Chapter Twenty Six

An exhausted Daniel gets some devastating family news

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Daniel Cooper had been awake for more than twenty-four hours. Yesterday had been a very long day.

A new farm park had just opened it's doors on the outskirts of the Yewell Valley. It was not, however, one of Sir Dickie Dixon's many schemes by which he tried to ingratiate himself with the local populace. An enterprising farmer had opened his gates to offer the public a hands on farming experience. Visitors could stay in a renovated barn or just have an activity day.

Daniel enjoyed his job as events and entertainment correspondent. There was always somewhere new to go and plenty of new experiences too. He just wished he still had someone to share them with.

It had been fun learning to drive a tractor and herding sheep, but rather exhausting. And then there had been Jennifer. He took off his shoes and stretched out on the bed, falling asleep almost immediately.

Daniel found himself standing atop a craggy peak, so high, it's base was shrouded in mist. It swirled round about him, smothering the view. He was searching for something, or someone; he could recall neither what nor whom. There were voices somewhere off to his left, female voices, getting closer. Two shadows emerged out of the mist, becoming fully formed, then melting away. Two girls; his sister Robyn and Emily, his soulmate.

“Danny, where are you?” she hailed him.

He tried to warn them, “stay where you are. Don't go near the edge!” But he had no voice with which to call.

Everything fell silent. The mist thinned a little but the girls were gone.

“Daniel!” It was Emily's voice, panicky, terror stricken. He edged towards the sound, one careful step at a time until he saw Emily lying on the hard ground, reaching over the edge. Robyn had fallen, was clinging to the very edge of the cliff-face. He reached out, caught her fingers, struggling to obtain a firmer grasp. But he could not hold her. Robyn fell. Horrified Daniel watched his twin sister becoming smaller and smaller. He felt something release deep within him; Robyn was gone.

Daniel woke suddenly, in a cold sweat certain that his twin sister was in trouble. It had always been so; ever since they were tiny, when either of them was hurt or ill the other would know. Twins often share a special bond. But as they had grown these feelings had lessened to more of a second sense. Not until Robyn had enlisted in the army had they returned more acutely for Daniel, especially so when his sister was posted overseas.

Reaching for his phone �" had he only slept for an hour/ �" he speed-dialled Robyn, heard it ring some half dozen times before the voice-mail kicked in.....this is Robyn..... Daniel hung up.

'Stay calm' he ordered himself, 'she's just busy and can't answer, or asleep'. He typed a text, in capitals, ' RING ME', added a worried emoji.

Daniel lay back down, but he was too restless for sleep now. He still gripped the phone, flipped it open, dialled his mother. Again it rang and rang before switching to voice-mail. Starting to worry more, he tried his father; third time lucky. Mr Cooper answered almost before it rang.

“What's happened?” Daniel almost shouted before his father had said hello.

“It's bad Dan” Philip Cooper's voice was tense. “Robyn's transport hit an IED.”

Daniel gripped his phone tightly. “Was anyone killed?” He held his breath for several heartbeats, awaiting his father's reply.

“She's alive” his father told him, “but you already know that, don't you? You feel her?” Philip knew the special bond his offspring shared. He respected that.

“Robbie's in pain in her legs”. Daniel knew it for certain; he rubbed his left leg where it had begun to throb.

“They think she may lose her left leg below the knee.” Philip Choked, pausing to steady himself. “They are flying her home.”

“They can do that?” Daniel asked anxiously. “She's stable?”

“Flying in tonight” his father confirmed.

Listening on speaker-phone Daniel was already preparing to leave.

He reached under the bed where he had kicked off his shoes. “I'm on y way, Dad. Try not to worry. Robyn is strong; I know she'll get through this.”

Having retrieved his footwear, Daniel ended the call, grabbing car keys and overnight bag on the way to the door. The bag was always ready of overnight assignments, though the camera and Dictaphone would be surplus to requirements this time.

Heading out he nearly collided with Emily on her way to the front door. He pushed past her, opened the rear door of the car and tossed in his bag. Emily joined him, clutched at his arm, he turned towards her in a daze.

“Danny? Danny, I'm so sorry!”

She was prepared to plead, to beg, if only he'd forgive her for distrusting him. But Daniel just placed a finger on her lips, looking worse than he had earlier on at the library.

“I've got to go. Robyn....” He broke off, looked into the distance, avoided looking at her.

Emily watched him get into the Lotus and race out of Richmond Street, leaving her alone. Was he running from her?

The roller-coaster of emotions plummeted, taking Emily's heart along for the ride. Had she lost Daniel for good? Was it too late? She loved him deeply, she could not deny it. Emily wiped away tears with her sleeve; how Aunt Jen would have scolded!

Thinking of her aunt brought a shudder of grief that threatened to crumple her where she stood. Stumbling across the road and into Jennifer bungalow Emily collapsed onto the sofa and wept despairingly for her aunt and for her lost love.

When her phone rang she scrabbled frantically in her bag, hoping against hope, sure that it was Daniel/. She had just been thinking of him, and he was calling her. They were soulmates. But the caller ID told Emily that it was her sister, Cassandra, calling.

“Where are you?” Cassandra didn't even bother to say hello.

“I stopped at the bungalow on my way home from the hospital” Emily answered wearily. “This isn't a good time, Cass. Can I call you later?” She did not feel up to dealing with her sister right now.

“Hospital? Never mind.” Cassandra dismissed that thought. “I need you, Em!” She whined. “I'm outside your place. I've left Christopher!”