what you hear about Annie Macintosh is probably rumor and conjecture.”
“Rumor and conjecture,” Timmy repeated. “Right. I’ll remember that. And hey, if you need any help, you have my number. I still gotta make more money for university.”
“I’ll see what I can find,” Rourke said. “Take care now.”
He hopped into the front seat of the truck and turned the ignition, then slowly pulled away from the loading dock. As he headed out of town, he took the opportunity to consider Timmy’s warning. It was ridiculous that they thought Annie possessed the power to drive him to his death. It was about time that the town of Pearson Bay got to know the real Annie Macintosh and he had the perfect way to make it happen.
* * *
A NNIE HEARD THE sound of Rourke’s truck from inside the cottage. She wiped her hands on the dish towel, then grabbed her jacket and headed outside. He’d mentioned that he was going to the hardware store and she’d assumed it was for the insulation for her attic. But she hadn’t expected him back quite so quickly. He’d barely had enough time to get halfway to town.
As she rounded the corner of the house, she saw Sam Decker’s police cruiser. The police vehicles on the island were sturdy SUVs, equipped with the flashing lights and the official emblem of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service on the side.
Annie hesitated, wondering if he’d seen her yet. Maybe she could still make a run for it. But he waved at her, then jumped out of the truck. She groaned inwardly. The last thing she wanted to do was continue the conversation they’d started in front of the restaurant last night.
“Hi, Sam. How’s it going?”
“Good as can be expected. We’re gearing up for Celtic Colors. That starts on Friday. Lots of tourists coming to the island. Are you planning on going to see any of the concerts? I could get you tickets if you want.”
Annie smiled gratefully, then shook her head. “I’m not one for crowds.” She paused. “Why are you here, Sam?”
An angry expression came across his face. “Why is he here? What does Quinn have that I don’t? Damn it, Annie, you know how I feel about you. I’ve been patient, thinkin’ this was just going to take a little more time, but now I’m thinkin’ it’s never going to happen.”
“I don’t think it will,” she murmured.
“Well, now’s a fine time to tell me, after I wasted the past three years thinkin’ you were the one.”
Annie shook her head. “I never gave you any encouragement.”
“You never discouraged me, either. What is it about him? Is it ’cause he’s from the city and I’m just a local? That doesn’t make him any better than me. I love you, Annie. I know I’ve never said it, but I do and I—”
Annie quickly reached out and pressed her fingertips to Sam’s lips. “Don’t. Don’t say any more. It’s not going to make a difference. You know why this will never work. I told you why.”
“Geez, Annie, we were kids. And I was just actin’ stupid like kids do.”
“You tormented me for almost six years. How am I supposed to forget that? Or trust that anything you say to me is real?”
“I did what I did because I liked you. I just didn’t know how to show you.”
“No,” Annie said, shaking her head. “You did what you did because it made you feel powerful. It made you look good to your friends.”
“I’ve apologized,” he said. “What else do you want from me? I’ll do whatever you ask.”
Annie gave him an apologetic shrug. “Forget about me,” she said. “That’s what I want you to do.”
He stared at her, speechless, then turned and walked back to his truck. Annie felt tears flooding the corners of her eyes. After all the torture she’d endured at his hands, she still regretted hurting him. Yes, he’d apologized and more than once. And she’d forgiven him. But there was just something inside her that couldn’t forget.
As Sam drove way, she saw Rourke pass him on the narrow
“Rumor and conjecture,” Timmy repeated. “Right. I’ll remember that. And hey, if you need any help, you have my number. I still gotta make more money for university.”
“I’ll see what I can find,” Rourke said. “Take care now.”
He hopped into the front seat of the truck and turned the ignition, then slowly pulled away from the loading dock. As he headed out of town, he took the opportunity to consider Timmy’s warning. It was ridiculous that they thought Annie possessed the power to drive him to his death. It was about time that the town of Pearson Bay got to know the real Annie Macintosh and he had the perfect way to make it happen.
* * *
A NNIE HEARD THE sound of Rourke’s truck from inside the cottage. She wiped her hands on the dish towel, then grabbed her jacket and headed outside. He’d mentioned that he was going to the hardware store and she’d assumed it was for the insulation for her attic. But she hadn’t expected him back quite so quickly. He’d barely had enough time to get halfway to town.
As she rounded the corner of the house, she saw Sam Decker’s police cruiser. The police vehicles on the island were sturdy SUVs, equipped with the flashing lights and the official emblem of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service on the side.
Annie hesitated, wondering if he’d seen her yet. Maybe she could still make a run for it. But he waved at her, then jumped out of the truck. She groaned inwardly. The last thing she wanted to do was continue the conversation they’d started in front of the restaurant last night.
“Hi, Sam. How’s it going?”
“Good as can be expected. We’re gearing up for Celtic Colors. That starts on Friday. Lots of tourists coming to the island. Are you planning on going to see any of the concerts? I could get you tickets if you want.”
Annie smiled gratefully, then shook her head. “I’m not one for crowds.” She paused. “Why are you here, Sam?”
An angry expression came across his face. “Why is he here? What does Quinn have that I don’t? Damn it, Annie, you know how I feel about you. I’ve been patient, thinkin’ this was just going to take a little more time, but now I’m thinkin’ it’s never going to happen.”
“I don’t think it will,” she murmured.
“Well, now’s a fine time to tell me, after I wasted the past three years thinkin’ you were the one.”
Annie shook her head. “I never gave you any encouragement.”
“You never discouraged me, either. What is it about him? Is it ’cause he’s from the city and I’m just a local? That doesn’t make him any better than me. I love you, Annie. I know I’ve never said it, but I do and I—”
Annie quickly reached out and pressed her fingertips to Sam’s lips. “Don’t. Don’t say any more. It’s not going to make a difference. You know why this will never work. I told you why.”
“Geez, Annie, we were kids. And I was just actin’ stupid like kids do.”
“You tormented me for almost six years. How am I supposed to forget that? Or trust that anything you say to me is real?”
“I did what I did because I liked you. I just didn’t know how to show you.”
“No,” Annie said, shaking her head. “You did what you did because it made you feel powerful. It made you look good to your friends.”
“I’ve apologized,” he said. “What else do you want from me? I’ll do whatever you ask.”
Annie gave him an apologetic shrug. “Forget about me,” she said. “That’s what I want you to do.”
He stared at her, speechless, then turned and walked back to his truck. Annie felt tears flooding the corners of her eyes. After all the torture she’d endured at his hands, she still regretted hurting him. Yes, he’d apologized and more than once. And she’d forgiven him. But there was just something inside her that couldn’t forget.
As Sam drove way, she saw Rourke pass him on the narrow