Abediah was maintaining her routine. That was the thing. Just keep on going and everything will come right.
She had called Frank last night. He hadn't answered his phone. Although it was unusual for her to call her husband when he was in the city, he would always usually pick up if she did. The fact that the phone had rung out each of the three times she had called was disconcerting.
She had been worrying about it last night, when she was supposed to be reading her book, and she had realised that she didn't even know where he stayed. It had been years since they'd discussed his visits to the city. She had no idea who he saw, which hotel he stayed in, nothing!She was starting to feel a bit silly now. How was it possible she didn't even have an emergency number to call him on? But then, that's why they had bought the cell phones.
She decided to set on and clean the water butts. It wasn't a job that needed doing today, but it would keep her occupied. After an hour she had trouble straightening back up again. She hobbled to the pipe and began rinsing the butts. After a few more minutes of swilling and scrubbing she straightened again and began filling the metal tanks with fresh water. Her hand tucked into her waist and her back screaming at her in anger at this sudden use of these muscles. She waited while the water rose. She tidied the pipe away, returned everything to it's rightful spot and headed inside.
Ten minutes later she was standing under the heat of the shower. Hot water pouring down her back easing her old muscles and pushing heat into her ice cold toes and fingertips. Once she was feeling better she stepped out of the shower, dried off and applied some ibuprofen cream to her back. She dressed and headed back down the stairs, taking a few ibuprofen pills for good measure, as she passed the French dresser in the hall.
She picked up her phone from it's spot on the kitchen counter. The screen was still empty. No missed calls. No messages. Nothing.
Where on earth was her husband?!
YOU ARE READING
Abediah Thornton
Mystery / ThrillerFor Abediah most days are the same. Get up, check the animals, feed everyone, fill the water and hay, muck out, maybe take her horse for a walk. It's repetitive and mundane but it's the life she chose and she likes it quiet. But one day her husband...
