An Unsinkable Love

chapter 36


Fred Dunby watched the group from his perch in the big oak tree. He recognized the pretty copper-haired girl as the itty bitty thing he'd seen at the station and later through the window. The young man with her was vaguely familiar. The third party, although hidden in shadow, was his quarry.

Fred had rented a horse and ridden to the estate earlier in the afternoon. It had been an unpleasant trip to say the least.

As a sailor, he'd never had much use for horses, and even less skill. The nag had nearly unseated him several times, even though the man at the stables swore Peanut was as mild-mannered as they came. He sat, motionless, as Eldon strode out of the shadows.

"Is there a problem, my dear?" Eldon asked the girl.

"No, I ... I'm going into town with Carlisle. It's stuffy inside and I'd like some fresh air."

The uniformed man whipped off his cap and added, "Miss Bree wants to visit her aunt in Boston, but don't have any money with her for a ticket. She's going to get her bag."

Fred thought it odd the man explained this to DuMont, especially when it didn't seem any of his business. He saw the gleam of white teeth as Eldon smiled and reached into his coat pocket. He handed Carlisle something.

"See that she gets where she needs to go, Carl." He turned to the woman, "It's more than you'll need for the ticket, my dear. You can use it for food and such on the way to your 234

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

aunt's, " he said in an amused tone. He turned with a chuckle and walked away, entering the barn across the yard.

The two stood where he'd left them. Soon the young man started fidgeting.

"If you want to make the train, miss, we'll need to leave right away. It's a fair piece and I have to slow down in the dark. We have a lot of deer around here."

Bree nodded and followed him to the car. He held the door for her so she could climb into the back seat, then jogged around to the front and started the car. They crept slowly down the drive, the big engine rumbling quietly.

Fred was about to climb down and search for Eldon when another car started in the barn and rolled out. Headlights dark, the car followed leisurely along some distance behind the Rolls. From light spilling out a window at the back of the house, Fred recognized Eldon at the wheel. As soon as the car passed behind a shrub, he scrambled out of the tree and raced toward Peanut. It took him two tries to hoist himself up into the saddle. In his haste to keep the car in sight, Fred kicked the surprised animal repeatedly while jerking the reins first one way then another. The horse eventually took the bit in his teeth and cantered down the lane toward home.

Fred heard the throaty grumble of the Rolls from around a turn ahead, and stopped. The horse immediately dropped his head and began munching grass growing from the middle of the road. He slipped out of the saddle and crept closer. Voices carried through the night air.

"Mr. Eldon? Sir? I don't think I like this. The miss here don't want to go with you. You told me to take her to town 235

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

and that's all right 'cause that's what she said she wanted to do. But she don't want to go with—."

The man's voice cut off abruptly, followed by an odd, watery thud. The woman screamed, and was quickly muffled.

Before Fred could follow the road around a thick stand of trees, an engine roared to life and he heard pebbles ricocheting off bark and rocks as they were thrown from beneath the tires. He hurried around the corner, and watched the smaller car speed away. The big Rolls sat by the side of the road, the engine idling softly. A black lump lay in the dirt beside the open back door. Fred crept closer.

"Blimey, not again!" he muttered. The lump was the young man. He sprawled on his side, head turned away. A horrendous dent distorted the side of his face. Blood and something more solid glistened in the moonlight. A tire iron lay nearby. With a grimace of revulsion, Fred turned away, noticing the empty back seat of the car. The young woman was nowhere to be seen. He turned and ran for Peanut. He made it into the saddle in one try, and soon the startled animal galloped down the road as he clung frantically to saddle horn and mane. He rode into Eldon's dust on the outskirts of town and reined the horse to a bone-jangling trot so he wouldn't overtake his quarry. The small lights on the rear of the car helped him follow as it steered into an alley. It continued straight into the black maw of an open, two-story carriage house. A moment later Eldon appeared and pulled the doors shut, the lock snapping loudly in the stillness of the night. A lamp was lit inside, sending out a pale flickering glow.

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Fred dismounted and tethered Peanut to a convenient downspout, then sidled up next to the garage, careful to stay away from the windows. He heard a car door open and close.

A muffled cry rang out, followed by the sound of a sharp slap.

Footsteps pounded on stairs. The light moved higher and the lower level faded to a dark gray. Fred risked a quick glance through the small, barred window. The car, glinting in the dull moonlight, sat in the middle of the dirt floor, the engine ticking as it cooled.

Chewing his cheek, he wondered, What now?

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237

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson