See with Your Ears

By Jennie Lea

Mary has survived her devastating injuries, but it has come at a cost, and with the news that shes going to be a mother, she has to overcome her disabilities. She cant do this alone, and she finds unlikely allies in both Finn and Ryley. But can Finn be forgiven for the crimes he committed?

Not a single member of the family has been left unscathed by the events of that fateful day. And as the story unfolds, you are taken on a journey of self-discovery, and nothing is what you believe it to be. The bond between Mary and Ashling is strengthened through their discoveries, as they move into pending parenthood and adulthood.

When Mary wakes up in a prison cell, she has no idea where she is or how she gets there. Nothing is familiar or feels right. But she must choose her fate, knowing the repercussions of her choice. Will she be able to endure the horrific torture so she can maintain her dignity and take it to her grave?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Apr 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543407259

Jennie Lea

Jennie Lea although being born in Australia, comes from an Irish heritage. Her grandfather is a descendent of the Spanish Gypsies who came to Galway to make Ireland their home. As well as her grandmother’s family tree, a simple farmer in Killkenny, and a school teacher in Carlow who came out to make Australia their home. Horses and the Irish Legends were a part of her upbringing by her grandmother. But it wasn’t until she moved to Ireland to work at one of the primary Thoroughbred studs in Maynooth Co Kildare, that she really felt like she’d come home. It’s been a dream of Jennie’s from the age of twelve that one day she wanted to be a published writer, and up until now Jennie has written and taught Equine Nutrition, as well as the Anatomy and Physiology of the Equine Digestive System. But it was the telling of the story that was missing in her life. Growing up listening to the stories her grandmother would tell about her family heritage, taught to her verbatim as it had for countless generations past. And now with this book and the next two books in this series that Jennie has been able to bring her dream into reality, and she’s shown that no matter how long it takes, it’s never too late to follow your dream.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Jennie Lea.

ISBN:                  Softcover                  978-1-5434-0726-6

                            eBook                       978-1-5434-0725-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 04/09/2018

Xlibris

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

759957

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Appendix

In loving Memory

Karter Dean

16th of September 2016 – 24th of December 2016

C:\Users\Adri\Pictures\Karter Dean 1.jpg

Karter Dean suffered from a very rare form of Hypoplasia.

His condition was so rare there wasn’t enough information for the doctors to be able to compare procedures or medications.

His team reached out to physicians all over the world.

But so many other issues arose.

Even after being given blood thinners prior to surgery, but his blood continued to clot.

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He developed clots from his lower legs up to his neck, and he went into septic shock

This little warrior fought so hard,

But in the end his family had to let him go.

He will be eternally loved and forever remembered.

CHAPTER 1

"L ife was so much simpler in Austr alia."

Mary just lay there with her eyes closed; she listened to the conversations in her hospital room. She hadn’t spoken a word since she was found in a coma just off the path near Jem.

It was Finn that had found them there and raised the alarm. He had heard Mary’s outcry as she watched Jem sink down to his knees. He instantly knew that Mary and Jem were in danger. It took almost no time for him to cover the ground and the distance between them. When he arrived he saw Jem on the ground in an ever-expanding pool of blood. Mary was unconscious with more blood streaming from a wound on her head and Mark was trying to drag her away into the thicket.

The smell and sight of the blood overtook Finn as he grabbed hold of Marks’ head with one hand exposing Mark’s neck. Allowing himself to fall heavily upon it, his anger and thirst were so great, he almost tore Marks head from his shoulders. This was one life he was glad to take. The warm, sweet fluid filled his mouth and brought life to his own body. He could feel his own veins warming his tissues, and this gave him the scenes of being whole again.

Finn could hear the rustling of the leaves as Mary struggled to regain consciousness, and he knew that he had a choice. He could allow Mary to see him, the real him in his true form. Or stop and again take up the persona of Finn the human. He could take away her memory, and when it was time, he could reveal who he really was, and the connection they had once had.

Mary’s last memory was the look of total shock on Jem’s face, his eyes wide and questioning. He was totally unaware of what had just happened to him. As the knife had been plunged into his back he had sucked in his breath. Now as his legs gave way, and his knees buckled, the air in his lungs left him. Mary could start to see the blood as it slowly crept from behind Jem. The rich red lustre shone in the sunlight, as it crept down and around his knees. In the shock of what she was seeing, Mary looked back up at Jem’s face. She could see it was now deathly white. This was Jem’s blood!

