Foss
Wallyfoss@btinternet.com
Fold in the Hills 5
foldint5.txt
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mf, mmf, ff, novel

CHAPTER FIVE

Sarah didn't go down to the farm the next morning, in fact she stayed at Penmawr
Cottage for the whole of the day.

Martyn had left about midday as he and Sarah had woken late, shared a leisurely
breakfast and chatted quite amiably until the drizzle had stopped and then she
had walked him across the iron bridge spanning the by now swollen stream and up
to the derelict cottage and his half concealed car.

He had kissed her in a curiously brotherly fashion, or so Sarah thought, and she
watched his car negotiate the very steep track between the dry stone walls until
it dipped beneath the slope, before turning back and retracing her steps to
Penmawr cottage.


She busied herself, stripping the bedding, changing the sheets and covers and
putting the soiled ones into her machine. She vacuumed the rooms and the stairs
and cleaned out the bathroom until the whole place looked fresh and the last
traces of her visitors had vanished.

Later she telephoned Tim, but there was no reply so she watched evening
television for a while before retiring to her room at about 9.30pm. She was a
little surprised that Olwen hadn't tried to get in touch, but then Sarah thought
that Olwen would be a little unsure of the reception she might receive,
especially if Martyn had contacted her to report on their Sunday night together.

Sarah wasn't yet certain how she actually felt about her night with Martyn. She
had enjoyed the love making without doubt, but the way it had all been set up
worried her and she wasn't too pleased when she thought about how she'd been
tricked and used in a somewhat unfair manner.

"Am I so easy?" she thought. "Does Olwen find me so predictable that she can
make her plans and I'll simply lay back and allow anyone she chooses to jump
into my bed?"

She undressed and put on her pyjamas and knelt by the low window, watching as
the dark clouds raced westwards on strengthening winds. She suddenly thought of
Johnny Applepear and the innocence of their teenage experiments amongst the warm
hay.

"What would he say if he knew what I'd been doing?" she thought to herself.
"Until I left York, my only lover had been my husband and now, in the space of a
couple of weeks, I've slept with two strangers and carried on an affair with
another woman. I know Tim's to blame for my being here and not in York, but I
can't entirely blame him for all the things I've been up to recently."

She moved from the window and climbed up into the high bed, taking pleasure from
the fresh sheets and pillow cases, and spreading herself luxuriously in the huge
space of the double bed.

The telephone rang below and she half sat up.

"No," she determined, "let it ring. It's either Tim or Olwen, and at this
precise moment in time I've no desire to speak to either of them."

The ringing continued for some time and Sarah lay there, resisting its tempting
call. It stopped suddenly and she let out a breath, and then turned on her side
and faced the darkened window.

"Am I such a bad girl?" she wondered. "Tim would think so, but then he's no
right to judge me. He's the one who started it all and turned my life upside
down. God above! What am I going to do? I can't stay here all my life, like a
permanent holiday maker. I've got to get a grip, think about my future or I'll
be lost."

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but the thoughts continued to invade and
she began to look at the alternatives and, after a long while she decided that
the only way to sort out the mess was to return to York and face Tim as he was
the one who'd started things off and it was up to her to find out what the
position was at their home and what he was planning to do.

"That's it," she thought grimly, "I've to get off my backside and stop waiting
for him to make a move and get him to tell me what's in his mind. We can't be
like this for ever, as I feel as though I'm in limbo. If he doesn't want me,
fair enough, at least I'll know where I stand and can make fresh plans."

The decision made she breathed a great sigh of relief, closed her eyes, and her
last conscious thought was that of a smiling Johnny Applepear, astride a huge
mare, and clearing the red and white double fence with consummate skill.

She was washing the few breakfast things in the morning when the sound of an
approaching car reached her and, glancing out of the window she saw the grey
Volvo estate draw up by the far retaining wall. She watched as Olwen got out and
strode over to her door. As Olwen entered the kitchen they eyed each other for a
second or two before speaking.

"Go on then, Sarah. Give it me. I certainly deserve it," but Sarah continued to
look at her friend but didn't speak.

"I'm here to say how sorry I am. I realise that I've been silly, and I don't
blame you for not answering the phone last night."

"So, it was you who phoned," said Sarah. "Well I was upstairs and in bed, Olwen,
that's why, and to be honest I didn't feel like talking last night."

"I don't blame you," said Olwen as she looked down.

"You see," continued Sarah, I'd a great deal of thinking to do, Olwen, and
I........."

"Thinking? What about? About me I suppose."

"No, about me, silly. You're not the center of the Universe you know! I simply
cannot go on drifting like this, Olwen, can I? I can't hide here until someone
makes my decisions for me. I'm a big girl now, and I have to come to terms with
my life as it is and decide what's going to be best for me."

"What are you going to do?" asked Olwen. "Surely you're not going back to Tim,
are you?"

"I don't honestly know, Olwen. But I have to find out, don't I?"

"But how?"

