Perfect (Love in Yorkshire #1)

Twelve

When inside, we took an information sheet about the quiz. It looked ridiculously hard and was blatantly aimed at fifty-year-old farmers. I’d be useless.

Tom and I managed to find an empty table in the back room which overlooked a beer garden. There were clusters of smokers out there, you could see the light from their cigarettes as they inhaled.

We cleared a couple of empty pint glasses from our table and Tom went to the bar to order. I’d opted for diet coke, not really in a drinking mood due to my anxieties about the whole Connor situation.

We didn’t get the opportunity to speak about Connor again, as ten minutes before the quiz started, Nathan came into the pub with another guy and Tom frantically waved them over. They joined us but didn’t look too happy about it.

Whilst Nate searched for spare chairs, Tom introduced the other guy as Ryan, Nathan’s brother.

So, this was the ‘Ryan’ that Connor had fleetingly mentioned. The one who ‘had a brain’. The boys were similar in appearance and carried that same brooding vibe but Ryan appeared much older and more serious. He was a good-looking man, with dark hair and brown eyes and he was tanned, which gave him a Mediterranean appearance. He also looked tired.

I had been elected to write the answers down as Nate said that Tom’s writing was illegible and halfway through the quiz, I managed to ignore that churning feeling in my stomach. The banter around the table flowed and I didn’t feel at all uncomfortable being the only girl in our group.

Ryan had a dry sense of humour and at almost twenty-six years old, knew stuff. He had more suggestions for possible answers than any of us.

I saw a totally different side to Nathan. He acted differently in front of his brother, more grown up, and balanced. He still drank fast though.

I took a sip of coke as Tom and Nathan went back to the bar, leaving me alone with Ryan and the gnome we had won as a booby prize for coming last in the quiz. We took it in good spirits of course.

I watched him with a hint of a smile.

“So, what do you do Ryan? I’m guessing it's farm related.”

He checked his watch and then returned my smile. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes.

“I sell farm equipment and machinery and so I should have got the one right about when the seasons fall, but to be honest, I’m not really with it tonight. I literally just got back.” That explained the shadows.

“Do you work away a lot?”

“Yeah, I travel all over the country. How about you? Nate says you’re staying with your dad at Two Oaks Farm. How are you finding country living?” He was quick to deflect the conversation onto me which was interesting. I noted he looked anxious. Like there was somewhere he needed to be.

“It’s OK. It’s a bit cut off but I’m getting used to it. I might end up here more permanently next year if I get into Uni. There’s a course I’m interested in at Scarborough. Save on the cost of halls and all that.” Plus, I’d be nearer to Connor, my subconscious mind added.

Ryan’s head tilted as he digested my words and he suddenly seemed genuinely interested. Our chat must have given him a second wind.

“What course are you thinking about?”

I leaned my elbows on the table which brought our faces slightly closer. The pub was now quite busy and loud.

“It’s just an Early Years course. I think I quite fancy teaching.”

“Teaching kids? You are brave.” He puffed, knocking back the last of his beer.

I embellished, saying. “Little ones anyway. Not sure about teenagers.”

He placed the empty bottle on the table, looking thoughtful.

“Absolutely. That’d be my worst nightmare. It’s hard enough looking after Nathan.”

He paused to check his phone and I turned away and finished my drink.

After thumbing in what I assumed would be a text, Ryan pocketed the phone and asked. “What makes you want to be a teacher?”

“I don’t know really. I’ve been told I’m good with my nieces and nephews. But it’s hard isn’t it, making that decision now. Sometimes I don’t feel like I have any direction in my life at all.”

Ryan pursed his lips and leaned back in his seat .

“You’re young, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. That’s why you should go to college, but stay in the halls instead of at home. It would give you more freedom to go wild and do crazy shit, you know, make mistakes. That’s what girls your age should be doing, not getting all serious about life and its many burdens.”

I chuckled, he was very assertive but I totally wasn’t the wild child type, I was much too boring.

“Not sure about the going wild element but I’m definitely a pro at making mistakes.”

“Tell me about it,” Ryan put in, suddenly looking gloomy.

I arched an eyebrow, latching on to his change in mood. Here was another boy with secrets.

