Page 46 of Leafpoint Lighthouse

“Oh, my kind of cousin! So many hunks!”

Lia flicked through the channels until she found the streaming one, and we settled in. Halfway through the film, I fell asleep again.

The sound of shouting startled me awake as I heard Lia on the phone. “Yes, we need police assistance,” she was saying. What on earth? I sat up, shoving the blankets off me.

“What’s going on?” I croaked.

“My cousin just woke up. Considering the mob outside, I’d say we’re in danger,” Lia replied.

Lia held a finger up, and I waited. The shouting grew louder.

“Thank you. And this is private property, so they’ve no legal right to form here,” Lia stated and cut the call.

“What?” I gasped, grabbing my throat.

“Don’t panic,” Lia began. That was guaranteed to make someone panic. Sheesh. “But there’s about two hundred local people outside in protest.”

“About what?” I demanded, alarmed.

“You not selling the land to Homes for You. It seems they promised the locals construction work, and they are annoyed that you won’t sell. So, they’re protesting.”

“Can they do that?”

“Nope. Which is why I called the police.” Something thudded against the walls, and I looked worried.

“What do we do?”

“Wait for them to arrive.”

More noises sounded, and I realised they were trying to break in. “We need to stop them. This is my home!” I exclaimed and hurried for the stairs. Even as weak as I was, I wouldn’t allow them to destroy my lighthouse.

“Lyra!” Lia shouted and chased after me.

I reached the kitchen and stared in fear at the door shuddering under the weight of the people banging on it. The entire thing was terrifying, but I wasn’t going to let them tear my home apart. As I went to the door, both Lia and I jumped as a loud noise echoed from the lighthouse.

“What the hell is that?” Lia shrieked.

“The foghorn!” I cried as it boomed for a second time. The door stopped shuddering, and I flung it open. Several people stood in front of me, and I glowered.

“What is your problem?” I demanded, my voice giving out. They stared back at me in my pyjamas and then at Lia at my rear. The foghorn sounded once more, and they backed away. I followed and saw the crowd standing behind them.

“What gives you the right to show up and cause trouble?” I exploded. Beside me, Lia yanked out her phone and began filming the mob in front of us.

“Every right. You’re stopping people from working,” Karen from the café retorted.

“Bull!” Lia snapped. “You’ve no justification to demand that we sell our estate to create jobs. What the hell are you idiots thinking?”

“People need to work!” she continued, receiving nods from the crowd.

“What does that have to do with me?” I said, my voice breaking.

“You won’t sell, so there is no labour.”

“Get a grip. Even if she could, why should Lyra sell land that she owns? What gives you the right to force someone to relinquish ownership of their private property? Does that mean I can go to court and make you put your house up for sale?” Lia spat. Oh, she was angry. Okay, she could handle this. I closed my eyes as I swayed slightly. A firm hand propped me up—William.

“That’s my home!” Karen yelled.

“And this is Lyra’s! I bet that snivelling little rat Keith riled you all up. What did he do? Promise local jobs, show you a plan for the estate and shops he’d build. And like good lapdogs, you lapped it all up. You’ve no right to trespass on this land; it’s private property. How dare you think you can come and destroy someone’s home?”