The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.) (73 page)

Hennessey looked down on Angela, he said nothing but suddenly the smile went from her face and she stepped back almost colliding with her husband who put out his arm to steady her.

Adela looked at Angela’s pale face, puzzled she turned her gaze to Hennessey but he was smiling. He said, ‘if I’m ever desperate, I’ll know who to call.’ Scott’s eyes widened as did Adela’s, but before either could respond Hennessey added, ’y’all have a fine pair of boys there; take care of them…and yourselves. Bye now.’

Adela only just had time to say, ‘I’ll come to see you before I leave, goodbye, goodbye, boys,’ before Hennessey pulled her out of the gazebo down the steps and across the grass to the exit, leaving the two Carter adults looking at each other in astonishment.

CHAPTER 25.

          He didn’t speak as they walked and neither did Adela, she was asking herself what it was Angela had seen in Hennessey’s face that had made the smile disappear from her own.

What had caused her to back off as she had? She had looked something like the man at the café had looked when Hennessey had taken him to one side to have a word with him. What had caused Angela to back off as she had and to look so dumbstruck?

She recalled yet again what Annie Bloom had said, that guy is dangerous. Oh what was she doing, what was she thinking. If Hennessey had given Angela a warning look it was only what she had deserved, she should not have acted like that, she should not have made suggestive comments and flirted with Sterling in front of her and her own husband.

Before long they reached the car. Hennessey opened her door for her and she got in, he shut the door with a bang making her jump. He got in the driver's side, switched on the engine and immediately moved off.

She felt every uncomfortable in the silence, she swallowed hard and cleared her throat before she could say, ‘you’re angry.’

He turned his head slightly but said nothing, she said, ‘I’m sorry about that, about Angela’s behaviour, but she doesn’t mean any harm, it’s just the way she talks and acts.’

‘Like a whore do you mean?’

Adela was astounded but said patiently, ‘she’s not a whore,
Sterling, she just thinks it’s funny.’

‘Well at least someone does, apart from that inane husband of hers of course.’

‘They’re nice people, forthright and a little silly but otherwise harmless.’

‘I’m beginning to think that your definition of silly is misplaced, Miss Faraday.’

There it was again that calling her by her last name, she decided it was a good a change of subject as any so said, ‘why do you do that?’

‘Do what?’

‘Call me by my last name like that?’

She saw his jaw clench before he said, ‘I wasn’t aware that I did.’

‘Well you do, either that or my full name.’

‘You’re the one to talk about
that
. Is this just your way of changing the subject, asking unrelated trivial questions?’

‘It may be unrelated but I don’t believe it’s trivial.’

‘You wouldn’t, since you asked it.’ He returned scathingly.

She had been trying hard not to get angry with him but it was becoming increasingly difficult, he seemed to be blaming her for the Carters turning up and for their behaviour. Annoyance was evident in her tone as she said, ‘maybe everything I ask, or even say, is trivial to
you
.’

A flicker of surprise crossed his face either at her tone or what she’d said, but then his own face darkened as he said, ‘not everything, just the
trivial
things you ask and say.’

That was it, she had had enough, she had tried to be nice to him, to placate him even though she had done nothing wrong. Her voice was slightly shaky but cold as she said, ‘please take me back to
Eden.’

His head swivelled round to look at her, ‘what?’

She didn’t look at him as she said, ‘you heard me, please take me back to Eden.’

‘Do you mind my asking why?’

‘I should have thought that was obvious.’

‘Well perhaps some of Scott Carter’s inanity has rubbed off onto me, because I don’t see the obvious.’

She let out a sharp breath and turned to look at him, ‘all right, I’ll make it plain so that you
can
understand. I don’t want to be with you right now, you’re being obnoxious and rude and mean. You weren’t happy about the Carters showing up and you’re blaming me for it.’ She unconsciously rubbed her bruised hand where he had gripped it tightly when the Carters had come bursting into the gazebo. He followed the movement a frown on his face. The truth is, Sterling; you’re blaming everyone for spoiling our day but the one person who
is
to blame…
you
.’

His surprise was obvious now, he was also getting worried by the cold, hard expression on her face, but before he could say anything she said, ‘you acted more like a child than the Carter boys.’

Hennessey found his voice, ‘oh is that so. Like a child, huh?’

‘Yes, exactly like a child, a petulant, spoilt child at that,’

Hi
Amazement and anger rendered him speechless again for a moment and into the silence she said, ‘I asked you to take me back to Eden, so please do so. Now.’

If she had been looking at him she
would have seen utter amazement cross his features before he same icy expression she'd seen the previous night replaced it. But he said quite mildly, ‘I said we were having a picnic and a picnic we’re going to have.’

She turned quickly to look at him her eyes wide in astonishment, ‘I don’t feel in the mood for a picnic, nor for your company either. So I’m asking you nicely to please take me back to
Eden.’

‘Ask as nicely as you like, but I’m starving and there’s food in the trunk which we’re going to eat.’

She was stunned that he would disregard her wishes so blatantly. She had to admit to being a little afraid, not so much of him, he wouldn’t dare hurt her with so many people having seen them together, not that she thought he would anyway, but at her own anger with him. She rarely got angry, until she had come to this country it had been years since she had lost her temper and then it had made her feel miserable and ill. But since the night of the theatre and what had happened in that alleyway and afterwards, she had seemed to change and become outraged about any slights or insults or unfairness she witnessed, not only outraged but outspoken too.

