Fear

By Gillian Wells

A SMALL-TOWN BUSHFIRE, RUMOURS OF A MURDER VICTIM, A CHILD ABDUCTED...

Isla's recent divorce inspires a desire for change, as she uproots her family from a contented city life to relocate them to a remote country town. She takes a new job and is fortunate that an old house is included with it. Her two young girls, Josie and Mia, do

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9781923171046

Gillian Wells

Gillian is a lovely English lady who lives in rural Queensland with her cattle dog Jess. She has three children living in Australia, France and England and four grandchildren. She loves meeting people and has travelled widely in Australia and is one of Australia's best known and enjoyed authors.Gillian is also the author of over ten additional adult books which include Alone, Belonging, Families, Lost, Returned, Consequences, Travelling, Inheritance, Possession and coming in 2024... Compulsion. The Adventures of Bub and Tub series are Gillian's first children's books to be published with Boots & Scoots being her third children's book.

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Fear © 2024 Gillian Wells

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval syst ems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Printed in Australia

Cover and internal design by Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd

First printing: June 2024

Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd

www.shawlinepublishing.com.au

Paperback ISBN 978-1-9231-0190-6

eBook ISBN 978-1-9231-7104-6

Hardback ISBN 978-1-9231-7116-9

Distributed by Shawline Distribution and Lightning Source Global

Shawline Publishing Group acknowledges the traditional owners of the land and pays respects to Elders, past, present and future.

Also by Gillian Wells

Children’s Books

The Amazing Adventures of Bub and Tub Volume One

The Amazing Adventures of Bub and Tub Volume Two

Boots and Scoots

Adult Fiction

Alone

Consequences

Inheritance

Lost

Returned

Travelling

gillianwellsauthor.com.au

To my family and to my special friends, you know who you are.

Chapter 1

‘Shit, oh God, that hurt!'

‘Mummy, you said that wasn’t a nice word,’ eight-year-old Mia said disapprovingly, her large blue eyes regarding her mother.

Isla hopped around; the pain in her foot was excruciating. Sudden tears pooled in her eyes as she looked around at all the boxes piled up in the small kitchen. Where was she going to put everything? Why had she insisted on taking so much stuff? So Barry and his new wife wouldn’t have it, a little voice in her head told her.

‘Why don’t you go and help Josie or unpack your own things?’

‘I’ve done my stuff and I can’t help Josie. She doesn’t want me to.’

‘Josie!’ Isla called. ‘Let Mia help you or you won’t get to bed tonight.’

‘She’s too bossy,’ Josie called back. Isla sighed.

Although her two girls looked alike, they were chalk and cheese. Mia was very self-contained, knew exactly what she wanted, was very organised and seemed much older than her eight years. Josie, on the other hand, was messy and untidy but full of fun and very ebullient. Two years older, but in some ways much younger. Just like her father, Isla couldn’t help thinking. Barry was loud, carefree and took life as one huge adventure. Isla shook herself; Barry had found someone more suited to his free and easy lifestyle. She was like Mia: serious, hated mess and liked everything neat and tidy. She was quiet too. Barry used to say, ‘Still waters run deep,’ but towards the end of their marriage, he said he didn’t think there was anything deeper there. It was all a sham and she had nothing to offer worth having. It had hurt, because in spite of his chaotic lifestyle Isla had loved him with all her heart. At least to start with. Trouble was, he also attracted women like a honey pot to bees.

Still nursing her sore foot, Isla got Mia to help her instead and slowly they made progress sorting the kitchen out.

However, it soon became plain Isla hadn’t got enough cupboard space. Finally giving up, she decided that some things would have to stay in the boxes for now.

‘When do you start your new job, Mummy? Is it Monday?’ Mia asked.

‘Monday week, the same day as you start your new school, the two of you.’

‘Cool. I think it will be funny though, with only two teachers and only a few of us there.’