“You sound like you’re also experienced in the area of making mistakes,” I declared, I was intrigued by the sudden long face. “Let me guess, female-related perhaps?”

Ryan’s eyes darted back to mine from the empty bottle, suddenly on high alert and I wondered if I’d crossed a line. We had just met after all. What if he’d had a girlfriend or even a wife that had died or something? Stupid runaway mouth of mine.

“Sorry, my mouth sometimes just blurts stuff out there,” I apologised, taking a nervous sip of my coke, watching him from over the rim of the glass again.

He rolled his shoulders as if trying to work out a knot and then sat forward in his chair. It was as if he was seeing me for the first time. I now had his full attention.

“You’re shrewd for a kid.”

I wasn’t annoyed that he called me a kid as he was a fair bit older me. I felt relieved that he hadn’t taken offence at my rude judgement.

“So, I’m right,” I put in softly, surprised that he’d admitted it. I delivered the words carefully, so as not to appear like a nosey cow.

“Well, if you ever want an ear, I’m a good listener.”

I twisted my head to see Nate and Tom were still at the bar and added. “At least that’s what I keep trying to convince everyone of around here. People from this village seem a bit on the closed-off side.”

“And I can imagine you witness that daily with your Connor. If I’m OK to call him that? ”

My heart bumped against my ribcage at the mention of Connor’s name and how he’d labelled him as ‘your Connor’. Did he mean this due to the fact we were family, or did he also know something was going on between us? Maybe he was just really good at deflecting attention off himself.

“I suppose so,” I replied with a shy smile.

His knowing eyes watched my lips and I knew from that look that he had his suspicions, maybe Nate had talked about it? I purposefully diverted our chat back again.

“So, this female of yours…”

He smiled again and this time, his cheeks dimpled, it made him look boyish and younger than his years.

“Yes, but not really mine at the minute. It’s complicated.”

His use of those particular words, made me straighten in my seat. There it was again, that word, ‘complicated’ and my head started spinning like I’d just come off the waltzer. I’d heard that word spoken in the exact same way recently. I thought back to the club, racking my brains.

Ryan’s smile dropped, his face becoming a mask.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, also stiffening.

Shaking the thought away, I exhaled and shot him a friendly, reassuring look. “Nothing, sorry, déjà vu.”

I was just about to add to that, but Tom appeared with the drinks. What was it with timing in this place?

Ryan recovered himself quickly and gave me a veiled look, for my eyes only. I read this as him wanting to change the subject. Maybe he wasn’t comfortable talking about girl drama in front of his younger brother and the atmosphere between them wasn’t the friendliest.

I swallowed what I had been about to say and Ryan checked his watch, again looking like he had somewhere he needed to be.

“Sorry, the bar is really busy and the staff are slower than my driving,” Tom put in, juggling the glasses. At least he admitted he drove like a granny.

I thanked him for my drink. Ryan was in the process of literally necking the bottle of Bud he’d just been handed by Nathan .

“Jesus Ry, I thought we came here to talk, where’s the fire?” Nate put in, watching his brother’s throat with bulging eyes.

Ryan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. It appeared both Lane boys could put it away.

“We’ll talk tomorrow, Nate, as I have to go. It was good to finally meet you, Harlow. See you later, Tom.”

Nate lowered himself into his seat, staring as Ryan shrugged into his jacket. He must have been as broad as Connor and well-muscled too.

“By the way, Mum gave Ella the gardening job so she’ll probably be around at ours tomorrow,” Nathan said quietly.

His comment about Ella automatically switched the atmosphere.

Considering the pub was full, an odd silence fell around the table. Nathan looked down into his beer with a sullen expression, Ryan forcefully zipped up his jacket and Tom pulled out his iPhone and thumbed through it.

I drew the fresh drink toward me, my mouth suddenly felt quite dry.

Lowering his head, Ryan said in a stern voice.

“Don’t be driving the car, Nate. As I said, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

Nathan’s gaze remained on the pale liquid in his glass.

“Whatever Dad,” he said in a quiet, small voice, his words slightly slurred.

Ryan was still, a serious expression on his face.

