Road to Redemption

by Michelle Dalton

  Ray grabbed his washcloth and cake of soap, then rubbed the two together before washing his body. Memories of how good she’d tasted and how she’d enjoyed riding his hard-on before they’d been reminded of Lullu asleep in the corner aroused him.

  Looking over his shoulder to make sure he was alone in the cloakroom, Ray took himself in hand.

  He imagined Mina naked and riding him, her breasts bouncing and her nipples puckered. In his mind’s eye, he felt the hard buds of her nipples as he rolled them between his thumb and index finger. Her wet hunger pushed down on him as she begged for more with lips as plump as ripe strawberries. His fist worked harder as the images he played across his mind intensified. Relief flooded his muscles and his climax washed down the drain with the water.

  Ray leaned with both hands against the wall, a little ashamed of his actions, but frighteningly content.

  11

  “So, Pa said he’d told you why we’re here.” Thomas accompanied Ray to one of the warehouses. He’d found his brother-in-law waiting for him outside his cabin when he’d returned from his shower.

  “Ja,” Ray replied.

  He wasn’t sure what to do or say to Thomas. Last time he’d seen him, Ray had been as high as a kite, in his pa’s kitchen, and this man had been about to give him a solid hiding for disrespecting Rochelle.

  “Hey.” Thomas stopped. “Look, I understand you’re uncomfortable. But honestly, if you can see a way, perhaps we could leave the past where it belongs.”

  Ray looked at his feet then out across an ocean which bore the brunt of last night’s storm. Its waters were murky and laden with debris.

  “How? What I did … what I said …” He faced the man.

  “It’s behind us.” Thomas tucked his hands in to his pockets.

  “How do you do it?” Ray kept his gaze on Thomas’s face.

  “What?”

  “Forgive so easily, or are you taking the piss?” Ray wasn’t sure any man could simply let go of shit the way Thomas seemed to be doing.

  “It’s not easy, and I can do it because more than anything, your pa wants his family whole again. If Pa believes in you, so do I.” Thomas smiled sincerely.

  “And Shelley?”

  “You know she hates you calling her that,” Thomas chastised lightly.

  “Sorry. But what about her? She still hates me. Can’t blame her though.” Ray kicked with his boot against the paved walkway.

  “You’re her brother. She doesn’t hate you, but it might take you a while longer to earn back her trust.”

  “Fair enough.” Ray shrugged. “Look, I’m already late. Is there anything you need from me or can I get to work?”

  “I’ll walk with you. Pretend I am someone you’re showing around. In the meantime, have you seen anything out of place?” Thomas waved in the direction they were heading before they stopped.

  Ray took a deep breath, and slid the happenings of the last twenty-four hours and his impending showdown with Ben to the back of his mind. “Man, now you mention it …” Ray made sure no one was in earshot as he told Thomas of the first night he’d arrived and seen the torch signalling. He told him about the scar and that he thought that perhaps Becky, the housemaid, had a similar marking on her arm, but that he wasn’t entirely sure.

  “Thanks for this.” Mina showed Rochelle to the guest room where she and Thomas would spend the next few nights.

  “No sweat, sister.” Rochelle smiled as she placed their suitcase against the wall and plonked down of the large king-sized bed, patting the area beside her. “You want to tell me what Ray and you got up to last night?”

  “Wh—me and—erm …” Heat exploded across her cheeks as she stuttered and looked everywhere except at the woman grinning back at her.

  “Sit.” Rochelle patted the bed again.

  Mina obeyed.

  “It was painted across both your faces, not to mention Lullu blurting it out to the world that she’d found her dad, and you were bringing him home.”

  “Arrg. That daughter of mine …” Mina groaned slapping her hands to her forehead.

  “Is every bit of what you’d get if you and Ray were put in a pot and stirred.” Rochelle laughed, and Mina couldn’t help but join in.

  “You’ll just have to settle things with Ben though,” Rochelle added, dampening their laughter.

  “What do you mean?” Mina bit her lip. If it was that obvious to an outsider, maybe her Ben problem was bigger than she thought.

