Sally's Destiny - A short story of Love and Romance in the Scottish Highlands (6 page)

“Here we are – welcome to my home-from-home!” he pulled out a chair and dusted it down for Sally.

“This is where I do some of the estate work.” He said. “It’s what we would call a ‘Bothy.’ Somewhere to do some fixing-up, and to have our lunch if the weather is bad – which is most of the time here in Aviemore!” he joked.

Sally opened up the bag with the flask and sandwiches; poured them both a coffee and handed a sandwich to Robert.

“Ah, cheese a
nd ham
– my favourite!”
He said, biting hungrily into the wholemeal bread, and taking a mouthful of the hot coffee.

They both sat, happy in
each other’s
company, and shared things about their own lives and jobs, hobbies and interests.
Sally laughed delightedly when Robert told her one of his favourite musicians was John Denver. He in turn ribbing her
,
when she
confessed
she
used to have a crush on
Donny Osmond!
In no time at all the coffee was gone, and they were shocked to see more than two hours had passed in the blink of an eye.

“Ouch
!...
look at the time! Poor Romeo will be frozen – and Agnes will be thinking we’re lost in a snow-drift!”

“I can’t believe that is the time already!”
Said Sally as she picked up her things.”
Though I must admit I’m getting a bit chilled myself!”

They both headed out to the side of the shed where Romeo gave them a
reproving
look
, as well as
neighing and stamping his feet.

“Ok big man – we’re here now!
Let’s
get this show on the road.”

He placed an old crate beside Romeo,
then
jumped up on his back.

“Right Sally, jump up on the crate and I’ll lift you up.”

They were soon heading back down the track, in the direction of home; Romeo happy to get moving again, and no doubt looking forward to his dry stable and a meal of bruised oats laced with molasses.

The journey back seemed to be quicker to Sally; who was enjoying the same warm sensations sitting astride
the wide back of the
horse
, that
she had on the way out.

“I really am terrible!”
She thought to herself as she unconsciously tightened her legs against Robert; while at the same time pressing her breasts against his back as she hugged him tighter.

“ I
hope you don’t mind Robert – I’m freezing here
!” She lied.

“Why would I mind?” He said cheekily. “It’s not every day that I get a hot babe wrapping herself around me!”

She gave him a playful slap on the head, as the sturdy horse plodded on down the track.

It seemed no time at all when they arrived in the courtyard; and Sally was wondering just what on earth she was going to do wit
h her new love-interest. “More to the point – what is he going to do?”

Robert led the big horse up to the stable and jumped down, then led horse and Sally into the warmth of the old timber building.

Tying Romeo’s reigns to a post, he reached up for her and she jumped down; stumbling and almost falling on the straw covered floor. Robert however managed to catch her in his strong arms, and pulling her close, their faces were only inches away. He could resist it no longer, and kissed her full in the mouth, delighted when Sally responded by hungrily opening her mouth and surrendering herself to his unbridled passion.

Heart bursting with desire
he carried her over to the corner of the stable, and lay her down amongst the hay
that was piled up
as if waiting for them to return
.

“Are you sure you want to…”

She placed her finger across his mouth, and
no
dded,
eyes bright and expectant, as he looked down on her in the soft inviting hay.

“
I’ve never felt so sure of anything in my life Robert – Now, are you going to warm up your hands or what?” She responded cheekily as she opened her jacket and
unbuttoned her blouse to invite
him inside. Robert was right – she was not wearing a brassiere, and the sight of her heavy firm breasts – nipples erect both from the cold, and desire - served to enflame his passion even further as he knelt astride her.

They made love right there on a bed of hay, with Romeo munching away in the background on his bruised oats, and a tiny wren warbling its loud disapproval at the disturbance, from the rafters of the wooden shed.
It was a time that they
would
both
remember, in the years to come
when co
ld winter
days again appeared; and the hay was gathered in the barn awaiting the coming snows. A memory filled with love and longing; with the warmth and the security that can only be found in the arms of your sweetheart. A memory that will serve to comfort and delight those same lovers, when age and circumstance perhaps prohibit such
impromptu
erotic endeavours.

Finally
,
a
s they lay exhausted, entwined together in an embrace that encompassed both the physical and the spiritual; a distant call brought them back to the present.

“That’s Agnes….Quick, before she comes in and finds us like this!”

The speedily un-entangled themselves and were just dusting themselves down when Agnes stepped into the barn.

“Aha! Now there’s a guilty looking pair
of youngsters
if ever I saw them!” She exclaimed delightedly.

They both blushed furiously like two teenagers caught by their parents.

“Mum! Really….we
were
just getting Romeo ready for the night.”

At the sound of his name
,
Romeo loo
ked around at them dolefully.

“Oh yes…Romeo….He
he
he
. Anyway I just came to
say that I have made some tea
for us. Oh and Elizabeth called earlier for you Sally.” She sniggered to herself as she turned around and headed back to the cabin.

They only just
realised that it was now dark outside. “Time really does fly when you’re enjoying yourself doesn’t it Robert!” Said a contented-looking Sally
;
grinning from ear to ear.

