Colin's Conundrum by Simone Beaudelaire

Author:Simone Beaudelaire
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-06-28T23:00:00+00:00

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“Damn, damn, damn,” Daisy cursed as she stormed into the sunshine. “Soon, it will be the summer solstice. Everything is better. Everything except my marriage. It seems as though Colin couldn't refuse my help, and he'll never stop blaming me for offering it.”

Suddenly craving greenery, she skirted the fence, admiring the half-grown lambs that would fund the tenants through the winter and provide the funds for next year's taxes. They bleated happily as they nibbled lush summer plants. Daisy ducked into the forest and wrapped her arms around the fat trunk of an oak tree. Laying her face against the rough bark, she took deep breaths of its green, living scent and tried to center herself.

The warm summer sun filtered between the trees, dappling light onto her face. She closed her eyes, letting light and shadow play on her lids. “I will take the train,” she breathed. “Much as I might be ready to make our marriage real, I cannot force it on him. I'll take the train to London. I'll ask the Bennetts for fabric scraps for my wallpaper and see how Katerina is doing after that challenging delivery. Then, I'll pay a call on my mother-in-law. Maybe she can give me some guidance about how to deal with her son. I'll move my own life forward while I wait to see what Colin is willing or able to do.”

Something thudded against Daisy's shoulder.

She opened her eyes, brow furrowed as she looked at a medium-sized round stone that still rocked in the leaf litter on the forest floor.

“Is anyone there?” she called. “Bobby? William? Robin? If that's you, you shouldn't throw rocks. Do you want me to tell your mothers?”

Silence. A heavy, waiting silence that meant someone was out there, not responding but not retreating. Just waiting. The tense mood seemed to pulse. This isn't one of the tenant's children making mischief. She swallowed hard and took a step backward toward the meadow and the safety of the sunlight.

Another object zipped out of the forest.

Daisy dodged another, larger rock and whirled, racing out of the forest. A third rock slammed into her back, almost knocking off her feet as she raced into the meadow.

Colin stood in the pasture, patting a docile, patient ewe.

Daisy leaped over the fence and raced to him, throwing her arms around his middle.

“Daisy, what?” He looked bewildered, his whole face drawing inward, but his arms encircled her anyway.

“Someone's in the woods. Someone who shouldn't be there. They threw rocks at me.”

“What?”

“I'm afraid, Colin. Please, don't let him hurt me.”

Colin hugged her tighter, and she gasped as his hand compressed the bruise forming on her back.

“What?” he asked again, loosening his hold.

“It hurts,” she said. “He hit me twice. Colin, what's happening? Why would someone do that?”

“I don't know,” he said. Then, he turned to other parts of the pasture where some of his men were examining the lambs. “Bullock, Ferrell, there's someone in the woods throwing rocks. Go see if you find him. Probably a child being naughty, but we can't allow it.

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