The Legacy of Hope House Read Online Free

when they reached the end, Anna stared wide-eyed at what was straight ahead. ‘Just look at that monstrosity. You were right, Mum.’
    ‘Yes, and over two hundred years old, don’t forget.’ Margaret stretched her neck to see as far as she could. ‘So it’s a copy of the house the old Colonel built in Jamaica. Mind you, this must have been a grand place in its heyday.’ They moved a little closer, but then Margaret held back and began to talk about other things.
    ‘Your father told me lots of great houses like this were built in Jamaica centuries ago. They had loads of money, and free slave labour to indulge themselves in style.’ She stood still for a few minutes as she surveyed the place. ‘It’s creepy looking though. No wonder you kids were nervous when you played up here.’
    The house was set on the top of a natural plateau overlooking a small horseshoe shaped bay that echoed the noise of the waves as they crashed with a roar against the cliffs a hundred feet below.
    ‘Listen, Mum,’ Anna said, ‘It’s so quiet I can hear the pebbles rattling on the beach below as the waves retreat.’
    ‘Come back! Don’t you dare go peering over that cliff edge; it’s a helluva drop,’ Margaret warned, pulling on Anna’s jacket. ‘The soil could be loose. Come away now, please, you’re worrying me.’
    Anna smiled, but moved away from the edge and looked back at the house again narrowing her eyes to take in the details. ‘The house faces the sea, so every front window must have a lovely view. And look at those woods behind it; it’s almost a small forest. It looks wild, and untouched since the place was built.’
    She threw up her arms. ‘Everywhere is overgrown; the whole place screams of neglect.’ Against the roar of the crashing waves below, seagulls screeched as they wheeled and swooped around on the top of the cliff, voicing their objection at the strangers who had invaded their territory.
    ‘It’s a crying shame a majestic place like this was allowed to get into such a state,’ Margaret said, shaking her head as she stared around. ‘I don’t know what your uncle was thinking of; he should have looked after it better. He’s supposed to have spent money on it, but show me where.’ She shrugged. ‘No doubt it must have been a dream house long ago.’
    She stood back and surveyed the house again. ‘My word, it really is massive. You’ll never afford the repair and upkeep of this place, and if you could, what on earth would you do with it?’ Margaret Williams shook her head. ‘Give it away. You’d never generate the income necessary to maintain it. It looks like you’ll be forced to give it to the Trust anyway.’ She shook her head as she stepped forward. ‘Honestly, I don’t think you have any option.’
    ‘Mum, I’ve thought about nothing but this house ever since seeing the solicitor,’ Anna said, shaking her head. ‘It’s been in the family for centuries, so giving it away seems wrong. I’ll explore every avenue before doing that; it would be my final resort. First, let’s see what we could do with it; put your thinking cap on, Mum.’ Then she stopped in her tracks and her eyes brightened. ‘Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s get the urgent basic repairs done and set it up as a retreat. It can pay for itself.’
    She touched her mother on the arm. ‘You could help me run it, and there must be loads of people around who’d welcome the chance to have an organised base for a nominal rent where they could provide a treatment or therapy.’ She stared at the house again for a couple of seconds as she thought. ‘Come to think of it, I know two girls who may be interested.’ She swung around and looked at the overgrown approach again. ‘I wonder if I could persuade them to come all the way up here to work. It looks pretty formidable right now, but the idea has possibilities.’
    ‘No, Anna. I don’t reckon that’s a good idea at all,’ Margaret said. ‘I think you’d make a