Only then did the realization hit her; Jem was bleeding to death. Then as Jem started to topple she rushed forward to catch his head. As his eyes closed the emotion welled up in her as she begged Jem to stay with her. She was begging him to open his eyes, but it was too late, he gone.

Kneeling beside Jem cradling his head, Mary didn’t notice the blood thick and viscus, engulfing her as well. As her hot tears ran down her face, they landed upon Jem’s closed eyes. As his head now lolled in her arms Mary let out the cry of anguish, NO, Jem, NO! Jem come back to me. And as she leaned forward something grabbed her arm forcing her to stand. As she was reefed up onto her feet, Jem’s head fell from her arms. The thud of it hitting the path riveted through Mary.

Jem heard the sound of a twig snap behind him, and then felt a thud so hard on his back, it caught his breath. Not realizing what had happened to him he simply looked at Mary. He could see the shock on her face and as her eyes left the ground and looked back at his face, his strength left him. His brain started to fog over and everything was fuzzy. It was like a heavy cloud had come down and surrounded everything around him. He could hear her cry out, and as it too started to fade, he felt his head being cradled in her lap. He wanted to say that he was still with her, and he loved her so much, and this too slowly faded into oblivion.

In Mark’s demented mind he saw Mary’s actions as again choosing Jem over himself. But in reality, Mary had no idea what had happened. All she knew was that Jem made a sound and then bled to death in front of her. She didn’t have time to process what had really happened. But as she looked up at who had grabbed her arm, she screamed and tried to pull away. Mark could see as fear gripped her, and her eyes rested on his hand holding the knife. Jem’s blood was still coated heavily not only on the knife but on his hand as well. It was thick and red, and it was still running down his arm, drenching his sleeve, before dripping to the ground. She started to fight even more to get away from him. How dare Mary try to pull away! Hadn’t he just eliminated the person who had been filling her head full of lies; she should be glad he’d done this. With his anger now peeking because of Mary’s actions of not running into his arms; he brought down the hilt of his knife upon her head.

With the force of the blow, Mary’s skull shattered. Part of it was pushed down hard into her brain. As Mark again raised his hand holding the knife, there were shards of her skull as well as strands of her hair and blood attached to it. Part of her brain was now exposed and blood was pumping out of the wound. The jagged edges of the piece of the skull caused a wound that looked more like a dog bite than that of a knife cut. Blood was rapidly pumping from the wound. Every second was bringing Mary closer and closer to death.

When Finn arrived in lightning fast speed he knocked Mark out of the way and using his fingernail he carefully removed the piece of the skull out of Mary’s brain. In the hundreds of years he’d been alive in this form, and the number of war’s he’d fought in, he knew what he was looking at. The piece of skull was putting pressure on the brain. And Mary’s only hope of survival was to relive this pressure.

Later everyone would be told that Finn had found Mary lying beside Jem after he heard her scream. His ever-present wolf had then launched himself at Mark. He took purchase on Mark’s exposed neck, savagely shaking it. The sound of Marks neck snapping was a bone chilling ‘Snap!’. Ripping away a chunk of flesh leaving a gaping hole. Mark now dead was tossed to the side, where he lay silently in a crumpled heap.

When Eamon had walked into Tess’s office Tess wondered what must have happened for him to have the look of death on his face. Instantly she was afraid because it could only mean something terrible had fallen upon one of the children. His mobile phone was in his hand as he stood there; face white and his whole body shaking. He was in shock, and even though he knew he had to rush, he couldn’t move. His phone rang in his hand, and it instantly brought him out of the spell he was in; it was Finn.

Finn had stabilized Mary’s wound and was standing on the other side of the path through the hedge from the Manor down to the stables. When he saw Eamon and Tess running down the path towards him he met Eamon’s eyes with his own, and quickly shifted his gaze upon Tess and then back to Eamon with the slightest shake of his head. This was not a scene that any mother should have her child. Lifting his hands he ushered them down from the run to a walk and then as Tess went to push past him he grabbed each of her arms and stopped her, baring the way through the hedge.

Tess STOP! You don’t want to go through there. There’s nothing you can do now, so please don’t put yourself through this. Finn was almost pleading for Tess not to press on through, even though he knew how fruitless it was, this was her son and Mary, and there would be no stopping her.

Out of my way Finn! These are my children and you’ll not be stopping me, so MOVE! If you ever want to see another sunrise I advise you to GET OUT OF MY WAY NOW!

Eamon nodded his head and Finn stepped aside.

