Teacher's Pet Page 5

  Kate grabbed the flashlight and hurried away. As her cabin came into view, she slowed down and reached automatically for her keys.

  The pocket of Denzil’s shirt gaped open. Empty.

  “Oh, no, I can’t believe this,” Kate groaned. She was shivering now, with frustration as well as with cold, and she banged on the door in hopes that Miss Bunceton might be inside. When nobody answered she stepped back off the porch, her heart sinking. They’re probably back there by the lake… somewhere in the grass… they fell out of my clothes….

  If someone didn’t take them.

  Kate froze, her mind racing. Tawney’s clothes hadn’t been destroyed, only hers. And Tawney hadn’t seen the man beside the lake, only she had. And the menacing shadow had only come after Tawney was gone… .

  “It was Denzil,” Kate muttered. It had to have been him, watching them swim, waiting for his chance to get even. She wasn’t going to let another stupid practical joke send her into a tailspin—she’d just find Tawney and go back to search for her keys.

  As she reached the road, Kate suddenly realized how impossible her mission was going to be. She had no idea where Tawney was, and she certainly couldn’t go looking for her dressed like this. The same went for Miss Bunceton—and Kate refused to sit on the cabin steps in the cold waiting for someone to show up.

  “Damn!” Trying to keep close to the shadows, Kate retraced her earlier trek to the lake, trying to remember where Tawney had turned off to the inlet. Here? She paused, confused, playing the flashlight across the leaves. It didn’t look right—but everything seemed different at night… alone….

  Shaking off her nervousness, Kate continued on, finally spotting a path that looked familiar. She took a deep breath and plunged into the woods.

  The darkness was deceiving. As Kate went deeper and deeper into it, she had no idea how far she’d come or how long she’d been walking. Once she finally admitted to herself that she was on the wrong trail, she tried to backtrack and lost all sense of direction, her growing fear causing her to follow any footpath she came across. Branches clawed at her face and hair, ripping Denzil’s shirt. She didn’t know if the dampness on her cheeks was blood or fog or frightened tears, and she began to run.

  “Help!” she called, but she wasn’t sure if the cry was real or only in her mind. “Somebody—I’m lost—help me!”

  Without warning she stumbled out into a wide, open space and sprawled face down on the wet ground.

  Silence. As she slowly lifted her head, the silence was deep and terrifying. Blinking through the heavy gray mist, she saw a pale glow in the distance. And then, as her eyes grew more accustomed to the night, she saw something else that made her raise up and stare.

  It was a gate. A tall, iron gate looming up against the dark. With the soft light beyond it, Kate could see its perfect silhouette, the sharp spikes along the top. Locating her fallen flashlight, she shone it through the bars.

  There was a house behind the fence, huge and black and grotesque, like some awful nightmare rendered in charcoal across the sky.

  The light was coming from one upstairs window.

  Kate reached her other hand forward to push herself up….

  And touched someone’s bare foot.

  Shrieking, she jumped up, the flashlight beam slicing crazily through the gloom.

  “Scream… scream …” a voice sang softly. “Trapped in a dream. …”

  It was an eerie voice… hoarse and whispery… as if every word were painful, and as Kate fumbled her light and aimed it full force onto the stranger’s face, she gasped at what she saw.

  The thing standing before her was dressed all in black, long black skirts trailing limply in the grass, a long black veil swathing the body… the head… the hidden eyes….

  “My God,” Kate mumbled, “who are you?”

  “I’m Rowena.” The visage swayed a little, blending itself into the cover of trees and shadows and fathomless night. “And you’re Kate. Kate… Kate… doomed to your fate.”

  Chapter 7

  KATE PEERED HARD INTO the darkness. The phantom swayed calmly … teasingly … just beyond reach of the flashlight.

  “How do you know me?” Kate murmured. “How do you know my name?”

  The veil fluttered softly. Somehow Kate knew that she was being carefully scrutinized.

  “He talks about you… he thinks you’re beautiful….”

