The Winter Guest *Complete*

Chapter 4



I woke early and the red numbers on the alarm clock told me I could still get some sleep. But I felt restless and decided that a long walk with Toby would be a good thing. To get my thoughts together, it had been a busy week and the sleepless nights weren’t really helping. I slipped into an old sports trousers and a comfy sweater and headed for the woods near my hotel as Toby followed me happily wagging his tail. I loved to be up this early. The mist told me it was going to be another warm day and the silence around me calmed me down instantly. In the middle of the dense forest, it had took me some time before I had explored all parts and it really was a place to get lost, was a small creek. With Toby chasing birds and digging holes I settled myself on a dry patch of grass, letting the first ray of sun trickle on my face. I closed my eyes. Sitting like this I realised that my life was pretty good.



The breaking of a twig shattered the utter silence. My eyes flew open and I scanned the forest behind me. My heart immediately started racing as I told myself to calm down. It was a forest for God’s sake. Animals live there. But uneasiness crept in me and I whistled for Toby. Where was that big dangerous dog when you needed him? He jumped out of a nearby bush completely covered in mud. As I walked back the uneasy feeling still hadn’t left me. And as I walked back on the path leading towards the hotel, I swore I saw a peace of coat behind a tree. Breathing faster I doubled my pace. I hated myself for being so jumpy but my past prohibited me to ignore my senses. Almost running now and looking behind me I completely missed the ditch right in front of me. As I felt my knees give way under me I heard footsteps nearby. It was like my mind was enclosed in a small room, everything went black and I gasped for air. I was trapped, trapped like I had been in that office in London, I felt tears running down my face but couldn’t talk.



Toby’s bark was like a switch turned in my head. I opened my eyes and wanted to scream: there was a man bending over me.

“ Si’l te plait, laisse-moi, si’l te plait, je n’ai fait rien.” I pleaded him to let me go. But when I recognised the voice and as my eyes focused again I saw it was not the face of a savage French man looking at me, but the startled face of Alan.



“ Are you ok? You fell and then…. what happened? Are you hurt? You’ve been crying, what is it? “



I swallowed back more tears and tried to get up. I hopelessly failed and as Alan grabbed my arms pulling me down again I leaned against him. His masculine smell was soothing. “ I guess I… just panicked.” My voice didn’t sound like mine but it was me. Alan put his arms around me and I felt so safe. I wiped the tears from my face and felt my heart rate getting normal again. “Let’s get back home.” I nearly whispered hoping he didn’t hear it so we could sit here for ever. But he did hear it and he helped me to my feet. Toby was looking from me to Alan thinking this was all a big game.



Walking back I felt terribly ashamed, what was he thinking of me? We didn’t speak but he followed me right to my room.



“It’s ok, I’m ok now, it’s nothing, I’ll be fine.” I started making excuses as I entered my room. He did not however stay behind politely but entered with me and looked at me severely.



“You need some English tea, my mother used to make some for me if I was….scared, I think you need some.” I was too tired to object. He found his away around my kitchen and I sat in the comfy chair on the balcony.

He found me there, with my legs pulled up, and handed me the mug of hot tea. Toby settled at my feet. Alan walked round and he smiled as he saw his own balcony.

He pulled up a chair and his knees nearly touched my toes.



“You want to tell me what that was all about Kate?”











(It's not as long as I wanted it to be, but I should be studying for my tests, there will be more soon, thx for the reviews so far!!)