The Village of Gerard's Cliff Read online

  Chapter VI

  Allie breathed in the cold, pungent ocean air, and pulled up the collar of her jacket. She walked slowly along the Cliff Walk, trying to calm down, and figure out Ethan's violent behavior a few minutes earlier. What on earth just happened? She tried to fit the pieces together. For the life of her, Allie could not fathom why Ethan was so bent on buying the inn, and why he'd become violent. He had shown no interest in it while Patrick was alive, as far as she could remember. And she never knew him to be a mean drunk. Was the alcohol just finally taking its toll, and his life spinning out of control after his divorce? But why the inn? It made no sense to her.

  Should she call someone back home and tell them, she wondered, pausing to sit down on one of the benches that were placed at intervals along the path. She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, and squinted toward the ocean waves crashing on the shore below her. Who in Virginia would be able to help her with this...his ex-wife, Mary? Perhaps she would have some answers, but Allie knew that Mary had not been on good terms with Ethan since their divorce three years earlier. Mary had attended Patrick's funeral, and been cordial to Allie, but she and Ethan barely spoke to each other. There were no children from the marriage, and Allie did know that Ethan's drinking problem was one of the factors in the divorce. Patrick had told her that Mary was well off in her own right, and didn't need any alimony from Ethan. She seemed to want to just be rid of him, Patrick had told her.

  Allie removed her hands from her pockets, and looked down at her still red and sore right wrist. She rubbed it gently, and scanned the beautiful beach before her. Why...Why.........Why? For the first time, she actually missed Patrick. Perhaps he could have shed some light on his brother's strange behavior. She wished she could talk to him, to have him help her sort this whole mess out, but then...none of this would have happened if Patrick were still alive. It was all tied in to Patrick's death somehow, she reasoned. But how? Allie was sitting on the bench an hour later, staring at the sea, still absorbed in the drama that had unfolded in her inn.

  "Hello there." A deep, warm, male voice interjected itself into her solitude, and she looked up, startled to be discovered so lost in thought. "I returned to the inn earlier than planned, and, since no one was there, I thought I'd check out this Cliff Walk I've heard so much about."

  "I'm so sorry, Mr. Garrison. Forgive me." Allie looked up, embarrassed. "I hadn't realized I'd been here so long. I don't usually lock out my guests." She added with a rueful laugh. "I'll head back right now." She hurriedly rose from the bench and was aware of their difference in height, as she looked up at his pleasant face.

  "Please call me Connor. That is, if you don't mind." He looked down at her. "I don't know if I can take two weeks of being addressed as Mr. Garrison," he smiled. "But, if there are rules about that sort of thing at your inn, I'll understand. I've never stayed at an inn before, by the way."

  As he spoke, Allie took the opportunity to scan his face. She noticed his strong, masculine nose, slightly wide at the bridge, and the rounded angles of his cheekbones beneath his amazing blue eyes and dark lashes. His eyebrows were thick and straight. He had a very nice, soft-looking mouth, that curved up on one side when he smiled, as he was doing right now. A hint of dark beard showed through his strong jaw.

  "Of course I don't mind.....Connor." She lowered her head, watching her step, as they started walking back to the inn. "After all, you'll be staying with us longer than most guests. You'll soon be like family!" She glanced up at him and smiled. "My name is Allie, short for Allison."

  "Pleased to meet you, Allie." Connor stopped, turned toward her, and smiled as he held out his hand. Allie hesitated for just a moment before putting her cold hand in his. She felt the warmth from his large, enveloping hand radiate through hers. Her eyes flickered up into his for an instant, and she saw them narrow, as if in surprise. She was embarrassed to feel herself flush, so she concluded the quick handshake with an awkward smile, and removed her hand from his. Allie shoved her hands in her pockets, and turned back toward the inn. Connor followed suit, and they walked the short distance to the front porch, both in thoughtful silence.