As she made her way back along the track, which was supposed to be the road, Mary glanced casually to the left. What caused her to do so at this particular moment she would ask herself later but at this moment she just perceived it as part of the walking experience.

She noticed a tiny stone cottage which looked about 100 years old and which had vines growing over it and trees overhanging to such an extent it was barely discernible, it was at this point she felt a cold chill unexplainable by the weather conditions and a dark cloud must have been passing overhead as the light of day quite unexpectedly dimmed. She had not noticed this cottage before and wondered how she had come to notice it now.

She quickened her pace wishing to be free of the feeling of foreboding which took hold of her. She had always felt comfortable being alone in the countryside and had not experienced one second of fear but now unexpectedly she felt afraid, why?

She took one last look behind her as she drew clear of the place and an icy hand seemed to clutch at her heart, she was sure she could see some ghostly figures there watching her from behind windows and outside behind trees. So many people from one little cottage, no, she just couldn’t believe it, it must be her imagination, but why and why just here?

Then she heard the soft hoot of an owl but it was still daylight and the yowl of a dog which was then joined by other dogs in a soulful lament. She shuddered. There was no-one else around for miles and all the farm houses were set well back from the road with their own tracks leading to their front doors and these tracks were very long indeed.

All she could do was continue on her way and not look back, hoping no-one would follow her.

Her speed picked up fast despite the fact that she was finding the journey back longer than the journey forward, not realizing her pace would slacken through tiredness and she’d need to remember that next time she took a walk allowing more time for the return journey than the one forward.

The rest of her walk passed uneventfully despite her thumping heart and the fearful emotions she was experiencing and when her own cottage was in sight she breathed a sigh of relief, and was quite convinced that everything she’d experienced was just a figment of her imagination.

When she went inside she made sure all doors and windows were secured, curtains drawn so no-one could see in, things she had not been concerned about before.

It was still fairly early in the afternoon and despite her tiring walk Mary wanted to communicate her concerns with another human being. She need to communicate. Her best friend, despite friendly neighbours seemed to be Betty and she’d go to the milk bar for a late afternoon tea. She went off in a hurry as she must make sure she was home before dark, she’d had enough anxiety and concern for one day, she didn’t want anymore.

Betty was so pleased to see her and everything there seemed so normal but still she could not shake off those frightening emotions.

This time Mary wanted something hot and ordered hot chocolate and hot scones with jam and cream which Betty put down for her almost straight away. Mary still wondered at the efficiency these places demonstrated where nothing seemed to be too much trouble.

When she’d finished her scones and was still sipping on the hot chocolate which she’d asked to be piping hot and it certainly was Betty joined her, chatting on in her bright way as usual.

When her conversation slowed Mary seized the opportunity to question her about her earlier experience, feeling yet again the gripping fear which seemed to envelop her body.

She noticed Betty’s face turning a little pale and her hand going up to lie across her chest and towards her neck, even her breathing started to slow. This increased Mary’s fears once more and she looked at Betty strangely neither uttering a word.

After some few minutes Betty broke the silence, “ I wouldn’t go up there again on your own Mary, it is not safe”

Mary felt the colour drain from her face but just as she was on the point of seeking more information Betty had to get up to attend to other customers.

Mary finished her chocolate quickly and paid on her way out, as she did so Betty squeezed her hand and said in a low voice, so as not to be heard by others, “We’ll talk again next time.” “Take care and remember what I said”

It was a fearful and puzzled Mary who returned home, quickly locking up for the night and putting the lights on. Previously she had thought nothing of sitting in the dark alone from time to time, enjoying the solitude of her own company.

She was now very restless and switched on the TV at least feeling then that she had some company, the luxury of a fearful existence which she’d had since moving here was not to be hers ever again.

The holiday away from fear was over.

The next morning she took herself off the way she had done when she had come back with such aching muscles. She figured that by now she had done such a lot of walking her legs would be better able to withstand it.

It was not long before she arrived at the park where she had seen the artists but they did not seem to be there to-day, but as she walked along the water’s edge the ducks came quacking and started to follow her. She sat down on the grass and threw bread for them, there was the expected cacophony of quacking and other birds flew down as well, anxious for their share and even walking all over Mary’s feet, she loved it, their little feet were just so soft and it was like having some acupressure of the slightest possible kind on her feet. It was very relaxing but it was not long before they forgot her in favour of the breadcrumbs.

A big black dog came bounding over, his tongue hanging out as he ran and he plunged into the water coming back with a stick held firmly in his mouth and bounding over to his owner to play yet another game.

It was such a lovely park and Mary got up again to walk along its banks soon coming to the little bridge where she had seen the artists.

Once again the mysterious other side caught her eye with its dark recesses and thick tree growth.

She promised herself she would go there one day but not to-day she had too much on her mind from yesterday’s scare.

So to-day she was content to stay with the familiar and made her way back home.

When she got home just in time for lunch she found Jeff there who was busy clearing up the front garden. It was so nice to see a familiar face.

He greeted her warmly and explained what he was doing, Mary didn’t mind she had no gardening experience of her own but they both agreed that when he’d finally cleared it up she should have some say in the choice of flowers and shrubs and he assured her that with just a bit of attention some of the old garden would bloom again.

She longed to share with him yesterday’s experiences but he said he would not be there much longer but would return again shortly to do a bit more.

Mary went back into the cottage, disappointed, but there would come a suitable time and then she would try to find out more about the strange threatening little stone cottage she had discovered which had had such a threatening effect on her. She must accept that she would have to be patient.

She wished her father were still alive, he was not at all inspirational but was a brave man and would know just what to do to check out the place and find out what was going on. Something must be judging by Betty’s reaction.

It would have been nice to once again experience the joy of the last few weeks but now she was fearful and her confidence was fading fast, just as it had been developing so well. She sighed and went about preparing her lunch, which was simple and she took it outside to have it at a table she’d found just outside the back door. It wasn’t very comfortable but it was lovely to be outside and enjoy the weather before the cold of winter set in.

It was a disheartened young woman who went to the village mainly to try to catch Betty but as she went past she saw that the place was crowded and there’d be no chance of any talk to-day.

Passing by the baker’s she went in and bought herself some garlic bread which would be a nice accompaniment to her tea.

She strolled around a bit more and went down a side alley, noticing that most of the shops there were closed but she had the distinct feeling something was going on behind those locked doors and she heard various odd sounds coming out through windows and doors as she passed. She shook herself, what she was doing was suffering from an overly ripe imagination after yesterday’s odd experience.

She came across another little park, just barely bigger than a couple of allotments but there was nobody there so she didn’t stay. It was not long before she found herself wending her way back home and with plenty of food provisions in the house she decided she needed something to do and she could, at least, make herself a nice meal.

She’d found some recipes with good illustrations on the internet and she brightened up at the prospects of preparing herself a nice meal. Food does more than simply provide sustenance.

If you’d like to read the first short story relating to Mary’s life excursions go to

http://hubpages.com/hub/LIFE-EXCURSIONS--WITH-MARY--selected-short-stories

and if you'd like to read the one preceding this, go to

http://hubpages.com/hub/The-secret-garden-in-the-life-excursions-of-Mary

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