Read The Dust: Book Two - Pursuit for Free Online Page B

Archie around the back of the head. ‘What was this place called again?’
    ‘Wisteria Hall.’ Harry James answered.
    Lonny nodded. ‘I could live in a place like this.’ He opened the door and jumped out of the cab. ‘Let’s knock the door and find out who's at home.’
    The three amigos stood and waited at the large wooden front door as Lonny thumped it three times. A minute passed and Lonny thumped it twice more.
    ‘Let’s kick it down.’ Archie was fidgeting chomping at the bit.
    Lonny looked at the young ragamuffin, he reminded him of himself a little bit at the same age, maybe he had more brains than Archie but the drive was definitely the same.
    ‘I can hear footsteps.’ Harry James moved his head a little closer to the door.
    Archie sighed, he was looking forward to a bit of action but that now looked doubtful.
    ‘Who is it?’ A woman’s voice shouted from the other side of the door.
    Lonny’s face lit up, another female. ‘We were wondering if you would be so kind to help us.’ He put on a softer accent, nearly sounding meek and mild.
    The door clinked and clunked and opened slowly. ‘How can we help?’
    We Lonny thought to himself, how many were there?
    ‘We need some food and water for our survivors.’ Harry James stepped forward.
    Lonny looked at him with surprise. ‘Thank you Harry, would it be possible if some of our women use your toilet, freshen up and maybe take in a little water?’
    Janet Rossiter looked at the three faces standing in front of her, she was unsure about them especially the older one with his teardrop tattoos. If there were women to look after though that was a different thing. ‘How many women?’
    ‘Archie, let the girls out.’ Lonny sent the young lad back to open the truck up. ‘About fifteen of them I think.’ He looked back up to Janet who was standing on the doorstep.
    ‘Okay please follow me.’ Janet then turned and walked back down the hallway shoes clicking on the polished floor.
    Lonny followed closely and then came Harry James, Archie and the bedraggled posse of female survivors shuffled along bringing up the rear. They eventually congregated in the field just in front of the big barn, Janet told them to stay put whilst she went in search for her brother.
    ‘What’s happening Iris?’ Hannah looked around at the open fields and took in the fresh air, it had been a long time since she had been in the countryside.
    ‘I don’t know my lovely girl but I like where we have ended up.’ Iris caught her reflection in the orangery glass, they did look a pathetic bunch.
    ‘I sure hope this is our new camp.’ The Mediterranean woman with the Geordie accent walked over to talk to Iris.
    ‘Don’t bank on that.’ Iris smiled. ‘By the way what’s your name?’
    ‘Sarah, Sarah Hardcastle.’ She fiddled with her dress sleeve. ‘And yours?’
    ‘Iris O’Neil.’ She gently shook Sarah’s hand. ‘Well Sarah the one thing I do hope is that we can have something to drink and eat. Poor Hannah here hasn’t eaten for two days.’
    The conversation was interrupted when Janet returned with her brother Charles Rossiter and her nephew Henry.
    Lonny Gold walked over and held out his hand. ‘Hello sir, nice to meet you.’
    Charles Rossiter shook Gold’s hand but quickly made a judgement on the man in front of him. The gold rings, the tear drops etched on his skin and the greasy curly hair. This didn’t quite add up to someone doing a charitable deed such as rescuing women from the streets. ‘What do you want?’ He said coldly.
    ‘Something to drink and eat if we could please squire.’ Lonny looked over Rossiter’s shoulder to the kitchen window and the array of fresh vegetables piled high on the Belfast sink.
    Rossiter looked over at the group of women, they did look a rum bunch. ‘Well some water and some sandwiches I can offer but then I must ask you to be on your way, things around here aren’t what they used to be.’
    ‘Of course sir, that’s