Flight of the Jabiru Read Free Page B

You use your former rank as a military officer to intimidate everyone around you. You are just a little man with an over-inflated sense of self-worth. Thankfully, Harrison is nothing like you.”
    Lord Hornsby’s eyes narrowed with malice and his fists clenched at his sides. He looked about to erupt and Lara was more than aware that they were the only three people in the stables. She didn’t regret her words: he deserved them, but she couldn’t help feeling terribly afraid. She had no idea of what he was capable.
    Anticipating that this arrogant man was going to come towards her again, perhaps to attack her, she sidestepped so that she was standing in the open gateway of the stall, where she could make a hasty retreat if she had to. As predicted, Lord Hornsby took a step in her direction, shaking his fist at her in outrage.
    Suddenly, the handle of a rake flew out of the hay lying on the floor of the stall, striking him full force in the face, and knocking him off balance. Instantly, he fell backwards, hitting his head on a bucket left alongside the stall wall. He lay still. She noticed a trickle of blood running from his mouth. Lara’s eyes widened in shock. Did the fall kill him?
    Lara could not believe what had happened. She glanced from Lord Hornsby’s body to the rake. It must been hidden in the hay on the floor and obviously he’d trodden hard on the head, causing the handle to fly up and hit him in the face.
    Harrison looked at his father and then at Lara with a blank expression.
    Lara pulled herself together. “Lord Hornsby,” she cried in panic and knelt beside him. Examining him, she found a pulse and sighed with relief. She moved him so that his head was no longer at an odd angle, and then turned his head to the side and opened his mouth. Blood ran out, along with his front tooth and she gasped. The back of his head wasn’t bleeding, fortunately, but a lump had already formed and it was growing bigger by the second.
    â€œIs my father ... dead?” Harrison whimpered.
    â€œNo,” Lara said, standing. “He’s going to be all right, but he needs a doctor. And you need one too. I’m going to fetch help.”
    â€œDon’t leave us,” Harrison cried pitifully.
    The boy’s features were always pale, but Lara thought Harrison was unusually pasty. “Be brave, Harrison,” she said. “Watch your father while I go and get him help.”
    â€œBut what shall I do if he wakes up?”
    â€œNothing. Just keep him still if he tries to move. I won’t be long, I promise.”
    Within an hour, Lord Hornsby was in the White Lodge Emergency Hospital on Exning Road, Newmarket, and had been medically assessed and put in a room for observation in case he had concussion. Lara got a glimpse of him from outside his room as nurses went in to attend him. She could hear him barking orders at them, so they were flustered and red faced when they reappeared. His face was bruised and his lip was swollen. She dreaded to think about how furious he must be about his missing front tooth.
    â€œMay I see Lord Hornsby?” Lara asked the nursing sister meekly.
    â€œHe won’t see anyone, miss. He wouldn’t even allow his wife in the room when she came to collect their son,” the sister said. She looked at Lara as if she was quite mad for wanting to spend any time with him.
    â€œI have something for him,” Lara said, producing her handkerchief, which was neatly folded.
    The nursing sister looked at the handkerchief. “He won’t need that,” she said confused.
    Lara unfolded the handkerchief carefully and the sister glanced at what was inside. Just for a second her lips moved upwards in the merest of a cheeky smile, but then her face was a mask of professionalism again. She picked up the tooth. “I’ll see he gets this,” she said.
    â€œThank you,” Lara said, and left.
    Lara went home, where she found her