  “Who?” Slowly Kate backed away, her voice quivering. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I took the wrong path—”

  “Death….” The voice dropped even more, black-gloved hands disappearing into the black folds of material. “Don’t you feel it? We’re all dead here… all… very… dead.” The head raised as Kate took a clumsy step sideways. “Come inside. Come… don’t be afraid.”

  “No… really… I need to get back—”

  “I’ll show you secrets if you stay.” The gravelly voice hinted of a smile. “You’ll never know if you run away. Come… come inside…”

  Kate looked again at the bleak house beyond the fence, at the window with its one feeble light. “No, I have to go. I didn’t know anyone lived back here.”

  Was that a laugh? That horrible, guttural sound so deep in the throat? The long skirts whispered, and again Kate moved back.

  “No one does,” the voice replied. “The house is empty.”

  “Do you… do you live here alone?”

  The shadow hesitated… shook its head. One arm lifted… beckoned toward Kate. “Come with me… come and see….”

  “No—”

  “Come and see… come with me—”

  As the voice kept repeating its macabre little chant, the figure advanced on Kate, forcing her back into the trees. In the pale light, through the shifting fog, Rowena seemed to hover above the ground, her fingers fluttering like tiny black moths.

  “Pretty Kate,” she whispered, “just like he said…”

  “Who said?” Kate’s voice shook. “Please… I don’t know—”

  “You mustn’t tell. You mustn’t tell about me.”

  The figure came closer. Kate’s fear choked her, and she backed against the trunk of a tree. “No… I mean, no, not if you don’t want me to—”

  “Someone told… now he’s cold….”

  “I won’t—”

  “I’ll know if you do. I’ll find out.”

  “Yes. Yes—I promise.”

  The hand reached out for her… inches from her face….

  “I won’t tell!” Kate cried. “I didn’t mean to come! I’m sorry—”

  “Yes,” and that strange thick laugh came again. “You will be.”

  Kate whirled and plunged into the woods—trees, shadows, darkness, all rushing by in a blur. She didn’t know where she was running, but as she crashed out onto the beach at last, she didn’t stop until she saw her cabin up ahead and the two shadowy figures banging on her door.

  “Kate! Are you in there? Are you okay?” Denzil’s voice sounded worried, and he started pounding again.

  “I don’t think she’s in there,” Tawney said. “Oh, I hope the swimsuit thing didn’t get her—”

  “The swimsuit thing? What—?”

  “Here I am!” Kate called, and forced herself to walk, smoothing her hair with trembling fingers. I can’t tell them where I’ve been… I promised Rowena… she said I’d be sorry….

  “Kate!” Denzil was at her side in an instant, his face struggling between anger and relief. “Where were you? We were about to call out the posse!” He played his flashlight over Kate’s bare legs and grinned as she tried to pull the shirt down.

  “I thought you’d been kidnapped!” Tawney exclaimed. “I thought someone got you with an axe! I thought—”

  “My keys,” Kate said quickly. “They must have fallen out of my T-shirt when we got undressed to go swimming. I was… checking along the road.”

  “Funny.” Denzil stared at her. “We didn’t see you on our way.”

  “
Oh, Kate.” Tawney gave her a sympathetic hug. “I bet you lost them in the weeds back there. You’ll never find them now.” She stopped, considering. “Or else the axeman took them.”

  “Thanks, Tawney.” Denzil gave an exaggerated smile. “I’m sure she feels real good now.”

  “Denzil,” Kate said angrily, “if you—”

  “I don’t wanna hear it. I don’t have your keys. I don’t have an axe, and I didn’t shred your clothes. Come on.” He slid his arm around Kate’s other shoulder, hurrying the girls along. “You’re gonna catch pneumonia if you don’t get some dry clothes. We can worry about the keys later.”

  “You’re about my size,” Tawney piped up. “You can wear something of mine. And you can stay with me tonight, too, if you can’t get into your cabin.”

  “Oh, I’m sure Miss Bunceton will be back later,” Kate assured her. “I’d just feel better if I had my own key.”

  “Pearce should have one.” Denzil shrugged. “He has keys to all the buildings.”

  Just the thought of that made Kate uneasy, and she tried to put it out of her mind.

