had gazed through the fronds of the tree, across the garden and the field to where the moon seemed to hang impossibly low in the summer sky.
‘Why is it,’ she whispered at last, ‘that some people who are mothers don’t deserve to be and others…?’
She gave herself a little shake.
‘It is not the first time that Tasha has disappeared.’
‘But this time she didn’t return. I was taking my usual stroll around the farmyard, albeit a little later than usual. I was checking on the chickens, guiding Scattihen to a safe place when Rita came out to look for Tasha. That is why she was investigating the hayloft.’
‘Tasha was here, Isaac. She arrived soon after you set out for your walk. Jules found her on the doorstep. She was upset, but safe.’
‘I know that now,’ he replied. ‘I think she is going to be in a lot of trouble, Eliza. I fear for her state of mind.’
Eliza was silent for a moment before standing up.
‘I must go to her and to Rita.’
‘I think we should stay here, away from the commotion. It is not our place. There’s nothing we can do.’
‘Maybe not,’ Eliza replied, ‘but I’m still going.’
Isaac sighed.
‘In that case,’ he said, ‘I’ll come with you.’
Which is exactly what she expected him to say.