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Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

Jan wondered what would have happened if Ruby had opened the back door as she’d been doing? Would they have run away or stood their ground? Jan thought she knew the answer: they would have stayed. And done what? It was a shame Ruby hadn’t woken her. Together they might have found the courage to go outside to investigate. As it was, Ruby had left saying the cottage gave her the creeps. Jan had to smile – her usually sensible, pragmatic and rational friend had rushed out of the door, more unnerved than she was, which left her no nearer to finding out who or what was out there.

If she slept on the sofa one night, out of sight, with the curtains open and the light off, would they return? If they did, she might be able to get a good look at them, perhaps even take a photograph. There was no point in switching on the motion-sensor light, as they’d already shown they knew when it was operating and could avoid it. Did she have the nerve to stay downstairs in the dark and wait for them to reappear? She honestly wasn’t sure. It felt safer to be upstairs in bed.

The doorbell rang, making her start. Ruby? Had she forgotten something? Or perhaps she was returning to try to persuade her to leave again. Jan set her mug of coffee on the table and, drawing her dressing gown closer, went to answer the door. Tinder ran beside her, wagging his tail as if he knew who was there.

‘Oh, it’s you!’ Jan exclaimed, astonished.

‘Sorry, I should have phoned first to check you were up,’ Chris said apologetically.

‘I had a friend stay last night and we were up late. Why are you here?’

‘I offered to repair your fence this weekend. I’ve got the tools in my car.’

‘Oh,’ Jan said again, amazed. How long ago that offer now seemed. ‘I didn’t think you’d come after Wednesday evening. I’ve done it myself.’

‘I’m sorry about that. You know me, I can be a moody bugger sometimes. Would you like me to check the repair is holding up?’

Jan thought she didn’t know Chris at all, and her first reaction was to tell him the fence was fine and he needn’t bother to contact her again. But she hesitated.

‘I can come back later if it’s more convenient?’ he offered.

‘No, come in.’ She stood aside to let him pass. ‘I’ll leave you to check the fence while I get dressed.’

‘I’ll see what needs doing, then get my tools from the car,’ Chris said, and headed down the hall with Tinder at his heels.