Lost Souls

6

The Rusk family stood with their backs to the Manor House. The sun was blazing down on them and warm clothing had been shed and replaced with t-shirts and shorts for Mr. Rusk and Alex, and summer dresses for Mrs. Rusk and the girls.

​"So!" their father said, looking over the large grassy fields, filled with daisies and bright purple heather before him. "Are we all going in the same direction, or will we all shoot of in various ways, and see who finds the hidden treasure?"

​Alex scoffed. "Yeah I'm going to fall for that one."

​Mr. Rusk grabbed his son's neck and pretended to choke him. "I wouldn't have expected my brilliant son to fall for any such nonsense," he joked as he shook Alex gently to and fro.

​Katie laughed. "Harder dad," she teased.

​Despite being held firmly, Alex tried to lash out at his sister.

​"Missed!" Katie giggled as she jumped out of the way.

​Amber came and stood beside Katie and once more took hold of her hand. "I want to go with Katie daddy please," she offered almost pleadingly.

​Mr. Rusk released the struggling Alex, and gave him a playful kick on his bottom as he moved away. "That's fine honey," he replied. "You can go with whoever you want to. Alex are you going with them or coming with us?"

​Alex scuffed his right training shoe across the gravel driveway he was standing on, "I'd rather explore on my own in case you try to throttle me again," he mumbled huffily.

​"Up to you kid," his father replied, trying not to laugh. Just don't get lost, or do anything stupid."

​Alex reddened, and Katie saw her chance to have a dig back at him for a change.

"Yeah, like when you got stuck down the well in Cornwall last year, or maybe even better, when you fell over the step at the cinema last week and dropped all our drinks."

​"I was tripped!" Alex shouted indignantly.

​"Who by? The tooth fairy," Katie teased.

​"Dad, tell her," Alex groaned.

​"That's enough Katie," Mr. Rusk said half-heartedly, knowing Katie rarely got the upper hand over Alex in any teasing contest. "Come on, everyone on their way before we spend all day arguing. Let's give it a couple of hours, and then meet back in the kitchen to tell what we've found out."

​Katie smiled gleefully at Alex as she and Amber headed off in the direction of a small wall they'd seen earlier. Alex stuck his tongue out childishly and stomped off in the opposite direction.

​Mr. Rusk watched his children head off, and couldn't help shaking his head ruefully. They were as different as chalk and cheese, and although this caused many an argument, he wouldn't have it any other way. As they grew smaller in the distance, Michael Rusk turned to his wife. "Well Grace, it's just us then."

​Grace Rusk lovingly took hold of his hand, stood on her tip toes to plant a lingering kiss on his lips. "I wonder if we'll find any comfy haystacks on our travels?" she said coyly.

​"Here's hoping," her husband replied, as he cuddled her close, and then hand in hand led her away to find the quiet secluded place they both hoped for.


Katie and Amber soon found themselves standing outside a large barn, which had several smaller outbuildings surrounding it. The brickwork looked ancient, and in places holes could be seen in the roof. Dirty looking green moss and an array of old and new bird feathers littered the worst holes and in places the roof dipped dangerously, suggesting it wouldn't be long before parts of the building caved in.  Dotted around the buildings, seemingly without a care, and clearly used to human association stood a few sheep, who grazed hungrily, occasionally glancing up at Katie and Amber with blank dark eyes. Close by a couple of chickens were wandering around the foot of the buildings searching hard for something to eat.