Off the Beaten Track

Off the Beaten Track

Copyright © 2018 by Bridgitte Lesley

Published by Bridgitte Lesley

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

Publishers note:

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are a creation of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously

First Printing: 2018

Bridgitte Lesley

P O Box 612, Uvongo, 4270, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Republic of South Africa

www.bridgittelesley.com

Table of Contents

Off the Beaten Track

Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

About Bridgitte Lesley

Connect with Bridgitte Lesley

Other Titles by Bridgitte Lesley

If you enjoyed Off the Beaten Track

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my Mom without whose help this book would never have been completed.

Thank you for your patience and guidance, your use of the editor’s red pen…

CHAPTER 1

Michael sat and looked through the window and sipped at his coffee. He longed to see Ruth. It had been two whole years since he had last seen her. Michael hadn’t broken off their engagement, but he had stormed off after having said a lot of hurtful things. Things that he never should have said. If he could retract every word he had said, he would. He looked at Virginia. Mum, Michael said.

I can see you are thinking about something. Something is worrying you. It has been for quite a while. I won’t ask and I won’t pry. But if you do need a shoulder I am here, Virginia said.

When last did you see Ruth? he asked.

Virginia nodded her head and smiled. Quite a long time ago. Give or take two years. That was when she resigned from her post at the school. Which was rather sad. She is a trained psychologist. She had a dual role. Anyway. The last time I saw her was in the coffee shop. It was rather strange. I thought so anyhow. Ruth wore a pair of gloves. Normally you would remove your gloves if you are drinking coffee. But she didn’t. She also wore a hoodie and pulled it as far over her head as she could. It was almost as if she was trying to cover her face and hide from the world. Very strange. I haven’t seen her since that day, she said and nodded as if to herself.

What do you mean she wore gloves? he asked.

Just that. She has the most beautiful hands, but she wore her gloves. She hasn’t sold her ranch or anything. Her ranch is still going strong. Ruth has her ranch manager in place. Mitch Bronson. He does a very good job. She also has Megan White who manages the house when people book in to the guest house. Michael nodded as he listened. The argument must have been very serious for her to stay away for this length of time, she said.

Yes it was. It started with the tiniest little comment to do with our wedding. I erupted and said a few nasty things, he said.

Well, you should do something. You need to bury the hatchet and move on, she said.

Not so easy, Mom. I am still madly in love with Ruth, he said, and she smiled and shook her head. I need to go. I am carting sheep for Shane Monroe today, he said and put his cup down and his hat on and walked out. Michael walked out thinking about Ruth. She was constantly on his mind. He wondered where she was. He realized he had hurt her badly by the comments he had made. He felt so guilty. He had ruined a perfect relationship by verbally abusing her. Michael knew the things he had said were cutting but were they forgivable? Would she ever be able to forgive him? He always wondered whether he would be given a second chance. Would Ruth ever come back? If she did Michael would get on his knees and grovel if he had to. His days had become so lonely, but he didn’t want a replacement. He wanted Ruth. She was the only woman for him.

Ruth stood in the kitchen with Megan and paged through the diary and checked the bookings for the guest house. If you need me, you can reach me on my cell phone. If you need help appoint more staff, Ruth said and Megan shook her head.

I don’t need more staff. They all know what to do. We will be fine. Are you going home? Megan asked and smiled.

Megan, I don’t broadcast the fact that I have another home. You and Mitch are the only two people who know. Yes, I am going home. I can’t be here. It is going to get very busy with all the horse races coming up soon, Ruth said.

I know. Can I drop you somewhere? Megan asked and Ruth hugged her.

No thanks. I will catch a ride from one of the truckers. I know most of them, Ruth said.

It isn’t safe, Megan said.

They take one look at me and get put off. I think I am safe, Ruth said and picked up her rucksack.

Got everything? Megan asked.

Everything I need, Ruth said and smiled as she walked out with her rucksack over her shoulder. She looked up and waved at Mitch. He shook his head and waved as he watched her walking along the road to the gate. He knew where she was on her way to. He totally disagreed with what had happened to her and her reasoning. He also knew why she had withdrawn from the world. Something he had never mentioned to anyone, but it angered him.

Ruth walked for almost an hour before a truck stopped. She opened the door and looked at the elderly gent. I don’t normally stop. Do you need a ride? Clive asked.

Yes please, Ruth said and took her rucksack off of her back and put it in the truck and climbed in to the front.

Missy, I don’t want to become a statistic. Strange things happen on these roads. Are you carrying any weapons? he asked.

You are quite safe with me. All I need is a ride, she said. He nodded and started driving. Clive watched her out of the corner of his eye.

You can remove your hoodie. It isn’t all that cold in here. Why on earth are you wearing gloves in this weather? Do you feel the cold? he asked. Ruth didn’t really know what to say.

I feel comfortable with the gloves on, she said and pulled her hoodie away from her head. She waited for the gasp or some sort of reaction but there was none.

You need to be careful on these roads. A pretty young girl like you. You have lovely high cheekbones. My daughter is just the same. You really need to be wary, he said.

I don’t really think I am in danger. I have met most of the truckers who travel these roads, she said.

But you don’t know me from a bar of soap. There are a lot of new truckers. Lots more business than a few years ago, he said.

Do you own the truck or are you working for someone? she asked.

I own my rig. Are you from here? he asked.

From the Emery Spread, she answered, and he nodded.

That is a lovely ranch. I am friends with Mitch the ranch manager. What a nice guy, he said and Ruth smiled and nodded. As he drove he chatted about his family and the amount of time he spent on the road. Ruth let him chat without interrupting him. He seemed rather passionate when he mentioned his rig and his job. Ruth saw the crossroads coming up in the distance.

Please drop me off at the crossroads, she said and Clive started slowing down.