  “He’s always had his sights set on you.” Rochelle bumped her shoulder against Mina’s.

  “Ja. I’ve had to put him in his place.” Shook her head then stilled a moment, “You don’t seem too upset about seeing Ray.” Mina changed the subject.

  Rochelle exhaled hard. “Don’t get me wrong—I still owe him a decent what for, and it’ll take me a long time to forget what he did to Pa, but … and I don’t say this lightly … the look on Pa’s face when he got home last Sunday, and the utter joy bubbling from your girl this morning? It’s enough to give me some hope of him …” She pursed her lips. “… improving. And you two seem to have moved on?”

  “Yes and no. We have a long ways to go. But now I have some poachers to catch first. I can’t afford another break-in and I still have no clue who the inside man could possibly be.” Mina stood. “I need a shower and some breakfast. Meet me in the kitchen. I think I might just put you to work too while you’re here. There’re a couple of inmates and my employees who could do with a good doctor, if that’s okay with you?” Mina hoped she hadn’t overstepped. She and Rochelle had always got on well but things were so over the top at the moment, she wasn’t sure where to grip or where to let go.

  “Of course! I brought along my bag and supplies. Had a feeling they might come in handy.”

  Alone at last!

  Mina hugged her coffee mug as she leaned back in her study chair and gazed out the window. Boesman stood grazing from his trough as though he’d caused not a drop of trouble the night before. The sky reflected a brilliant blue with all remaining storm clouds gone.

  She needed some space to deal with the hoard of rampaging emotions creating havoc in her heart and mind. What happened last night between her and Ray both excited and scared the living daylights out of her. She’d come so close to giving all of herself to him again, to breaking her promise to herself, but her body had exploded with memories and hunger. Thank God Lullu had been there, asleep, but present. But had Mina allowed herself to hope when there was none?

  There’d been no further exchange between her and Lullu about last night, or the fact that Ray was her father. Mina wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or potentially a bomb waiting to go off in her face.

  She decided to keep Lullu home from school after the night they’d had. But instead of resting up, her daughter had quickly glued herself to her aunty’s side and followed her to the camp. There was no point in keeping her away now.

  A soft knock on her door drew her away from her pondering. “Yup?”

  Thomas stepped inside. “Hey. You got a minute?”

  “Sure. You found something?” She waved for him to take a seat.

  Thomas closed the door and sat. “I have suspicions, but nothing solid, sorry.”

  “Ugh, you sound like Ben.” She wiped a hand down her face.

  “Ben?” Thomas cocked his head.

  “He’s been doing his own investigation on the side. Even got into a bar fight with some so-called gang member seen in town … anyway.” She crossed her legs and unfolded her arms. “I spoke to Abbe and the guy’s gone and no charges were laid, thank God.”

  “Did he mention who the bloke was?” Thomas stroked his chin with a thumb and index finger.

  Mina hesitated. “Jubejube.”

  Thomas’s lips pulled tight and his nostrils flared. “Hmm, not sure if that was a wise move on his part.” Thomas pulled a small notepad from his pocket and scribbled something in to it.

  “You obviously know of him.”
<
br />   “Yeah. A nasty piece of work, wiley, too. Never leaves enough evidence for anyone to make an arrest,” Thomas replied.

  “Well, you going to tell me what your angle is?” Mina placed her mug on the table. “Want one, by the way?”

  “Nah, all good, thanks. I don’t have an angle. It’s pretty straight forward except that I need to find the evidence and accomplices.” He placed the notebook and pen on her desk. “Tell me about your employees. Start with Ben, then with Becky and her son.”

  Mina straightened her back. “Ben’s a good man—how many times do I have to tell everyone? And why do you suspect my house manager?” Mina paused.

  “What?” Thomas asked.

  “Last night in the storm, Becky’d accused Lullu of kicking her. But Lullu swore she’d not seen her at all before going after Boesman.” Mina said.

  “It could be nothing. I’m sure everyone was stressed, or…” Thomas tapped an index finger on his chin.

