The Cornish House [antikvár]

4- One 4 It was nearly eleven and Maddie had been behind the wheel of the car for over eight hours. She yawned and forced her eyes open wider. Slowing, she approached yet another blind bend. Moonlight silhouetted the twisted trees against the sky. Their tortured shapes rose from the hedges, forming a tunnel. It seemed to be closing in around them. A shiver went down her spine. The engine stuttered. 'Come on, old girl. It can't be much further to Trevenen, and once there, both you and I can have a much deserved rest.' Maddie stroked the dashboard. Smoke seeped from the edges of the bonnet. She glanced at her stepdaughter asleep in the passenger seat. Hannah looked sweet with her blonde hair in spiky disarray. She changed position and a tattoo appeared on the teen's arm. Maddie took a deep breath. Hannah had disobeyed her. She'd had to call on all her patience reserves when Hannah had displayed it last night. Maddie had just let it go. She too had been a teenager. However, she'd obeyed her parents. Turning her attention back to the road, Maddie knew if the map was accurate that they must be near their new home, Trevenen. This, of course, assumed she'd followed it correctly and she'd no idea whether she had or not. The last thing she needed was to be stranded on a remote country lane. When she'd visited the house back in April, the solicitor had driven her there. It hadn't seemed confusing then, but maybe she hadn't been paying attention as well as she should have. That was no surprise. She hadn't done anything as well as she should have since her husband, John, had died.