Are you turning off here? he asked.

I am, she said.

I know of someone who is going that way. He should be just behind us. Give me one minute, he said. He took the CB radio in his hand and spoke to someone and nodded. He put it back on the hook and smiled at Ruth. If you wait here for ten minutes a friend of mine is going that way and will pick you up. I can vouch for him, he said.

Will do, she said and took her rucksack and climbed out. Thank you Clive.

You take care, lassie, he said, and she closed the door.

Ruth waved as he drove away. She debated whether she should wait. Ten minutes was a long time to stand and wait. She decided to start walking. Ten minutes later she heard the truck behind her. She turned and looked as it came to a standstill. She looked up and opened the door and put her rucksack on the floor. As she looked up she recognized Michael. Rather not, she said and started climbing out of the truck. She climbed down and missed her footing and fell and hit her head on the step. She tried to grab the door, but it slipped through her fingers and slammed shut.

Well fine! Michael yelled and started driving off. He looked in his mirror and saw her sitting on the side of the road holding her head. He shook his head and wondered what had triggered her reaction. He had a job to do. He couldn’t let hitch-hikers mess things up for him. Whoever she was it didn’t matter.

Ruth held her head and crawled towards the trees. The blood was gushing out of her head. She had a wide gash and she couldn’t stop the bleeding. She kept on passing out. Besides having a gash on her head she had left her rucksack in the truck. She raised her knees close to her chest and held her head. Ruth couldn’t think straight. She couldn’t get up and walk. She closed her eyes and started to cry. A grown woman sitting crying. No one to blame but herself. Ruth felt as the temperature changed. She started shivering as she sat and drifted in and out of consciousness.

Michael pulled up to the ranch and delivered his stock. He shook hands with everyone and walked back to the empty truck. Trace walked with him and looked at his truck. Did you hit something, Michael? Trace asked.

What do you mean? Michael asked as he walked and took a look at the passenger side of the truck.

There is a whole lot of blood here, Trace said. Michael shook his head.

Not even any wildlife in sight on this trip. Where the hell did that come from I wonder? Michael asked. I am going back that way. I will take a look while I drive, he said and Trace nodded and waved and walked away. Michael stood and stared at the blood. He definitely hadn’t hit anything. He walked around the front of the truck and climbed in and looked down at the tiny spatters of blood. He hadn’t even realized the woman had put her rucksack on the floor and left it behind. He sighed to himself. Michael knew there was not a soul who would be travelling the same road as he had. He started the truck and made his way home. He drove to the intersection and stopped and looked about. Michael turned the truck off and took his keys and walked over to where he had stopped earlier in the day. He immediately spotted the trail of blood. He looked from one place to another and started following the drops of blood. He suddenly saw Ruth who had passed out. He picked her up in to his arms and carried her straight to the truck. He put her on to the passenger seat and closed the door. Michael sprinted to the driver side and darted in and started driving straight to the first ranch he knew. He stopped next to the fence of the ranch and waved at Mitch. Mitch waved, and he unhitched the trailer. He pointed at the trailer and Mitch gave him the thumbs up sign. Michael drove straight to the hospital and carried Ruth in to casualties. He still didn’t realize who she was. They wheeled Ruth through to surgery and Michael sat and waited. Half an hour later the doctor walked through and Michael stood up to find out how the woman was.

Glad you found Miss Emery when you did. She has lost a lot of blood. I did a row of stitches and gave her an injection. She will be staying the night, the doctor said. Michael looked at the doctor in disbelief.

Ruth Emery? Michael asked. The doctor nodded. Are you sure? We must have the wrong Ruth Emery. Are you sure? Michael asked.

Yes. Ruth Emery. From the Emery Spread. Do you know Ruth? the doctor asked.

I do. I didn’t realize it was her. Can I see her? Michael asked.

She has been sedated. I admitted her. You can fetch her tomorrow, the doctor said and Michael nodded.

Thanks, Michael said and walked out. He took the backpack and put it on the seat and opened it. There were bottles of different tablets. There were only a few items of clothing. He took the purse and opened it. As he opened it he looked at a photograph of himself. He flipped through the purse and closed it. She was carrying a lot of money which wasn’t safe. He put the purse back and closed the rucksack. He would fetch Ruth the next day. He made his way home and stopped outside the Emery spread. Michael hitched the trailer and Mitch walked up to the fence.

How are you, Michael? Mitch asked.

Ruth. She is in hospital with a gash on her head. I didn’t realize it was her. She fell and hit her head on the step of my truck. She has lost a lot of weight. I hardly recognized her, Michael said.

Yes she has, Mitch said and Michael nodded.

I didn’t recognize her. I will fetch her tomorrow and bring her home. She was hitch-hiking. Since when does Ruth hitch-hike? Michael asked.

I don’t ask questions. Ruth has changed, Mitch said.

Is there a reason she changed? Is there a reason no one has seen her for the last two years? She doesn’t even work at the school anymore, Michael said.

Yes there is a reason. I think you had a lot to do with Ruth changing like that. I overheard your argument the night you left. Harsh words, Michael, Mitch said. Michael didn’t answer but walked to his truck and climbed in and drove home. He didn’t need to be reminded by anyone about what he had said to Ruth all those years ago. The words were so fresh in his head it felt as if he had said them yesterday.

Michael pulled up to the house and sat for ages. Everything came back to him. He had said very harsh things to Ruth. But he hadn’t broken off their engagement. He had to speak to her to clear the air. He wanted her back but would she be able to forgive him? Something so little had triggered their argument.

CHAPTER 2

Ruth slept throughout the day. She sat up and winced and looked at the prescription next to the bed. Do you have someone to fetch you? the nurse asked.

I do. Thanks, Ruth said and climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom and changed back in to her clothes. They