‘Mmm. Maybe. It will certainly be very different, for me too, but I’m sure it will be great. You will get lots of attention.’

Though deep down, Isla was worried how her two girls would settle. They had been brought up on the outskirts of Ipswich and now here they were in the middle of nowhere. Isla had rather impulsively taken a job at the local medical centre as a receptionist, which had been advertised in a local newsletter. Normally she would have thought it through more, but she was still reeling from the hurt Barry had inflicted on her.

Towards the end of their marriage, he had been abusive and nasty. Partly because he wanted to be free of her like, yesterday. Always impatient for the next thing. So Isla herself had rushed into this move, something that was completely alien to her normal way of treading life’s path.

Now here they were.

She was worried for the girls and even more for herself. It was a big leap from being a hotel receptionist in a city hotel to being in a small medical centre. She was all too aware she only got the job as they were desperate. They had assured her medical knowledge wasn’t necessary – it was more to do with answering the phone and making the doctor’s appointments. The whole thing had happened at top speed and the practice had this old Queenslander for her to rent. It was about four kilometres from the small town where she would be working, also where the girls would be at school. Someone, she guessed from the practice, had been in cleaning, but it was cramped and old and Isla’s heart had sunk when she saw it. At the very least, it needed a coat of paint; the only redeeming feature was that the roof looked almost new. It smelt musty and damp.

A kind neighbour had lent her a large trailer and she had a big 4x4 that Barry had bought her sometime before. So she had managed to bring the girls things they most wanted, as well as her own belongings she didn’t want to be parted from. Some very basic furniture had come with the house plus she had bought some small tables and a few chairs.

‘Let’s make your beds up then, girls, shall we?’ she said brightly as the day started to draw to a close.

Just then they heard a car pull into the little driveway. Isla went to the door and, opening the fly screen, saw the lady from the medical centre coming towards the house. Isla had met her earlier in the day when she had stopped to pick up the key.

‘Mrs Bartlett, how are you settling in? I’ve brought you a casserole for your dinner and a few other provisions as I’m guessing you wouldn’t have had much chance to stock up.’

‘Jane, that is so kind of you. I think I said do please call me Isla,’ Isla said as she took the large casserole dish from the woman.

‘You did but I have to confess, I couldn’t be sure how to pronounce it – an unusual name.’

‘My Scottish inheritance. Please do come in. It’s a bit chaotic.’

Jane came into the kitchen and looked around. ‘Gosh, you’ve worked hard to get it so neat and tidy.’

Josie and Mia appeared; they had gone to their rooms. Isla introduced them. ‘Can I get you a cup of tea or anything, Jane?’

‘Just a glass of water, please. You remembered what I said about not drinking the water straight from the tap?’

Isla, having gone to the old refrigerator – which seemed to work well, though it was rather noisy – held up a bottle of water. Jane nodded and plonked herself down.

She was a large woman with greying hair. Isla thought she was in her fifties. The chair groaned a bit under her weight. She was wearing a floral shift dress that covered her bulges rather well. She had sharp eyes and Isla thought she probably didn’t miss much. She was the practice manager.

‘I hope you will be comfortable,’ she said, looking around. ‘Our previous receptionist left rather suddenly. The place was in a bit of a pickle. I don’t suppose you’ve explored the outside much yet.’

‘No, only really seen the driveway and that small bit of lawn at the front. I haven’t really looked out of the window properly yet. I noticed we are one side of a small valley and there is an old house opposite. Anyone living there?’ Isla felt slightly isolated as that was the only other dwelling she could see.

Instead of answering, Jane said, ‘Oh, before I forget, the landline here is the only telephone that works. Your mobile won’t have a signal. Sorry, forgot to tell you.’

‘Oh, is the landline connected then? I hadn’t noticed.’

‘Yes, it’s there in the passageway.’

‘I saw it as we arrived but hadn’t thought about it. Nuisance about the mobile.’

