Cedar Hollow Read Online Free PDF Page B

too. She immediately jerked back as if she’d touched something scalding hot. Ben stiffened at the contact.
    “We start early around here.” Ben said standing from the table abruptly and carrying his empty plate to the sink. “Sure hope you packed some pants.” He muttered with his back to her as he washed and dried his dishes.
    Cassidy watched as he put away his dishes and then left the kitchen without another word, retreating up the same steps that Mrs. Owens had used.
    She finished her dinner alone and then washed and dried her dishes putting them away just as she had seen Ben do. She hesitated at the threshold of the kitchen. She looked out into the murky foyer and then back at the kitchen stairs. She went through a quick mental debate and then sucked up her courage and sprinted through the dark room and up the front steps, only slowing to a walk once she reached the hall just outside her door. The small table lamp was still lit casting the only illumination on the second floor. She tried to look toward the left wing but all she could see was darkness. She suddenly felt as if she was being watched.
    Quickly she entered her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it and breathing a sigh of relief. This house was seriously getting to her and she had no idea why. She dragged the desk chair back over to the door and propped it under the handle again, for no other reason than it made her feel better.
    She changed out of her clothes and slipped on her satin nightgown. She let down her long hair and brushed it out, enjoying the feel of the bristles against her tender scalp. She brushed her teeth and washed the make-up from her face, feeling more at ease as she went through her nightly routines.
    By the time she’d climbed into bed she felt absolutely silly for having run up the stairs. She’d never been scared of the dark before, not even as a small child. There was no reason for her to start now.
    She tried to slow her thoughts and fall asleep but her mind was racing with everything that had happened. The meeting with Mr. Woodard, the revelations about her uncle’s strange stipulations for inheriting the house, the overwhelming responsibility that came with those stipulations, and Ben Riley. She was dumbfounded by the undeniable attraction she felt for this man who obviously hated her.
    As she lay in bed thinking about his scalding green eyes she heard his heavy footsteps coming down the hallway toward her room. She held her breath and listened. The footsteps got closer, then the light that was coming from under the door went dark and the footsteps receded. Cassidy began breathing again and tried in vain to slow her pounding heart.

The Chosen One watched and waited. The time was coming to finish what had been started. Then everything would be right again. It must be done.

Cha pter Four
    Three loud thuds woke her from a restless sleep. Surely she was dreaming, it couldn’t be time to get up already. It still looked dark outside.
    “Miss St. Claire, breakfast.” Ben’s gruff voice came from the other side of the door then she heard his distinctive footsteps stomping away down the hall.
    She sat up groggily rubbing her eyes. This must be some sort of joke, she thought irritably as she looked at the bedside clock and saw that it was only 4:30 in the morning. She stumbled from bed and pulled the curtains to confirm that the sun still hadn’t risen. She knew what he was doing, trying to get her to admit that she couldn’t keep up with him, couldn’t carry her own weight. Well she’d show him she wouldn’t give up that easily.
    She quickly rinsed her face and brushed her teeth, effectively waking herself up. Then she rummaged through her bag looking for something to wear. Ben’s mumbled words from the night before rang in her head “hope you packed some pants.” Of course she hadn’t packed any jeans, not for a weekend business trip. But she did have a pair of black slacks and she supposed those