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The Abbey Farm Curse.

Chapter Seventeen.

When Rhys did eventually get home I'd gone back to the paperwork that I'd abandoned earlier, and the first I was aware of his return was raised voices coming from down the corridor. Sighing resignedly I pushed back my chair ready to investigate, but a slammed door followed by silence told me that the squabble had already been settled and I sat back down, ears cocked for any further arguments. But all I heard was a girl's muted giggle, so after a few seconds I settled back to my work, vaguely wondering who was giggling but hoping to get the spreadsheet sorted out before my drooping eyes shut up shop for me.

But that was not to be, not yet anyway, for almost immediately my door burst open and there stood Rhys with the owner of the giggle on his arm. This time it was Shannon's sister, Lottie, he had with him. I wondered, with more than a tinge of jealousy, how Rhys had managed to exchange one sister for another so quickly and easily. He always seemed to have an ability to attract women to him, rumour had it that even at school he always managed to have the best looking girlfriend in his class. Perhaps the old saying of 'treat'em mean, keep'em keen' has something in it after all.

'Hi Gaza,' he breezed, 'you've met Lottie haven't you?'

'Often,' I told him, 'but not for a while.'

I looked at Lottie more closely, looking at the changes in her since we'd last met. She was a little shorter than her sister, but what she lacked in stature she made up for in equipment. I don't know her bra size, but it was certainly a double something. She'd grown in both senses of the word.

'Hi Lottie,' I greeted her.

She giggled but didn't speak.

'Were both your hands busy when you got to my door?' I asked Rhys innocently.

'No, why?' He frowned, thinking I was implying something sexual.

'I wondered why you didn't knock!'

'Oh. Sorry Gaza, I should have remembered how you like things done the old fashioned way.'

'It's not old fashioned to show good manners, it reveals consideration for others.'

'Whatever.' He dismissed the subject. 'Anyway, I need a favour.'

'And that's the way to get one -- not!' I thought to myself as I looked enquiringly at him.

'I need to borrow your car in the morning to take Lottie home; otherwise she'll have to walk back.'

'Won't Willow lend you hers again?' I asked him, curiously remembering which car he'd been in that morning.

'No. She's got a strop on because I didn't tell her I was using it.'

So that was what the row was about. I also noticed his phrasing. For some reason he'd not thought it necessary ask her, just to tell her. He was getting to be a real male chauvinistic pig.

'You really are an arsehole, Rhys. Why didn't you ask her this morning instead of just taking it?'

'Well, she wasn't using it, so I didn't think she'd mind. She didn't say anything yesterday when I had it.'

'And now you want mine?'

'Well, yes. Unless you want to see Lottie having to walk into town.'

Personally I didn't really care, and his attitude was really getting on my nerves. Who the fuck did he think he was, trying to make me feel responsible for Lottie's travel arrangements? It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to go screw himself, but then I thought about it.

'Okay. But only if you do the errands that I was going to do in it.'

'Can't you use Angie's car instead?' He asked me.

Obviously he knew better than expect Angie to lend him hers.

'Look. Do you want the car or not?' My temper was getting frayed.

'Okay, okay!' He threw up his hands in mock surrender.

'Right. Then you can call in at the timber yard with this order, and tell them I want it delivered Tuesday. And then you can collect Ma from the station. It'll mean a bit of a wait, because the timber yard closes at twelve and Ma's train isn't due in until half one. But that's the deal, take it or leave it.'

The order could have been emailed through, but I wanted to inconvenience him as much as I could. As they say on the street markets "Prices are adjusted to suit the attitude of the customer". Anyway, it gave us all a little free time for other things, like talking to David and Sheila.

'Fucking hell, Gaz.'

'Take it or leave it,' I told him stony-faced.

'Yeah, alright.' He gave in reluctantly and left me gloating merrily.

I finished my work and turned in for what turned out to be a peaceful night. Nothing disturbed my sleep, neither sounds of others having fun nor the urge to do anything myself. It was one of those rare normal nights at Abbey Farm. But things were a little different in the morning. I was up reasonably early, thanks mainly to a good night's sleep, and found Rhys and Lottie already sitting at the breakfast table in bathrobes.

