Free Harkett's Haven by Ally Forbes Page B

to keep up with him. He carried the heavy bags easily and his stride was long and purposeful. He held his hand out to her to take and she did so, delighted by this simple gesture. His hand was large, warm and strong and enfolded her slight hand totally.
    ‘We’re heading towards the rocky shore area just ahead. We’re not going to do anything too detailed today but I’d be grateful if you could take a couple of square meters for me. I’ve got an identification book for you and you can let me know if there’s anything you can’t find.....I’m heading down to the water line.’
    He turned to face her, ‘I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off you for any length of time Rachel.’
    He was serious and intense for a moment and Rachel felt slightly alarmed but then his smile broke slowly over his face and Rachel found herself wondering about her moment of doubt.
    ‘Old ghosts ..’ she thought to herself and smiled back at him.
    ‘You get a great view of the cottage from here.....look.’
    The sun was in their eyes and they both raised a hand to shield their eyes and look towards the little white cottage on the mainland and it was then that Rachel noticed a car parked down at the beach they had left. It was unusual; she could count on one hand the number of times she had seen anyone take a car there in the six months she had lived at the cottage and a strange car always spooked her.
    ‘Pass me that bag please Eric ’ She indicated which of the bags she wanted from him.
    She pulled open the zip and took out a pair of bin oculars. She focussed the lense to the silver car parked at the end of the beach track and then scanned along the sand to check for someone walking a dog or something to explain its presence there. No one. But even at this distance she could make out the distinctive silver Mercedes Estate car.
    She scanned back up to her house and there was no sign of strangers but tension and worry suffused her body.
    ‘Anything wrong Rachel?’ Eric picked up on her concern immediately.
    ‘There’s a strange car at the beach beside the cottage,’ she whispered.
    She turned to him, ‘It’s the reason I had to let you know what happened to me. I ’m still jumpy....I can’t help it.’
    He took the binoculars from her and focussed on the beach. She saw a fleeting look of recognition on his face.
    ‘Do you know the car?’
    He hesitated and then answered decisively, ‘No. Sorry.......probably someone walking a dog Rachel.’
    He turned from her to put the binoculars back in the bag.
    ‘You’ re a hopeless liar Eric Harket,.’ she thought to herself and she knew that when he turned quickly from her it was to prevent him having to meet her waiting gaze. She knew he was lying but she couldn’t imagine why. Still, it gave her some comfort that he at least seem to know who it was and if that was the case then it couldn’t be anything to do with Tom.
    His mood had changed and he looked distracted and irritated.
    ‘Eric. Are you alright?’
    He smiled at her but it was a strained smile, tight and false.
    ‘Yes. Now tell me what you’d like me to do.’
    Rachel set out the grid square and told him what she needed, leaving him and walking the ten or so metres to the water line to start work there. She watched Eric secretly as she worked and could see him frequently glance at the mainland beach in the distance. He worked silently and his previous light mood was gone.
    Rachel felt anger rise in her, hot and dark. She had put a lot of trust in this man in the short time she had known him; he was the first man she had felt she might be able to develop a relationship with after Tom and her feelings had raced up on her, catching her by surprise. Her instincts had told her Eric was a man that would be worth taking a chance on, someone who would help her put her past behind her. Here she was feeling betrayed and hurt by his deceit. Rachel reflected that the old Rachel, the pre-Tom Rachel, would have simply