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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

‘Far from it. The following day, when it was light, I went into the garden and found the twine I’d used to tie the wood in place over the hole had been unpicked, not chewed through, which confirmed it wasn’t an animal. I thought it must be a person to be able to do that and I was really worried. I called the police and they sent an officer. He was helpful but couldn’t find any evidence of an intruder.’

‘Well, I suppose that’s reassuring,’ Ruby said.

‘No, it’s not. They’re getting braver. When I walked to the village along the lane I saw someone or something running between the trees. They’ve also been to the front door. Chris saw one of them when he brought me back on Wednesday evening, but he denied it. He suggested it was my imagination and said if I was so nervous about living in the cottage then I should leave.’

‘He might be right,’ Ruby said, and topped up their glasses again. ‘It’s very isolated here and maybe being all alone isn’t right for you. You lost your bloke and job in the same week, which was very traumatic. I can understand why you wanted to get away, but perhaps you’ve been by yourself long enough.’

‘I thought you might say that, but I have proof,’ Jan said.

‘Really?’

‘You know I said I bumped into Chris with a woman in the woods yesterday?’

‘Yes.’

‘Just before that, while I was in the deepest part of the woods near the back of the cottage, Tinder found a ball of twine that had been taken from the shed in the garden here. I threw it towards the back garden. I’ve no idea where it landed. But later the doorbell rang and when I opened the door I saw it on the front door step. There was no one there, just the ball of twine. I’m sure someone saw me pick it up in the woods and was trying to scare me – to let me know they were watching me.’

‘Chris?’ Ruby suggested doubtfully. ‘But why?’

Jan shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. I left it out the front, but then this morning I found the same ball of twine outside the back door, placed on the patio where I couldn’t miss it. I’ve left it there for you to see.’

‘So it’s still there?’ Ruby asked.

‘Yes. I checked just before you came. Come on, I’ll show you.’

Jan took Ruby into the kitchen and opened the back door. Her heart sank. ‘It’s gone!’ she exclaimed. ‘They’ve taken it. They know you’re here and they’re playing tricks on me.’