by A. J. Temple
Sally’s
Destiny
A short story of Love and Romance in the Scottish Highlands
by
A J Temple
Published By
Deanburn Publications
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Copyright:
Copyright 2012, A J Temple
All rights reserved. Copyright protected. Duplicating, reprinting or distributing this material 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 seemed like a good idea at the time!” Sally thought to herself as she peered through the windscreen trying desperately to see her way through the snowstorm.
By her own estimation she was almost there, perhaps 20 minutes away from the turning that would lead up to her friend’s house just set back from the road a little. The thought caused her to sigh in anticipation of a warm fire and good friends; a million miles away from the trepidation she now felt as she clung on to the steering wheel.
After collecting the car at Edinburgh airport, she had headed out of the city and over the Fourth Road Bridge, on the two and a half hour drive to Aviemore; to spend two glorious weeks in the Scottish highlands. A combination of log fires and Single Scotch malt whiskey to warm the heart and take away the crippling loneliness, was something she was really looking forward to. That had been the plan anyway, before she had got caught in a snow storm that caused her car to slip and slide on a road that was quickly disappearing in the moonless night and heavy falling snow.
As she wrestled with the weather, her mind also dwelt on what had brought her to this journey into the Scottish highlands. She had been persuaded to get away for a short break to try and relax from all the stress that the previous months had brought on; and now she was visiting her good friend Elizabeth and her husband Tom in Scotland for the Christmas holidays. It had been 8 months since her father had passed away, and with her mother running off when she was just a child, she was now without both parents – and the thought had left her bereft, and more than a little apprehensive regarding the future.
She was pulled out of reverie by a huge dark shape appearing right in front of the car! She caught a fleeting glimpse of a great stag, eyes impossibly wide and bloodshot, as it tried to jump its way clear. Sally automatically pressed hard on the brakes, and the car predictably went into a side-ways slew across the road, speed seeming to increase as it spun around, crunched against something hard and ploughed over the edge of the road; and all was suddenly chaos and cold as the storm blasted through her shattered windscreen. Her last conscious though was a sharp pain as her head banged against something hard, just before she passed out.
“Miss, Miss are you ok?” She slowly regained consciousness, aware in the mists of her mind that someone was speaking to her. She struggled to try and speak, a sharp pain from her head telling her that all was not well.
“Don’t you worry miss, you’ll be alright now – it seems you’ve had a little accident and hit your head, by the look of things.”
As the stranger spoke she automatically raised her hand to her fore-head, and was rewarded by the sight of bloody fingers, which immediately caused a little flutter of fear and alarm.
“What..where am I?” She asked, dazed and disorientated.
“Now don’t you worry at all miss…?”
“My names Sally.” She said as the memories came flooding back. “Did I hit that poor Stag?”
“Well I don’t know about any Stag miss, there’s certainly no sign of it. But you did manage to knock my rear light out when you spun into this ditch!”
Finally she raised her head to look at the source of the tremendously calm and soothing voice, that had been almost subliminally soothing her fears since she had regained consciousness; and her heart gave another flutter as she gazed into the concerned grey eyes of her rescuer. Leaning in through the open door, he had a cheeky grin on his face as he held out his hand with a handkerchief in it.
“I think maybe you had better hold that to your head for a moment Sally, if you don’t want to mess up your car with more blood!”
The storm raged on and the snow was falling heavier than ever. It seemed that they were the only ones on a road that was all but impassable.
“Anyway Sally, my name is Robert and I’ll be your rescuer for today – if that’s ok by you?”
“Very funny Robert, perhaps then you can help me out of this wreck before we both freeze to death in this blizzard!”
“It would be my pleasure milady – but seriously are you able to move around, nothing broken or anything drastic like that? Wiggle your toes and fingers for me – just to make sure!”
“Thank you so much for your overwhelming concern Sir Knight, but I think I’m just fine – apart from spilling my blood all over Scotland that is!”
They both exchanged grins as he helped her gently out of the broken car.
“Now, you’re sure you’re ok?” This time he spoke with real concern, and the tenderness in his voice awakened something inside her that had lain dormant for longer than she could remember. She reached for his arm feigning dizziness, and surprised herself to find that she was really just looking for an excuse to make first contact with this interesting Scotsman.
“I’ll be fine Robert honest, but what do we do now?”
“First things first; we’ll get into my land rover and out of this storm. I have a cabin just a mile or two up ahead, where you can get cleaned up and we can see if I can arrange a break-down wagon for your car.”
She looked up at him a little sharply.
“Ah….Don’t you worry – I’m one of these sad beggars that stays with his mother – you’ll love her I’m sure. There’s not much mobile reception in these parts, but we have a land-line where you can make any phone calls you like – and tell me all about yourself!”