'Hope we didn't keep you awake,' Rhys remarked as I sat down.

'No, never heard a thing. But I can guess what it was I didn't hear.'

'I'm glad about that, but then Lottie's a bit quieter than Shannon.'

He smirked as he said it, and Lottie noticeably blushed.

'Yeah, okay. I don't need the details,' I told him.

'Good, because we're going back for some more when we've had this.'

He put his spoon down and turned to Lottie, who had just about finished her cereal.

'In fact, why don't you go and get back in bed ready. I need a word with my brother and I'll be with you. Take your coffee with you.'

Obediently Lottie picked up her coffee mug and quietly left the room, looking slightly ridiculous in her borrowed oversize robe.

'The silent submissive type, Rhys? Should suit you.'

He ignored the barb in my comment. 'She does. Good fuck too. Exactly like her sister. In fact like both her sisters.'

He leaned forward and rested his arms on the table, looking suddenly serious.

'I have to tell you that I'm not a happy bunny,' he began. 'I know that the job you've been given was going to be mine after I left the army, but just because you can't keep your fucking zip closed I've been left out and it's been given to you. I don't call that fair, do you?'

He looked at me as if waiting for an answer, but I wanted to know where the conversation was headed, for it was clearly not going to be to my benefit.

'Go on?'

He nodded and then continued. 'I also know that Ma doesn't trust you and neither does George, and I because of what I've overheard I know that your grip on this particular plum isn't as good as you'd like. So I figure it's only fair that I warn you of the way my mind's working. If I ever get cast iron proof of you doing anything you shouldn't, then our mother is going to be the first to hear about it, understand? I know you're shagging Angie, she as much said so. But then I've had her too, thanks to her laying it out for me that night, so that makes us even, but if I could prove it I'd have you out of here pronto.'

I understood.

'So I'm going to offer you a deal,' he began again, 'The deal I'm offering you is this. If you don't say anything to Ma about me, I won't say anything about you.'

I couldn't see the need for this conversation. What had either of us to gain from opening our mouths? 'Rhys, where are we going with this?'

'You've come up with this cock and bull story about a ghost to cover your arse, in case you're found out. Then if you are you can blame this so-called ghost for making you and Angie have it away together -- under some sort of hypnosis or something, and you just might get away with it. Now you know, and I know, that it's all a load of bollocks. But people might believe it from you, whereas everybody knows full well that I don't believe in ghosts.'

So that's what he thought was happening, a made up ghost used to cover up sexual shenanigans. As long as he didn't discover that it wasn't made up. A dim light was flickering in my head, but I still wasn't sure where he was leading.

'So?' I asked.

'Well, if anyone found out that I'd been into Angie's room they'd know it wasn't the result of some non-existent ghostly influence. It wouldn't go down to well with either our ma or her dad, and apart from that I don't want to find myself accused of rape, because Angie might try to cover her own back by claiming she didn't consent. But then again, as I said before, if Ma found out that you couldn't be trusted even around a college girl, I reckon you'd be looking for a new address pretty damn quick, ghost or no ghost, don't you?'

So that was it. A guilty conscience was troubling him along with the fear of being found out, not because of any genuine regret but because it might scupper his chances of harming my prospects. But what he said about what might happen if our mother found out was all too damn likely.

'You are a bastard, Rhys. Nobody is likely to say anything, not even Angie.'

'Then it's a good job she's not our sister yet, eh brother?' He smirked, relieved at what I'd said but still wanting to needle me.

The memory of a Celtic brother and sister resisting incest to the death came into my mind, making his flippancy annoy me even more. 'Fuck off Rhys. Go and screw your latest conquest.'

'Don't get uppity with me.' He warned as he rose and pushed his chair under the table. 'Think of what the tabloids would do with an anonymous tip off. 'Shamed teacher at it again' and all that! But, be warned, I don't take someone stealing my job lying down.'

I threw him the car keys and one final piece of advice. 'Don't forget to pick our mother up from the station. And whilst she's here, don't hear any voices calling in the night, will you? The media would love that too.'

It was a cheap shot and not really logical, but his face flamed and he stomped out, tossing the keys from one hand to the other.