  It only took a few minutes to change into some of Tawney clothes, but Kate’s chilled feeling remained. As she and Denzil and Tawney approached the lodge, she saw Pearce standing on the porch watching them, his lean body pressed back against one of the wooden columns. Pretending she hadn’t noticed him, she went inside, glad for the cheery log fire and the people milling around exchanging the day’s experiences. She and Tawney found a couch near the hearth, and Denzil joined them a moment later, bringing cups of spiced cider.

  “I don’t see Miss Bunceton.” Kate scanned the crowded room.

  “I heard some people talking.” Denzil jerked his chin toward one noisy group. “There’s a discussion going on over in the dining hall. Romantic classics.”

  “Then that’s where she’ll be. She’d never pass that up.”

  “Hey, look,” Denzil said, deadpan. “There’s Igor.”

  Kate followed the point of his finger and saw Pearce leaning silently in the opposite corner. “Don’t you think it’s creepy the way he’s always watching everybody?” she whispered.

  “He undresses me with his eyes,” Tawney said, her own eyes going bigger. “It’s not a very nice feeling.”

  Denzil gave her a skeptical look. “More like he’s undressing your mind. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Oh,” Tawney breathed, “good. That’s a relief.”

  “Denzil!” Kate scolded.

  “Hey, it’s okay,” he said innocently. “How can I hurt her feelings if she doesn’t even get the joke?”

  Tawney stared at him. “What joke?”

  Kate glanced again toward the far corner. Pearce drew back against the wall and slid out a side doorway.

  “Hey, you sure you’re okay?” Denzil touched Kate’s arm, frowning as she jumped.

  “Yes… I… just have a lot on my mind.” Forcing a smile, Kate stood up, half expecting Pearce to reappear without warning in the shadows beside the fire. She didn’t see Gideon anywhere. “I’m going to try and find Miss Bunceton.”

  “Okay. See you later, pardner.” Denzil touched his hat.

  “And come stay with me if you need a place,” Tawney reminded her. “I have to go back to work now, but I’ll be in cabin three, over where the employees stay. Cabin three, next to Denzil.”

  “And if she’s asleep, you can stay with me.” Denzil grinned. “Cabin four. Next to Tawney.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Kate promised.

  Quiet descended as she walked quickly to the dining hall. Darting a look back over her shoulder, she tried to control the fear and confusion in her mind. She could still see Rowena… could still feel the panic of that ghostly encounter… like something in a nightmare, someone all dressed up for a funeral, someone dead…. She could still hear that gravelly voice… the strange singsong rhymes… “I’ll show you secrets if you stay… you’ll never know if you run away….”

  Kate walked faster, heart pounding. “He talks about you… he thinks you’re beautiful….”

  “Kate… Kate… doomed to your fate.”

  She began to run, eyes straight on the road and away from the shifting shadows, but the dining hall was deserted when she got there. Hoping Miss Bunceton might be at the cabin by now, Kate turned back and spied a lone shadow sitting on some steps across the road. There was the scratch of a match, a hiss of flame, and an eerie image of Pearce’s face only an instant before the flame went out. Kate froze, her eyes glued in sudden, clutching fear upon the darkness. Another match flared… flickered… fell into the dirt and went out.

  “Pearce?” she called weakly.

  No answer.

  Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to cross the road and stopped a safe distance away from him.

  “Pearce,” she said again, trying to control the trembling in her voice. “Denzil said I should talk to you. I lost the key to my cabin, and he said you might have an extra one.”

  Even in the pale light from the window, Pearce seemed more shadow than human. She could feel him watching her, and in spite of her dry clothes, she felt chilled all over again.

  “I might,” he said, after endless minutes. “I’ll have to check.”

  “I’d really appreciate it if you would.” Her voice sounded thin, and she watched as his hand lifted toward his face.

  Another match flared… sputtered… died.

  “Cabin thirteen. Isn’t it?”

  A new trembling threatened her voice, but she choked it back. “Yes.” And even though she couldn’t see him clearly, she thought he might have nodded.

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thanks. Well… good night.”

  All she wanted to do was get away from him. She started down the road when his voice stopped her.

