Read Online Fall of Hope (Book 1): Real Heroes Don't Wear Capes by R.M. Grace - Free Book Online

know?
    “ I
don't have strength, look at me.”
    “ Strength
is not only a physical trait, Bobby. It is a mental attribute.”
    “ I'm
nothing but a coward.”
    Placing
her hand on his, the metal clanks against his bone. “You are
not a coward at all, you hear me?”
    Bobby
cannot help the expression across his face—partial shock and
hurt—so he turns away. Removing his hands from the warmth of
hers, he strokes his face and hopes to restrain the emotion.
    “ Please
give her the leaflet, Bobby. If it means I don't hear your sweet
voice for a while I can live with that. I just want to know you are
safe.”
    Bobby
clambers to his feet, and moves to the far wall beside the landscape
painting. He doesn't need an apology, at least not from her.
    “ Listen,
you will go far, Bobby. I believe you are already on that path. Your
words can change fate.”
    Bobby
turns to see Mrs Colby following his eyesight.
    “ That
is why I ask a request of you.”
    Slinging
the backpack over his shoulders, he waits for her to proceed.
Instead, she reaches for the wooden cane propped against the wall and
remains silent. Bobby makes a play for it to save her the struggle,
but she bats his hand away.
    “ Pride
may be one of the least desirable traits, but the older you get the
less you care.”
    When
she steadies her feet, she hobbles past Bobby. Once at the painting,
she grabs at her bad hip with a frown.
    “ Beautiful,
isn't it?”
    Smiling
at the woman's determination, he moves in beside her. “Sure is,
Mrs Colby. Any idea who painted it?”
    “ Somebody
who goes under the name R. Kuffs.” She stretches her hunched
back as far as she can before settling a finger on the painting. “See
the signature there.”
    Bobby
catches the black squiggle on the light blue shutter instead of the
bottom right corner.
    “ Any
idea who this R. Kuffs is?”
    “ I'm
not sure, Bobby. Betty went shopping with her daughter to look for a
present for Gareth, her grandson. Anyway, they had a quick walk up
Spon Street. You know, that winding road with the old buildings and
that quint, little art shop? She spotted the painting in there. It
isn't her usual thing, but she said it took her breath away. It's
something, isn't it?”
    “ Definitely.”
    “ It
o nly
cost fifty pounds, so whoever this R. Kuffs is, they aren't famous.
Betty said the woman who owns the shop put the frame on it, but
didn't know why. It came with a frame by the guy she brought it from,
but it didn't compliment the painting, so she changed it.”
    Bobby
gives the frame the once over. The silver surface is a distorted
grunge style he wouldn't have put with the painting in a million
years, yet it works.
    “ Not
my style, but it sure brings the painting to life, doesn't it? I
believe the owner was gutted Betty saw it. I think she meant to take
it home herself.”
    “ Was
the guy she brought if from not the artist? Because if he was maybe
we—”
    “ No,
I believe he was his agent, or something. I only know because Betty
asked.”
    “ If
I went down there, do you think the owner would tell me?”
    “ I
doubt it, Bobby. Why do you want to know?”
    “ I
umm—”
    “ Don't
worry,” she says tapping his shoulder. “You don't have to
tell me.”
    Bobby
looks away. Telling her is one thing, but to have her believe him is
another.
    “ How
long was it up for sale?”
    “ Just
that morning. No one come in before Betty, besides the postie because
they don't open until ten. But if they had, I reckon someone would
have snatched it up like a shot.”
    It
was meant to come here.
    “ Has
this R. Kuffs done any other work?”
    “ Couldn't
tell you, love.”
    Bobby
mentally notes to check as soon as he gets home.
    There
must be information somewhere on the Internet.
    “ Well
it sure is special.”
    How
did somebody paint a scene straight from my mind?
    On
the textured paper, the cliff sits at an angle with a white house on
top, so the audience are seeing the cliff diagonally across.