Free Hell and Determination by kathleen Davies

food in her dish her mind obviously else were.” Okay spit it out’ he declared” I know when something's troubling ya.”
“Ok -been offered an apartment at the Macaba.”
“Great, why the worried expression?
“You don’t mind?  What have I done to deserve you Ben Gibbs. Have you decided what you’re going to do? I know you can’t settle in the city.”
Ben clasped her hand,” listen I have a business the logging company belongs to me has much as Brandon, Pa left it to us both with the understanding we watched out for Mike, he must have realized little brother would need to be cared for. I must go back for your sake as well as mine.”
    “I thought you fancied the states.  Why the sudden change.
Ben didn’t answer, as much has he cared for Jo he needed to sort out his own problems.
“I’ve been thinking those friends of yours back in Seattle, If I called in to explain our situation do you think we could correspond using their address.”
       Jo sat thoughtfully recalling the day she left Seattle, unsure of what Betsy and Jack would think of her now after the way she left that frightful day.” You could talk to them, please explain how sorry I am to have left the way I did, they are good folk and didn't deserve what I did.”
Ben understood, that Brother of his could cause anyone to shake in their breeches the no good son of a bitch. “Not a word to your folk, no doubt he’ll have convinced your Pa where an item.”

                                                CHAPTER TEN
“Afternoon Jo is this new recruit?  It is- Suzy meet Earl he as an eye for all the women.”
“She’s only jealous because I’ve not asked her out yet.”
Earle teased with a smile that stretched from ear to ear and his shoulder length hair falling over his brow.
“It’s only because he already knows the answer,” with a casual wink in Suzy’s direction. “Make her feel at home I’ll catch up with you later.”

              That evening she flicked through the channels nothing appealed to her. She had become wise over the last two and a half years only letting her head touch the pillows when sleep was almost upon her it didn't prevent the nightmares that were still so frequent , It had become the only way to banish any unwanted notions.
            Wrapped in her fluffy dressing gown she withdrew Bens letters from her desk carried the small bundle to her bedroom making herself comfortable, his last letter she had turned over and over in her mind.
            Hi baby hear your doing  just fine, feeling rather lonesome with only the mountains for company not seen hide nor hair of that bastard since his sudden departure. Had a good talk with your Pa, Giles backed me up? So seems at long last we're getting somewhere found Mike in tears the other night apparently it was relief ,he feared Brandon -isn't that a surprise.
Would like nothing more than close this chapter in our lives as far as he’s concerned but who knows what he’s got up his sleeve. Betsy reckons it’s time to meet your Pa .I’m not so sure it’s a good idea to get her involved just yet, he’s out there somewhere and so far so good we have managed to keep your whereabouts a secret.
          For how long Jo thought, and what the hell was he up too. Ben had guts going back the way he did to face his brother and from what she had been informed the company would have gone bust without his help. Brandon had gone crazy shouting abuse at anyone who cared to listen till the men eventually downed tools, swearing not to return till Ben had taken over, well -so he had and hoped to make it legal.

                Totally engrossed in the new contraption that Gillian had imposed on her she carefully followed the instructions to the letter, a list as long as her arm lay on the desk before her, names and numbers of all the