‘Well, you two girls. What are your names then?’ Jane said, looking at the children.

‘I’m Josie and she’s Mia,’ Josie said importantly.

‘I can speak for myself, Josie,’ Mia said crossly.

‘Well, you are too slow and –’

‘GIRLS. No arguing.’ Isla spoke sharply. The two girls were tired and, she could see, getting cranky. ‘Go and start on making your beds up. I’ve put the sheets there ready.’

‘I imagine they can be a handful. How old are they again?’

‘Eight and ten. Mia is the serious one, Josie the full-on one.’

‘I haven’t got any kids, thank goodness. They always seem hard to handle to me and they tie you down; though you seem to manage.’

Isla felt a very small fission run up her spine though she didn’t know why. Jane seemed rather a strange woman in some ways.

‘You haven’t any then?’

‘Not me, love. Now, I thought I’d give you the low down on the doctors we have, little things you need to know. Dr Clive Barton is the senior partner, as I have already told you. He’s nearing retirement and can be a little cranky sometimes so be wary. He’s married and lives in town. Dr Paul Sinclare is in his forties, also married and has two children who are away at boarding school. He is very aloof – hasn’t been with us long. His wife is a lawyer. I’ve never met her; she works away quite a bit. Then there is Maggie, the nurse, who you met this morning. Me and Cherry, our other receptionist. Dr Paul, as I say, is a strange man though good at what he does. Has a great bedside manner so I’m told whereas Dr Clive tends to be a bit brusque sometimes.’

‘Gosh, lots to remember.’ Isla said this more for something to say; she was good at remembering names and faces.

Jane looked worried. ‘You are up for the job, I hope. I know it has all been very last minute. You are separated, I gather?’

‘Divorced. It has just come through.’

‘Oh, poor you. What happened? Did you just grow apart? Hard on your girls, I imagine.’

Isla didn’t like the way this conversation was going so she said instead, ‘Are you sure I can’t get you a coffee, tea or something other than water?’

Maybe Jane realised she had spoken out of turn because she got to her feet.

‘You have lots to do, I’m sure; I only came to drop the food off.’

‘What about your dish – shall I transfer it to one of mine? It looks yummy.’

‘Bring it when you come into the surgery. You’re coming Friday to be shown the ropes, aren’t you?’

‘Yes, I can come before, if you’d like.’

‘Friday’s fine.’

A few minutes later when Jane had gone, the girls appeared.

‘She was a funny lady, wasn’t she, Mummy?’ said Mia.

‘Ummm.’ Isla felt there was something decidedly off about Jane but what it was, she wasn’t sure.

Chapter 2

Isla slept badly even though she was dog tired and, finally getting fed up not sleeping, she crept out of bed at five a.m. She looked across the valley towards the old house she had seen there. Last night there was no light showing but there was now, even though the sun would soon be gleaming out. The early morning had the promise of a beautiful day and Isla’s spirits lifted a little.

Pulling on some clothes, she decided to explore the garden such as it was. She hadn’t had time to look round yesterday and so had only taken in the short driveway and a rather untidy patch of lawn. She didn’t even know how far the backyard went.

She was very surprised when she got outside; she had only had a cursory look at the veranda, which ran along the length of the back of the house. One end led down to a small decked area and the garden, though very uncared for, was more extensive than she had realised. To one side of the decked area was an old brick barbeque and further down the overgrown path, she found the remains of an old shed with a wire run around it. Of course, the weeds had grown through the netting wire and the shed was falling to pieces. Maybe it had been for chooks or even a dog’s run. She wasn’t sure. At the very end of the garden was an old gate. To her surprise, when she got closer to it, she could see it was in good order and there was a path leading away across the paddock from it. Not a path exactly but it looks as if someone comes through here regularly. How strange and who? There are only paddocks behind here. Isla shivered though she didn’t know why. The old house was across there but to the left not straight across from there. Maybe it was something to do with that.