"Well to start with, I'm going over to York on Friday. I'm going to find out
what it is that Tim wants to do: what he feels about our marriage; what plans he
has for his future. It's only when I know the answer to these questions that I
can decide my own course of action. Don't you see, Olwen?"

"Do you intend coming back here if he doesn't want you, Sarah?" asked Olwen
seriously.

"If that's his decision, I'll have to. I've nowhere else to go, have I?"

Olwen held out her arms and moved towards Sarah, but Sarah took a step back and
held up her own arms to stop her.

"No, Olwen. If I come back here it'll be on my own terms. You were right about a
lot of things; yes, I was lacking in self confidence and I honestly thought that
no one would ever want me, and you've proved to me that I was wrong. I'm
grateful for that, believe me but, from now on I'll decide who'll share my bed,
and not you or anyone else for that matter. You put me together again, but from
now on I'll be in charge of my own destiny and, |I tell you here and now that,
if you want to arrange any more threesomes or whatever you perverted little mind
dreams up, you'll have to ask whether or not I wish to be involved. Is that
understood?"

"Sure! Anything you want."

"If I decide to stay with Tim, you'll not breathe a word to anyone about what
we've been up to over the past few weeks, and if Tim and I come here together at
any time, you'll treat him as a friend and out escapades will be forgotten.
Agreed?"

"Forgotten? Can't promise that, Sarah, but I'll never talk of them to another
living soul," and Sarah moved over her and they embraced lovingly, and suddenly
Sarah felt much better.

Over coffee Olwen explained why she'd been unable to return to Penmawr Cottage
last night as she and Martyn had planned as the storm had washed a quantity of
debris onto the track just above the farm which Bob and Ewan had been clearing
since early morning. The animals had been terrified by the thunder and lightning
and at about 11.00pm Bob had driven up to the farm and helped her with the stock
until the storm was over so that, when he'd left at about 2.00am she'd been too
exhausted to even contemplate the long climb up the sodden track at that time of
night.

Sarah told her a little of what had occurred at the cottage and assured Olwen
that thought Martyn was a very skillful lover and had made her extremely happy,
she knew that his heart was with Olwen and that he was simply following
instructions.

Later Sarah followed her friend down to Bryn Aber farm and worked in the office
until early evening and then together they had a meal and, as Sarah was about to
leave, the telephone rang and it was Tim asking for her.

To Sarah, it seemed a strange conversation, for he had little to say, but seemed
anxious to know whether she had any plans to visit York over the next week or so
as he was going to be very busy. He told her that she'd had little mail and if
she wanted any more of her things, one of his colleagues was due to visit
Caernarfon at the weekend and would be happy to drop them off for her.

Sarah was about to tell him of her plans when something in his words and tone
stopped her so she listened to him talking about trivialities and hardly said a
word in reply. When she put the phone down she looked rather puzzled and Olwen
asked,

"Everything all right, love."

"I don't know. I don't even know why he rang me, but I got the distinct
impression that he doesn't want me over there at the moment. Something's going
on, Olwen so I wonder what he's up to?"

"Are you postponing your visit then?"

"Don't know what to do now. I was going to warn him, but something in his voice
suddenly stopped me."

Olwen topped up their wine glasses and brought "Sarah's over to the phone.

"Maybe this weekend would be an ideal time to visit York, you know," said Olwen,
"as you might find the answer to some of those questions you've been asking."

Sarah sipped her drink and moved back to the table and picked at her food for
some time.

"You could well be right," she said firmly, "and I've every right to visit my
home whenever I like...... after all, half of the place is mine, isn't it?
Besides, there's some clothes I need and I've things to sort out. I really
should pop in and see my friend Ann too as I've written to her a couple of times
and reckon she'll be back from her course by now as it's the end of term."

Olwen watched her carefully, sensing her dilemma and the doubts she was having.

"I'll come with you if you want me to," offered Olwen.

"What?" asked Sarah. "Come? Would you? No, I couldn't expect you to............"

"Why not?" asked Olwen, smiling. "I'm your friend and I reckon you ought to have
someone on your side. If nothing else I can have a day in York, and I could help
you pack up your things if that's what you decide to do."

"Oh, I'd really like you to be there, Olwen. I need some moral support,
honestly!"

"Well, Tim might be a bit more reasonable if two of us face him. Of course I'll
bow out as soon as you give me the word, promise."

"Sarah stood and embraced her friend, relieved that at last she was doing
something positive and had actually decided to put an end to her uncertainty and
lack of direction.

"Right then," said Olwen, firmly, "Friday morning it is. I'll get Bob and Dylis
organised and we'll be on the road at a reasonable hour.

True to her words they were driving along the Queensferry bypass before noon. It
was a cloudy day and, as Sarah drove along the M56, Olwen turned on the radio
and the sound of the music filled the small car. Sarah bit her lip and frowned
as she thought of the reception she might well receive in a couple of hours
time.

