Sally’s Return: 2nd Book in this Romance Short Story Series

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Book: Sally’s Return: 2nd Book in this Romance Short Story Series by A. J. Temple Read Free Book Online
Authors: A. J. Temple
had collapsed over the winter – allowing the Red deer to ravage the young conifers. However he had been at a Ceilidh the previous night, and his head felt as though it was crushed in the jaws of a vice.
    The fact was that he had been drinking just a little bit more than he should be off late, and he swore to himself yet again that enough was enough – for the umpteenth time.
    His mind wandered as it always did when he first awoke, to Sally, and how she was doing. An ache of longing welled up inside him, as he mentally counted down the days to her coming ‘home’ and the pure joy of having her in his arms once again.
    With that thought to encourage him, he quickly jumped into the shower and headed off for a quick breakfast of salted porridge. “Sally would just hate that!” He thought chuckling, as he remembered that she liked sweet breakfasts such as waffles with maple syrup; or stewed fruit and cream.
    “Ah, so you decided to get up after all!” Said Agnes, with a smile. “I suppose your head is a bit the worst for wear this morning is it?”
    “Nothing that a good breakfast won’t sort out mum!” Said Robert good naturedly, as his mother served up the porridge.
    Agnes looked at her son and pride welled in her heart once again, as she thought of the change in him since his encounter with the young American girl from Wisconsin – a place she never even knew existed until recently. Up until that time he had been a total wreck, and she had worried about him constantly; now he was like a totally new man. She thanked God again for the car wreck that had brought them together the previous Christmas.
    “So how was the Ceilidh, did Tom and Elizabeth turn up?” She asked him.
    “The Ceilidh was great, and yes, Tom and Elizabeth did turn up, though they did not stay very long, Elizabeth was not feeling too well I think.”
    “Oh, that’s not very great; I’ll call later and see how she is.”
    “Yes, that would be good, though Tom will be working with me today, so I’ll find out some more maybe.”
    Robert quickly finished his breakfast and headed out into the cold spring morning. The Loch An Eilein Estate needed constant maintaining as it was a real ‘hive of activity’ offering everything from fishing to quad-biking as well as holiday accommodation in and around Aviemore. As such there was a huge dedicated staff employed to make sure that the whole enterprise ran like a well-oiled machine; and Robert was just one of the many Foresters employed to maintain the forest and the many trails around the estate.
    The previous winter had been quite severe, and a number of fences had been brought down by the weight of the snow, allowing the predations of red deer and rabbits into areas otherwise out-of-bounds.
    This morning’s work was at Loch An Eilein itself; a favourite picnic spot in the summer, and a place of outstanding natural beauty.
    He planned to row Sally out to the old 13c Castle ruin that stood forlorn and derelict, on a small island in the middle of the loch. A reminder of perhaps darker more violent times; when it was used as a place of refuge and defence from marauding bands of renegades or opposing clans, but which was now regarded as one of the most romantic spots in the whole of the highlands.
    He slipped slightly on the wet steps leading from the cabin, as he headed for the 4 x 4 parked nearby. He had just jumped into the driver’s seat, when a voice called out.
    “ROBERT!” It was Agnes calling from the front door of the chalet.
    “You’ve forgotten your piece laddie!” She waved the pack with his sandwiches in the air, as she rushed down the steps.
    Too late, Robert called out to her to watch her feet on the slippery steps. Then, as if in slow motion, Agnes lost her footing and somersaulted backwards, arms flailing for support, her head making a gut-wrenching sound as it made firm contact with the solid top step.
    The world seemed to freeze as Robert stared on aghast, for just a few moments,

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