Sally’s Return
2nd Book in this Romance Short Story Series
By
A. J. Temple
www.ajtemple.com
Published By
DeanburnPublications.com
Books Included In This Series:
Book 1. Sally’s Destiny:
Book 2. Sally’s Return:
Book 3. Sally’s Wedding:
Book 4. Sally’s Honeymoon
.
Book 4a. Sally’s Life – The Story So Far: 4 Book Bundle
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Copyright Notice:
Copyright 2012, A J Temple
All rights reserved. Copyright protected. Duplicating, reprinting or distributing this material in any way and for any purpose, without the express written consent of the author is prohibited.
All characters, events and places are fictional, and any resemblance to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Chapter 1
It was 7.30 am as Sally made her way through the hectic press office to get behind her desk, and file her report to her impatient boss. She was totally fed up with this assignment, which was a dead-end story going to nowheresville. The sad truth was that no-one really cared about some homeless man getting beat-up! People had just stepped over him in the street, rushing about their own business, far too busy to play the good Samaritan. The interesting part came however when it was pointed out that this was no ordinary bum, but the son of a local politician.
It had seemed quite promising at first, with the tantalising smell of scandal written all over it. News from the top however, was that it was to be shelved; “A friend of the editor in chief no doubt.” Thought Sally.
Never mind, she could not really care at this particular moment in time; she was desperately wanting to end with this agreement and get back to her fiancé in Scotland.
“Morning Sally.” The voice of her colleague Brandon, awoke her from her reverie. “How are you this morning? You do look a little flustered, if you don’t mind me saying!”
“No Brandon, you’re quite right. I’m sure a good strong coffee would sort me out just fine though?” She looked at him with raised eyebrows.
He took the hint and headed off with a “Your wish is my command!” spoken over his shoulder.
Sally stared at his back as he headed off on his errand. He was a handsome young man, almost 6 foot tall and with a strong athletic build; and nearly ten years her junior. He had been with just about every single female in the office – and there were many; and now he had been forced onto Sally to train up for her position.
“Train him up for a couple of Months Sally, that’s all I ask of you – then you can get over to your new squeeze in Scotland!” Her editor had said. That was four months ago, and she was just about at the end of her patience.
Sure, Brandon was a keen understudy; the problem was that he was intent on getting her under him! “Not going to happen bub!” She said unconvincingly to herself, as he approached with the coffee.
“Here you are Sally, is there anything else I can do for you – maybe a shoulder massage?” He looked at her with innocent eyes.
“Keep dreaming Brandon – you know it’s never going to happen!”
“Ah well, a man must have his dreams Sally – what else is there to live for?”
“For a kick-off, you can live for getting all that stuff filed I gave you over a week ago – then maybe you can get yourself a decent girl and settle down!”
“Ha ha, settle down! No that’s not a dream it’s a nightmare!” He said laughing out loud, and causing nearby girls to turn with a knowing look at Sally – who pretended not to notice.
“Right Brandon, while I’m busy finishing this report – and since your obviously not keen on filing - perhaps you could go and get a statement from this Mrs Johnson regarding her burglary?”
Hmm, well I suppose it’s the lesser of the two evils. I’ll get right on it, maybe see you about lunch time?” He looked expectantly in her direction, obviously hinting for a lunch date.
“Ok Brandon, we’ll see! For now I have got far too much to do, to be thinking about lunch already!”
He raised his eyebrows in hopeful expectation, and headed off for his assignment. Sally meanwhile wondered to herself, with a slight unease, why she gave him any encouragement at all.
“Get a grip on yourself Sally” she almost said aloud, as she tried to concentrate on the workload in front of her.
Things had been getting on top of her lately, and she was determined to put her foot down and finally set off for Scotland before the month was out, in just 3 weeks’ time. The editor hadn’t been pleased at her insistence; pointing out that they were short staffed as it was. However he had agreed that for a ‘free-lance’ operative she had given more than she really needed to with regard to loyalty to the company.
“Sally I really appreciate you standing in like this, you know I do. Brandon is fitting in just fine – thanks to your training. I just hope he has got what it takes when the pressure is really on!” He had said with concern creasing his brows.
She was missing Robert terribly, and just couldn’t wait to get back to Aviemore. It would be spring-time in Scotland just now, and the snow would be melting back to make way for the spring bluebells.
Thanks to modern technology, they were able to keep in touch constantly, however nothing can substitute a warm embrace, or the tender touch of lovers hands before a crackling log fire.
“Hey hey, guess who’s daydreaming about her handsome Scottish hero!” Her friend Kiera broke into her thoughts with the force of a sledgehammer against a glass wall.
“Really Kiera, I almost jumped out of my skin!”
“That’s because you were thinking unwholesome thoughts I would imagine!”
Sally flushed bright red, which only confirmed what her friend had just said. Kiera laughed out loud.
“I knew it, oh how I envy you Sally! When do you hope to see him again?”
“I have a flight booked for the end of this month, and the Apocalypse itself would not keep me from boarding it!” sally replied with conviction.
“Well, that might be a bit extreme – but I get the idea!”
They shared a laugh together.
“However my dear friend, what is all this I hear about you flirting with the office gigolo?”
“WHAT, I’m not flirting with anyone!”
“Hmm, say’s you! But the girls are taking bets as to whether Brandon will have you bedded before you get on that plane!”
“That’s outrageous! Brandon is ten years my junior; he’s a work-colleague and nothing more!”
“Well Sally, if that truly is the case; I would try and make it plain to him as he obviously thinks he is in with a chance – if you get my meaning!” She finished this with eyebrows raised theatrically, at a flustered Sally.
