“So you’re awake already. Did you sleep alright?” Robert asked.
Sally reached over and kissed him lightly on the lips. “yes I did my love. I usually awaken early, and go for a walk if the weather is nice; but that’s kind of scuppered now isn’t it!”
“Never mind; it’ll only be for a short while I’m sure. Something tells me that the poachers are reaching the end of the line. Your new information has served to stir things up, so that now the ‘big guns’ like Sir Malcolm are taking an active role in the search.”
“Yes, well…I wouldn’t like to think I’m going to be locked indoors for the rest of the summer!” Sally said despondently.
“No chance! I’m confident we will find them soon – meanwhile how about some breakfast?”
“Yes, It’s that time I suppose.” She said, as she made to get out of bed.
“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 boss - 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 Sally?” Agnes gave Sally a mischievous 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 Poachers 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, despite 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.
******
Chapter 8
As Robert got a glass of cold water, and Sally fussed over her; Agnes explained with a tremulous voice the 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 l
ocked 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!”
“Brandon, 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 this time there will be no interference from do-good citizens!”
She struggled to get out of his grasp, only to feel a blow to the side of her head that caused her to see little bright shining lights – before the blackness overtook her and she slipped into unconsciousness.
The sun was high in the sky when she gradually awoke; the pain in her head, a terrible reminder that all was not well. With a shock she realised that she was standing up – but she could not move. Struggling mentally to understand what was happening, she realised that she was tied to a tree with her hands tied to branches above her and her legs fixed apart -ankles anchored to spikes sunk into the soft earth. The greatest shock however was still to come – she had been stripped naked!
“Ah, so my sleeping beauty awakes does she? Good now perhaps we can get this show on the road! As you can see I have prepared the table for the feast – and now at last the banquet can begin!”
“Brandon please….” Sally wailed, stricken by terror. She screamed aloud as he approached her with lust burning in his mad eyes.
“Now now my dear, we really can’t have that – you might frighten the locals!” He said, pushing a cloth that smelled of rancid sweat into her mouth.
“I was going to try the drug again. “ He spoke in a calm almost conversational voice. “then I thought, what the heck – it might be good to actually get some ‘feedback’ from a girl for a change!”
He ran his sweating hand over her naked breast, pinching a nipple painfully; causing Sally to scream into her gag, and wriggle against the tree. She felt the rough bark tear against her smooth buttocks, adding more pain and humiliation to the whole nightmare.
She closed her eyes, and prayed harder than she had ever prayed in her life – the prayer of the desperate and fearful.
“Oh yes….” Brandon said with a voice cracking pent-up lust. “This I am really going to….”
The sudden snap of a branch, caused him to spin around – and come face-to-face with two strangers.
They stood stunned at the sight before them. One was an older grizzled looking man, and the other a resembled a Grizzly Bear to Brandon’s astonished eyes.
The Brandon noticed another fine detail – the older man was aiming a fully loaded crossbow straight at him, the noonday sun gleaming off its wicked barb.
Attracted by the scream, they had sneaked up with the stealth of their trade; and came across the sight of a naked woman bound and gagged and tried naked to a tree; obviously being tortured by a sadist. It was a sight that they least expected to see in the quiet woods surrounding Loch Morlich; and one that chilled the hearts of them both.
“Just you step away from the girl mister, or so help me I’ll send this arrow straight through your miserable liver!”
Brandon did as he was told, eyes fleeting panic-stricken between the wicked point of the arrow, and the possibility of escape.
“Frank, grab hold of that bastard before he gets away will you?”
Frank strode over to Brandon - with an agility that was unusual for such a large man - and planted an uppercut from a closed fist resembling a ham-end, under Brandon’s chin, lifting him clean off his feet, to end up lying stunned amongst the bracken.
“Shit Frank, I said grab hold of him; you might have bloody killed him!”
“Would have been no more than he deserved – the dirty bastard!”
Frank replied in a voice that brooked no argument.
“Now don’t you worry miss!” The older of the two said as he rushed up to put his jacket over Sally’s naked body. “My name is John, and this here’s Frank. We’ll get you down from her
e in no time!
Sally fell crying with shame and relief into John’s arms, just as a crash in the undergrowth announced the arrival of Robert with a young police officer!
******
Chapter 9
Robert rushed into the clearing and let out a roar of fury, as he tried to take in the scene before him. An obviously naked Sally, half covered by an old jacket, being held by two men that resembled the descriptions of the poachers they had been hunting. Another man lay semi-conscious in the bracken.
“ROBERT STOP!” Sally managed to cry out. “These men just saved me from this pervert!” She said pointing down to Brandon; who was now awakening to the sound of his own broken teeth crunching in his bloody mouth.
Robert rushed over and took Sally carefully in his arms. “My love, are you hurt at all?” he managed. “We’ve been searching for you for the last couple of hours, We’ve all been frantic!”
“But how did you know?” Sally asked him tearfully.
“I forgot my blessed mobile phone and returned to get it. The lights were all on in the house, but there was no sign of you. When I went down to the stable Romeo had just about kicked the doors off! I knew something had happened and immediately made a few calls .
We’ve been out scouring the woods ever since I saw a piece of your torn skirt in the brambles by the side of the trail.”
The police officer spoke out as John and Frank edged towards the woods.
“Now then you two. I think it’s fairly obvious who you are! However it looks like you have done a great service here in stopping this gentleman – he glared down at Brandon.”
John and Frank looked ready to bolt.
“Dad!” John stopped in his tracks, and looked quizzically over towards Robert.
“You don’t recognize me do you?” He said.
John looked closer, as the realization struck him.
“Robert? Surely not I.....” He closed his mouth, dumbstruck.
“Yes It’s me, your son that you abandoned thirty years ago!” Robert said through a jaw set tight by emotion.
Sally’s Wedding: Book 3 Of A Contemporary Romance Short Story Series Page 4
