A MAZE OF GREED

The next day Ruth woke up a little late than usual. She couldn't fall asleep till late in the night as her mind was clogged with her trouble in the woods and the interaction between her and Rees.

She couldn't help but think about Rees's strange behaviour again and again. After contemplating about a hundred times, she decided to bring this topic with Thea.

She hurriedly got ready to go to Mr Cooper's tailoring shop. The man was very strict when it came to his business and didn't tolerate tardiness.

She gave Mr and Mrs Payne their parcel safe and secured before going to the shop.

"May I ask what is there in the parcel?" Ruth asked the question that was eating up her mind.

"Oh, there are some pickles and medicines, my sister-in-law has sent for us." Mr Payne answered.

For a moment Ruth thought that she had to go through such trouble and receive Rees's anger only for some pickles and medicines?!

But then she thought that if it was Mr Payne in her place then Rees wouldn't have been there to save him. Only God knew what would have happened with him.

She felt glad that it was her and not Mr Payne. And now after returning safely to home there was no point in thinking about the worst scenarios.

"At least have a coffee with us, dear." Mrs Payne requested.

"I wish I could but I will have to pass it this time. I am already late for work. You know Mr Cooper, he will take my class on punctuality if I get late. See you in the evening!"

Ruth didn't wait for their response and rushed down the stairs while adjusting the strap of her bag on the shoulder. Her pace slowed down, her eyes flickered to Florence's room when she reached her floor.

She hadn't seen her for a couple of days. It was not like they had become best friends that tell each other everything. Ruth couldn't expect Florence to tell her about her whereabouts or any plans.

But Ruth felt strange to see that the Florence that usually came back in two or three days after visiting her admirers was missing for this long.

'I hope she is fine.' With that thought, Ruth skipped towards the western part of Vincardine.

"Good morning to you too!" Thea's sarcastic voice startled Ruth as she didn't notice her standing near her workstation.

"Oh, you scared me there! Where is Mr Cooper?" Ruth panted, her breaths came short after almost running to the shop.

Thea followed Ruth, who rounded the workstation and put her bag on the table while taking her seat.

"You are lucky today because Mr Cooper had a matter to take care of and he is coming around noon."

"Thank God!" Ruth exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Ruth, what's wrong with you?" Thea's voice rose with shock.

That startled Ruth for the second time in the short span of five minutes. "What? What is it?" She asked with wide eyes not knowing what Thea was talking about.

Other fellow workers also turned their attention to the two women with curiosity.

"Your eyes."

"What about my eyes?" Ruth's hand naturally reached for her eyes.

"There are bags under them and they are red and puffy. Were you crying or what?"

"Thea!" Ruth groaned. Her friend always managed to create a fuss over nothing. She gave an awkward smile to other fellow workers and said aloud. "I didn't get a good sleep last night, that's all."

That made the other women lose their interest in their conversation and they began chatting amongst them, leaving these two to carry on with their conversation.

"Why? And did you get Mr and Mrs Payne's parcel?" Thea pulled the chair from the adjacent workstation for herself.

"Yes. I got it. Do you know that there are wolves in the woods of our town? Thank God that Rees came to help otherwise I might have become one of the wolf's feast." Ruth laughed but Thea didn't share her humour.

"Rees?" Thea's brows scrunched in confusion.

"Yes. He came at the right time. I was scared to death when I heard the howling of a wolf. And thanks for sending him for my help! You are the best!" Ruth beamed but her smile shrunk slowly after noticing Thea's serious face.

"What?"

"I didn't tell Rees about your whereabouts. Then how did he got to know?" Thea looked straight into Ruth's eyes.

Not believing her friend, Ruth thought that she was just pulling her leg with another of her crazy pranks. "Stop it, Thea. I am not going to fall into your trap." She rolled her eyes.

"I am serious, Ruth. How can I tell Rees about your whereabouts when I didn't meet him after our Sunday breakfast?"

Now that turned Ruth's casual mood into a pensive one. "You... You didn't?" She stuttered in shock.

Thea shook her head.

"Then...?" Ruth couldn't understand anything. If it was not Thea then how came Rees got to know that Ruth was stuck into the woods?

Thea glanced around to make sure that none of their fellow workers was eavesdropping on their conversation. She asked in a hushed tone. "What exactly happened? Tell me the deatils."

One could have misinterpreted Thea's urgent voice as jealousy but it was not the case. She trusted both Rees and Ruth with her heart. She knew how much both of them loved and cared for her. She was only worried about Rees and wanted to know what really happened.

Ruth recounted the last night's incident with details. Thea listened to everything but with every unfolding fact, her mind started to get more confused and worried.

After Ruth finished, Thea didn't say anything right away. Her brain mull over every detail in an attempt to connect the dots.

But when she failed a groan left her mouth.

"First of all, there are no wolves in Vincardine. Second, I can't find a good reason for Rees's presence in the woods. Even if he somehow got to know that you went into the woods then how did he found you at the right time? The woods are vast!

Third, I don't know why he lied about I told him about you when we haven't met after Sunday. Fourth... are you... are you sure that you saw his strange behaviour again?"

Thea's voice came thick with unsaid emotions when she asked the last question. Her worried face made Ruth bit the insides of her cheek.

She understood what her friend was going through and wanted to help but didn't know how? She knew that the thing about Rees's sudden strange behaviour was something that was bothering Thea for quite long and telling her about it would only increase her worries but Ruth had to tell it.

"I swear that I heard a wolf. It was not my hallucination, Thea. Please believe me! Rees also ignored me saying there are no wolves in Vincardine.

I didn't ask him much about his presence in the woods because he told me that you informed him that I was in the woods. He was worried for me because of the misfortunate deaths and hence came to look for me.

And yes... I am sure that I saw him getting zoned out and the colour of his eyes changed the way it happened on Sunday."

After that both women fell into silence, their minds trying to come up with some rational reasons but failed. Thea tapped her feet on the ground continuously. Distress was clearly written on her otherwise smiling face.

Ruth reached for her hand to hold it in hers. "Thea, I am sorry that you have to worry this much. But please don't."

"How can I not worry, Ruth? He is going to be my husband, for God's sake! I love him... so much! He is lying to me, my family and my best friend. He is hiding something from me. He is acting ominous. Then tell me how can I not worry, huh?" Thea's voice cracked, her eyes fogged up with unshed tears.

The bell above the door chimed and Mr Cooper stepped into the shop.

"I knew that you ladies will be busy in chattering, wasting my money and time! If I don't get today's orders done in time then..."

Everyone moved hurriedly to their respective workstations as Mr Cooper went on with his threats. Wiping her eyes, Thea busied herself with the work but her face told that her mind was occupied with other thoughts.

Ruth felt bad for her friend. With a deep breath, she decided to confront Rees. She couldn't just sit back and see her one friend getting hurt and another one ruining his relationship with his love of life.

'I am going to find out what you are hiding Rees. I just hope you are not in any trouble.. I can't see both of my friends like this!' With that thought on her mind, Ruth's hands started working their wonders on the cream-coloured cloth and colourful threads.