Nothing at all could have prepared them for the sight that was before them as they stepped around the hedge, and it stopped them both cold. Jem was on his side, knees still bent back from where he sank down after Mark had stabbed him. The knife had severed the main artery from his heart, and from where they stood both Tess and Eamon could see the gash in Jems shirt. You could see the blood spray behind Jem, where with every beat of his heart the blood was pumped from his body. Then with gravity it ran down the gentle slope of the path and pooled around their son. The back of his shirt and jeans were soaked with his blood and had already coagulated into a thick jelly. No one could lose this much blood and survive.

Tess sank to her knees and she crawled the last few steps to where her son lay. Reaching out she went to stroke her son’s ghost-like arm that was already starting to feel cold. No no no no no no no. Jem wake up son, wake up, please son you have to wake up now. She cradled her dead son’s head in her lap, as her tear’s dropped down onto his face. She knew she had lost him, that nothing could wake him from his eternal sleep, he was gone.

Eamon had also dropped to his knees and was kneeling beside his wife, stroking his son’s face. I’m sorry son, I couldn’t protect you. I’m so sorry. His body shook with every sob, and his tears fell down and mingled with Jem’s coagulated blood. There was now blood on Jem’s face from their hands as they held him and Eamon watched as Tess took the edge of her shirt and tried to wipe it away. The knowledge that nothing could ever bring his son back to them was like the stab of ice ripping through his chest and into his heart.

Tess looked up and searching, Mary, where’s Mary? It only took a moment before her eye’s settled on Mary’s body lying just off the path. She was still pink in color, and Tess could still see that Mary was breathing. Gently she passed Jem’s head over and onto his father’s lap, before racing over to Mary. She was still alive!"

Rapidly trying to process what had happened to Mary, Tess searched for an answer while her eye’s surveyed the scene. Finally, they came upon Mark, and the blood-soaked knife lying on the ground near him. His face showed the terror he felt in his final moments. Eye’s wide open, now dim, and his mouth in the final screams as death descended down upon him. Tess then noticed that his neck looked odd. And she realized that the side that was closest to the ground had a gaping hole. Jagged marks around the edge of the hole told the story of a very painful death. Good!

Tess now turned her focus back to Mary; she could see the wound to Mary’s head. The blood had flowed down onto her face over her eye and to her shirt below. When this injury had first occurred, Mary must have been on her feet, or at the very least upright. But once on the ground, the blood had changed its course and was now matted and soaked into her hair. The blood on Mary’s face was now dry and flaking off, and Tess tried to wipe it away from Mary’s eye. But it was too dry, and it was stuck fast to Mary’s tender skin.

Right away Finn was beside Tess, he had the flask of water, and a napkin from the things Mary and Jem had with them. He soaked the napkin and handed it to Tess. Here, try this. His voice was soft and gentle, and he allowed his hand to reach out and stroke Mary’s hair. He knew from his experiences that Mary’s life was in the balance, and there were no guarantees that she would survive. And for that very brief moment the love he refused to admit to himself broke through and he allowed the pain into his heart, and it ached for her.

In the background, the first of the sirens could be heard. After ringing emergency Finn had then rung Mick, he needed someone to help with crowd control. When he first arrived on the scene, it stopped Mick in his tracks. He stood mouth open and in disbelief of what he was looking at. Finn grabbed Mick’s arm and sharply turned him towards himself. In doing so he shook Mick out of his shock and back into reality. As he tried to find the words, his brain racing in circles, he looked to Finn. What? …. How?

Mark has killed Jem, and badly injured Mary. The guards and ambulance are on their way. I need you now to focus. I need your help. Can you do that? Finn’s words were firm and compassionate, but they didn’t have much time before everyone would be spilling out to see what had happened. I’ve rung Ashling, she’ll be here very soon; let her in, but keep everyone else out!

Mick was now focused and understood the situation; he shook himself out of his shock and started to make calls to establish the ‘No man’s land’. He focused on the stables end of the path with Old Mick’s help to stand guard. Between them, no one could come around the bend in the path and come across what had happened. Thankfully Old Mick was close at hand, at this time of day he was in the vegetable garden picking the vegetables Noola had asked for.

Mick then rang Noola, asking her not to let anyone out of the Manor through the side door. He hadn’t told either Noola or Old Mick the whole truth. Only that Mark had attacked Jem and Mary and the authorities were on the way. There would be time enough later to give them the bad news. Mick then focused on his own job.

