trees and the silence seemed to close in on her; a prickle of fear ran down her spine.
She sensed someone was watching her. She stopped to look around, but she couldn’t see anything unusual. A chill shot down her spine. Twilight had fallen, giving the trees an eerie appearance in the dim light.
‘Stop it!’ she reprimanded herself out loud. ‘You’re just spooking yourself!’
Hastening her pace, she hurried on through the trees, but as she neared the edge of the orchard, she heard a twig snap quite close behind her. Her senses were screaming that she was not alone. ‘Crap! That’s not my imagination!’ she whispered to herself.
‘Robert! Is that you? Come out now you little shit!’ she called, thinking it could be Robert trying to scare her. He had a reputation for his pranks, especially on his cousins.
She stood still to listen… There was not a sound
…
Feeling very afraid now and certain someone was following her, she broke into a run, glancing back over her shoulder only once.
She ran as fast as she could the rest of the way up to the house and through the back door into the kitchen.
‘Glory be, love, you’re in a hurry!’ remarked Hazel. She was fussing over dinner as Kathy burst through the door.
‘Love, you’re as white as a sheet. What is it, dear?’
‘Oh, Hazel, just now I could have sworn someone was watching me outside. I couldn’t make anyone out because of the dim light and the trees, but I really think someone was in the orchard!’
‘Oh, love, are you sure? Maybe it was your imagination. Who would be hiding among the fruit trees, and why would they anyway?’
‘I don’t know Hazel, but I swear there was someone there. I thought it might have been Robert being his usual painful self.’
‘Here dear, sit down and I’ll make you a warm drink. I’m sure it was all your imagination,’ Hazel soothed. ‘Twilight can make your imagination run away with you!’
‘Thanks, Hazel.’ Kathy smiled at her. ‘You always know how to make me feel better.’ Kathy accepted the drink gratefully but still could not rid herself of the feeling someone had been in the orchard. For now, she decided to keep it to herself, thinking Hazel was right.
Why would anyone want to hide in the orchard? She also knew though, if it was Robert, he would have come out laughing like a hyena.
***
Tammi had received a letter from Laura Hansen, Muriel and Walter Hansen’s granddaughter. She lived in Cooma in the Snowy Mountains region. The letter said she would be arriving in a few weeks for the start of the holidays. Tammi was really looking forward to her arrival. Laura was the same age as her and they were very good friends. Despite being excited about Laura’s visit, Tammi was aware that something was amiss with her sister.
‘C’mon, Kath, what’s wrong with you? For the past few days you’ve been quieter than usual. Is everything okay?’
Kathy sat for a moment with the book she was reading in her lap. She turned to Tammi.
‘I wasn’t going to make a big deal of this but I think someone was watching me the other night when I took a shortcut through the orchard.’ She told Tammi what happened.
‘Maybe it was Robert. He’s always sneaking around somewhere.’
‘I really don’t think so, though he wasn’t home when I was at his place that evening. If it was him, he would have come out in bloody hysterics, gloating about scaring me. The dickhead wouldn’t have been able to help himself.’
‘Well, it might just have just been your imagination. You know at that time of evening everything appears sort of creepy.’
‘Maybe, that’s what Hazel said too.’ Kathy shivered. ‘But it felt so real; you know how you just know when someone is there!’
‘C’mon,’ Tammi urged. ‘Let’s put some records on and paint our nails, take your mind off it. I have the latest Beatles record. Paul McCartney is such spunk, those gorgeous eyes!’ Tammi rolled her eyes heavenwards. ‘I’d love