Sally’s Wedding: Book 3 Of A Contemporary Romance Short Story Series (6 page)

“Well actually I was thinking of something else?” Robert looked at her hopefully.

“What
!...
on your bike buster,
Agnes is right -
you’ll have nothing left for the wedding night at this rate!”

She quickly jumped out of
bed,
eluding Roberts attempt to grab her as she fled into the shower.

Robert chuckled to himself, as he quickly put on his dressing gown and headed for the shower room in the hall.

Breakfast of cereal, and toasted bread with marmalade was soon over; and they were chatting over a hot cup of tea, when the door-bell chimed.

Roberts
bo
ss
-
and friend
–
Tom
, greeted everyone as Agnes poured him a cup of tea. Sally gave him a welcome hug and asked how her good friend Elizabeth – Tom’s wife – was keeping.

“Oh she is fine Sally
thanks,
in fact she is going to call you so that you can make arrangements to come over for supper one evening.

“Oh that would be great Tom – I’ll look forward to it.”

“Meanwhile.”
Tom continued. “I take it you have had no more disturbances in the area?”

Agnes spoke up, as she was clearing the breakfast table. “Well nothing, but two Wild Cats howling last night!”

“Wild Cats?”
Tom looked puzzled.

“Yes, a heck of a din they were
making – did you not hear them S
ally?” Agnes gave Sally a mischi
evous look, and it was all
She
could do
,
not to
burst out laughing.

Instead she managed a stuttered reply. “No
…no I didn’t hear anything
– did you hear Wild Cats Robert?”

Robert flushed scarlet, as the implication dawned on him. Turning his back to Tom he managed a mumbled reply. “No, nothing…I’d better get our jackets, if we’re going out I suppose.” He quickly left the room.

Tom looked at them all, and quickly established the truth, joining in the masquerade. “Ah yes…these Wild Cats; they can really keep you awake at night!” He nodded.

The sound of a car crunching on the gravel drive, heralded the arrival of the local police; who had arranged to meet them all here; and after introductions were made
,
they all
trooped down to the track Sally had been on
when the P
oachers had appeared.

It was soon obvious that nothing had been left behind, however there were a couple of good boot-prints in the soft soil by the loch-side; which the officer said he would send forensics to make a cast off. It was yet another piece of evidence against the perpetrators if they could get them to trial.

Meanwhile Tom revealed,
after they returned to the cabin and Agnes had made a fresh cup of tea
;
they
were fairly certain who the man with the limp was.

“It turns out that
it is likely
a man called John Turner,
One of the older guys remembered him. John
used to work for the estate some
thirty
years ago; until he was badly injured by a
falling
tree during felling operations. Sadly,
des
pite numerous operations, he had
been left with a
disability resulting in a
permanent limp
. He left the area shortly after the incident, and receiving a good financial package. However it seems that he returned just over a year ago, and stays somewhere
near Nethy Bridge, some ten miles away.
”

CRASH
!...
Agnes fell to the floor before anyone could get to her.

“AGNES
!...
” Sally and Robert cried out in unison, as they ran across to her
. Seeing her regain consciousness, they quickly lifted her onto a chair, Sally pressing a wet cloth against her forehead.

Robert lifted the phone to say he was going to call an ambulance, when Agnes spoke out.

“Robert…I’m all right really. It’s just that…well you see….I
think I
know who the poacher with the limp is!”

They all stood looking at Agnes, shocked speechless.

******

As Robert got a glass of cold water, and Sally fussed over her; Agnes explained with a tremulous voice th
e events of 30
years ago.

“The trouble all began when my husband John
– yes it is my husband.” She said to the shocked faces. “Well he had a bad accident, as you say. His leg was permanently damaged which meant that he could no longer do the work he loved; which was a gamekeeper with the Estate. He became bitter and twisted over the whole affair; even though I tried to insist that it made no difference to
us, that
we would manage just fine. For him though it was a big blow to his feeling of self-worth, and our relationship went downhill from there.”

Sally looked across at Robert who had sat down,
shaking his head.

Agnes continued.

“By the time the
industrial injuries
compensation came along about 18 months later, things had deteriorated to the point that he would no longer listen to me. Robert was only a small child, and it was up to me to do the best I could for him; as John retreated into himself – or so I thought!”

Agnes looked across at them all, including the young police officer – who stood quickly scribbling notes. She decided just to go ahead and tell them all.

“Well the fact is that he had been crying on the shoulder of some busty barmaid, down in the Aviemore
. When the compensation
came through
– He took the lot and
disappeared
with her
over the horizon, never to be seen again – till now that is!”

Sally was aghast, not knowing quite what to say.
“The Bastard!”
Was out before she could stop herself.
“Oh, I’m sorry Agnes! Not exactly lady-like language I know…but how could he? I mean
..
to
leave you with a young boy and run off with some trollop; as well as the money – it beggars belief!”

“Anyway, I dropped his name and started a new life using my maiden name
,
Lindsey. I never wanted Robert here to be tainted by what John had done.
Although when he was old enough I did explain it all.
”

Sally suddenly looked thoughtfully at Agnes. “But Agnes; did you not tell me that Roberts father had got himself a job abroad 30 years ago; and you had never seen him since?”

