Buried Secrets

1} Ruth was sitting on the sofa, her face red and angry, facing a tall, broad shouldered man. He wore dark trousers and a jacket. Ben Parkinson had a weather beaten appearance. His face was unshaven and lined and his bloodshot, piercing, dark eyes created an evil, threatening presence. His face twisted in anger as he stood in front of Ruth. A bottle of whisky was clasped in one hand as he tried to remain steady on his feet. My hands were wet with perspiration and my mouth was dry as I waited in the kitchen. The rifle in my hand gave me some form of courage but I wasn’t sure I could shoot this man, even if he threatened me.

Unfortunately at that moment, Ruth stood up to move away from Ben Parkinson and he reached out and grasped her arm tightly. She tried to wrench free but his iron grip forced a scream of agony from her. She swung her free arm and hit him in the face.

He growled, “You stupid, bloody bitch.”

He dropped the bottle and rubbed his red cheek,

“Bloody hell, woman.”

2} She embraced me and I kissed her tenderly on the cheek. Arm in arm, we went outside into the garden and gazed up at a cloudless sky, bathing in the soft, luminescent glow of the moon smiling down from the heavens. As we stood side by side, my eyes drank in the beauty of the night sky and the smiling, radiant face of the girl by my side.

The soft fragrance of timber burning on the warm night air tickled my senses and revived pleasant memories of my time in Roxborough. The storm clouds had disappeared taking with them the burdens and troubles of the past twenty years.

I had come to realise during this time, that the most difficult journey in life, is the one that leads to truth. My life had been a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs but now, standing with Sam in my arms, I was ready to face a new beginning. I turned and cupped her face gently in my hands. Gazing into her eyes, I kissed her again and again.