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Chapter 6
"I'll make sure I have my curtains closed when I go to bed in that case. But he told me he was a fisherman and that would take him out at night, wouldn't it?" Alice didn't like then way Jack had immediately criticized Danny who had seemed genuine enough, if a little mixed up.
"Scratches a living, I should think." Jack's attitude was dismissive.
"And you own a riding stable." Alice thought it was time to change the subject.
"The best and only one in the area." Jacks eyes flashed mischievously. "You must come up and have a lesson. It's the best way to see the countryside around here. There's a ride at ten o'clock every morning. The first one is free and you get free tuition."
"Doesn't your wife mind you offering free riding lessons to strange women in public bars?"
"And a good looking ones too, if I might say so," complimented Jack. The buccaneer look was still in his eyes. He leaned forward confidentially.
"Can I let you into a secret?"
"I doubt if I could stop you."
"I'm not married or even slightly attached. There is no lady looking after my every whim. I'm as free as a bird and I like being that way."
"As free as a bird! And what sort of bird would that be? Not a timid little wren, I don't think. Perhaps a cockerel on the prowl with lots of hens at your beck and call?"
"Life is short. I believe it should be enjoyed." He leaned back with a satisfied smile on his face as if he had stated a philosophical universal truth of great importance.
"Life was particularly short for my predecessor at the cottage," observed Alice, patting her tightly curled hair, primly.
"But at least she had a great life while it lasted."
"Was she someone you ... roosted with?"
Jack laughed, not at all disturbed by Alice's assumption of his profligacy.
"We knew each other but this is a small place and almost everybody knows everybody else."
"And you gave her riding lessons?"
"Not that I recollect."
Alice thought he was beginning to look guarded.
"Danny said she was a free spirit. It would seem she and you had a lot in common."
Jack started to look even more uncomfortable.
"She was married. I don't like things to get complicated. We never really got to know each other."
"I'm married but you seem to want to get to know me."
Jack looked evasive and took a big bite of the Cornish pasty that had just arrived as if getting the dinner over and escaping was beginning to look attractive to him.
"You're asking a lot of questions. Are you some sort of detective?"
"I'm just a feisty female that doesn't like to be taken for a ride ... without my previous knowledge and consent of course." She smiled cautiously and bit into her cucumber sandwich, challenging Jack with her eyes.
"So you may be open to a ride after all?" Jack leaned forward again smiling suggestively.
"I'll decide when I'm ready," said Alice sweetly. "Now can I buy you a drink before I go?"
"A pint of the usual would be nice ... but let me walk you home. I'll keep you safe."
"Somehow I think I'll be safer by myself, for the moment."
Alice pushed her way to the bar and ordered 'a pint of the usual for Jack please'.
Ruby pulled the pint whilst looking at Alice from under big eyelashes.
"You want to watch Jack, he's a fast one."
"Thanks, but I think I've gathered that already."
"A great friend of your predecessor - they were inseparable."
"I rather thought they might have been," said Alice, thoughtfully.
The lane outside seemed very dark and the bar she had just left seemed so friendly that Alice very nearly turned back. Perhaps she should take Jack up on his offer. She shrank back as a burly figure appeared out of the gloom, dazzling her with his powerful torchlight.
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