The mischievous grin was back as he said these last words, and she found herself agreeing, perhaps a little too easily as she fell under the spell of his relaxed confident manner.
He opened up the boot and quickly lifted out the case with her belongings, along with a weather-proof jacket and a pair of gloves; then quickly went and put them in the 4 x 4 that was sitting with the engine running and the heater on.
She meanwhile took one step out of the car and slipped on the soft snow, within a heartbeat however her rescuer had swooped her into his arms, and carried her through the blizzard and into the warmth of the 4 x 4 land Rover. She found herself surprisingly reluctant to let go as he gently placed her in the front seat. Leaning across her as he pulled out a tartan plaid to wrap around her legs, she was within a short breath of his rugged face, with the snow melting down his neckline – and decided there and then she liked what she saw.
The journey to Roberts cabin seemed a little scary to Sally, but she was impressed that he seemed to take it all in his stride. “He’s obviously used to this kind of driving” She thought to herself, as the 4 x 4 lurched and bumped through the drifting snow towards the lights glimmering in the distance.
“Almost there Sally.” He spoke up as he looked across to her. “How are you now, is your head hurting at a
ll?”
Again she was touched by the genuine concern in his voice, and could not help but fall into the role of the ‘damsel in distress.’
“Well, it does hurt a little – but I’m sure I’ll survive!” She automatically flashed him her most winning smile, and she was surprised when her heart leapt at the brief look of desire in the cool grey eyes that seemed to return her answer.
“Yes I suspect that it will take more than a bump on the head to put you down for long; never mind though the cabin is just up ahead and we can get you into the warmth – and you can meet my mother!” he smiled across at her.
******
Chapter 2
As they approached the cabin which nestled in a shallow valley, the wind had eased although the snow was falling heavily; so that the cabin resembled something out of a Thomas Kinkaid picture. Wood-smoke was rising out of the chimney, and a warm glow from the windows reflected off the snow at the front of the cabin. The wood-stack to the side of the door was full for the winter, promising warm evenings by a roaring fire; and the early moon was already casting an eerie light over the surface of Loch Morlich, on whose banks the cabin rested.
Sally was enchanted and just soaked in the atmosphere of the place, immediately transported to somewhere warm and cosy deep in the recesses of her mind.
“Hello, Sally….are you ok?” The voice of Robert broke through the enchantment, but not in an unpleasant way, as she returned to the idyllic scene before her.
“Ah, sorry…I was miles away – this place truly is enchanting Robert.”
“Yes I must admit in this setting it is indeed, as long as the fire’s piled high!”
The cabin door opened, creating as it did, an inviting path of warm light that rushed towards them.
“Robert, is that you?”
“Of course it is mum, who else would be visiting you on a night like this?”
“Ha ha, never mind your cheek, I’ve been worried sick about you, you should have been here ages ago. Your dinner is burnt to the pot!”
“Nothing unusual in that then is there!” Robert replied with a huge grin on his face.
“Why you cheeky besom, I’ve a mind to give you a good hiding! Come away in before you catch your death in this cold.”
Sally listened intently to the good natured banter, suddenly keen to meet the mother of her rescuer.
“Just a wee minute mum, we have a visitor for your burnt offering!” He had reached the passenger door and helped Sally out, still wrapped in her plaid to keep warm.
“Goodness me, well bring her in then, don’t just stand there dawdling or she’ll catch her death as well!”
They both trudged their way through the building snow, and reached the shelter of the porch; Robert holding Sally close to him for fear she might fall – and enjoying every minute of it. Sally for her part leaned into him, and soaked up the positive energy that seemed to radiate from him, along with the fragrant scent of pine trees and wood-smoke.
“Goodness me, your hurt!” Roberts mother called out with some alarm in her voice.
“It’s ok mum, it’s just a scratch. We had a little road accident and Sally here ended up in a ditch.”
“Just a wee scratch! The poor lass is bleeding all over the place! Hurry get her inside so I can have a look at it. You poor dear.” She spoke to Sally who was just a little bemused by the turn of events, but grateful for the obvious concern.
“Do come in. My name is Agnes by the way; come and get yourself warm by the fire.”
Sally was ushered into a fairly large open room, that hosted a huge wood burning stove as a center-piece. A table was set for two and a big ginger cat lay curled up in a basket next to the fire.
“Have a seat over here my dear. Robert, go and get some warm water and a clean cloth – clean mind!”
Robert and Sally exchanged bemused glances, as he headed off to the kitchen to do his mother’s bidding.
“Now my dear..”
“Please call me Sally.”
“Ok, then Sally, now that we are introduced you can tell me what happened.”
“It was stupid really, I swerved to avoid a big Stag that had jumped onto the road; the car went out of control and I ended up in a ditch. If it hadn’t been for your son, I don’t know what I would have done – he has been very kind to me.”