“I mean it, Nathan. Get a cab or walk and give yourself time to sober up before Sally sees you.”

Who on earth was Sally? I batted off the thought.

Nathan nodded his head in agreement. “Yeah, I’ll probably walk. Laters.”

I eyed Ryan’s leather jacket encased back as he walked away, wondering what the hell that was about. Tom’s comment drew my concentration back to the table.

“I’m on coke Nate, I have to go past yours on the way to Harlow’s anyway.”

I glanced at the fizzy liquid in his hand. I hadn’t realised Tom hadn’t been drinking either.

It all felt like too much of an effort after Ryan left and neither Tom nor Nate said much really. We finished our last drinks and prepared ourselves to leave. I was so ready for home at that point.

I was still worried about Connor and started to feel the tell-tale signs of a headache.

I checked the time on my phone, noticing two texts from my mum.

We left the pub with a ‘well on the way’ Nathan, whom we dropped off at the driveway to his huge house as promised.

As Tom pulled the car away, I suggested that he also drop me off at the bottom of the driveway, as it was late. Neither of us said anything about the weird tension between Ryan and Nate.

“Here we go. Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you at the house, it’s quite a walk from here?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I remained where I was, not ready to leave the car just yet.

Tom spoke into the silence. “Are you OK? You’re very quiet.”

I sighed, deciding to share my thoughts.

“I was just wondering if Connor’s still up and whether to ask him about his dad now. I’m still trying to get my head around it all.”

Tom released the wheel and pulled the hand-break on, the weathered gates into the farm rattled slightly with the wind. He also switched the engine off.

“It may be a bit late to talk tonight. Why don’t you sleep on it? As you say, it’s a lot to take in. But you need to make sure you approach him in the right way. When he’s in the right mood. You know how unhinged he can be.”

I nodded in understanding. “I’m just wondering when he last saw his dad.”

Tom thought for a moment, rubbing his jaw.

“I think he saw him a few years ago, before they bought this place. Ella said Connor and Rachel used to live in sheltered housing. They were in one of those places which is purposefully off the grid, like a halfway house and Carter found them. That’s Connor’s dad’s name, Carter.”

So, Connor’s dad was called Carter. It didn’t sound like your usual thug type of name.

I frowned, thinking about his comment about the house; did he mean like witness protection places, or was that another TV thing? I shuffled back in my seat, contemplating his words .

Tom cleared his throat before explaining. “Carter put Connor in hospital and was arrested for a short time, so I heard.” His voice was reflective, as if he was still processing Connor’s uncomfortable past.

“How the hell did Carter find them if they were supposed to be in hiding? Does he have contacts in high places or something?”

“No, it was quite clever really. Simple Ella said.” Tom placed his hands back on the steering wheel, the skin was so smooth on his knuckles, the total opposite of Connors.

“Supposedly, Carter phoned their house pretending to be someone else and got the address from the housekeeper. Something like that, I think?”

I bobbed my head, digesting what he had shared. Sounded fairly simple to me, but there was a strange sensation twisting in my belly like I’d forgotten something. Like when you leave a light on at home or have misplaced your phone.

To add to that, it stung again that Connor appeared to have shared his life story with Ella. The girl obviously filled a void I couldn’t.

“Holy crap. Sneaky bastard,” I whispered, suddenly feeling drained.

I inhaled slowly and shot Tom a look. “Anyway, someone is home as the lights are on. I better go,” I said, flicking my head towards the house. “Thanks for being a friend.”

“Just a friend?” he put in softly with a kind smile.

I mirrored his look and understanding flowed between us. “Yes, and a very good one.”

Tom nodded his head, his face an open book before he replied in a low voice. “He’s a lucky guy, I just hope he doesn’t fuck it up.”

It was still strange hearing Tom swear. I decided against replying and patted his leg, silently thanking him for his support. He had obviously accepted that there could be nothing between us now. He must have realised I had genuine feelings for my stepbrother having seen how I’d reacted to the news of his abuse.

Tom pecked me on the cheek and I climbed out of the car and started off up the driveway, the gravel crunching under my feet. I could see the lights from the main house through the hedge.