She opened the gate and it swung easily though squeaked a bit. She thought about seeing where the path led but remembering the girls, stopped. If they woke and didn’t know where she was, they would be worried, frightened even.

Turning back, she surveyed the garden again. It needed a lot of work but she was up for that and the girls could help. It would be a good project for them all.

She looked in the little shed, which she had assumed was for chickens, but there was nothing in there; it was an empty shell. She was disappointed.

She looked round once more before climbing the steps back onto the veranda. She would have to get some tools, she realised, if she wanted to sort the garden out. She hadn’t brought any gardening tools with her. She regretted it now she had seen the garden. It would be good once they were settled in. Feeling more positive, she went indoors to wake the girls.

By the end of that day, Isla thought the house was more or less as she wanted it – neat and tidy at last. Jeff, the neighbour who had lent her the trailer, was coming to collect it the next day with his wife, Sarah.

They were staying the night, which was stressing Isla a little, though Sarah had told her they would bring food and swags so not to worry. She had never seen much of them but they had been very supportive of her when Barry and her had split. It turned out Barry had made a big pass at Sarah. Jeff hadn’t been impressed nor had Sarah. For once, Isla had been pleased with what had happened. Their children, who were older than Isla’s two, weren’t coming, rather to the disappointment of Josie, though it seemed Mia wasn’t worried.

That night, Isla woke in the middle of the night. She could hear a dog howling; it went on and on. It was some distance away but sounded eerie and plaintive. She shivered and, getting up, closed the window but could still hear it. Was it a dingo or a domestic dog? She wasn’t sure but decided if it belonged to someone, they would stop it making that dreadful noise. So it must’ve been a dingo – after all the little town was called Dingo Creek.

Although early spring, the room soon got hot and stuffy with the window shut and she got out of bed again to open it a crack. Looking out, she could see a light on in the old house across the valley; it had been in darkness before. Was that where the dog was howling? She would have to find out who lived there if anyone did. At last, she drifted off to sleep.

Because of her disturbed sleep, she slept in and the girls were both up and dressed when she went through to the kitchen. They were arguing as they seemed to a lot these days. Josie had taken the breakup of her parents badly, though Mia so far hadn’t seem so affected. It was one of the things that worried Isla constantly.

‘What’s going on? What are you arguing about now?’

‘I wanted to bring you a cup of tea. Mia said I shouldn’t – I should let you sleep and anyway, I didn’t know how to make good tea.’

‘It was a very kind thought, Josie, but now Dad isn’t here in the mornings I prefer coffee in any case. Mia, you should have let Josie bring me tea; it was a lovely idea.’

Both girls took this in silence. Then Josie said, with tears sparkling in her eyes, ‘Everything is different now and I hate it. I want things to go back as they were. Why don’t you love Daddy anymore?’

Isla sat down and pulled Josie onto her lap. She would have to choose her words carefully, she knew. The last thing she wanted was to turn her children against their father; though she didn’t think Barry would feel like that for her.

‘Grownups sometimes find that it is harder to live together than they thought it would be. Daddy has found someone else, as you know – someone that he thinks is more suited to him than I am. He is probably right; in some ways, Daddy and I are chalk and cheese – very different – and it makes it harder to get along. Josie, we’ve had this conversation before, sweetheart. I know it’s hard but look on this move as an adventure.’

Just then there was a funny noise outside. They all looked at each other. ‘What was that?’ Josie sounded a little frightened.

Gently pushing Josie off her lap, Isla looked out of the window. To start with she could see nothing; it was still quite early and very misty. Then she saw the gate at the bottom of the garden was open. Had they heard it slamming? But there was no wind. Had someone slammed it to shut it and that was the noise they had heard? It was the right sort of noise. Or was it simply that she hadn’t shut it properly before? But she was sure she had.

She went to the door and looked out. The girls followed her. Not wanting to worry them,