“Oh, I can’t believe I’ve been such a fool Kiera! Maybe I have kind of led him on – just a little Honestly!”
“I believe you Sally, but a word of warning; he is not used to being rebuffed so I would be gentle if I were you.”
“Thanks Kiera. He has hinted about going for lunch today – maybe I should just make some excuse?”
“Hmm, possibly – or you could maybe use it to set the record straight? After
all, he knows you are engaged so you have all the excuse in the world to cool down his ardour a little!”
“That’s a great idea, I’ll do that. What a blessed nuisance, I should have known better than to give him the least encouragement – now I’ve made a right mess of things!”
“Ha ha, honestly Sally don’t be such a drama-queen! It will do Brandon good to know that he just can’t get every girl he wants – though he could have me any time!” She said this laughingly as she headed away from Sally, on to some errand.
Sally was left contemplating the conversation. Had she really been flirting with Brandon? The fact was that although she had not intended it, she had been very friendly towards him, and he had obviously gotten the wrong idea. On reflection however, she also had to admit the odd daydream about what it would be like with him; he was after all a very handsome guy, if not more than a little vain. Also the thought that a guy ten years her junior would be interested; had a certain erotic appeal.
A vision of them both in bed together caused her to shake her head in confusion.
“just stop right there Sally. You are happily engaged to a man you love dearly – enough of this nonsense!” With that thought, she determined to knock any idea of a romantic clinch with Brandon on the head, before it got too far to stop.
******
Chapter 2
Robert groaned as his mother Agnes, shouted that it was time for work. It was 7am on a cold spring morning, and he was due to get up and fix a section of estate fencing that 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, wishing her to move – but she lay as if dead; blood oozing from her cracked scull.
“MUM!” He cried out as he rushed to her side.
Agnes was out cold – but alive at least. He quickly got out his mobile phone, then cursed aloud – there was no signal! Rushing into the house he quickly grabbed the phone and called 999; where he was assured the ambulance would be there within a few minutes. Meanwhile he was to make his mother as comfortable as he could, by covering her with a warm blanket and making sure her airways were not blocked.
As promised the Ambulance arrived within 5 minutes – although it seemed an age to a distraught Robert, who prayed as he had seldom prayed before.
Soon the medics had her assessed and decided on air-ambulance uplift to Inverness. This was duly arranged as they made Agnes ‘comfortable’ and within 15 minutes she was taking the short 30 mile flight to Inverness Hospital.
Robert was able to accompany her in the Air-Ambulance, but could only look on distraught as the crew fought to keep her in a stable condition; it did not look good.
Soon they arrived to find the hospital staff waiting, and the patient was rushed off to the emergency theatre. Robert meanwhile chewed his nails in the waiting room, and texted everyone he could think off to ask for prayer. Sally was top of the list, but it would be only about 2am in the USA according to his calculations. He would have to wait grimly for her reply.
Tom was however on the phone almost immediately.
“Robert! My God, what’s happened?” Robert tearfully went through the whole scenario, finishing with a chocked. “Tom, I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t make it!”
“Don’t think like that Robert! Of course she’ll make it – she’s a tough old bird is Agnes! Just you hold on and Elizabeth and myself will be there shortly.”
“But what about the work Tom, will you get the time off?”
“A pox on the work – I’ll get someone to take my place. Some things are more important that work!”
“Thanks Tom, you’re a good friend. I’ll let you know if there are any developments.”
“Just you hold on Robert, we’ll be there before you know it!”
Tom hang up, just as a nurse approached Robert – whose heart sank as he looked up at her concerned face.
“ Mr Lindsey?”
“Yes. Do you have any news?”
“Well I’m afraid your mother is in a very bad way. She is stable at the moment, but still unconscious. We have arranged for a C.A.T. scan to determine just exactly what the damage is, meanwhile she is in intensive care. I’m afraid you will not be able to see her for a little while, b
ut as soon as things are a bit more settled I will give you a call.”
Robert looked anxiously at the nurse.
“Is there nothing else you can tell me?”
“I’m afraid not Mr Lindsey; we will have to wait for the scan results. Rest assured though, she is in the best of hands at the moment.”
“Ok, thank you nurse – I appreciate everything that you’re doing; please let me know as soon as I can see her.”
Robert settled down to a long fretful wait, as he considered just how he would manage if his mother did not survive.
******
Chapter 3
It was 6am when Sally finally fully awoke from a troubled sleep. Since selling her spacious apartment in a popular area of the town, she had rented this tiny ‘broom closet’ for what was left of her stay in Milwaukee, and indeed the USA, as she planned a new life in Scotland. It was stuffy and not well ventilated – which often translated to sleepless nights.
After a quick shower she wandered over to the cell phone to pick up any messages that were left, and immediately spotted the one from Robert.
She felt a chill come over her, as she read the brief message ‘Please pray, Agnes has had a terrible accident and is in hospital. I will let you know more as I get info. R’
She noticed the time it was sent – 4 hours ago, and there had been no update.
She quickly called his number, a knot forming in her throat as her imagination dwelled on just what the ‘terrible accident’ was exactly.
The call was answered on the second ring.
“Robert! What on earth has happened?” She quickly blurted out, forgetting the usual formalities.
A trembling voice answered from the other end, as Robert tried to pull himself together and ‘put on a brave face.’
“Sally! Thanks for calling. Agnes had a bad fall, and hit her head on the steps leading from the house. She is in intensive care at the moment, and has not regained consciousness.”
He almost cracked as he continued. “I’m afraid it’s not looking good at the moment, it seems that there is bleeding on the brain that is causing inflammation. The doctors say that the next 24 hours will be critical.”
Sally’s Return: 2nd Book in this Romance Short Story Series Page 1