I so hoped that Rachel and my dad were still out and I had the chance to speak with Connor alone. Not necessarily about what I had learned tonight. I needed to find the right time if I was ever going to encourage that conversation.

As I rounded the corner, I could hear voices, raised angry voices and I rushed towards the sound. The noise was coming from two men who were squaring up circling each other in the yard, light from the house highlighting their rigid bodies. One was Connor and the other a stranger, tall and dark and scary looking. I didn’t recognise him as one of the farm hands. I briefly noted the parked blue van which I didn’t recognise by the barn.

What the actual fuck ? I forced oxygen into my lungs and willed myself to calm the hell down.

It took me all of five seconds to process who he was, the two faces were almost identical, but the man I identified as Connor’s father was bigger and much meaner looking. He grunted and fell backwards as his son suddenly rushed him, shouldering him in the stomach, and panic clawed up my spine.

I yelled for them to stop and forced my feet to move, running towards them, my breath almost trapped in my throat, choking me. They were both on the ground rolling around, each trying to get on top of the other, blind punches catching skin and bone. There was blood on Connor’s nose and I felt a surge of helplessness.

I screamed at them again, circling their entwined bodies, but my voice was ignored and the grunts and growls continued.

Terror clutched me. They were like animals ; it was hard to believe they were even related. How could two people with the same blood do this to each other?

Connor angled his body and jetted to his feet before throwing a punch that hit his father directly on the jaw, knocking the older man to his knees.

“Stay down or I’ll knock you the fuck out,” Connor growled and spat aggressively next to the fallen man who had already started to push to his feet. His grim face was full of murderous rage and determination.

It was at that point that Connor noticed me, his face darkening before he shot out, “Go, phone Mike now !” He shot at me over his shoulder, his face becoming swallowed by the shadows. I could see he was badly beaten and swollen.

I wanted to run to him and protect him somehow but his second growl shoved me into action and I dragged out my phone and searched for Dad’s number, all fingers and thumbs. I found it and pressed the screen with shaking hands, turning my back on the two guys going at it, hell for leather. Please answer, my God, please!

Tears were pouring down my face.

“Harlow?” Dad’s voice bit into my ear and I stumbled over my words in my haste to explain.

“You need to come home! They’re going to kill each other?”

“Who, what the hell are you saying?” Dad shot out.

“His dad is here! He’s attacking Connor!”

“What the… Carter? Fuck. Go into the house and lock yourself in. I’m on my way.” I heard Rachel’s high-pitched squeal in the background before Dad shushed her. From the sound of it, he was in the car.

“What do I do? Connor’s face is—,”

“Do what I tell you and get into the house. Connor can look after himself. Go now!”

Dad’s harsh tone jerked me out of my stunned state. This couldn’t be fucking happening. The call cut off and I spun back towards the two men, dropping my phone, my hair wrapped around my throat like a hand. My breath caught again as I attempted to scream. Connor’s body was being battered.

He was on the floor and he didn’t seem to be moving; fear jetted into me like lightning and I ran toward him.

Carter was on his feet and I could only watch with horror as he drew back his leg and kicked his son full-on in the stomach, his target grunting in pain.

Connor’s body curled further into itself in a foetal position but I could see he was conscious, but only barely.

I yelled for the man to stop but Carter drew back his leg for another blow and I lost it.

“ No! Get away from him! Stop, you’ll kill him !”

I ran and threw my body over Connor to try and shield him from the man with the demonic face.

Carter moved around me and booted Connor in the back .

It was like I wasn’t there, like the larger man was in a murderous world of his own. He kicked his son again and Connor started coughing whilst trying to shove me away from him.

I pushed to my jelly-like legs and frantically scanned the area, seeing the piece of wood left over from when Connor had been patching the roof of the barn. Rushing over, I slid my fingers around it and heaved, my muscles straining with the weight. Adrenalin pulsed through me like lava. It was up to me, I had to do something and I dragged the wood over to where Carter stood staring down at his fallen victim. His back was facing me.

With a strength I didn’t know was possible, I raised the piece of wood; my target, any part of Carter’s body. Even if it only temporarily distracted him from finishing his son off, it was better than nothing.