  “Or? Why would she lie about it? I saw the bruise.” Mina shook her head, “It’s probably nothing.”

  Thomas sighed. “I don’t like to jump to conclusions. But this is a serious investigation; it’s a process. Speculation and fact finding.”

  Mina glanced out her window, then returned her attention to Thomas.

  “Okay. So is she a suspect?” Mina asked.

  Thomas’s shoulders rose and fell as he clasped his hands. “When I accompanied my niece to feed her horse this morning, neither of us could find any evidence of him having kicked the stable door out. The latch was still intact. Is the horse able to open it by himself?”

  “With that gelding, anything’s possible. I don’t know who would have let him out or why?” Mina found Thomas’s observation worrying. Perhaps Lullu had been so fraught she’d not remembered Becky being in the house…

  “Klein Piet was also supposed to be here.”

  “Where? In the house?” Thomas picked up his pen.

  “Yes. I told him not to go anywhere while I went down to check out the damage.”

  “Hmmm.” Thomas scribbled in his notebook.

  “Are you going to question them? I’d hate for us to be wrong. People take offense really easily these days.” Mina said.

  “It’s a good place to start. She is one, and possibly this Klein Piet.”

  “He’s her son.” Mina said. “But in all truth, I can’t see either of them being diabolical enough to pull something like that off.”

  “Then there’s Ben, who works closely at your side and knows your coming and goings. Your manager has a past. He’s kept his nose clean these last years, but … it’s logical. Also, have the police given you their report on their findings yet?”

  Mina nodded. “Makes sense. And yes. I printed it and …” Mina slid open her drawer where she’d placed the folder containing the police report, security company’s findings, and notes Ben had taken of eye-witness reports.

  She rummaged beneath the other manila folders.

  “What the …?” Mina bounced up off her chair and opened a cabinet of drawers behind her.

  “Something the matter?” Thomas rose from his seat.

  “Ja. I’m very organised when it comes to my admin. I know for a fact I left the folder … aah, what’s it doing in here?” Mina pulled the folder out from the back of the second drawer.

  “Could you have shoved it behind all the others files if you were in a rush?” Thomas walked around to where Mina was.

  “I would never do that.” She turned and placed the crumpled folder on her desk. “Someone’s been in here.”

  “There are the obvious suspects,” Thomas added as he flipped open the file.

  “Shit! The report, Ben’s notes … they’re gone. I did leave Klein Piet and Becky to look after Lullu last night. But I’m sure the house was left open and empty when Lullu ran off, so anyone could have come in.”

  “Deep breath, Mina.” Thomas patted her back. “Sit down.” He waved to her chair then walked over to the study door, placed his ear against it, then opened it abruptly.

  Mina eyes widened. “What the hell?”

  “Making sure we’re alone.” Thomas gently closed it and returned to his seat. “Now, what do you know about Becky’s son, Klein Piet?”

  12

  Ray sprinted the last fifty metres as he neared the end of the bay, slowed, and turned. It’d been a difficult and long day. He resolved to find time tomorrow to ask Mina if they, Lullu included, could have a sit-down session with Vestra.

  Their situation needed resolving and a decision made as to what the future held for all of them. Mina had quickly raised her wall this morning when they’d arrived back at the farmhouse, and he was no longer sure where he stood with her. Yes, she’d confessed she still loved him, and he’d never stopped loving her, but after all was said and done, was that all they needed to let go of the past?

  News of what had happened spread amongst the workers and inmates like wildfire, and everyone had walked a wide berth around him the entire day—everyone, that was, except for Ben, who’d gone out of his way to give Ray the shittiest jobs and chided him every chance he got.

  But this wasn’t his first rodeo. He could deal.

  What ate at him was the way the bloke had looked at Mina this morning when she and Thomas had intervened. He was in love with her. Not only was that a problem, but it had stirred the long-sleeping green monster within Ray.

  Was Mina involved with Ben? Was that the reason for her distancing herself? These were the questions he needed answers to so that he could move forward.