Finn rang the supervisors of the housekeeping and reception staff. They were to prevent anyone from coming along the passageway that looked down on the attack. As well as to prevent staff from flooding out to see what the police and ambulance were for. He gave the same answer to them as Mick had done with Old Mick and Noola. One of the supervisors was to bring the guards and ambulance around to the side carpark, and then tell them how to get to the scene. He himself stood guard at the opening of the hedge along the path, one of his senior gardeners stood with him.

It wasn’t hard for Finn to hear Ashling’s car as it raced up the drive. He left his gardener to meet up with her, and prepare her for what she was about to see. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t let a family member see this sort of thing. Because it would stay with them the rest of their lives, but Ashling wasn’t like most people, she would cope. Not only that, this might be the last chance she would get with Mary while she was still alive. He now stood at the start of the path so he could prepare Ashling for what she was about to see. Even though he knew his words would have little effect on her once she walked through the opening of the hedge.

Ashling stood stock still as the reality of the sight that greeted her hit home. She knew Finn was standing just behind her; he was there if she needed him. But right now she was looking for the bastard that had caused all this. Looking past her parents with her now lifeless brother, and her sister clinging to life, and finally, she found him. He was over to the side and she could see his legs contorted on the other side of a shrub.

Later she would only remember kicking him as hard as she could over and over again. Her memory of the shock of seeing what had been done, she would block out of her mind. But she would remember the hatred she felt, and how she yelled abuse at him. She hated him for what he had done to her, and now her family, she hated him more than she’d ever hated anything in her whole life. He was scum and she would make sure that she smashed his face and body with every kick she delivered.

Before heading into the village to pick up a few things, Ashling had been working down at the stables, so she had her steel-capped boots on. The feeling of his once strong and chiselled, handsome face now just smashed bone beneath her boots was heaven. And then she went to his body; she kicked until there was no strength left in her. Then she turned her back on Mark’s smashed and broken body, focusing on the fact that this would be the last time her family would be whole again.

Finn watched as Ashling turned Mark into a pulpy mess, smiling inwardly that she had done such a good job. This was one girl he was glad was on the same side as he was. Mortal or not, she could still deliver some damage that would be painful to come back from. But best of all, she had the chance to find closure from the heartache Mark put her through. Mark had played with both Ashling and Mary’s hearts, he didn’t care who he hurt, as long as he got what he wanted. Well, now he would never hurt anyone ever again. Even in death, there would be no looking down on a handsome face, Ashling made sure of that.

First Ashling went to her sister; she knelt next to her stroking her face. You listen here Lil Sis, there’ll be no dying here do you hear me. The ambulance is now here and we’ll get you to the hospital. So you have to stay strong and stay alive, we can’t lose you too. That piece of shite is now been made pay for what he’s done, he’ll never be able to hurt us anymore. Stroking Mary’s hair Ashling felt something odd. As she lifted her hand she noticed that there was a bit of Mary’s brain matter on her finger.

Tess could see Ashling starting to shake and the look of fear on her face as she held up her hand. Instantly understanding what had happened she took the flask of water and washed Ashling’s hand. She’s going to be ok, do you hear me Ashling, she’s going to be ok. We have to stay strong so she can stay strong.

Ashling stood up and ran to the hedge and threw up. It wasn’t the sight of the blood or the injury; it was the fear that made her sick. How could Mary get better if some of her brains were in her hair? How could anyone survive and still be a whole person again, what had that mongrel done to her! Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she walked back over to Mark and kicked him again!

The guards had arrived; two of them were standing beside Finn asking him questions. One had his notebook open and was taking notes; the other one turned was giving directions to a few others who were just behind them. Then Ashling could hear the sirens of the ambulance. So she went back to her sister and again knelt beside her. The ambulance is here, can you hear them, Mary, they’re here, and they’ll take you to the hospital. The doctor’s there will be able to make you better, and we will be there when you wake up. I love you so much Mary, I could never have had a better Lil Sis, than you. Ashling’s tears were falling on Mary’s face, and Tess put her arm out and held both girls as close to her as she could.

The paramedics had been briefed over the radio and had come almost at a run along the path. While one initially went to Jem, the other raced over to Mary. Instantly he was asking questions and checking her vital responses. When he looked at Mary’s head wound, he went grey, he knew what it meant. The chances of surviving such an injury were very slim, but to survive and still be able to function was almost impossible. By now the other paramedic was there and he had the gurney ready to put Mary on it. They had to get Mary to the hospital, every second counted, and every second lost was a step away from saving her life.