As it turned out, the house was empty. She took in the milk locked the door
behind her and was surprised to see how clean and tidy the kitchen was. There
were signs of breakfast on the circular pine table and Sarah noticed that it had
been set for two.

"Doesn't look as though he's gone away," she said. "Probably at work."

Olwen came through to the kitchen.

"Here's the paper and the mail, love. Looks like a couple for you."

Sarah took them and opened a bank statement and a circular about financial
services. She scanned the other envelopes, noting one from Tenerife.

"That'll be from his parents. Wonder if they know about us?" she asked. "Fancy a
bite to eat, Olwen?"

"Has he anything in?"

Sarah opened the fridge door and was amazed to see how well stocked and how
orderly it was arranged.

"Gosh, he's changed a lot. Lazy sod couldn't even pick his clothes up from the
floor when I lived here. Marvellous how he can cope when he has to," but it was
then that she noticed the full washer.

She bent to open the door, pulling a pile of clothes into the plastic basket and
she stood back as she saw, amongst the shirts and underpants some white, high
cut knickers, a wispy, half-cup bra, a couple of expensive slips, white stay-up
stockings and white tops.

Olwen too looked at the evidence and broke the silence.

"That's why the fridge is so tidy, Sarah. Bloody men!"

Without a word Sarah pushed everything back into the washer and closed the door
again. She filled the kettle, took out some chocolate biscuits and put them on a
plate and Olwen took one, but wasn't really hungry as they'd eaten a late lunch
at a small restaurant just outside York.

"I'll just have one with my tea," she said, "you know, we could have a meal on
the way back I suppose."

They ate and drank in silence, and Olwen looked at her friend, concerned by her
pale face and far away look.

"Come on, Sarah. You've confirmed what you already suspected haven't you? Why
don't we get your things and make a start at loading up the car. Have you much
you want to take?"

"It's not fair, Olwen. Why the lies? Why did he ask me to come back and see him
a little while back. He almost had me feeling sorry for him."

She began to cry very softly and Olwen let her and cleared away the cups and
plate, washing and drying them and returning them to the cupboard.

"Right," she said, brightly. "Come on. Let's make a start," and she pulled Sarah
from the chair and they went upstairs.

While Sarah packed a couple of holdalls with some clothes and shoes, Olwen put
her scents, talcs and jewelry box into a cardboard box she'd found in the spare
bedroom as Sarah tried to avoid looking too closely at the double bed, but
noticed that the Cheval glass, she'd inherited from her own mother, had been
moved from the spare room and positioned so that the occupants of the bed could
see their own reflections.

She didn't really know what to take, for the Golf couldn't hold any large stuff
and lots of the valuable items she and Tim had either bought together or
received as presents from friends, colleagues or relatives. They moved
everything they were taking into the spare room and, when Olwen returned with a
couple of anoraks and coats she had found, her friend was sitting on the bed and
sobbing quietly to herself.

"Hey, come on," she said gently, "let's be on our way, or are you anxious to
have a word with him?"

Sarah wiped her eyes and smiled briefly and then she stood and walked to the
window and blew her nose.

Suddenly Olwen saw her shoulders stiffen and moved to join her at the window
and, as she looked out she saw Tim jump out of his car, race round to the
passenger door, and open it to allow a dark haired young woman emerge. Olwen
could only see the top of the woman's head, but she had a feeling that she'd
seen her before.

Tim spoke and the woman held Tim's hand while they walked to the front door and
out of sight of the watchers, and Olwen and Sarah stood together in the spare
room, their minds racing, each wondering what their next step might be.

Sarah sat on the bed and stared at the slightly opened door of the bedroom sand
Olwen joined her.

"What do you want to do?" whispered Olwen.

"I don't know. Give me a minute to think," she whispered.

"The longer we leave it, the worse it becomes," warned Olwen.

"Hush!" whispered Sarah, putting her hands to her lips, "let's listen before we
act. There's no problem, Olwen, I promise you. You see I know who she is!"

"Who?"

"Ann Turner!"

"Not.... Of course!. I thought I knew her. She's supposed to be your best friend
isn't she? She's been to the cottage with you once or twice."

"That's the voice I recognised on the phone before she tried to disguise it,"
whispered Sarah angrily. "So now I know. All that twaddle about someone from
work. What an idiot I've been. Right; I'm going down now."

"Hang on, Sarah. Give them a minute or two; all you really know for sure is he's
given Ann a lift to his house and invited her in for coffee, and that's hardly
grounds for adultery. Let's sit here for a while and see if we can discover
anything else about them."

Sarah saw the sense in what her friend was advising and she moved to stand by
the door and listened to what was going on below. She could hear voices, but it
was difficult to tell what they were saying, so they crept out onto the landing
and stood there in silence as the conversation drifted up to them.

"I hope you're not trying to get me drunk Tim Brooke. You know what I'm like
when I've had a couple of drinks."

"Would I?" asked Tim.

"Did you put my things in the washer with yours like I asked?" came Ann's voice.

"Of course I did. Do you want me to get them out?"