And Hennessey had insulted her friends the Carters, she knew they were loud and brash and plain speaking, but they were also kind and loving to each other and friendly to others, and she resented Hennessey’s offensive remarks about them. And the way he was acting now with her, he had called her comments trivial and had ignored her request to take her home with an imperiousness that angered her. She tried to remain calm as she said, ‘I’m not hungry, and if I was I would rather eat at the bar or the diner in
Eden.’

‘Yes,
you
probably would,' he scoffed, 'well I wouldn’t, I want to eat here in the open air.’

He watched her out of the corner of his eye as frustration and anger and indecision flickered across her face. She turned to look out of the passenger window then over her shoulder as if contemplating leaping out of the car. He didn’t think she would be so foolish but just in case he put his foot on the gas and speeded up. She turned to look at him her eyes narrowed but said quite calmly, ‘I see you’re not about to comply with my wishes and that I can do nothing about it.’

His lips turned up in an expression of smugness, she saw it and said, ‘since you’re in the driving seat so to speak, and therefore can force me to go with you I have no choice but to go along with you…for now. But when we get wherever it is we’re going you can’t force me to get out of the car, nor to eat any of your picnic.’

He looked at her a frown on his face before he shrugged and said, ‘we’ll see.’

Something in his expression turned her blood cold and for a moment she felt panic grip her, but she shrugged it off as she remembered all the people that knew she was with him. No, he was just angry, angry at the Carters and her for defying him.

She said nothing further but settled back in her seat and waited.

He flicked his eyes to her and saw that she had accepted the situation since she had no choice; she was nothing if not sensible. But he had to think quickly, he had come so close to getting her to reveal all to him, maybe even Desi’s whereabouts until the fucking Carters had shown up. He was very tempted to take her somewhere and get the information out of her one way or the other, finish it once and for all, but it would be foolish to let his anger get the better of his common sense. The sheriff had seen them together as had that bastard Maxwell, and of course the Carters. No, he would have one last try but first he had to get her back on side, although he wasn’t doing too well at the moment.

He had to admit that her comment about his using her last name all the time had floored him for a moment, as had her request to take her back to
Eden. But he knew that if had complied with her wishes it would not be so easy to placate her and she might refuse to see him again then he would be well and truly fucked. He would have to revert to plan B and he would much prefer to do it the easy way, easier for her than him of course.

He had to admit she had completely confounded him by the things she’d said to him. She’d called him obnoxious and rude and even childlike, and he couldn’t deny that she was right about that, he had been. For someone who was naturally shy and retiring she certainly wasn’t afraid to speak up for herself and others. He had always admired courage, especially in a woman, he admired her, period, as long as it didn’t prevent him from getting back on her good side that is. Still, all was not lost, she had also called him charming, well he was about to charm the pants of her, maybe literally.

Hennessey did not linger on the image of her wounded expression, nor the hurt look in her eyes when he had snapped at her and called her questions trivial. He told himself the only reason he desired to erase that hurt was out of necessity and not because he very much wanted her to smile at him again as she had done earlier.

After ten minutes of profound silence they came to a dense wooded area with beautiful trees and foliage on either side of the narrow road. At any other time Adela would have been awed and delighted with the scenery but she was too upset to take in her surroundings.

He stopped the car and switched off the engine then turned to her but she refused to meet his gaze only continued to look out of the passenger window as if he wasn’t there.

There was amusement in his tone as he said, ‘you’re not really going to sit in the car all afternoon are you?’

She stiffened whether at his evident amusement or that he’d said “All afternoon,” he wasn’t sure.

She said nothing though. He sighed and all amusement gone now said, ‘this area is one of the most beautiful in all Mississippi, there’s a river down that way,’ he pointed to his left,’ and a stream with salmon and trout in it over that way,’ he pointed to his right, ‘you’re not telling me you want to sit in this stuffy car and miss all this beauty surrounding you, not
you
of all people.’

She didn’t answer but he saw her face change and knew she was contemplating what he’d said. He pushed his point, ‘and it will get very hot in here soon, even with all the windows open, but there’s plenty of shade out there beneath the trees, and the stream is pleasant and cool. Although I can’t promise to produce a big cat for you, I’m sure we’ll see something equally exciting.’

She turned to look at him still angry but knowing she was being childish, something of which she had accused him. He tipped his head to one side as he said beseechingly, ‘please.’

She turned away and let out a huge sigh before opening her door and climbing out of the car. He sat there a moment and smiled thinking, so far, so good.

As she waited for him to get out of the car she looked around. It was certainly very beautiful here, peaceful and quiet. But to her relief not
too
quiet, she could see other people in the distance walking in the woods, and others sitting on the grass nearby eating, obviously picnicking like they were about to. She didn’t know why she had let him persuade her, she didn’t know why she had given in, except that he was right. As much as she was upset with him right now she didn’t really want to spend the afternoon in the car. She wanted to see the stream and the lake and walk in the woods, and yes, if she was honest she wanted to do those things with him. Tomorrow he would be gone and she didn’t want to end their relationship on a negative note, and despite his behaviour she still liked him, liked him a lot.

But even so she would not easily forgive the things he had said about the Carters and about her too. She was no stranger to people saying nasty things about her and to her; she was an old hand at shrugging off insults. But it had hurt her when he had snapped at her and said she was being trivial, and she didn’t like the way he had dragged her away from the Carters and through the park, he had made her a party to his rudeness.

She recalled the way he had gripped her hand so tightly that it had hurt then dropped it as though it had stung him when Angela had drawn attention to their joined hands, as though he was ashamed to be seen with her. She turned swiftly as he touched her arm, she looked at him then down at her hat which he held out for her. He said, ‘you’ll need this.’