“Hmm, I’m sure he has Sally; after all you’re not exactly unattractive, and he is not exactly averse to helping an attractive girl in distress!” She smiled mischievously, glancing across to Robert as he approached with the cloth and hot water.
“Mum…I hope you are not filling our guests head with nonsense are you!”
The women exchanged a look that told him everything.
“I might have guessed! Don’t listen to her Sally or she will have you walking down the aisle with me by suppertime!”
Sally just burst out laughing, a release of tension that was as spontaneous as it was infectious. She suddenly realised that she had not been as happy as this in years – despite her bleeding head!
“Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing!” She blurted it out before she could stop herself, and blushed bright red to the roots of her hair.
“Eh…I mean… I must have concussion or something!”
Agnes and Robert laughed aloud at her discomfort; Robert giving her secret admiring glances, and feeling an old familiar longing tugging at his heart.
“Ok my girl, let’s get this wee injury sorted out; you’re going to have a fair bump on your head that’s for sure.” Agnes chuckled to herself as she ministered to Sally’s minor head wound, soon having the bleeding under control and covering it with a clean bandage that she wrapped all around her head.
“Thanks Agnes.” Sally said when it was done. “I really appreciate what you’ve done here – though I think a little sticky plaster would have sorted it fine!”
“You can’t be too careful my dear. You can unwrap it in the morning and we will see what it’s like then.”
“In the morning? But do you mean you want me to stay?” She looked across at Agnes and Robert – who could not help a grin breaking his face in half.
“Most certainly my dear; no-one is going anywhere in that blizzard tonight. Besides Robert has to arrange to get your car lifted in the morning – isn’t that right son?”
“Yes mum, your quite right. Sally you must stay here for the night – you can have the spare room – Meanwhile you can get my mums burnt offering down you, and we can all get cosy by the fire!”
“Never mind the ‘burnt offering’ you cheeky besom! I’ve got some good chicken broth on the stove; just the thing for a cold winters night.”
Robert looked across at the concern of Sally’s face.
“Honestly Sally, it’s no use trying to go anywhere tonight; and we’d love you to stay.”
“Thanks, really..but I must phone my friend Elizabeth to let her know what’s happened; then maybe I can settle a bit?”
“That’s no problem; the mobile is useless here but you can use the phone in the hall. By the way did you say your friend is Elizabeth?”
“Yes, its Elizabeth Thompson. She stays just North of Aviemore with her husband Tom.”
“Ahh, that’s unbelievable! I know her and her husband; I work with Tom on the Rothiemurchus estate, in fact he’s my boss!”
Sally just stared at him.
“Honestly it’s true! Let me get you to the phone and you can give them a call – I even have his number for you!”
Sally walked in a daze to the phone, and called her friend Elizabeth from the number that Robert gave her.
“SALLY!” Her friend cried for the other end of the phone line.
“We’ve been worried sick about you, what’s happened, where are you?” She fired off the questions in quick succession.
“It’s ok Elizabeth, I’ve had a little accident in the car and….”
“An accident! What kind of accident!”
“It’s nothing honestly, but my car
is stuck in a ditch till morning I suspect. Meanwhile I was rescued by a rather handsome young man, whom I believe you might know?”
“What’s his name?” Elizabeth blurted out.
“His name is Robert, and I’m at his house now about to have some chicken broth with him and his mother.. you do know him don’t you?”
“Robert! Oh that’s great we both know him well – and his mum makes great chicken broth! He’s an absolute gem Sally; and single – if you get my drift!”
“Enough of that Elizabeth!” She lowered her voice. “Do you think it would be ok if I stayed the night – in the spare room of course! They want me to stay as the roads are impassable, what do you think?”
“Ha ha ha, what do I think? I think fate may have drawn you both together – that’s what I think my friend! Wait till I tell Tom, he’ll be relieved and delighted at the same time!”
“I must be missing something here – what are you not saying Elizabeth?”
“Another time Sally – meanwhile of course you should stay, his mum is an angel and she will look after you just fine.”
“But wait a minute, is there something I need to know?”
“Don’t fret Sally, just get your hot broth down your neck and think pleasant thoughts! I’ll call again in the morning to see how you are – and how the weather is!”
“Ok, but you’d better not be hiding something!”
“Would I !” Elizabeth said mischievously, and hung up the phone.
******
Chapter 3
Sally put down the phone and made her way into the dining room, where Agnes was already serving up the steaming chicken broth.
“Ah, my dear; is everything sorted out? Do tell me you are staying the night – Everything’s all ready for you.”
“Thanks for your kindness Agnes, I would be delighted to stay with you – as long as I’m not in the way that is!”
“Nothing of the sort Sally, you are more than welcome!” “Great! Elizabeth said she will call in the morning and we can see what the weather is like, and maybe get the car business sorted out.”