Chapter 20

Two days later, Starsky was discharged from hospital with seven stitches to the wound in his side, a dose of antibiotics and orders to take it easy. Those orders he was going to follow to the letter. Hutch had remained with him the first night, but had gone home to The James House the last night, to update Sam on Starsky's progress, which was amazingly swift.

That afternoon, Sam came to take the two men home and after all the discharge paperwork had been done, she bundled both men into the car and they made their way back to The James House. As they got out of the car, she couldn't help laughing at the two guys who had come to her home for rest and relaxation. Hutch still limped heavily on his right leg, although the wound was healing nicely. Starsky bent over a little as he walked, clutching a protective hand to his side.

'Well, you look like a set of rejects from Emergency Ward 10' she chuckled, receiving a dirty look from the brunette as he grunted with the effort of getting up the garden path.

'Yeah, some vacation this turned out to be' he grumped, but his voice held a hint of humour there too. Even though he still hurt, he felt happier than he had done for such a long time. He mentally shrugged What's an eight inch blade in the side between friends?

Once inside, they sat down in the kitchen as Sam made tea and fussed over them in a motherly fashion, having a chance finally to talk about the events of the past few days. Sam hadn't been able to visit in the hospital as the paperwork at the conclusion of the "Bible Case" as she called it had taken up all her time, but now, the excitement was dying down and she was owed some down time.

They sat in companiable silence in the warm kitchen for a while as Bobby pottered into the room, sniffing first at Hutch, then seating himself with a sigh at Starsky's feet.

'Hey pooch' Starsky said, bending carefully down to stroke the dogs ears. Bobby sat, looking adoringly into the brunette's face, as if he was the best person in the whole world. Straightening, he looked over to Sam.

'There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Hutch told me that when he telephoned you at the station and said I thought I saw Hannah in the room, you seemed to take it for granted, and didn't question it. I've been laid in that hospital bed for two days now, mulling over everything that went on. I didn't mention her in my statement, something seemed to stop me, but I don't know what. You were gonna tell me before all this started, after I'd seen her the second time. Ya gonna spill and tell me who this Hannah is?'

Sam took a deep breath. 'Depends how open minded you are, but you've seen her for yourself, so take the explanation or leave it. The choice is yours. Hannah James was the daughter of the first owners of this house – The James House. That was in 1656 we believe, 6 years after the house was built. She was a compassionate girl and wanted to nurse people in the neighbouring village, but her father wanted her to marry the local squire. A woman of some standing in the village would not be allowed to work. She rebelled against him, saying she'd never marry, and ran up onto the moors, heartbroken. It was a night much like the other night – a big storm with thunder and rain, but it was the middle of the winter, and cold as ice. Hannah fell and hurt herself, and never made it back to the house. Her body was found a few days later by the lake'.

'She comes back now and again, either to the house, or to the moors, but only when she senses a soul in torment. She comes back to help, or to nurse, always to help. She obviously realised you needed help, and she gave it. And then when Mark Andrews, the murderer was up there, in her way, she wanted to help him too'. Sam looked at the two men, expecting them to laugh, but both still looked serious.

'I never believed in ghosts' Starsky said quietly. 'Guess I'll have to review that now. She was so beautiful! And she really did help me. She had such a way with her – her words and her….'

'Hands' his partner finished with a smile.

Sam looked from one to the other, wondering if they were being serious. 'I've seen her a few times. Once in the house and a couple of times up on the moors, although it's always been in the distance. The only thing I know for sure is that this house has the most welcoming atmosphere I've ever known, and I'd never leave it, even though it is haunted'.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Towards the end of the last week of their vacation, Hutch and Sam huddled together in a corner of the sitting room as Starsky came in, much recovered from his adventure on the moors. He looked at them quizzically.

'What the big secret?' he asked.

'We've got a surprise for you. Get ready, we're going out, but you're driving'. Hutch laughed.

Twenty minutes later, the three of them were squeezed into the Jenson and driving out to Preston to join the M6 north. Hutch had explained that he'd hired the Interceptor as a 'cheer up' present for Starsky, knowing how he loved flash cars. Because of all that had happened to the both of them, he'd never really had chance to drive it properly. So they were heading to the Lake District.

Starsky opened the engine up on the motorway, cruising along at a steady 70 miles per hour, the countryside flashing past them. As they went further north, the landscape changed form farm pasture and gentle hills to bold, massive fells and sheep farms. The colours too changed, from the brilliant greens of the lowlands to a purple hue as the heather clinging to the fell sides outgrew the grass. The motorway wound it's way through the fells, their bulk rising up on either side, dwarfing the car and making the occupants feel small and insignificant. Hutch took time to really look at the massive hills, seeing the dry stone walls snaking their way precipitously to the very tops of the fells, keeping the sheep in check. Although the evening was bright, with the dying rays of the sun kissing the fell tops, there was something dark and brooding about the area. A wildness which caught at the blonde's heart, making him yearn to get out and climb to their tops to see Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and the North Sea all in one 360 degree loop.

Turning off at junction 40 and heading past Penrith towards Keswick, they could see in the distance the massive bulk of Skiddaw stood like a sentinel, guarding the little town, Derwent Water nestling at its feet, glistening golden in the evening sun, it's water calm, deep and cold. Sam instructed Starsky to take the turning before the town, heading back south towards Ambleside. The brunette did as he was told without quibbling. It was early evening and the roads were quiet, although the light was still good.

As the car turned a bend at the top of the steep hill, the road unfolded in front of them, curving steeply down the hill, a clear view for over a mile ahead. Sam instructed Starsky to pull over to the side of the road. As the car slid smoothly to a stop, she smiled at him.

'This is my goodbye present to you. Nothing much uses this road at this time of day, and I know the traffic police round here. We went to college together and he was sort of sweet on me. Anyway, he promises to turn a blind eye if he happens to see a long, low black sports car, driven by a demonic curly haired American going at slightly over the speed limit'.

She settled back in the seat, tightening the seat belt.

'Open her up, and see what she can do. Enjoy' she said as Starsky switched on the ignition and slipped into first gear, a feral smile on his face. His heart rate hiked up a notch in anticipation and as he pulled away he wound the window down, to let the breeze blow through his hair, gunning the engine quickly up to speed.

As the speedometer passed 75, a look a rapt enjoyment came over the tanned, handsome face, indigo eyes searching the black tarmac ahead, hands loosely holding the wooden steering wheel. Starsky's face was a picture of fierce determination, his jaw tensed, a grin on his face.

And as he nursed the car round the final bend and set off down the hill, he let out a shriek of pure joy……………………