Hell and Determination (12 page)

Her Jeep was parked just beyond the bridge away from the drifts, Barnaby slowly followed frolicking about in the soft snow, she placed the key in the lock and turned to shout when a powerful grip grabbed the top of her arm, She froze in terror at the revenge she saw in those eyes such tortured pain, panicking she tried to break free, his piercing gaze held hers as he held her over the bridge nothing but murder in his cold stare, the raging river roared beneath them, she screamed as she realized his intentions, she was slipping over the wet rail, with all the power in her body she clung to the red check lumberjack shirt feeling her grip slowly sliding down the soft wet fabric till she could hold on no longer.

Barnaby pounced knocking his opponent into the freezing current,
snapping the rail in two before diving in himself in search of his mistress.

Alarm bells started to ring when Ben arrived home gone five, the cabin in darkness; He rang Betsy furious that Jo could stay out so late not respecting the danger of the mountain passes. Betsy co
nfirmed she had tried to get in touch, though couldn’t get an answer. He phoned Broughton who confirmed she left at three. He was about to phone Lydia when Broughton rang back saying her Jeep had been spotted near the bridge. Jo was nowhere in sight and neither was Barnaby.

Ben approached the bridge praying his wife had taken the dog for a stroll, though common sense put the fear of God in him.
The keys where in the lock, he couldn’t think straight he yelled her name like a man stricken then noticed the broken rail. His screams alerted the Staff and guest, his eyes desperately combed the river, like a man possessed he ran back and forth along the raging river bed calling her name and praying to God his assumptions where wrong.

Sirens echoed along the mountain trail, Jake stood transfixed to the spot trying to come to terms with
the commotion around him, Giles wrestled with his brother-in –law trying to console him, fear distorting his face as one of the mountain police found fragments of Jo’s fur collar.

Ben was persuaded to go indoors surrounded by Family they waited for any news of his
wife, Betsy stayed home comforted by Jack, tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she stood over the sleeping child who appeared oblivious to anything going on around him.

A severe frost had covered the valley that night the search called of till daylight, was now resumed with half the town and all the work force from the timber yard, searching the river bed
, Ben, Jake, Giles and Mike stayed close together, mid-day Brandon’s body was discovered in the bracken way down the river bed.

Bens fears confirmed as he identified the body of his brother, Mike wept taking in the scene before him, his heart going out to his only surviving brother
trying to come to terms with the cruel way fate had turned their lives around.

Ben glanced towards the grey sky aware of the remaining hours of daylight; Jake was rambling through the pines close to the river bed. The pitiful howling
from the bracken up ahead turned their stomach, Jake was the first to arrive and what he saw that day would be remembered for the rest of his life.

The shivering body of Barnaby
lying over the body of his mistress, “for God’s sake get an ambulance” he yelled, “She’s alive.” Ben scramble to witness the scene, taking in the picture of his wife’s frozen body unconscious but alive, he cradled her head in his lap, afraid to move her in case anything was broken, where the hell is everybody Jake screamed, Mike wrapping his big coat around the shivering but highly delighted Barnaby, Praising him for his good deed.

Paramedics hurried down the mountain track
, folk from all around coming to terms with the relief that flowed through the valley. “Her arms broken so is her ankle, severe concussion,” the paramedic announced before securing her neck ready to lift her on the stretcher.

Ben sobbed with relief as he listened to the doc’s diagnosis, caressing the hand of his dear wife as her eyelids tried to focus on the scene around her.” Brandon
“Jo whispered, “He’s gone the rivers taken him”, Ben consoled, “try and get some rest, we want you home for Christmas.

Jo arrived home the week before Christmas, to the delight of Ben and Jacob, Barnaby ran around in circles, tail wagging causing such a demonstration, “wonder what’s been going through his mind” Ben asked trying to protect his wife’s broken arm, “all the time you’ve been away, he’s moped around
.”

“Did you tell him I was coming home,” Jo answered. Adorning the sight of her husband with their son in his arms, Ben smiled in that unforgettable way. And for the hundredth time she realized how blessed she was to be able to live their lives without
fear of Brandon’s return, as for Mike and Ben they supposed they would always struggle to come to terms with their brothers evil ways. On his head stone they had written to a troubled sole, rest in peace.

In my own words.

Hi born in Standish
wigan Lancs

Published my first book The Unforeseen in March 2012.

Worked as a carer for many years before

Retiring
to publish my first novel.

Here is my second.
Hell and Determination, hope you all enjoy. Many thanks Kath.

Please remember feedback is important.

Bless you all.