Heart of Thorns by Nicolette Andrews

Author:Nicolette Andrews
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-09-17T14:36:03+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The road was cloaked in fog, and Edward had to strain to see beyond the edge of the carriage. I cannot have another tenant leave. What will I do if they all disappear? I would be ruined. As soon as I find them, Catherine and I will return to Thornwood, and I will write Mr. Wolfe about this. We have to give the tenants some sort of incentive to stay in Thornwood. Can I afford a bonus perhaps? Edward harried his horse down the road and along the fields. He squinted into the mist, trying to find any sign of Mr. Larson. He drew up alongside a fenced-in field. There was something lying on the ground. It looked like nothing more than a smudge of gray in the wall of white. He pulled back on the reins and brought the roadster to a quick stop. He hopped down from the seat and jumped over the fence. Is he sleeping in the middle of the day?

"Mr. Larson, this is Lord Thornton. I came around to introduce you to my wife." He drew closer to the lump on the ground. He was certain it was a person now. He could see the hand clearly. The wheat had been pressed down around him. Did he collapse? Edward could not see his torso or his head; they were shielded from view by the wheat. "Mr. Larson, are you hurt?"

Edward drew closer and then stopped. There was a dark pool of liquid on the ground, just beneath Mr. Larson's hand. Edward took a few careful steps and then pushed the wheat aside. There lying on the ground was what he could only assume was the body of Mr. Larson. The victim was of the age, judging by the white hair splattered with blood, and the size of Mr. Larson. Edward could see few details because of the state of the corpse, but he was sure it had to be him. Something had attacked the elderly farmer, and he had been torn to shreds. His face was gone and his body had been ripped open, and his abdomen was nothing but an empty cavern. The wheat had been pressed around him in a lopsided circle; there had been a struggle. Edward could not stop the bile that came up and he ran a few feet away, where he evacuated the contents of his stomach. He was shaking all over as he tried to right his world. What could have done this to this man? He refused to believe this was anything other than an animal attack. There was no way a human could do that to his fellow man.

He sat back on his haunches, afraid to look at the corpse. Is this what has been happening to my tenants? He balled his hands into fists against his thighs. He stood up and tried again to look at what was left of Mr. Larson. He pulled out a handkerchief to cover his mouth as he surveyed the gruesome scene.

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