Sally's Destiny - A short story of Love and Romance in the Scottish Highlands (7 page)

Roberts
heart soared at the news – He could not have borne it if she had rejected him at this point in their new relationship.
He put her belongings in the boot of Tom’s car, and turned to her.

“Sally, I’m truly sorry you had to hear all that. I’d quite understand it if you never wanted to see me again!”

“Spoken like a true man! Really…Get back inside and comfort your mother – there will be a solution to this I can promise you!”

Tom, oblivious to the drama that had unfolded,
peeped
his horn as he drove Sally out
of
the courtyard and
towards his own house just a short journey away.

Sally arrived at her friends just ten minutes later, and Elizabeth rushed out the door to meet her. They stayed on one of the Rothiemurchus Estate cottages, which
was
solid built of granite under a pitched slate roof; which was covered with about a foot of snow – a testament to the good insulating in the roof space.

“Sally!” exclaimed Elizabeth excitedly as she got out of the car. “It’s so good to see you!” She rushed forward and embraced her friend, as Tom got the belongings out of the car.

“Come in quickly, out of the cold – I think it’s going to be a real freezer tonight!”

Elizabeth chattered away as they all got inside and closed the door behind them.

“Come on through to the lounge, Tom will take your gear into the spare room – won’t you Tom?”

“Oh
yes
..
I’m
here to serve after all!”
he said with a smile
.

“Right Sally…what’s wrong?” She looked straight at her friend with her eyebrows arched, as soon as Tom had left the room.

“Wrong? Why there is nothing wrong I’m just….”

“Out with it!
I know you well enough to know that something is bothering you – is it something to do with Robert perhaps?”

“Well, ok…yes it is…but it’s not what you think!” She said defensively when Elizabeth gave her a triumphant look.

“Ha, ok…I’m all ears; spill it!”

“Oh Elizabeth, you know I’m hopeless with secrets!”

“Yes I do – that’s why I’m asking you to spill the beans!”

“Well if I do you must promise me you will tell no-one!”

“Tell no-one what exactly?” Tom said as he came back into the room.

“
Aarrgg
…see what I mean – now Tom’s in on it!”

“Ha
ha
, I don’t even know what ‘it’ is yet! Why don’t you illuminate me?”

Sally gave an exasperated sigh.

“Ok Tom; both of you – not a word, ok?”

They both nodded there ascent, and Sally told them what had just happened over at Roberts cabin.

Tom was the first to speak up. “Well we knew that things were not good – we’ve known Robert and his mum for many years. Since he works alongside me, he has shared some of his concerns, but by no means everything; he is a very proud man and not likely to ask for help – especially when he feels he is to blame.”

“Which of course, in a way he is!” Opined Elizabeth. “Albeit under mitigating circumstances it’s true – who knows how any of us would deal with the loss of a loved one; it’s too horrific to think about.” She leaned across to take Tom’s hand.

They chatted about the problem for a while, without finding any obvious solutions. Eventually the conversation turned to the other events around the Cabin; Sally getting particularly animated when she spoke of Romeo, and her trip through the forest trail. She left out all but the most basic details of the encounter later in the stable; but it was enough to peak Elizabeth’s interest.

“Hey
hey
, just lets go back a step there…so you had a ‘snuggle’ in the stable did you!”

Sally blushed, wishing that she had never mentioned it.

“It was nothing
really,
don’t make a big deal off it please!” She tried to be stern, but she could not help a large grin from spreading over her face.

“Sally! How could you?” Elizabeth feigned shock and horror, but at the same time was tremendously pleased for them both; being well aware of their individual situations and love-less lives.

“
Wellll
…you know how it is...”

Tom burst out laughing. “Well I think it’s great – personally I think that a real good ‘seeing too’ was well over-due for you both!”

“TOM!”
Elizabeth scalded – that’s enough from you; have you not got anything to do, like clean out the chicken pen or something?”

“Ok, I get the hint – I’ll away upstairs for a while and get that paperwork done!” He wandered of
f
chuckling to himself.

“Men!
Completely lacking in tact.” Elizabeth however looked fondly after
the retreating figure of
Tom, as he left the room.

“Well at the risk of sounding like a right hooker – he was probably right!” said Sally laughing.

They both shared the joke,
then
Elizabeth reached across the table to hold Sally’s hand.

“Sally dear…I hate bring this up and risk spoiling your fun – but are you sure of Robert? I mean, it all seems to be going a bit fast don’t you think?”

“You’re absolutely right Elizabeth; but the fact is that I’m totally smitten by him. I can’t explain it myself, but it’s like I have been waiting for him all my life
– goodness, we’re almost finishing one another’s sentences already!”

Elizabeth squeezed her
friends
hands tighter as a tear welled in her eye.

“Stop it now…I will be crying myself if you carry on any further!”

Sally held her tears in check, as she continued to talk about Robert, and the bond that had sprouted up between them. Not only that, but the friendship that had blossomed immediately with his mother Agnes, that was nothing short of amazing – caused her to believe that fate, or God had truly drawn them together; just as Agnes herself had suggested.

A while later, and with Sally just about exhausted by all the talk; Tom wandered back in to the kitche
n
.

