Green Willows by V. J. Banis

Author:V. J. Banis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror, stephen king, dean koontz, ray garton, dan simmons
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2012-11-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Nearly the whole town turned out for Eleanor’s funeral. As she was lowered into the ground, they stood back at a respectful distance, a semicircle in black, watching silently.

Jonathon and Elizabeth stood alone in front, and Mrs. Duffy and I stood behind them. There were no other mourners, although the commander made an appearance and Isabelle Simpson spoke briefly to Jonathon.

It seemed to me that the attitude of the townspeople was more curious and watchful than sympathetic. I had no doubt this new tragedy had spawned another generation of rumors about Green Willows and its inhabitants.

It also occurred to me that I was now one of those inhabitants. I caught several of them staring at me in an unnerving way, but they avoided my glances. Even old Miss Meriweather, who had heretofore been the friendliest of the local women apart from Isabelle, gave me no more than a barely perceptible nod.

We had not been back at Green Willows more than an hour when Commander Whittsett arrived. I was on the stairs when Mrs. Duffy showed him in and I was dismayed to hear his voice. I knew why he had come. Since Eleanor’s death, I suppose I had been half expecting his visit. He had given at best a begrudging consent to Elizabeth’s return here. Certainly he would feel that she could not stay now.

“Commander, how nice to see you,” I said, hurrying into the parlor where Mrs. Duffy had shown him. I gave him my best smile, hoping to thaw some of his cold reserve, but I was quite unsuccessful.

“This is not a social call,” he said sharply. “Where is Jonathon?”

“Right here.” Jonathon had come in behind me. “What can we do for you, commander?”

“There is no need for us to mince words. I’ve come to take my granddaughter back to town.”

“Then unless I can persuade you to have a glass of whisky with me, you’ve wasted a trip.”

There was a pregnant silence before the old man said, “Do you mean to say you will try to prevent my taking her with me?”

“Not try,” Jonathon said calmly. “I forbid it. She is my daughter and I have decided that her place is here. I am sorry if that displeases you.”

That it did more than merely displease the commander was quite evident, but I breathed a mental sigh of relief to learn Jonathon’s position. Thinking to avert a major battle, I stepped between the two of them.

“Forgive me for intruding,” I said quickly before I could be silenced, which I fancied the commander was about to do, “but I feel that I have a stake in this too, as Elizabeth has been entrusted to my care. I believe Jonathon is right. This has been a tragic occurrence, of course, but it is not fair to punish the child because of a coincidence.”

“And are you convinced it was only coincidence?” the commander asked me.

“But of course. What else could it be? An accident occurred, nothing more. And accidents do occur, people do die.

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