At least I knew where I stood now with my younger brother. I couldn't really blame him for being angry at my getting what he considered, with some justification, to be his job, and I suppose I couldn't blame him for wanting to get it back. But now I really would have to watch my back around him, even more than before.

It wasn't long before first Willow and then Angie appeared, and I pushed the conversation with Rhys to one side as the morning reverted to nearly normal. I say nearly normal because, when I remarked that Rhys and Lottie were already awake, Angie rolled her eyes back into her head.

'Yes, I know. And energetic with it.'

Her words were to become ever more accurate over the next couple of hours as we were treated to Lottie calling out louder and louder in the midst of passion. Having only just heard Rhys tell me that she was quieter than her sister, I couldn't help but conclude that he had put her up to it, simply to irritate the rest of us. But whatever the reason we were forced to listen to an almost continuous barrage of noise as Lottie yelled 'harder', 'faster', 'don't stop' and similar things, at the top of her voice. Angie was all for going in to them with a bucket of cold water, but I managed to persuade her that such action would only confirm to Rhys that he'd succeeded in getting under our skin. Eventually, at a little after eleven, and when I was beginning to get concerned over time, Rhys and Lottie surfaced, dressed and ready to go.

'Have a good rest?' Angie asked, unable to resist at least one remark.

'Yes thanks,' Rhys told her, 'and you know, I think Lottie is even better in bed than Shannon. Best sex I've had for ages. I've come to the conclusion that you have to go and look for anything worthwhile. What you find left lying about under your nose isn't usually worth much.'

He glanced meaningfully at Angie. It was her turn to go red, but it was with anger rather than embarrassment, and so I grabbed her arm to prevent any impetuous action on her part as Rhys escorted Lottie down the stairs. I could see why she was angry, but remarks like that could lead to Lottie hearing more than was good for us out if Angie reacted to them.

'Right.' I told the girls, 'we've got about three hours, maybe a little more, so I'm going to ring June. Do you two want to get Ma's room prepared?'

I just wanted to check that June was ready and prepared for what was needed. The theory was that she would arrive after Ma and Rhys returned, and then flirt with Rhys as if bowled over by my soldier brother while Ma and I did our inspection. She was ready and waiting, all I needed to do was to give her a quick ring and she could be here in ten minutes.

Rhys was back a little later than we'd anticipated because Ma's train was late, much to my delight, but he bounded out of the car and opened the door for her with much ceremony and formality, escorting her into her new property with the biggest grin I'd seen for a long time.

'Ma's bags are in the car,' he told Willow expectantly.

'Oh, good,' She replied. 'I'll guard them for you while you finish toadying.'

I couldn't suppress a smile at Will's timely retort. She's not normally as feisty as Angie and I hadn't expected that from her. But then, we'd all got pretty fed up with him. Rhys frowned and swept on, guiding Ma up the stairs and into the makeshift living room, followed by the girls and myself.

'Right, let's have a look at you all,' said Ma, and we all lined up obediently like a troupe of Von Trapp children.

It was strange how Ma's presence instantly changed the atmosphere and the dynamics of our little group. She had arrived only minutes earlier, but it was immediately clear who was in charge and whose property this was. She gazed at us in turn, smiling at what she saw and then giving each of us a hug before moving on to the next.

'Well, I see you've survived on your own,' she told us, looking around at a none too tidy room, 'and by the way, I'll only be here until tomorrow lunchtime. George is coming then. He wants to have a look round the place but he can't stay over, so when he goes back I might as well go with him. Now will someone put the kettle on, we'll have a cup of tea before anything else.'

Without a word both Angie and Willow immediately disappeared into the kitchen to make the tea, beaming broadly at Ma's statement. As for me, well I was almost reeling from relief at not having to worry about her catching Angie and me on the altar. My head was spinning at the news. At least something was going our way. I'd need to tell June so that she could cancel Sheila and David who were due to call Sunday morning.

'I'll fetch your cases in, Ma,' Rhys volunteered, leaving me alone with my mother.

'Now, what's this about the place being haunted?' Ma asked, the moment Rhys was out of earshot.

Thanks Rhys. Talk about getting your story in first.

'Haunted?' I echoed, thinking on my feet.