  “I hear you’re quite the writer. Quite the teacher’s pet.”

  “I… I don’t know what you mean.”

  “No? Then maybe you’re in for a surprise. And maybe it won’t be a nice one.”

  Kate heard her voice lashing out, braver than she felt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But nothing that pertains to me is any of your business.”

  The match hissed again. She saw his black, black eyes flickering.

  “You’re right. How inconsiderate of me.”

  Shaken, Kate willed her feet to move her forward.

  “You should be more careful,” Pearce said. “Anyone could find your key. Anyone could get into your cabin.”

  Kate whirled to face him. “I have a roommate. I’m not alone.”

  “A roommate?” And he sounded like he was smiling… a dark, strange smile as if she’d said something peculiarly funny. “If someone wanted to get you,” Pearce said slowly, and another match went out, “a roommate wouldn’t stop them. They’d just get you. Wouldn’t they.”

  Chapter 8

  “KATE, DEAR, IS SOMETHING wrong?” Miss Bunceton gulped down a forkful of scrambled eggs and looked worriedly at the girl beside her. “You’re so pale this morning. Don’t tell me you’re still upset about that wretched key—it could happen to anyone. Let’s just hide it someplace outside the cabin—”

  “No,” Kate said quickly, “don’t hide it.” Her brain felt like wet sand. All night she’d dreamed about Rowena, waking up in a cold sweat. How does she know me?

  “Kate?”

  “I’ll just find you if I need to get in,” Kate mumbled. “It’s not a big deal.” Someone might have my key… someone who’s been talking about me to Rowena….

  “Well, please don’t fret. You’re here to enjoy yourself, for goodness’ sake. Don’t let trivialities upset you so.”

  Kate nodded and pretended to eat her breakfast, looking up again as Denzil hissed at her from the doorway.

  “Excuse me,” Kate mumbled, and before Miss Bunceton could reply, she hurried into the kitchen.

  “You can’t fool me,” Denzil chided. “You weren’t eatin
g. You were hiding everything under your toast—it’s the oldest trick in the book.”

  “I helped cook this morning,” Tawney said, spatula in hand. “People always hide things under their toast when I help cook.”

  “No, it was fine, really. I’m just not hungry.” Kate debated whether or not to tell them about her strange confrontation with Pearce last night but decided against it. Pearce was just being his usual weird self, and she was just being paranoid. There hadn’t been anyone at the inlet with an axe, and some animal had simply dragged off her clothes and she’d only imagined that hand… but the house and Rowena were real… weren’t they?

  “Are you listening?” Denzil gave her a shake, and Kate stared at him stupidly.

  “I’m sorry. What?”

  “I said I have to go into the village this morning for supplies. Wanna tag along?”

  “I’m going, too,” Tawney said. “It’s a pretty ride. And we can get lunch there ’cause Denzil and I don’t have kitchen duty.”

  Kate glanced at her watch. “What time are you going?”

  “Couple hours?” Denzil said. “Soon as we finish up here.”

  “Do you have a class, Kate?” Tawney fanned herself with a dishrag and sidestepped a girl bustling out with sausages.

  “I have to meet with Gideon. He’s critiquing my story.”

  “Oh, isn’t that so romantic.” Tawney sighed.

  “Yeah, aren’t you lucky.” Denzil shook his head and slammed the pantry door. “What is this—Gideon week? Aren’t you going to any other classes while you’re here?”

  “I happen to like horror,” Kate said. “I have lots to learn.”

  “Yeah, he looks like the type you could learn a lot from, all right.”

  “Well, why would you want to take any other classes if you can have Gideon?” Tawney looked perplexed.

  “I don’t have Gideon.” Kate turned to her. “He’s just—”

  “Shame on you.” Denzil fixed her with a deadpan stare. “Falling in love while poor William’s still not accounted for.”

  “Ooh.” Tawney shivered before Kate could answer. “I think it’s scary the way he’s just disappeared this long. I heard some of the instructors talking out by the lodge this morning….” She paused dramatically, making sure she had their attention. “And they said maybe something really happened to him!”