“Yes.” Cassie’s breathing was morphing into sobs.
“You think someone did it deliberately? The wires couldn’t just have snapped?”
“They were cut. And the engine wouldn’t even turn over. The only sound was the click of the key.”
Ryan shook his head.
“That’s unacceptable. Do you want to report it? We probably should.”
That mention of police again. Cassie felt nervous.
“I doubt they could do anything and I have no proof.”
Cassie didn’t want to tell him that she feared her ex-employer might be behind this. It would complicate the situation and might cause Ryan to mistrust her. Even so, Ryan had to know everything that had happened.
“Then, when I was walking back, a driver behind me swerved into my path and almost hit me. I jumped aside just in time. The tire marks were on the grass. I scratched myself on the hedge.”
“Cassie, this is terrible. I’m so sorry.”
Ryan enfolded her in his arms, holding her close.
“I feel personally responsible. I feel like we—our community—should have done better for you.”
“Don’t worry, Ryan.”
His words sounded so heartfelt that Cassie found herself laughing even though she was tearful.
“It definitely wasn’t your fault!”
“All the same, I can help to make amends. I’m going to call our local mechanic, Dave Sidley, who runs Dave’s Auto Repairs. He can tow your car to his workshop and get it fixed. I’ll ask him to ensure it’s in perfect working order. That, at least, we can do immediately. I’ll get on the phone to him straight away. Give me your keys.”
Cassie handed them to him.
“As regards the swerving incident, it is very common. Drivers unfamiliar with this area don’t understand how narrow our roads are. A moment of distraction and you’re in the hedge. I can’t tell you how often it happens. So don’t worry about that. I am sure that’s what it was. You shouldn’t have walked back. Why didn’t you call me?”
“My phone was about to die, so I left it here.”
Ryan sighed, gently releasing her from his arms.
“Of course. That damned storm. Power was restored half an hour ago so we’re up and running again now.”
He stared at her, his face serious.
“Cassie, please don’t be scared. I can see how upset you are. I will look after you, I promise. I will not let anything like this happen to you again. Not while you are here, with my family, in my home and under my care.”
Cassie was reassured by his words, and by his calm analysis of the situation, which made her feel less vulnerable. Perhaps the swerving had been accidental after all.
She remembered the reason for her outing and handed him the bag.
“They didn’t have traps. They were only getting stock this week, so I bought poison.”
“Oh, dear. It will be better to wait for new stock. I don’t like using poison as it can affect the entire food chain. We can exchange it for traps during the week. Now, you’d better get yourself ready. We’ve got a play to attend.”
Cassie rushed inside to get changed, and as soon as she was dressed, the family was ready to leave.
Ryan was uncharacteristically quiet on the drive to the theater, and Cassie wondered if he was nervous. Both the children had important roles, and it was the first time they were participating in something like this.
When they arrived, Ryan headed around to the back of the theater, where the backstage entrance was.
“If everyone gets out here, I’ll go and park. Cassie, do you want to go in with the kids, in case they need help?”
Cassie noticed that Madison was looking pale, and had been much less talkative than usual on the drive. She suspected the young girl was having last-minute nerves about appearing on stage, and decided to go in with her.
“I’ll catch up with you in the foyer,” she said to Ryan.
When they arrived at the dressing room, she was greeted by a harassed-looking teacher.
“Our makeup artist is running behind. Would you be able to give us a hand?”
“Sure,” Cassie agreed. “I don’t have much experience in stage makeup, so tell me what you need.”
“The brighter, the better. Go overboard,” the teacher encouraged her.
Dylan sat down on the chair in front of the mirror, and she thought it was the first time she’d seen him look unsure.
“You’ll be fine,” Cassie reassured him. “Let’s think about what a factory worker would look like and I’ll do my best.”
Madison stood quietly, offering no suggestions, which troubled Cassie even more. She’d been sure that Madison would have plenty to say.
“Dirty. Dusty,” Dylan ventured.
“OK, so we’ll make a big dirty mark on your cheek. And how about your hair? We can gel it to make it look wild.”
“Hey, I also want a tattoo,” Dylan said, and Cassie saw Madison give the tiniest smile before relapsing into seriousness.
“I’ll draw a tattoo on your neck,” she said.
After she’d accentuated his eyes and cheeks, and created a realistic-looking smudge, Cassie drew a tattoo with eyebrow pencil. Then she mixed gel with water and spiked up his hair.
“Hey, I look really cool,” Dylan said delightedly. He seemed to have forgotten his nerves. “Thank you, Cassie.”
“I’d hire you in my factory if I had one. Now you’d better hurry and get dressed. Maddie, it’s your turn. What do you want to look like?”
Madison sat down but she shrugged, refusing to look at herself in the mirror.
“Freckles, maybe? Do you want curls?” Cassie suggested, feeling more and more anxious.
Madison shook her head.
“What’s the matter?” Cassie asked gently, staring at Madison’s reflection in the brightly lit glass.
“I don’t want to be in the play,” Madison said, and burst into tears.
“Madison!”
Horrified, Cassie grabbed a handful of Kleenex from the box in the makeup kit.
“Maddie, why not?”
Madison shook her head without answering, and Cassie guessed it could only be nerves. Hastily she tried to distract her from them and allay her fears.
“Remember how you enjoyed rehearsals, and how you couldn’t stop talking about how much fun it was? You know all your lines perfectly and if you forget, your drama
