by A. J. Temple
“Never mind that – I’m almost doing the splits here to try and get by legs over his wide back!” Sally laughed.
The truth was that she was finding the position – although a little uncomfortable – more than a little erotic; as she was forced into a position where she was sitting legs spread wide, and hips pressed against Roberts behind. The steady rhythm of Romeo plodding along, mixed with the warmth from his body and the overall animal back-to-nature experience; caused her mind to wander where it had not ventured for some time – an experience that she found both surprising and exciting on so many levels.
Robert meanwhile was lost in his own thoughts – largely directed by the pressing of Sally’s ample breasts into his back. She had her arms wrapped tightly around him, so that he could feel every rise and fall of them, and found himself speculating whether or not she was wearing a bra – something which he though a huge turn-on.
He was also very aware of the proximity of Sally’s hips – and could not help his mind’s eye wandering in that direction.
“Get a grip on yourself, you filthy pervert!” His mind chastised. “This poor girl would be horrified if she could even guess what you were thinking!”
“You’ve gone all quiet on me Robert, what are you thinking?”
“What me…oh..eh..nothing at all Sally – just enjoying the ride..and your company of course!”
He turned to look mischievously at her; and was immediately taken by her face, so fresh and pretty in the cold air – the absolute picture of innocence and purity; it pulled at his heart-strings and caused his pulse to race.
“What!...is my hair a mess or something?” Sally teased as she recognised the look of longing that poured from Roberts eyes.
“Ha ha, well since you ask…yes it is! I thought for a moment a crow’s nest had fallen from the trees and landed on your head!”
He quickly turned around as Sally gave his back a good thumping.“You’re an absolute horror Robert – I think I must have left my ‘Snowy Knight’ somewhere back at the cabin, and the ‘Black Knight’ has taken his place!”
“Ah well now – I’ve been told that the ‘Black Knights’ have all the fun – I live in hope!”
He turned back to give her a wicked smile – unable to hide the longing in his eyes.
Sally felt her heart race and her mouth go dry, as she struggled to make some witty reply. Before she could however, Robert had turned back and announced.
“Ah, here is the woodshed – I thought we could stop and have our coffee and snack – is that ok with you Sally?”
“That’s perfect.” She said, finding her tongue. “I could do with stretching my legs a little that’s for sure!”
Robert guided Romeo towards the shed and jumped athletically from his back, before turning to raise his hands up to Sally.
“Ah..good Knight – you have returned!” She said with a smile.
“Ha ha, you haven’t seen what I have in store for you yet – have you !”
“I think the coffee and sandwich will do fine thank you kind sir!”
They both laughed as Robert lifted Sally down from Romeo’s back – relishing the moment as she lay in his arms – and led the horse to the side of the woodshed; which had a roof covering and was sheltered from the chill wind. After rubbing Romeo down with some dry straw, he went back around to the front and pulled open the heavy wooden door; revealing a good tidy space with a workbench and a couple of rough chairs.
“Here we are – welcome to my home-from-home!” he pulled out a chair and dusted it down for Sally.
“This is where I do some of the estate work.” He said. “It’s what we would call a ‘Bothy.’ Somewhere to do some fixing-up, and to have our lunch if the weather is bad – which is most of the time here in Aviemore!” he joked.
Sally opened up the bag with the flask and sandwiches; poured them both a coffee and handed a sandwich to Robert.
“Ah, cheese and ham – my favourite!” He said, biting hungrily into the wholemeal bread, and taking a mouthful of the hot coffee.
They both sat, happy in each other’s company, and shared things about their own lives and jobs, hobbies and interests. Sally laughed delightedly when Robert told her one of his favourite musicians was John Denver. He in turn ribbing her, when she confessed she used to have a crush on Donny Osmond! In no time at all the coffee was gone, and they were shocked to see more than two hours had passed in the blink of an eye.
“Ouch!...look at the time! Poor Romeo will be frozen – and Agnes will be thinking we’re lost in a snow-drift!”
“I can’t believe that is the time already!” Said Sally as she picked up her things.” Though I must admit I’m getting a bit chilled myself!”
They both headed out to the side of the shed where Romeo gave them a reproving look, as well as neighing and stamping his feet.
“Ok big man – we’re here now! Let’s get this show on the road.”