'Yes. Rhys tells me that you think the abbey has ghosts. He says you've told him about being woken up in the night feeling strange, as if someone is influencing you. 'Messing with your head' I think he said.'

'I said nothing about any ghosts,' I told her. 'All I said was that the atmosphere was odd and I felt the history of the place bearing down on me a bit.'

I know that wasn't exactly accurate, but then neither was what Rhys had said. I knew what he was doing. He was laying the blame at my door for anything that might happen or be said while Ma was visiting. He was also leaving the way open for him to tell tales if he felt he needed to. What a bastard!

'You should know better,' Ma admonished me. 'Don't go letting the workmen hear that, we've got a local customer base to build up soon and there'll be all sorts of tales going around the neighbourhood before you know it.'

I bet there would. I could hear Rhys struggling, or pretending to struggle, up the stairs with the luggage, so I excused myself and went to help.

'What have you been telling Ma?' I asked him as we carried her cases into her bedroom.

'Nothing,' he answered, 'yet!'

'Just paving the way?'

'You could say that.'

'Why?'

'Don't you realise?' He looked at me grinning. 'This could be quite a good job for me, running this place when I leave the army. Then I'd be in pole position to take it over altogether eventually when Ma and George finally snuff it, especially if it didn't have to be divided between both of us.'

'You see,' he went on, 'it occurred to me that if you happen to have been sacked and disinherited because of scandal. Well, that's one less to share it with, when the time comes. Maybe two if George gets to hear about Angie.'

I stared open mouthed and dumbstruck. So that was it. Discredit me and/or Angie so that he could get his hands on the whole lot in years to come. Talk about thinking ahead. He really was the devious one. He was right, I didn't even come near.

'You bastard.'

'It's your own fault brother. You should keep it in your trousers.' He smiled again. 'You sowed the seeds with that assistant of yours, and so if our Ma should hear about you and Angie as well.... Just for now I'm accumulating facts for use whenever I might need them. I'm sure that whilst you're here you'll supply me a few more. I just need proof, undeniable cast iron proof.'

He walked out of Ma's room heading for the bathroom, so after a moment or so in which to collect my thoughts I headed back to the others. He'd understood and believed much more than he had let on and was planning to use it against us. Now we really must make the damn ceremony work. I phoned June again, knowing now that a lot more rested on her success than we ever dreamed. At least I was able to let her know that we only had Rhys to worry about, one good thing to help cancel out the bad.

The girls had already prepared our first meal together as a family, and while that was cooking and we all sat in the living room having a general chat about the place and how we were getting on. It wasn't a proper progress report, Ma would get that from me later, merely an informal conversation to bring her up to date on the way things were going and any problems we'd encountered living here. We couldn't mention our supernatural difficulties of course, but we did have a general moan about living in a building site. It was the first time we'd seen her for a while, and so it was also a chance to have a general family chat and catch up with home news, not that there was much.

June turned up just as the meal was ending and I had the pleasure in introducing her to my mother, and to Rhys who hadn't yet met her. She had been very, very clever in the way she was dressed. A quite formal blouse and skirt with a jacket over. That would impress Ma I knew, and the sheerness of the blouse showed of just enough of a hint of white bra below to awaken male interest. It was nothing much, but enough to reveal how good her figure was, and enough to spark attention and sidelong glances from Rhys. I pushed feelings of jealousy out of my mind and prepared to leave him and his libido to her not so tender mercies. All this meant that I didn't get the chance to tell either the girls or June about what Rhys had told me of his intentions, and so when Ma suggested that she and I take a wander around the grounds and buildings so that I could deliver my account they were still blissfully unaware of his scheming thoughts.

My mind was in a bit of a whirl as I escorted my mother around the yard. Part was still mulling over what Rhys had said, another part was hoping that June would manage to lure him out of the way for tomorrow night, and yet another was trying to concentrate on answering questions accurately and coherently. No wonder she had to ask me things more than once at times.

'Stop daydreaming Gareth, I need to know how we are progressing and I can't do that if you're miles away all the time.'

'Sorry Ma, it's what Rhys said that I was thinking about.'

'What, about you saying the abbey being haunted?'

'Yes. I know it's nonsense, but a little bit of me can't help but wonder if it might actually be true, and us ripping the place to bits might not trigger something.'