“What…I don’t believe it; is there no supper ready yet! You pair of wastrels
are leaving a good man to go hungry here!” He smiled at them both.

“
Och
Tom. I’m
sorry, it is later than I realised. How do you fancy going down to the Pizza restaurant and get us all a Pizza?”

“I suppose that was more of a command than a suggestion?” he winked at Sally
, who smiled sweetly back
. “Ok then, what do you fancy?”

They both gave him their orders, and he grabbed his jacket before striding out the door into the winter’s night.

He returned 30 minutes later with their Pizzas, and they settled down by the fire; pizzas on their laps, with a glass of Chevalier de Bayard, a beautiful smooth-as-silk red wine that they all loved.
As the wine flowed, so did the conversation and it
was an exhausted Sally that finally went to bed just after 1am
,
with her mind reeling over what was to be done regarding her
dilemma with Robert and Agnes.

******

Sally tossed and turned all night, and even
after a shower, looked terrible
when she finally appeared at the breakfast table.

“Good morning Sally.”
Piped up Elizabeth.
“I won’t ask you if you slept well – You’re bleary eyes are a dead give-away!”

“Hmm, well your right. Never mind though. Is Tom away already?”

“Oh yes, he’s always off by 7am to get the men all sorted out with the days routine
.”

Sally took a sip from the hot mug of tea that Elizabeth had laid down for her.

Elizabeth looked sideways at her friend. “What would you like for breakfast? We have cereal or toast or even a fry-up if you like?”

“Actually just some
cornflakes
would be fine thanks
.”

Elizabeth brought her over a bowl of cornflakes, and they both sat down at the table, Sally with her hands still wrapped around the mug of tea.

“So
..have
you come to any decision regarding Robert?”

“Yes…I think I have; though I don’t know if he will accept my idea or not – as you say; he is a proud man.”

Sally went on to describe in detail, the plan that had come to her in the night, and what she intended to do.

“Well, I must admit it is a good plan – if perhaps very high risk for you on a number of levels! But if you are sure that’s what you want to do?” She raised her eyebrows questioningly.

“Yes, definitely; I have made my mind up and if Robert agrees – which I pray he will – then all will solved.”

Elizabeth knew her friend well enough to know when her mind was made up, so could only agree with her and hope it all went well.

Robert called at 3pm to say that the car was repaired
, and arranged to pick Sally up and take her over to the house to collect it. Shortly after the call, Roberts old Range Rover pulled into their drive.

“Well this is it Sally! I hope you get it all sorted out ok – and if you do, then please call me – perhaps we could all go out later and celebrate!  If not, then we can have a wake instead I suppose.” She said only half joking.

The kno
ck at the door announced his
arrival, and they put on a brave face to welcome him in.

“Robert, it’s good to see you again!” She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek.

“And you Elizabeth – can you believe the co-incidence of us all knowing one another? It’s almost spooky!”

“Oh good, at least he is not all morose about yesterday.
”
Thought Sally,
relieved to see Robert in quite a cheerful mood.

“Yes, it’s quite incredible – and you seem to have made a good impression on this impressionable yo
ung lady here!”
Joked Elizabeth
.

Robert stepped forward and kissed Sally lightly on the lips.

“Oh please! Get yourself a room!” She laughed delightedly at them both.

“Your chariot awaits my Lady!” He made a wide sweeping motion with his arm, and they both headed for the door. Sally giving her friend ‘the look’ with eyebrows
raised
.

“Good luck.”
Elizabeth mouthed silently when only Sally was looking.

They both headed off towards the log cabin that she was calling ‘home’ already.

“So how did you get on with Tom and Elizabeth – did you have a good evening?”

“Yes we did actually, though I wished you could have been there with me.”

“They are a great
couple,
I’m owe them both many times over for sticking with me during the ‘lost years.’ Tom especially has been like an older brother to me.”

“Yes I can imagine. The two of you are very alike, except for about 70 pounds or so!” They both laughed at that, for Tom made Robert look like a ‘racing snake’ by comparison.

They were almost at the house when Sally decided to broach the subject of money, and her solution to the problem.

“Robert, I have an idea I would like to discuss with you and Agnes regarding your predicament?”

“Predicament
?..
Oh, yes that. Don’t you even think about it Sally, I’ll find a way out of it somehow.” He said with a hint of exasperation.

“Well you see that’s just the thing – I can’t stop thinking about it; in fact I lay awake half the night thinking about it!”

“Yes but
..”

“Never mind the ‘but.’
I have a plan that I think will work out – first of all however I have a major stumbling block to cross…and that I think, is going to be YOU!”

“Me? How on earth…”

“
Sshhtt
!
Lets
just get around the table with Agnes and I will tell you all about it.”

Robert looked across bemused at this new authoritative woman sat across from him, as they turned into the driveway. The hire car was sitting out front, with the window all repaired, and with only a slightly damaged front wing.

“Oh, that’s great – mobile again!”

“Yes, but try not to break it this time!”
Piped up Robert.

They headed over to the car, where Sally took just a cursory look at it before announcing.

“Right
..
lets
get this over with!”

Robert dragged his heels slightly as he approached the door, Sally’s warning about him being a ‘stumbling block’ ringing in his ear.