Tess and Ashling were left standing there covered in blood and holding each other. Eamon had been moved back and away from Jem, and he stood with his wife and daughter. This was now a crime scene and it had to be processed. Both Jem and Mark had been pronounced dead by the paramedic, before moving over to Mary. As the family made the move to follow Mary to the hospital, Finn stopped them. There’s nothing you can do when you get to the hospital. You’ll be made to sit and wait until after Mary has been treated, and most likely operated upon. You need to have a shower, and put clean clothes on before you go. Ashling went to protest but when she looked Finn in the eyes, she knew he was right.

Ashling went over to the Sargent, I’m going to get cleaned up, when I come back I’m going to say goodbye to my brother. Do NOT take him away before I come back down! She then turned on her heels and walked off.

Naturally, there was a crowd of people wanting to see what all the guards and ambulance were here for. The whole area had been taped off with crime scene tape, and there was a gasp when Ashling, Tess, and Eamon came into view covered in blood. They had seen Mary being rushed away and were waiting to see Jem also being rushed off. Now with the sight of all this blood, the realization hit home. There was no way Jem would have been left by his family if he was still alive. No one could lose so much blood as could be seen on his families clothes and still be alive.

Some of the staff stood stunned, hands to their mouths, not able to move or speak. Other’s started to cry, while others, quietly said; I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. To Eamon, Tess, and Ashling as they quickly rushed passed to get to the shower. They would say goodbye to Jem one last time before leaving.

By now the staff had been replaced with members of the guards at either end of the staff passageway. And as the one closest to the kitchen went to stop Tess and the family from going through the door Noola grabbed him and pulled him away. The last thing he thought would happen, that he tripped and almost fell to the ground. As he again found his balance, and turned to give Noola a telling off, and stop the family Noola grabbed him again. And what do you think they have been doing? That’s their son lying on the ground out there! Do you expect them to walk through the whole Manor covered in his blood, now do you? What sort of scene do you think THAT would make?

There were a few rooms not booked or with guests in them, so Eamon and Ashling grabbed their clean clothes and let themselves into the rooms. Tess used the shower in their rooms. For both Tess and Eamon who had been down on the ground beside Jem were soaked through with his blood. It was like they themselves were haemorrhaging with their son’s blood. The water was thick with the blood as it ran down over their skin. It pooled around their feet before flowing down the drain. They may have been in different rooms and different showers, but their feelings and emotions were the same. The grief rose up in them and their hearts hurt so much they thought they would have a heart attack. The pain continued to well up and into their throat and all they could do was to release the emotions and cry out for Jem.

CHAPTER 2

W hen the guards had been called out the day Mark turned up at the Manor, they were able to get all his details. So they had where he was staying and the registration of the car he was driving on record. They found his car parked in the quiet lane that ran down beside the Estate boundary. The crime scene detectives had it taped off. They now also had the direction he had come from to the crime scene. There would be a contingent of guards that would walk shoulder to shoulder looking for evidence. The car itself was also taped off. Another group of detectives went to the B & B he was staying to process his room, and speak to the landlords of the B & B as well.

His room at the B & B was a mess; however, there were bottles of sleeping pills, and other similar drugs on the dresser in the room. The second bed in the room had been set up to secure someone so they couldn’t get away. There hadn’t been any mention to the landlords of the B & B that he was planning to have anyone else staying in his room. So no doubt the sleeping pills were to keep Mary drugged and asleep while she was there. How he planned to get her into the B & B and up the stairs to his room without anyone being aware of it was anyone’s guess.

The most interesting find in the room was Mark’s diary. It had been left on his bed and open where he’d finished writing the last entry. More than anything else this diary showed the depravity and delusions within Mark’s mind. As time went on and his delusions had taken over, so did his writing style. The earliest entries were neat and structured. They were what you would expect to find in most people’s personal diaries. But as his delusions of his relationship with Mary took over, so did his entries and writing style. It was when Mary had decided to return to Ireland from Australia that Mark’s mind started to crack. He believed that she would choose him over Jem and not return once he turned up at the farm in Kendall.

He’d scoffed in his diary about how stupid the Irish guards were, and how they could never uncover his plan in rescuing Mary from the clutches of Jem. But Jem could never be allowed to live because he might one day find Mary and brainwash her all over again. So Jem had to DIE!

"I now have everything I need to fix that Pathetic Paddy, who is he to think he’s superior to me! Everything is ready for Mary; I can’t take the chance of her fighting to go back to that pig. I know once I get her home again she’ll have the spell broken, and she’ll fall into my arms where she belongs.

The bag of goodies is packed and ready in the car. What a stroke of genius it was the get the schematic of that piece of junk that he drives. I can’t wait to stand back and watch