“Lord…I would have been mortified if she had walked in on us; aarrgg just imagine….Anyway, give me a kiss and get your pretty tail back to the cabin, while I sort out Romeo for the night.”

Sally gave him a light slap on the cheek instead.  “Pretty tail indeed!” and she walked away swinging her hips in
an
hilarious attempt at being sexy.

“Keep at it with these Samba lessons, precious!” Robert called after her – to receive a raised little finger as an answer.

******

Sally
crossed the short distance to the cabin, her mind racing with the events of the past two days.

“Who would believe that your life could change so much in just a couple of days.”
She thought to herself.
“Just yesterday I was on my own, with no prospect of love or happiness, thoroughly miserable; and now my heart is racing with excitement over a man I hardly
know
– life is crazy!”

Agnes gave a greeting as she entered, and brought over a steaming cup of tea.

“Well, I’m so glad that you pair have hit-it-off!”
Agnes remarked with a mischievous look at
Sally
, who just smiled
and took hold of the cup,
unsure what to say.

“Seriously Sally – you are an answer to prayer. I haven’t seen Robert so happy in years.”

“Well Agnes, I have to be honest with you.
I’ve totally fallen for him – I’m a bit shell-shocked by it all if I’m truthful. It’s the last thing I expected when I booked my flight to come over here.”

“That’s fantastic!” Agnes replied, just as the door opened and Robert walked in.

“Ok, what’s fantastic?” He closed the door behind them – giving them both a look.

“Oh, I see…already the women are conspiring against me! Planning and organising my whole life I’ll bet!” He said playfully, as he went over to the teapot
shaking his head,
to pour himself a cuppa.

“Not at all Robert –
it’s
women’s talk, that’s all!”

“Aye right mum…I believe you
…
sort of!”

Sally spoke up. “Would it be alright to go for a shower Agnes, then I’ll call Elizabeth and get some things sorted
out.
”

“Certainly my dear, please treat the place as your own!”

As Sally headed for the shower-room, Robert spotted the envelope on the table.

“Is that what I think it is?” he asked.

“I’m afraid so
Robert,
and the news
is not good. It seems that the B
ank
are
determined to close down our loan facility, and force a sale on the house!”

Agnes burst into tears as the enormity of the situation hit her.

Robert placed his arms around her, sharing in the grief as he too fought to keep away the tears.

“ Agnes
I wondered if I might borrow some….” Sally stopped mid-sentence as she walked in on the scene.

“Oh Sally dear!” Agnes sniffed reaching for the handkerchiefs. “Don’t you worry yourself – We have just had some bad news that’s all – it’s nothing for you to concern yourself about …really!”

Sally was having none of it however, and rushed up to Agnes, putting her arms around her
; which only served to bring forth another bout of tears.

Robert strode tight-lipped to the door and marched out into the night.

“Oh Agnes, tell me what it is please – is there anything I can do at all?”

“Really Sally; it’s all too humiliating – and Robert would be furious if I told you.”

“AGNES! – for once, please forget what Robert thinks – I want to help, if I can”

“Well, I will tell you the basics, Robert can let you know the details if you still want to know them, and if he thinks
it’s
alright!” She sniffed.

Sitting down at the table she told Sally that they had gotten into financial trouble, and it now looked like they were going to lose the house that had been her home
for the last 30 years.

“
Roberts
father got a job working abroad, when he was only 5 years old. For a while he sent payments back so I was able to pay the bills, but gradually over the months they whittled away then finally stopped altogether. We only had a tiny mortgage on the house, so I was able to pay the bills working part-time as a cleaner, and other small jobs. It wasn’t easy but we survived.

Anyway, recently I’ve let things get out of hand – and now they are taking my home from me.” Tears welled up in her eyes and she reached for the handkerchiefs again.

Sally was horrified, and sat dumb-struck at the news.

Robert meanwhile had come back in without them noticing.

“What my mother doesn’t tell you Sally….is that it’s
all my
fault!”

“Robert! Please
..”

“No mum, she might as well know what a loser she has got herself involved with! My mother had to re-mortgage the house to pay off the
drinking and gambling
debts that I ran up, during my ‘leave of
absence
’ from the world at large.

Now with the property value crash, the house is hardly worth what we have borrowed against it. On top of this it is an interest-only mortgage, which no longer exists. The
bank are
now insisting that we change it to a part-and-part
mortgage, which doubles the re-payments. We can’t pay - I’ve screwed up major-league!” He finished miserably.

“But surely they can’t just kick you out like that?” Sally said, shocked to the core.

“Ha, just watch them! They will put the house up for auction and take whatever price they can get for it – we will then be left to repay the rest of the debt!” He wandered off to the lounge, face downcast and thoroughly miserable.

It was a deflated and
despondent
Sally that
ca
lled her friend Elizabeth
and arranged to
go over
that night.
She gathered up her belongings, and with a heavy heart said her farewells to Agnes and Robert – who promised to call her as soon as the car was repaired; most likely the next day.

She kissed Robert full on the lips, as he led her out to the car where Tom was waiting patiently, and promised him that this changed nothing;
even though they had just met –she thought the world of him
and would help in any way she could.