He placed an old crate beside Romeo, then jumped up on his back.
“Right Sally, jump up on the crate and I’ll lift you up.”
They were soon heading back down the track, in the direction of home; Romeo happy to get moving again, and no doubt looking forward to his dry stable and a meal of bruised oats laced with molasses.
The journey back seemed to be quicker to Sally; who was enjoying the same warm sensations sitting astride the wide back of the horse, that she had on the way out.
“I really am terrible!” She thought to herself as she unconsciously tightened her legs against Robert; while at the same time pressing her breasts against his back as she hugged him tighter.
“ I hope you don’t mind Robert – I’m freezing here!” She lied.
“Why would I mind?” He said cheekily. “It’s not every day that I get a hot babe wrapping herself around me!”
She gave him a playful slap on the head, as the sturdy horse plodded on down the track.
It seemed no time at all when they arrived in the courtyard; and Sally was wondering just what on earth she was going to do with her new love-interest. “More to the point – what is he going to do?”
Robert led the big horse up to the stable and jumped down, then led horse and Sally into the warmth of the old timber building.
Tying Romeo’s reigns to a post, he reached up for her and she jumped down; stumbling and almost falling on the straw covered floor. Robert however managed to catch her in his strong arms, and pulling her close, their faces were only inches away. He could resist it no longer, and kissed her full in the mouth, delighted when Sally responded by hungrily opening her mouth and surrendering herself to his unbridled passion.
Heart bursting with desire he carried her over to the corner of the stable, and lay her down amongst the hay that was piled up as if waiting for them to return.
“Are you sure you want to…”
She placed her finger across his mouth, and nodded, eyes bright and expectant, as he looked down on her in the soft inviting hay.
“I’ve never felt so sure of anything in my life Robert – Now, are you going to warm up your hands or what?” She responded cheekily as she opened her jacket and unbuttoned her blouse to invite him inside. Robert was right – she was not wearing a brassiere, and the sight of her heavy firm breasts – nipples erect both from the cold, and desire - served to enflame his passion even further as he knelt astride her.
They made love right there on a bed of hay, with Romeo munching away in the background on his bruised oats, and a tiny wren warbling its loud disapproval at the disturbance, from the rafters of the wooden shed. It was a time that they would both remember, in the years to come when cold winter days again appeared; and the hay was gathered in the barn awaiting the coming snows. A memory filled with love and longing; with the warmth and the security that can only be found in the arms of your sweetheart. A memory that will serve to comfort and delight those same lovers, when age and circumstance perhaps prohibit such impromptu erotic endeavours.
Finally
, as they lay exhausted, entwined together in an embrace that encompassed both the physical and the spiritual; a distant call brought them back to the present.
“That’s Agnes….Quick, before she comes in and finds us like this!”
The speedily un-entangled themselves and were just dusting themselves down when Agnes stepped into the barn.
“Aha! Now there’s a guilty looking pair of youngsters if ever I saw them!” She exclaimed delightedly.
They both blushed furiously like two teenagers caught by their parents.
“Mum! Really….we were just getting Romeo ready for the night.”
At the sound of his name, Romeo looked around at them dolefully.
“Oh yes…Romeo….He he he. Anyway I just came to say that I have made some tea for us. Oh and Elizabeth called earlier for you Sally.” She sniggered to herself as she turned around and headed back to the cabin.
They only just realised that it was now dark outside. “Time really does fly when you’re enjoying yourself doesn’t it Robert!” Said a contented-looking Sally; grinning from ear to ear.
“Lord…I would have been mortified if she had walked in on us; aarrgg just imagine….Anyway, give me a kiss and get your pretty tail back to the cabin, while I sort out Romeo for the night.”
Sally gave him a light slap on the cheek instead. “Pretty tail indeed!” and she walked away swinging her hips in an hilarious attempt at being sexy.
“Keep at it with these Samba lessons, precious!” Robert called after her – to receive a raised little finger as an answer.
******
Chapter 8
Sally crossed the short distance to the cabin, her mind racing with the events of the past two days.
“Who would believe that your life could change so much in just a couple of days.” She thought to herself. “Just yesterday I was on my own, with no prospect of love or happiness, thoroughly miserable; and now my heart is racing with excitement over a man I hardly know – life is crazy!”
