Burroughs Edgar Rice Tarzan 09 Tarzan i zloty lew
Lensman 09 Smith, E E 'Doc' & Ellern, William B New Lensman
Beverley Jo MalĹźeĹstwo z rozsÄ dku 01 MalĹźeĹstwo z rozsÄ dku
2001.09 Gimp Workshop Plugin Features
Fred Saberhagen Dracula 09 A Sharpness on the Neck
Carroll Jonathan Glos naszego cienia
211. Sylvia Andrew Demony przeszśÂośÂci
Graham Masterton Krew Manitou
Norton Andre Pani Krainy Mgiel
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 05 The Jewels of Opar
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beautiful woman, with half of its sepia print cut away so that the other
person who had been in it with her was gone. The windows were covered
with a black cloth, now tattered, probably to mask any light from outside
54 Beverly Sims
detection. A drawer in the desk produced paper and a quill pen. A chamber
pot was under the bed. Both women stood still, feeling...feeling what?
Something.
Wow, Georgia spoke first. This place is kinda spooky, don t you
think? Not scary spooky, just different spooky. I bet this is where he kept
her.
How could he have kept her quiet so that his family below didn t know
she was here? Caroline wanted to know. I know she was mute, but didn t
she pound on the door or walls or something?
Caroline, don t go asking sensible questions. I have no idea. I m just
repeating what Taffy wrote in the newspaper. You always were a realist for
all your fictional books. Now, let me get on with the story.
Apparently, he did not mind that she could not converse with him, only
that she be able to satisfy his carnal needs. Georgia giggled slightly. I
can t believe I said that. Carnal needs. Really!
Her husband looked for her everywhere, even came here a few times,
but Malcolm s family could truly say they had not seen her. He became
reclusive in the little house outside of town he had shared with his bride.
Georgia continued. Malcolm must have really loved her, because he
never hurt her, not really. She said later or rather wrote, because she could
not speak that he was always gentle and that he was a fantastic lover. Too
bad he s not still around; I could use a little fantastic loving. How about
you? She laughed. Caroline did not answer, already knowing that he was
still around, in some form, and that he was a fantastic lover.
Georgia continued. Soon she adjusted to her prison and looked forward
to his coming every night. He brought her everything. Clothes, food, drink,
everything. Toward the end of the second year, they both had to face the fact
that she was pregnant, largely pregnant by this time. There was no answer
but to take her and move somewhere where they would be safe and where
they could raise their child. By this time, she was totally his, as only a
prisoner can become to her keeper. One dark and stormy night. She
laughed. Naturally, it had to be a dark and stormy night. He smuggled her
back out of the house to the barn in back, put them both in a carriage and
started south.
Caroline continued, The newspaper at that time later found that he had
telegraphed to New York for a hotel and to North Bend to reserve a ship s
Caroline s House 55
berth to take them there. This was the first time in two years she had been
out of these rooms. As they drove further out of town, they started to pass
her old home. Whether it was memories or what, no one ever knew, but she
jumped from the carriage and ran through the storm to the door, pounding
for her husband. He came to the door with a rifle. When he saw it was
Susan, he pulled her inside, locking the door behind them. In the dim
candlelight, he finally got a close enough look to see she was huge with
child.
Later she would write that he howled like a mad man and hit her so
hard she fell to the floor. He kicked her repeatedly until she passed out.
Malcolm was pounding on the door, trying to kick it in. Virgil fired his rifle
through the door, emptying it. Malcolm was dead instantly. Virgil looked at
his unconscious wife, reloaded his rifle and, perhaps thinking he had killed
her, he shot himself. End of this story!
Oh, my dear God, look at the time. Georgia looked harried. I get to
talking and can t shut up. My brood will be frothing at the mouth. I have to
go, Dear Caroline. I promise to come again and finish Taffy s stories. Too
bad she is gone, or you could get her to tell you herself. Before Caroline
could ask, Georgia s face changed. She died of cancer five years ago. She
never married, but all of us really miss her. She was a kind, lonely soul.
With that, she was down the two sets of stairs, running like a little round
child. She sped down the drive but slowed considerably before turning onto
the highway. Caroline had followed her down, thinking of what she had
heard. In her mind, she now knew who her ghostly visitor had been.
Malcolm Hanson. And Susan had been right; he was a gentle, considerate
lover.
56 Beverly Sims
Chapter 14
The rest of the day went by without mishap, at first. She wandered
around again, starting with the basement, this time with no feeling of
apprehension. It was as if her nocturnal visitor had somehow changed the
feelings the house had for her. Now she was completely comfortable here.
Then she went to the attic, where she discovered the rooms where Susan had
been kept were now just rooms. The only sign of the things they d seen
before was the old bed. No chests, no books, no lanterns, no nothing.
Everything else was gone.
As the sun moved down on the horizon, she put on a sweater, took the
sample books Rena had left and sat on the porch swing. Larry had been
right. His sister s choices were perfect. She would call her next week after
the furniture arrived
Now it was time to get back to work. She went into the room that faced
the backyard, the one in which she planned to work. Her typewriter was
waiting, along with a fresh ream of paper. She turned on a small lamp,
wishing her desk were here but she could use the card table until it arrived.
Instead of her typewriter, she sat with a pad and pencil and began to make
notes. By the time it was dark, she was pleased to see she had ideas on paper
for an outline. Not a complete outline, but the beginnings of one. A good
few hour s work. Her stomach informed her that she was hungry, as did the
two furry creatures asleep on the window seat, their favorite place.
It was early, but she was tired. She took a book and headed upstairs to
read herself to sleep. She was not going to think about Malcolm Hanson or
the lovemaking of last night. Sure, she was not! She drew a full tub,
shampooed her hair, shaved her legs, dried, and powdered her body.
Surprised, she noted the nightgown she had thrown in the wastebasket last
night was not there. She shook her head, perplexed. No one had been in here
at all today. Her only guest had been that nasty Larry, and he was in the
Caroline s House 57
kitchen for no more than a minute. Georgia was with her the entire time of
her visit. So where was the nightgown? She smiled. Perhaps Malcolm
wanted a souvenir.
He came to her again, this time to her bed. She felt his presence even in
her sleep. The animals must have sensed him too, because they both jumped
off the bed and disappeared down the hall. She opened her arms and
welcomed him. She was now aware of his shape, dim but there nevertheless.
She was sure she heard him whisper her name as he held her close. He was
gentle but thorough in his touching, kissing, probing, and caressing.
Caroline responded as if he were a live human and began to answer him
with her hands and lips. Instinctively, she knew where to touch in the dark [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