"Proper little house husband aren't you?" giggled Ann.

Sarah snorted and pulled a face at the very idea, and Olwen touched her shoulder
to calm her.

"Let's leave them, you can do them later," said Ann. "I'm serious Tim, I can't
stay too long you see there's a concert at school and I'm expected to give a
hand so I'll have to leave here at seven."

"When will you be free?"

"About ten. A few of the staff are calling for a quick drink at the Three
Horseshoes so, if you just happen to be in there near to closing time, you can
offer me a lift home can't you?"

"I can't wait until then, Ann. Honestly, this course has seemed an eternity.
Haven't you missed your little Tim?"

"You'll never know how much," she murmured and there was a long silence.

Olwen looked at Sarah, and seeing the tears on her cheeks, took her hand and
pulled her towards her and they stood together, silently, as the voices
continued.

"Please," Tim pleaded.

"But I mustn't be late, Tim, honestly."

"You won't be, I promise. I'll give you a lift in to make sure you're on time,
how's that?"

"You're a very naughty boy, Tim Brooke, and you've a very dirty mind, do you
know that?"

"You love it just as much as me, Ann Turner, so don't pretend you don't. Anyway
that's why I love you so much."

"Do you love me, Tim? You're not just saying it to get me into bed, are you?"

"I love you very much, Ann," he said softly, "and have done for a long time."

There was another long silence and the listeners heard Tim say,

"Shall we go up then?"

"Let's have another drink and take it up with us."

Olwen pulled Sarah into the spare room, pushed her down onto the bed and left to
look in the main bedroom. She straightened the bed cover, quietly closed all the
cupboard doors and drawers and took another look round.

There was nothing she could do about the missing bottles and pieces from the
dressing table, but she reasoned that the two lovers would be far too busy with
each other to notice and she left the room, pulling the door closed behind her
and joined Sarah who was still wiping her eyes.

They heard the two climb the stairs and heard them kiss on the landing before
entering the main bedroom and, a few moments later Olwen stood, went over to the
door and peeped out. The opposite door was ajar and soon the sounds of giggles,
slaps and sighs could be heard quite clearly and she sensed Sarah behind her and
turned, putting her mouth to her friend's ear and whispering,

"Do you want to go?"

Sarah shook her head and moved her mouth to Olwen's ear.

"I want to catch them at it, then there can be no mistake and he can't deny a
thing if you're my witness."

The noises increased and soon here could be little doubt of the passion being
created across the narrow landing. Ann seemed to be a noisy lover and spoke
aloud her feelings and wishes as she encouraged and pleaded with her lover to
hurry and make greater efforts.

As the sounds increased in volume and the language became more intimate, Olwen
found herself caught up in the excitement, and as she squirmed she felt the
dampness between her legs beginning to spread, making her feel embarrassed by
her seeming disloyalty towards Sarah.

Sarah stared at the half opened door with a determined look I her eyes and Olwen
marvelled at her control. Suddenly, the two heard Ann groan excitedly and warned
Tim of her approaching climax.

Sarah took a deep breath, clutched Olwen's hand, and the two friends walked
across the short, carpeted landing and into the main bedroom. The lovers heard
nothing for they were so passionately involved in their own lusts and were
unaware of the intruders, but Sarah's eyes opened wide when she saw them on the
bed for Ann was completely naked and lay across the width of the bed with her
legs wide apart and her toes touching the floor.

An equally naked Tim was above his partner, bearing the weight of his
glistening, sweat-streaked, body on his elbows while his hips thrust backwards
and forwards at an amazing speed and, with each thrust, Ann lifted her own hips
to meet him and her small, hard breasts swung up and down with the lascivious
rhythms of their passion.

Ann turned her head towards the two observers, her mouth opened wide, and stared
at them both with sightless eyes. She registered their presence but, such was
her need to complete the fulfillment of her climax, that she was unable to
respond in a rational way.

She never once blinked or closed her eyes as the thrusting hips went into
overdrive, her breasts reddened and swelled and her mouth opened to release a
pained, primordial cry. Her spasms seemed to go on and on and at last she lay
there, like some limp, discarded corpse, staring at the two women with an
emotionless face, while Tim pumped his own scalding life force into her and,
only when he was still did she close her eyes, seemingly resigned to the
inevitable onslaught which might follow.

For a long time nothing moved and nothing was said, and it was only when Tim
lifted himself and saw the reflections of his wife and Olwen in the Cheval glass
that he gave an agonized groan, lifted away from his lover and tried to cover
himself with her discarded briefs.

Ann too became embarrassed by her exposure and pulled the pillow down to cover
her lower body as she waited for someone to say something and finally it was
Sarah who broke the spell, and her voice was amazingly calm, despite the
powerful emotions raging within her.

"I suppose there's nothing either of us can say at a moment like this, Tim. I've
taken some of my things and Olwen has come to help me. I shall expect a fair
settlement when I sue you for divorce and Olwen will be a witness to what I've
seen today."