  A thick mist began to blow in off the ocean. Just beyond the next dune, Ray could make out a slight form. He picked up his pace, the mist cleared. Mina was strolling up the strand, her head bent forward, kicking her feet in the sand. She not yet seen him.

  He slowed as he neared her. Mina stopped and looked up. What Ray saw staring back at him, nailed him to a proverbial cross.

  “What’s wrong?” He trotted up to her, not thinking of anything but his need to chase away the thing hurting her. He cupped her face and searched her red-rimmed eyes for answers.

  Mina fell into him and began to weep. Tears soaked his skin and the sensation of her breasts pushing against his chest sent ripples of heat coursing through his veins.

  Ray sat them down on the sand and cradled her in his arms. He remained silent, allowing her to exorcise her emotions. The world turned, and the breeze continued to drift off the roaring ocean, and still, Ray cradled the only woman he’d ever love.

  After a while, Mina sniffed and pushed up from where she had lain against Ray’s chest. Using the hem of her dress, she wiped her face, giving Ray a glimpse of her inner thigh.

  Ray forced himself to look away.

  “I’m sorry.” She sniffed.

  “What happened?” he asked, tucking a wayward chocolate strand behind her ear.

  “Everything,.” She waved her hands in the air. “You! The fucking poachers, Ben Meintjies,” she blurted between sniffs and hiccups.

  The mention of Ben’s name drove a spike deep into Ray’s soul.

  “I’m sorry.” Ray wasn’t sure if that was what she needed, but he meant it.

  “Fuck you, Ray. Sorry doesn’t even begin to fix it.” She slapped his arm.

  “I deserve that.”

  Mina looked him in the eye, her gaze soft and warm. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to sob again. “It must have been so hard for you. I’m sorry I didn’t try harder … Should have told you … I should have…”

  Years of raw emotions burned their way up Ray’s throat and bulged in his neck.

  He swallowed hard, and his voice broke when he replied, “Should-haves and could-haves are irrelevant. We are here now. Life brought us back together for whatever reason. We have this amazing daughter you raised on your own. You have a life that’s better than any I could have provided …”

  “Oh, bullshit!” Mina leaned back, her eyes puffy but angry. “It should have been a l
ife with you! That was all I ever wanted, Ray. Why are women forced to believe that they have to make it on their own? Be tough, be trendsetters, make no room for a decent partner to love and be loved by or they’re failures, weak, and oppressed. With you, I was everything I wanted to be. I love that there are strong female figures out there for my daughter to look up to, but I just wanted to be yours!” Her hands gripped his shoulders and shook.

  All coherent words and thoughts fled Ray’s mind in that moment. Surely this was a dream. He pinched himself. “Eina!”

  “What did you go and do that for?” Mina laughed. God, what a sound. Deep-bellied and joy-filled—how much he’d missed her.

  “Thought I might be having one of those dreams again.” He shifted in the sand to relieve the pressure of his trainer pushing into his thigh.

  “Ah. Yeah, I’ve been having some too.” A cheeky grin opened up on her face. “Do yours go something like this?” She leaned in and pushed her lips against his.

  Ray didn’t have to be asked twice. He gripped Mina by the hips and turned her so that she straddled him. Her hands roamed his back and came to rest on his chest as her tongue plundered his mouth. Ray fumbled searching for the edge of her knee-length summer dress. His hands scrunched the fabric until it sat bunched around her hips and then he paused.

  Leaning back, he faced her confused expression. “Baby. I’m not sure we’re …”

  “Shh.” She placed an index finger on his mouth as her other hand dove between his legs.

  “I don’t have a condom.”

  Mina blushed as she bit her bottom lip. Her innocent gaze caused his need to push uncomfortably against his shorts.

  “Then we’ll just have to make do.” She wiggled down his lap, but Ray stopped her.

  “Baby, are you sure? You’re overwhelmed, and vulnerable and—”

  “I’m a grown woman. Last night, I was vulnerable. Right now … I need you.” She tugged at his shorts, her hungry consent rocking his world off its axis.

  His hard-on jumped from its restraints as Mina leaned forward, taking it in her hands. “Fuck, I missed you.”