A Walk In The Wilderness (41 page)

     David lost no time, finding James.  Luckily, he was in the garage, waxing the car.  He nodded when he saw David come in.

      “James, you took my wife somewhere?”  He asked immediately.

      “Yes, sir.  Didn’t you know?”

      “Where?” he demanded without answering. 

      “To the train station, sir.”

     “When?”

     “Well, I just got back maybe an hour ago.”

     “Did she say where she was going?”

     “No, sir.”

  “Could you tell anything?  Did you hear her say anything?” he begged desperately.

     “Sir?”  James asked uncertainly.

     “About her trip, where she was going?   Did she say anything?” he shouted.

    “No, sir.”

    David grabbed a jacket from a peg on the wall, and got on his motorcycle.  Without another word, he was gone.

    He rode fast, and it wasn’t far to the train station.  Caitlin was nowhere in sight, however.  He went to the window and showed the clerk a picture of Cait, from his wallet. 

      “Mr. Majors!  A pleasure, Sir, how are you?”

      “Fine, thanks.  Did you sell a ticket to this lady about an hour ago?” 

      “Yes, sir.  I surely did.  Lovely lady, she was, too.  One wouldn’t forget
her
.”

      “Where was she headed?”

    “I can’t really say, Mr. Majors.  It just isn’t done, you know.  It would be my head if I told, sir.”

      “She’s my wife.”

      “Oh. Well then, let me see … There was, in fact, a lady named, er …

      “Caitlin Majors.”  David supplied impatiently.

    “Yes, indeed, that was her name. Well in that case, she was headed for London, sir.” He told David with a grin, peering over the top of his bifocals.

      “Thanks.”  David said tightly.  “When does she arrive?”

      “Well, sir, the train’s not fast.  I’d say it should arrive there about midnight.”

      David nodded his thanks, and turned away. 

    He went to the airfield, and got a plane chartered to take him to London, immediately.  He arrived at ten, and took a cab to the train station.   There, he watched, shivering, for Caitlin to get off the train.  He was lucky to know the coordinates, and he waited patiently.

   He was rewarded at twelve-thirty when the tired coach pulled in, brakes screeching.  He sat and watched, waiting for Caitlin to get off the train.  She never did. 

      David sat there, stunned.  And very frightened. 

    Caitlin couldn’t really say why she’d changed her mind.  London after all just seemed so big and foreign -- so unfriendly, in a way.  She’d never spent much time there; and after getting on the train, she just began thinking how it would be so much more pleasant to work in a small, country inn. 

     It might be a bit harder to find a position, and she might have to do a bit more work.  In London she’d be sure to find something quickly, and likely be able to just do front desk.  That would definitely be sedentary enough for her slowly healing, painful back. 

     But the thought of the country drew her so strongly, that she got off the train early and decided to stay put in a small stop along the way.  After all, money wasn’t really an object, just yet.  She had a little time to be choosy.

     She asked around, and got a room at a small inn.  They didn’t need anyone at the time, but they gave her a tip about a lovely bed and breakfast type place away across the county; a widow who could use some help.

     She went in the morning, and found the widow Thomas to be a pleasant sort.  She had a big, old house with a thatched roof that simply screamed country.  The old barn had been remade into rooms, quaint and cozy, with enough charm to suit anyone, and the country flavor hadn’t been ruined.  There was a view to the hills and a few chickens pecking about, providing fresh eggs for the kitchen. 

     Caitlin found the proprietor sitting outside the door, dozing in the morning sun.

     “Yes?  Hello there, my dear.  What can I do for you, lost your way?”

     Caitlin smiled.  “No, no.  Are you Mrs. Thomas?”

     “You’re in luck, I am.”

    “My name is Caitlin.  I understand you could use some help around the place.”

    “Ah.  Indeed, it’s a bit much for me, these days.  However, I have to tell you, it’s not the type of position to make one rich.  Do you know anything about inn-keeping?”

     “Indeed, I do.  I worked at my uncle’s inn from the time I was a schoolgirl, all through college.”

      “You’re not from these parts.”

      “No, no.  I actually came from Sterling.”

      “A Scot.” Mrs. Thomas said, as if it were quite a novelty.

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      “But a charming one.  Do you cook?” 

     “Not much.  Just the basics.  I’m much better at front desk and bookkeeping, managing accounts.”

    “Say, now.  That might be handy, as that’s just where I lack.  I can do the kitchen all right.  We’d have to share the cleaning, though.”

      “I can do that.  I could do most of it, anyway.  I’d have to be a bit careful, I am recovering from a back injury.  But beds and loos shouldn’t pose any problems, so long as I take care.”

      “Well, then.  What happened to the spine?”

     “I took a spill down some stairs.  It’s healing, but heavy weights and I will likely never be keeping much company, again.”

     Mrs. Thomas laughed.  “Well, my dear.  Let me show you to your room.  Then once you’re settled in, I’ll show you around a bit.”

     David had to go home, to see to Grace.  He was extremely worried and upset, but he gathered his senses and hired a private investigator to do the work up on Cait's disappearance.  He knew that he couldn’t do it himself, not with his mother’s health so compromised.

     It didn’t take his investigator long to track down Caitlin’s trail. 

   “She got off early.  I’m going today, to see if I can pick up the trail, David.”

  “Thanks, Peter.  Let me know tonight, will you?  I want to know what’s happening.”

     “Indeed.  I will.”  Peter promised.

     Life settled into a pleasant routine for Caitlin at the inn.  She could lay down, or read, or work as she needed.  Her employer was extremely easy to get along with.  There were only six rooms for her to clean as well as the lobby, and a few farm chores, so life was truly a breeze.  Still, her heart was heavy and she didn’t miss David any less. 

