younger.
However erratic life had been with Aunt Jesse, however emotionally neglected Colby had been while Jesse pursued her poetry, at least he’d never been subjected to physical violence the way Spooner had.
Eddy finished his beer. “You still hate this town as much as you used to?“
“Yeah,“ said Colby. “I still hate it.“
“Why’d you come back?“
“I needed a place to finish the book I’m working on. And I decided it was time to get rid of Aunt Jesse’s place. Too much trouble keeping it rented to summer tourists.“
“Larry Brockton down at the real estate office said once that you’d given him instructions to keep the place fixed up and rented out during the summer.“
“I didn’t know what else to do with it after Aunt Jesse died.“
“So you’re here to take care of that old business and finish another one of them horror books, huh?“
“Right. I thought Fulbrook Corners might offer some inspiration for my writing,“ Colby explained dryly.
“Inspiration! Here? That’s a laugh.“
“It is, isn’t it?“
“Come to think of it, Chained Lady Falls might be sort of inspirational for a horror writer,“ Spooner remarked slowly. “Remember that night we were gonna spend there?“
“I remember it.“
“You never told anyone I didn’t stay with you in that damned cave.“
“No point.“
“Guess I never thanked you for keepin’ your mouth shut about that.“
“Forget it, Eddy. That was a long time ago. It doesn’t matter now.“
“That’s kind of what I figured. It doesn’t matter much now. Nothing does.“
Diana stood staring up at Chained Lady Falls. The billowing mist dampened her hair as well as the oxford cloth shirt she was wearing with her khaki trousers. The rocks at the base of the falls were slippery. She’d almost fallen once or twice, trying to get close enough to see the hidden entrance to the cave. She still couldn’t spot it through the thundering water.
And she still wasn’t sure why she had driven out here to take another look at the falls this afternoon. Something about the place had drawn her back for another look. She peered upward, trying to envision a path behind the white veil. The cliff behind the falls looked sheer, offering no obvious footholds.
But Colby had said he and Eddy Spooner had climbed up to the cave the time they had dared each other to spend the night in it. There must be a path. She just couldn’t see it.
The legend of Chained Lady Cave had begun to fascinate her. She’d awakened this morning thinking about it, and now she couldn’t seem to stop.
At her side. Specter whined softly. Absently, Diana reached down to pat his mist-dampened coat. “What’s the matter? Don’t like getting wet, do you? You’ve never been real big on taking baths. Well, come along, then. I think we’
ve seen enough.“
Diana made her way carefully over the wet rocks toward the car. “I wonder if Colby would agree to show me the inside of that cave?“
She pondered her own curiosity all the way back to her cottage. It wasn’t until Specter gave a sharp, warning bark as they pulled into the drive that she realized someone was sitting patiently on her front porch.
“Hello, Brandon. I didn’t expect to see you here. How are you today?“
Brandon got to his feet and smiled tentatively. “Hi, Miss Prentice. I walked over to see you. Dad’s gone to see an old buddy of his. Didn’t know if you were gone for the day or what.“
“I just went for a drive. Come on inside. I think I’ve got some beer in the refrigerator. And please call me Diana.“
“Thanks. I could use a drink. It’s hot today.“ He followed her into the house, idly patting Specter who was tolerant of the caress.
“My dog seems to like you. You should be flattered.“ In the kitchen Diana opened the refrigerator and found a can of beer. “He doesn’t think much of your father, you know.“
“Is that right?“ Brandon looked surprised. “Dad’s usually
However erratic life had been with Aunt Jesse, however emotionally neglected Colby had been while Jesse pursued her poetry, at least he’d never been subjected to physical violence the way Spooner had.
Eddy finished his beer. “You still hate this town as much as you used to?“
“Yeah,“ said Colby. “I still hate it.“
“Why’d you come back?“
“I needed a place to finish the book I’m working on. And I decided it was time to get rid of Aunt Jesse’s place. Too much trouble keeping it rented to summer tourists.“
“Larry Brockton down at the real estate office said once that you’d given him instructions to keep the place fixed up and rented out during the summer.“
“I didn’t know what else to do with it after Aunt Jesse died.“
“So you’re here to take care of that old business and finish another one of them horror books, huh?“
“Right. I thought Fulbrook Corners might offer some inspiration for my writing,“ Colby explained dryly.
“Inspiration! Here? That’s a laugh.“
“It is, isn’t it?“
“Come to think of it, Chained Lady Falls might be sort of inspirational for a horror writer,“ Spooner remarked slowly. “Remember that night we were gonna spend there?“
“I remember it.“
“You never told anyone I didn’t stay with you in that damned cave.“
“No point.“
“Guess I never thanked you for keepin’ your mouth shut about that.“
“Forget it, Eddy. That was a long time ago. It doesn’t matter now.“
“That’s kind of what I figured. It doesn’t matter much now. Nothing does.“
Diana stood staring up at Chained Lady Falls. The billowing mist dampened her hair as well as the oxford cloth shirt she was wearing with her khaki trousers. The rocks at the base of the falls were slippery. She’d almost fallen once or twice, trying to get close enough to see the hidden entrance to the cave. She still couldn’t spot it through the thundering water.
And she still wasn’t sure why she had driven out here to take another look at the falls this afternoon. Something about the place had drawn her back for another look. She peered upward, trying to envision a path behind the white veil. The cliff behind the falls looked sheer, offering no obvious footholds.
But Colby had said he and Eddy Spooner had climbed up to the cave the time they had dared each other to spend the night in it. There must be a path. She just couldn’t see it.
The legend of Chained Lady Cave had begun to fascinate her. She’d awakened this morning thinking about it, and now she couldn’t seem to stop.
At her side. Specter whined softly. Absently, Diana reached down to pat his mist-dampened coat. “What’s the matter? Don’t like getting wet, do you? You’ve never been real big on taking baths. Well, come along, then. I think we’
ve seen enough.“
Diana made her way carefully over the wet rocks toward the car. “I wonder if Colby would agree to show me the inside of that cave?“
She pondered her own curiosity all the way back to her cottage. It wasn’t until Specter gave a sharp, warning bark as they pulled into the drive that she realized someone was sitting patiently on her front porch.
“Hello, Brandon. I didn’t expect to see you here. How are you today?“
Brandon got to his feet and smiled tentatively. “Hi, Miss Prentice. I walked over to see you. Dad’s gone to see an old buddy of his. Didn’t know if you were gone for the day or what.“
“I just went for a drive. Come on inside. I think I’ve got some beer in the refrigerator. And please call me Diana.“
“Thanks. I could use a drink. It’s hot today.“ He followed her into the house, idly patting Specter who was tolerant of the caress.
“My dog seems to like you. You should be flattered.“ In the kitchen Diana opened the refrigerator and found a can of beer. “He doesn’t think much of your father, you know.“
“Is that right?“ Brandon looked surprised. “Dad’s usually
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