"Sarah, I......I.....," began Ann.

"I don't want you to say anything, Ann. Your betrayal has hurt me almost as much
as Tim's."

Tim looked up at the two of them, his face was pale, whether from his recent
exertions or from his guilt, it was difficult to for Olwen to tell, but he had a
defiant look in his eye.

"How long have you two been here?"

"Long enough to pack a couple of holdalls and a box or two," said Olwen.

"You mean you were already here before we came in? That's disgusting! Why didn't
you say something? I suppose you were enjoying it too much to stop us. Well, I'm
not sorry you know for at least Ann is warm and living and not cold meat like
you two. You're no better than peeping Toms, getting your kicks by watching
others do something you're incapable of doing yourselves!"

"There's those in Conway who'd disagree," said Olwen smiling. "Actually I wasn't
all that impressed with the performance to be honest. It was a bit too quick and
predictable for my taste and, from what I've seen today you're not the kind of
stud I'd ever bother to write home about."

"Why you..........!"

Tim made to rise, but Olwen moved towards him still smiling and threatened,

"Wouldn't that look good in court? All that we've just witnessed plus
uncontrollable violence against two defenceless women. That ought to make an
interesting addition to the evidence."

Sarah held Olwen and pulled her away. She looked at the two on the bed and said,

"We're going now, Tim. I don't want to see either of you again if I can help it.
You have my number and I'd appreciate it you'd forward my mail and sort out our
financial affairs. My solicitor will be in touch with yours now that I have the
proof of your adultery and of course I'll be citing Ann, among others, as the
reason for the irretrievable breakdown of our marriage."

She took a look round the room and moved to the Cheval mirror, and pulled it
with her as she left.

"I'd prefer it if you wouldn't use the property my mother left to me for you own
perverted ends," and the two returned to the spare room, left the mirror by the
wardrobe and, after two journeys up and down the stairs, they pulled the front
door shut behind them, loaded the car and drove away.

While Sarah spent the next few days working at Bryn Aber farm office, Olwen too
had been very busy for she had cattle to sell and calves to buy. She needed to
replace two of her rams, one of whom had died and the other was old and had gone
lame over the winter. She had already visited one or two of the local auctions
but had seen nothing that impressed her and told Sarah that she might take a
couple of days visiting the sheep auctions at Skipton and Richmond in an attempt
to introduce new vigour into her stock.

Sarah had been happy for her to go for she felt that Olwen was trying to mother
her too much, insisting that they spend every minute together. It was kind of
Olwen, but what Sarah needed most was space to think about her life and plan her
future, and the thought of a couple of days or so alone seemed wonderful.

Olwen left instructions with Sarah to pass on to the farm workers and she was
particularly keen that the barn should be made ready for the new harvest and she
left on Thursday afternoon, taking the Land Rover and trailer.

When Sarah had suggested that she called to see her Aunt Rene while she was away
from the farm, Olwen thought it a good idea, and felt that Sarah was at last
coming to terms with her problems.

For the first time in a long while, Sarah finished early and drove up to Penmawr
Cottage in the late afternoon sunshine and, as she neared the cottage she
spotted a tractor coming down the hill and stopped where her small track left
the main one, got out of the car and waited for the tractor to reach her.

Bob Roberts pulled up, took off his cap and wiped his forehead with his shirt
sleeve.

"Warm again, Sarah," he said with a friendly smile. "Have you packed in at the
farm for the day?"

"Thought I'd have an early finish, seeing as Olwen's away and there's not much
paper work at the moment."

"I see," said Bob. "Cat's away and all that."

Sarah laughed and looked at the wood on his trailer.

"Where's that for, Bob?"

"For you if you can use it. Mostly dead it is, probably knocked down during
those last storms and some I've cut to get more light into the place."

"Good, I was going to mention it to you that I'm a bit low on fire wood. Are you
able to deliver it now?"

"Well, most of it you can have but Dylis wants a little of it, so it's going
begging. It's yours if you want it, Sarah."

"I'll go down first and leave room for you to turn with the trailer," she
offered, and got back into her car and drove down to the cottage, and parked up
at the far end of her land. When she went in for the key Bob followed and
brought the trailer to a halt beside the wood room and jumped down from the
tractor and, after unlocking the door he began carrying the logs into her shed
so Sarah left him to it and went indoors.

Half an hour later, the shed was full and he brought the key back to her and she
asked him in for a drink of fruit juice.

"Long time since I was in here," he remarked, looking round the kitchen. "Quite
nice isn't it?"

"I like it very much," said Sarah, "and it suits me fine."

"Bit too isolated for me I'm afraid. I like to be near to people."

Sarah smiled and sipped her drink, then offered him a refill.

"Don't you get lonely up here all by yourself?" he asked.

"Not really. There's my work at the farm and I've a phone if I need anything."

"Not the same at night though is it? I'm not being rude, but don't you feel
afraid all alone in that big bed of yours?"

Sarah soon understood where this conversation was leading to, so she took his
glass from him and put them in the sink.