     The only relief was in not having to watch David’s deep grief, not experience his cold shoulder.  And of course, in not having to watch her dear Grace die.  For though David didn’t seem to realize it, she loved Grace deeply, too.

     The bell on the counter rang, and Caitlin sighed as she got up from her chair to answer it.  There was a nice-looking man standing there, waiting.  About forty, with twinkling eyes. 

     “Hello, there.  Can I help you?”  Caitlin asked, summoning a smile.

     The man’s eyebrows went up as he took in the lovely picture Caitlin made.  “I certainly hope so.  Have you any rooms left for the night?”

     “We do have one left.” She confirmed with a wary smile.  He seemed to like the look of her.

    “Very good.”  He said briskly.  “My name is Peter DeVries.  How much will it be?”

     “Twenty-six pounds, please.  Check-out is at eleven, and of course, breakfast is included.  It will be served in the main dining room at nine a.m.  May I please see your identification?”

    “You bet, lovely.” He answered immediately, and showed her his picture license. 

      “Thank you.  Is there anything else I can do for you?”

      “Where’s the best restaurant in the area?”  he asked lightly.

      “I’m sorry, I can’t say.  I’m new here.”

     “Ah.  Well.  Do you suppose we could go exploring?  You’re free for dinner, I hope?”

    “No.  Thank you, actually I’m not.  But thank you anyway.” She said without looking up.

    “Married?”  he asked so despondently that she had to hide a smile. 

     “Yes, very.”

      “I see.  Lucky bloke.  Well, then, I guess I’m on my own.” He lamented.

     She smiled.  “Good luck to you.  Here’s your key.”

      He winked at her and left without any further ado.

   “David.”  Grace said worriedly, “Where is my Caitlin?  I’ve missed her company.  She always read to me.  Even when I seemed to be asleep, she would come and I could hear her voice.  But I haven’t seen her for days, now.”

    David sat down beside the bed and took her hand.  “How did you know I needed to talk to you about that?”  he asked, trying to smile.

      “I am a mother.  I have the basic instincts.”  She said sweetly.

    ”I need to leave you for just a bit.  I’ll have Cookie bring up your juice and vitamins and such, and I need you to be a very compliant patient, mother.”

       “Where are you going?”

      He hated to tell her, now it came to it.  “Well, I need to … find my wife and get her back home.”

       Grace's disappointment went deep.  He could see it in her eyes.  “Whatever has been going on?”  she sighed.

      “Well;  things have been rough, Mother.   That’s all.  You don’t need to worry over this. I’ll see to it.”

      “You had just better, young man.”  Grace said succinctly.

      “Meaning what?”

     “You know exactly what I mean.  This is your fault, David.  Caitlin would never step one foot outside your door unless it were!  The girl adores the ground you walk on.  You are all she has in this world, David!”

     David winced inwardly.  “Very astute of you.  Thanks for the reminder.  I will see to it, and be home as soon as I can.  I’ll call you tonight.”

     “Do you know where she is?”

     “Yes.”  He assured her.

   “Good.  Then off you go, and don’t hesitate to get on your knees and beg forgiveness.”

      David rolled his eyes.  “I love you, Mum.”

      “I love you too, David.”  She said with a smile.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

     Caitlin went to knock on the door of room number two.  Mr. DeVries had asked for a list of restaurants in the area, and she had been dispatched to deliver it. The door opened a crack.  She smiled.  “Here you are, Mr. De…”

   Caitlin gasped as she was pulled by the wrist forcefully into the room.  The door closed behind her with a bang.  A hand covered her shriek and Caitlin was stunned to find herself looking up into David’s eyes.   They were glittering with anger.

    “Hello, there.” He said pleasantly.  “What a surprise to find you here, Caitlin.”

    “David?” she gasped.  “How did you get here?”

   “You are here.  That’s why I am.  How I found out is not really important.  The main thing I want to know is,
why
?  How could you just leave, with nothing but that lousy excuse for a note, as explanation?”

   She looked away.  “I just couldn’t face it, David.  It was too much to have to endure losing
her
, too.”  She said quietly.

     “Losing who?” he asked, summoning patience.

     “Grace, of course.”  She defended.

     “My mother is fine.  She is recovering nicely.” 

     She looked up at him in shock.  “What?  But when you discharged the nurse, I thought…”

    “You thought it was over.  And you just left me there to cope with it, alone?  Kind of you.”  He said sarcastically.

      Caitlin bristled.  “We all have our crosses to bear; don’t we, David?”

      His eyes were blazing with anger when she found the strength to meet them, 

She looked very calm, and that angered as well as frightened him. 

      “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

   ”I rather thought you preferred dealing with these problems
alone
.”  She answered without thinking.

      “Why?”

   “Perhaps because you ignored my existence for so long, I just foolishly assumed.” She said quietly.

      David swallowed hard.  His anger was suddenly gone.  He turned away, and tried to regain his composure.  Caitlin, not understanding, opened the door to go.

     “No!” David whirled, and caught her by the arms.  He kicked the door shut, and pulled her into his arms.  “God, no! 
Please
,” He gasped.  He went to his knees without even thinking about it.  His hands held hers tightly, trembling.  His head was bowed.

     Caitlin looked down at him in shock.  This was the
last
thing she’d expected.  She was baffled to see his shoulders begin to shake.  His head was shaking, in a negative nod.

    “Please don’t go.  Caitlin,
please
.”  He said.  He summoned the courage to look up, and let her see the tears in his eyes.  “Don’t walk out on me again.  Please.  I need you; Sweetheart.  I can't do it without you.  You're my wife; you can't.”  
  

     Caitlin’s breath caught in her throat.  “David? Whatever on earth is wrong with you?” she asked uncertainly.

      He looked away, and swallowed hard.  “I can’t do it without you, Cait.  Please don’t go.”