Agnes gave a greeting as she entered, and brought over a steaming cup of tea.
“Well, I’m so glad that you pair have hit-it-off!” Agnes remarked with a mischievous look at Sally, who just smiled and took hold of the cup, unsure what to say.
“Seriously Sally – you are an answer to prayer. I haven’t seen Robert so happy in years.”
“Well Agnes, I have to be honest with you. I’ve totally fallen for him – I’m a bit shell-shocked by it all if I’m truthful. It’s the last thing I expected when I booked my flight to come over here.”
“That’s fantastic!” Agnes replied, just as the door opened and Robert walked in.
“Ok, what’s fantastic?” He closed the door behind them – giving them both a look.
“Oh, I see…already the women are conspiring against me! Planning and organising my whole life I’ll bet!” He said playfully, as he went over to the teapot shaking his head, to pour himself a cuppa.
“Not at all Robert – it’s women’s talk, that’s all!”
“Aye right mum…I believe you…sort of!”
Sally spoke up. “Would it be alright to go for a shower Agnes, then I’ll call Elizabeth and get some things sorted out.”
“Certainly my dear, please treat the place as your own!”
As Sally headed for the shower-room, Robert spotted the envelope on the table.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked.
“I’m afraid so Robert, and the news is not good. It seems that the Bank are determined to close down our loan facility, and force a sale on the house!”
Agnes burst into tears as the enormity of the situation hit her.
Robert placed his arms around her, sharing in the grief as he too fought to keep away the tears.
“ Agnes I wondered if I might borrow some….” Sally stopped mid-sentence as she walked in on the scene.
“Oh Sally dear!” Agnes sniffed reaching for the handkerchiefs. “Don’t you worry yourself – We have just had some bad news that’s all – it’s nothing for you to concern yourself about …really!”
Sally was having none of it however, and rushed up to Agnes, putting her arms around her; which only served to bring forth another bout of tears.
Robert strode tight-lipped to the door and marched out into the night.
“Oh Agnes, tell me what it is please – is there anything I can do at all?”
“Really Sally; it’s all too humiliating – and Robert would be furious if I told you.”
“AGNES! – for once, please forget what Robert thinks – I want to help, if I can”
“Well, I will tell you the basics, Robert can let you know the details if you still want to know them, and if he thinks it’s alright!” She sniffed.
Sitting down at the table she told Sally that they had gotten into financial trouble, and it now looked like they were going to lose the house that had been her home for the last 30 years.
“Roberts father got a job working abroad, when he was only 5 years old. For a while he sent payments back so I was able to pay the bills, but gradually over the months they whittled away then finally stopped altogether. We only had a tiny mortgage on the house, so I was able to pay the bills working part-time as a cleaner, and other small jobs. It wasn’t easy but we survived.
Anyway, recently I’ve let things get out of hand – and now they are taking my home from me.” Tears welled up in her eyes and she reached for the handkerchiefs again.
Sally was horrified, and sat dumb-struck at the news.
Robert meanwhile had come back in without them noticing.
“What my mother doesn’t tell you Sally….is that it’s all my fault!”
“Robert! Please..”
“No mum, she might as well know what a loser she has got herself involved with! My mother had to re-mortgage the house to pay off the drinking and gambling debts that I ran up, during my ‘leave of absence’ from the world at large.
Now with the property value crash, the house is hardly worth what we have borrowed against it. On top of this it is an interest-only mortgage, which no longer exists. The bank are now insisting that we change it to a part-and-part mortgage, which doubles the re-payments. We can’t pay - I’ve screwed up major-league!” He finished miserably.
“But surely they can’t just kick you out like that?” Sally said, shocked to the core.
“Ha, just watch them! They will put the house up for auction and take whatever price they can get for it – we will then be left to repay the rest of the debt!” He wandered off to the lounge, face downcast and thoroughly miserable.
It was a deflated and despondent Sally that called her friend Elizabeth and arranged to go over that night. She gathered up her belongings, and with a heavy heart said her farewells to Agnes and Robert – who promised to call her as soon as the car was repaired; most likely the next day.
She kissed Robert full on the lips, as he led her out to the car where Tom was waiting patiently, and promised him that this changed nothing; even though they had just met –she thought the world of him and would help in any way she could.
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 roo
f 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.