"Now, that's enough of that Bob, it's nothing to do with you."

"But it could have, if you'd let it," he said smiling at her.

Sarah didn't know what to say, not wanting to appear rude towards him for he had
always treated her well and had been very friendly whenever they were together.

"You'll be too tired for all that," she laughed. "Have you seen the instructions
Olwen's left for you and the others to do while she's away?"

"What she want us to do now?" he asked miserably.

"I'll see you in the morning, Bob and don't be late!"

He shrugged his shoulders and turned to the door.

"Sarah," he said seriously, "if you are frightened or lonely or anything, you've
only to phone; whatever you need I can be here at a moment's notice."

Sarah looked down, unsure of him, for she could never fathom what lay behind
those dark eyes and she became confused and sought for something to say.

"Thanks for the wood, Bob. I'll be all right, honestly. See you in the morning,"
and was quite relieved when the door closed, and she watched the tractor and
trailer as it sped past her window and made its noisy way up the steep track.

Next morning she was at the farm by 7.00am and, when Bob arrived, she called him
into the office and passed on Olwen's instructions. He was a bit skeptical about
whether they'd have time to clear the whole barn out, along with all the other
jobs, and when she told him that she'd like him to do it so that it would prove
to Olwen that she could be left in charge, he shrugged his shoulders and said,

"Not promising mind you but, if that's what you want, I'll see to it even if
I've to do a bit in my own time. See, I do want to help you, Sarah!"

She smiled gratefully and when he had gone she waited for Dylis to arrive and
the two made and then ate breakfast together. She told Dylis that the big
sitting room needed a good cleaning and she would help her to do it. Dylis too
was pleased, for she liked Sarah and anything to do with helping Olwen met with
her approval, for she was grateful for the work Olwen had found for her and
which helped keep her in her family home.

When she arrived at the farm the following morning, Bob was there to meet her.

"We've made a start, Sarah, but the farm's full of all sorts of bits and pieces
and we need to know where it can go."

"Is there much hay left, Bob?"

"Not that much, and what's left we can stack in a corner, but there's the tables
and chairs from the barbecue, an old van, bits of machinery and other things."

"What's happened in previous years?"

"Well, Olwen's decided what's to be scrap and what's to be kept."

"Have you any ideas?" she asked.

"Haven't time now, Sarah, there's the animals and Ewan's found that some of the
ditches need clearing, and those front hedges could do with cutting back again
or the Council will be on to us for hindering the traffic if we don't do
something."

Sarah didn't know what to suggest and struggled to think of something to say.

"Tell you what," said Bob, "as long as a decision's made before tomorrow we'll
get the job done. I'll pop back tonight and we can decide what's what and I'll
get Ewan to bring his brother up tomorrow and give us a couple of days work to
help out, and that way we'll have the barn ready for when Olwen comes home. What
do you say?"

"Will Olwen mind the extra helper?"

"No. She's used him before and though he's not so bright he's a good worker."

"I'll stay on tonight then, Bob and I'll wait until you can get over to discuss
things."

"Right. I'll ring if it's going to be late as I might have some of my own things
to do first, but don't worry, I won't let you down."

He rang at about 7.30pm to say that he couldn't come for another hour or so as
his mother needed something fixing, but he told her that he'd arranged for
Ewan's brother to work with them so everything would be fine. Sarah asked him
what time she might expect him and if he was going to be much longer they might
leave things until next morning but he promised to be as quick as he could and
rang off.

She busied herself in the office, sorting out files and putting the cabinet into
some semblance of order and then poured herself a drink and sat in the newly
cleaned sitting room and watched television. She had another drink ands must
have been dozing when the farm house bell rang and made her jump.

She opened the door to a smiling Bob Roberts who apologised for the delay,
telling her about his mother's washing machine problems and, still somewhat
dazed, she fought to clear her head and said,

"Hang on, I'll get a jacket. Is it cold, Bob?"

No. It's a lovely warm night. Come on, I've a torch and there's a light in the
barn."

She pulled the door to and followed him across the yard, keeping to the pool of
light coming from Bob's torch and, as they entered the barn she waited while he
turned on the two spotlights and soon saw the problem.

The upper section of the loft was almost clear and simply needed sweeping down,
but the walls of the lower barn were lined with all manner of things as Bob had
said and, in the far gloomy corner she could just see where the last of the hay
had been thrown.

"There's room for the tables and some of the seating in that little lean to
behind the barn where it's fairly dry and I think that's where Olwen's dad used
to keep them."

"What about these machines?" she asked.

"Well these two are broken and fit for nothing but scrap, but I can't make that
decision, can I?"

"Well if you say they're no use why can't they be put outside where they won't
come to much harm and Olwen can say what she wants to do with them when she
returns."

Gradually the two of them came to a decision about all the items of equipment
and Bob agreed that he'd see that her instructions were carried out in the
morning. Sarah asked him for the torch and climbed the loft ladder and then she
shone the torch about, noting the few broken bales, hay forks and a box of tools
in the far corner.

