BooksBarbecue
Back The Hollows
Chapters (77)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. PART I
  6. 1.
  7. 2.
  8. 3.
  9. 4.
  10. 5.
  11. 6.
  12. 7.
  13. 8.
  14. PART II
  15. 9.
  16. 10.
  17. 11.
  18. 12.
  19. 13.
  20. 14.
  21. 15.
  22. 16.
  23. 17.
  24. 18.
  25. 19.
  26. 20.
  27. 21.
  28. 22.
  29. 23.
  30. 24.
  31. 25.
  32. 26.
  33. 27.
  34. 28.
  35. 29.
  36. 30.
  37. 31.
  38. 32.
  39. 33.
  40. 34.
  41. 35.
  42. 36.
  43. PART III
  44. 37.
  45. 38.
  46. 39.
  47. 40.
  48. 41.
  49. 42.
  50. 43.
  51. 44.
  52. 45.
  53. 46.
  54. 47.
  55. 48.
  56. 49.
  57. 50.
  58. 51.
  59. 52.
  60. 53.
  61. 54.
  62. 55.
  63. 56.
  64. 57.
  65. 58.
  66. 59.
  67. 60.
  68. 61.
  69. 62.
  70. 63.
  71. 64.
  72. 65.
  73. PART IV
  74. 66.
  75. 67.
  76. 68.
  77. Acknowledgements

The engine caught as the last of the other vehicles from Barsall reversed out onto the farm road and slewed round. Ellie reversed too as the final vehicle shot off along the road towards Spear Bank; the shotgun boomed and she ducked reflexively. Something smacked hard into the Land Rover’s side panel; the vehicle shuddered but kept moving. They swerved onto the farm road; through the snow she could see the taillights of the other cars, accelerating away.

17.

17.

Ellie had to cut speed quickly after accelerating clear of the farmyard; the cars soon slowed to a crawl as the snow replaced the Harpers as the main danger.

They’d left the main gate (PISS OFF – THIS MEANS YOU) ajar but there was still a queue of vehicles there, negotiating the turn onto Spear Bank. Ellie doubted they’d be followed, but found herself checking the rearview. Bert Annable reloaded his shotgun once more, peering out through the rear windscreen. “No sign of ’em,” he said.

Think we’re bad? You’ve no idea what’s coming for you. That was what Liz had said. Sounded like she expected someone else to deal with Ellie for them. Or something. No, that was daft. You’ll see. You’ll all see. They’ll come for you tonight. All of you.

So Liz Harper had finally flipped. That was all it was. What else could it be?

Even if she had, though, what had flipped her? It all kept coming back to that charcoal sign. If she even had a clue what it meant –

The car ahead of them moved. Ellie eased the Land Rover after it, gratefully turning onto Spear Bank and following the procession through the falling snow.

Ascending the hill road was a slow, painful crawl, but at last it was finished and they were on Halliwell Way, nearing the outskirts of Barsall. As they entered the village and reached the roundabout, she saw Tom Graham’s X5 parked outside the Assemblies of God building, along with several other vehicles. A couple of people stood outside; they waved when they saw the returning cars. One ran back in, and more people began emerging onto the pavement. She recognised Julie Robinson among them.

Most of the cars pulled in there – the ‘posse’ (Ellie had to smile at the word) reuniting with their loved ones to confirm they’d returned from their expedition in one piece.

Ellie halted the Land Rover and turned to Bert. “You want to get off here? I’m going on to Milly’s.”

“I’ll hop off, if you don’t mind,” Bert said.

“Sure.” Ellie pulled in. “Thanks for today.”

“No problem.”

“And thanks for… thanks for before.”

He chuckled. “Always glad to help.”

“Noel?”

“I’ll stick with you.”

“You sure? Bet Milly’ll be pissed off.”

“Might as well catch it now instead of later.”