“Yes my dear I did. The fact was that I was being a little ‘economical with the truth’ I suppose. As far as I was concerned he could have been on the moon. I left our old house and moved to here 30 years ago, to break any memory of my time with him if I could – I was so terribly angry with him.
The few payments he did make to me, got further and further apart – then finally stopped altogether.
I hope you will forgive me my dear – there was no malice intended I assure you.”
Agnes said, close to tears.

“Please don’t concern yourself on that account
Agnes,
it is perfectly understandable
; I just can’t imagine how it must have been for you.

Robert sat and nodded his head sadly.

The police officer spoke up for the first time. “Well Mrs Lindsey, I can assure you that if he is still using his real name – we will find him!”

“Thank you officer; but to be truthful, I hope you do not! I never wish to see him darken my doorstep again. The whole experience is one that I would not wish on my worst enemy!”

“That I can understand Mrs Lindsey.
Thank you anyway for your information; I will go now and speak to my superior. Thanks to your help we should have this poaching matter wrapped up in no time.”

He quickly said his farewells, promising to keep them informed of developments.

Robert sat silent in contemplation as all eyes turned to him.

“
It has been locked away out of my consciousness for so long, that I never even thought of the connection when Sally mentioned a man with a limp!
I just can’t believe after all this time he has turned up again like a bad penny!
”

“Well at least there may be one good thing has come out of this – It surely means that you do not have to fear
them anymore. I mean, John’s not likely to want to harm you is he!” Tom said, just a little uncomfortable at being included in such a sensitive family situation.

Agnes considered his words before answering. “You know, I think your probably right Tom. For all his faults, I cannot imagine him wishing his family harm; though I’m not so sure about the other fellow; by all accounts he sounds like a bruiser!”

Three more days had passed, and despite the officers assurance that they would find him soon; there was no sign of any arrest. John it seems was more difficult to find than they had imagined.

Robert had taken his mother down to Aviemore on his way to work, where she had a
hairdressers
appointment; so Sally was left alone in the house, which she did not mind in the least. As he left, Robert had called out. “Oh Sally, could you see to Romeo please? I just haven’t had time this morning sorry.”

Romeo was the Clydesdale horse that used to be a working horse on the Estate; but was now really just a family pet – only occasionally hauling logs
when the need arose.

Sally finished her breakfast and headed out to the stable, to feed the hungry giant Romeo; standing at a full 18 hands, he was a huge animal compared to the pony that she had owned as a young girl – however he was a real gentle giant and Sally adored him.

Romeo seemed to be unsettled as she approached his stable, which was split to form a hay-shed and tack store combined
.

“Good morning my friend!”
Sally called to him as she approached. “What seems to be bothering you this morning then eh?” She approached to let him muzzle her hand, but Romeo backed away, nodding his head in an agitated fashion. Sally immediately knew that there was something wrong; Romeo was always such a placid friendly animal.

“Well, good morning Sally!”

A familiar voice behind
her,
caused a chill of fear to run up her spine. She spun around.

“BRANDON! What the hell are you doing here?” This was the man who had drugged her drink, and almost raped her in her own apartment back in Milwaukee.
Only the intervention of her boss – following a tip-off from the bar staff, prevented the unthinkable happening.

She staggered back in fear and disbelief – She had almost succeeded in erasing the terrible incident from her mind; now it
came
racing back into her consciousness like a storm.
A sudden anger took over from the fear.

“You bastard!”
She cried out as she lifted her hand to strike him. He grabbed her wrist, twisted, and pulled her towards him. She cried out in pain.

“Now you little bitch; time for some pay-back I think!” The lust and anger in his eyes needed no interpretation. He pushed her in front of him; still keeping a tight grip on Sally’s wrist.

“Move bitch!” They headed out of the stable. Sally was aware of Romeo’s neighing and stamping of his giant hooves, as he made
his protest known.

They headed out into the woods, following an old
unused track through the
trees.;
thick with twisted thorny brambles and undergrowth;
Brandon talking as they went.

“You thought you were so clever bitch; moving out here thinking I
wouldn’t
find you – but you
were
wrong!”

“Bra
n
don, you’re insane – you knew I was moving to Scotland to get married! Why are you doing this? I never had you charged or anything, though I could have. I just want to get on with my life!”

“Get on with your life!” Brandon mocked. “Oh that’s rich! It’s a pity that I can’t get on with mine – since the police, and your old boss have made conditions impossible for me!”

He pushed her onwards, causing sally to squeal with the pain as he twisted her arm again.

“Well, I decided that if I could not get a job anywhere near home; I would try somewhere else
! Then I thought to myself why not kill two birds with the one stone; and follow you over here to finish what I started!”

Sally recoiled from the crazed look in his eyes, as he stopped and pulled her around to face him.

“Oh yes my precious,
I saw
you at the Hotel
with the two Toffs and followed you home. I’ve been watching you for days now. I’ve got it all nicely planned and t
his time there will be no interference from do-good citizens!”