The memory of her teenage years came back to her and she thought of Olwen and
Johnny Applepear and smiled as she remembered their excited romps away from the
prying eyes of the adults.

As the scent of the sweet smelling hay reached her she closed her eyes and
pictured their nakedness and the emotionally charged excitement of those far off
afternoons, and she jumped when Bob's hand touched her shoulder.

"What are you up to?" he asked. "Why didn't you answer?"

"Sorry, Bob. I was dreaming and never heard a thing."

"It must have been a good dream, you're smiling."

"Oh it was. But it all happened a long time ago."

"Are you happy, Sarah?"

"Not particularly, but I get by."

"What's upset you so much?" he asked. "Where's Mr. Brooke?"

"It's finished, Bob. It seems we both made a mistake."

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

"No for it won't do any good. He stopped wanting me and he's found someone else
and I guess it's not such an unusual story these days, is it?"

"He must be daft, leaving someone like you," said Bob quite seriously.

"Now that does me a lot of good, Bob Roberts, and its" a pity he doesn't share
your taste."

Bob lowered the torch and pulled her to him and kissed her and then he pressed
her close and held her as his lips moved to her hair and neck and she felt so
warm and safe in this place, where she had known nothing but happiness, that she
returned his embrace and buried her face at his shoulder.

Soon his hands began to caress her back and he pulled her into him so that she
soon became aware of his mounting excitement and felt that she was being carried
along on a wave of emotion..

"You're so beautiful," he said softly, "you know I've always wanted you! Please.
I've got to have you!"

A doubt crossed "Sarah's mind. She was excited and the drink, along with the
sweet smell of the hay had somehow lowered her resistance and she realised that
if she didn't put a stop to what was going on it would be too late.

"Bob, please! No..........I don't think we................," but she couldn't
finish what she was saying for once more his lips crushed hers and she felt his
hands clutching her thin skirt and cupping the round cheeks of her buttocks.

When he released her for a moment she caught her breath and tried to push him
from her, but he was too excited by her that he pulled her by the arm towards
the loft ladder and began to descend to the area below.

"Come on, Sarah! I'll shine a torch for you."

Unsure of what to do, but realising that she couldn't stay in the loft, she
began her descent, knowing that the torch light was on her legs as she felt its
invasion and, when at last she reached the floor of the barn, Bob clutched her
to him so that his erection was pressed into her soft buttocks.

Next he half marched and half carried her into the far corner and released her
onto the piles of hay which had been stored there.

"Come on, Sarah. Take your things off, we don't want to spoil them, do we?"

She looked up, and saw that his shirt was already unfastened and felt trapped as
he stood over her, powerful and half naked.

"Bob, you don't understand........I.........," but Bob was in the thrall of his
own excitement and didn't want to listen to any excuse and would certainly brook
no objections as he knelt beside her and lifted the thin jumper from her body so
that in a very short space of time her skirt, bra and pants was thrown aside and
she was naked apart from her shoes.

She was speechless, afraid to do or say anything which might puncture his
desire, for she was frightened of his power and sensed that if she didn't go
along with his lustful intent she would be forced to submit and could well be
hurt.

He threw aside his trousers and in the half light from the far spot, she saw his
dark weapon which was curved up towards his flat stomach.

"Be careful, Bob," she begged, "please don't hurt me."

"I want you, Sarah. I've always wanted you! It won't hurt, I promise. Haven't
you wanted me?"

"I don't know. You're so strong. I'm frightened of you."

"Why?"

"You're too rough. I don't like it that way."

"God, I'm sorry, but I'm so excited. Please let me, Sarah."

She realised that it had gone too far to stop and felt that if she tried to get
away he would force her and really hurt her so she reasoned to herself that the
best thing was to cooperate and try to control what was happening to her.

"Slow down Bob!" she asked. "It's better if you're gentle, I promise."

She lay back and held her arms out to him and he kissed her and ran his hands
over her breasts and stroked the rising nipples. She relaxed a little and, when
his hands searched between her legs, he forced them apart as his rough fingers
located her silky groove.

Her confidence returned a little and her own excitement began to mount but
suddenly, as though a switch had been thrown, he rolled onto her as though he
could contain himself no longer and she felt his manhood thrust at her until it
pierced her very being.

It was all over in a matter of seconds as she felt him pump his hot juices into
her and then he was rolling away with a deep groan. Sarah was both hurt and
devastated and felt used and discarded and, as the tears rolled down her cheeks
she quietly dressed, turned off the lights and made her way over to the farm
house.

She locked the door and lay on the settee, covering herself with a heavy
travelling rug and, sometime later she heard the sound of knocking and went to
the door.

"Sarah! Open the door, love!"

"Go home, Bob, it's late."

"Open the door, Sarah. I must see you!"

"No. I'm too tired. Please go home."

"I'll wake everybody if you don't let me in, Sarah. Don't think I won't!"

Sarah turned the key and confronted him.

"Why did you leave so soon?"

"I'm tired Bob. It's been a long day, so please let me sleep. I'm exhausted."

"You can't leave me like this. That was no good. Look at me., I'm not done yet!"

"Bob, it was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened and I know that it was partly
my own fault for leading you on like that, but that's it! Good night. I've had
enough!"

"Well, good for you!" he sneered. "You might have, but I haven't," and he pushed
her into the room, closing the door being him.

"Please Bob, don't do anything you'll be sorry for. If Olwen knew what you were
doing you'd lose your job,"

"Well, who's going to tell her? I won't, and if you say anything I'll tell her
you invited me in and had a change of heart after it was over."

Sarah was trapped and knew it and was terrified that he might lose his temper
and smash things up. He was right, of course in one way; she had taken him into
the barn, she had opened the door to him around midnight so what would everyone
think if they knew?"

He came to her and took the red rug from her and she whimpered as he stripped
her of all her clothes and watched as he too undressed.

"Come on, Sarah. Make me happy, then I promise you I'll go."

"If I do as you ask, will you promise me one more thing, Bob?"

"Anything," he said seriously.

"Promise me that you'll never touch me again."

"Am I so bad, Sarah?"

"Say it or you'll have to fight for everything you get tonight, and I promise
you that you'll not enjoy it one little bit."

"If that's what it takes to have you, so be it. I promise never to touch you
again, unless you want me to. How's that?"

She looked at him seriously and he knew that she meant what she was saying.

"It'll be different this time, Sarah. I've wanted you for so long, I just
couldn't wait any longer. Did I hurt you?"

"Not really. But I wasn't part of it. You took me and couldn't care less how I
felt. You were an animal and I hated it. Don't you understand?"

She led him to the settee and sat before him and he looked down as she took his
half erect weapon and stroked its length with gentle fingers. As it lifted she
pulled back the skin to fully expose the swollen head and slicked her thumb
across the sensitive helmet as Bob groaned with pleasure and felt it twitch as
she gripped the shaft. She pulled it towards her and kissed her way down the
dark, rigid vein on its underside.

As she nibbled the loose skin he clutched her hair and began to move her head to
meet the small thrusts of his hips.

Later she released him and lay across the settee looking up at him with
smoldering eyes. He knelt by her side and put his mouth to her breast, rubbing
and sucking and squeezing as she lay there, relaxed and glowing with excitement.

He nibbled his way down her body and used his tongue to ream the soft groove and
causing her to close her eyes and raise her hips to meet his gentle caresses.

"Please! Come to me," she begged, and he lay between her legs and she guided his
throbbing manhood towards her waiting cunney.

Then they were joined, and Bob resisted the strong urge to thrust away in search
of his own fulfillment and, guided by Sarah, managed to control his own desire,
so that he matched the slower rhythm of his partner.

Sensing his need to speed up, Sarah quickened and soon she too was lost in her
own passions and their bucking was so powerful that they rolled from the settee
and onto the soft carpet below.

Bob laughed as they became dislodged and Sarah marvelled at his powerful
erection which seemed to twitch uncontrollably as though it had a life of its
own and he followed her eyes on his manhood and, grasping it with his hand,
guided it to where it wanted to be, and soon they were approaching completion
and, as they quickened once again, Sarah answered his painful groan and urged
him on and on and on.

As she reached her own point of no return she felt the powerful jets of hot
semen as they splashed against her deepest places and her own muscles squeezed
the throbbing shaft lodged within her and then, at long last they were quiet
and, when he withdrew she sighed at the loss and felt empty.

Bob lay by her side and kissed her and she held him to her and squeezed him
lovingly.

"Was that better?" she asked.

"The best, Sarah," and he smiled at her, brushing the hair from her eyes.

"Do you want me to stay?"

"No thanks, Bob. I'll be fine now."

She got up, put on her skirt and top and sat on the settee watching him as he
dressed. He went to the kitchen for a drink of water and when he returned she
was by the door.

"Good night Bob. Will it take you long to get home?"

"Ten minutes or so, that's all."

"See you in the morning then."

"Yeah. Will you let me......?"

"...remember what you promised, Bob."

"But surely, after what's happened, you'll....."

"....I'll expect you to keep your promise, Bob Roberts."

He looked down, suddenly unsure of himself, and left but he turned once,
searching her face for a sign of hope, but there was none.

Sarah closed the door and began to clear away all evidence of the encounter, and
after a shower she went to the spare room and slid between the cool sheets. Her
body ached with fatigue, but her mind was racing with the events of the evening
and she realised how lucky she had been to turn a very dangerous situation and
come out relatively unscathed for she knew, without doubt, that he would have
raped her in the barn.

"Almost did," she said aloud.

Ofcourse she was flattered that he had wanted her so much, but realised that he
was so intense that he might be dangerous and resolved to avoid being alone with
him, and determined that, in future, she must guard against giving him even the
slightest encouragement.