It wasn’t long before the curls started to bob and Jess succumbed to sleep. The film was no longer of interest to Rachel either, so she took the opportunity to study the face of the woman who had provided a lot of joy this summer. Jess’s features were well defined and strong, yet with a softness to them. The mop of red hair had grown more unruly as the weeks had progressed, but its untamed look complemented its owner perfectly. The sun had most definitely lightened it, giving a lovely golden glow to Jess’s face. The twinkling blue eyes were hidden and her lips, fractionally parted, were perfect in their shape. She slowly traced the body relaxed before her. It was so lean, the well-defined muscles held no bulk, yet their strength was apparent. There was no doubting this woman enjoyed the outdoors.
Rachel sighed, contentedly thinking if the muscles in her abdomen were as taut as those elsewhere they would ripple with movement. She instantly wanted to feel those muscles glide over her. To know how those lips would feel against hers. To have those hands cupping and gently caressing her breasts. To feel the strong, long fingers stroke, tease and slide into where she needed them most.
***
“Margaret, I’ve never been so turned on and she wasn’t even touching me. In fact, she wasn’t even conscious.”
There was a laugh on the other end of the telephone line. “I wish I could have that effect on someone, even Diane for that matter.”
“I’m forty-four, for goodness sake, I should be able to show some control. I must be regressing.”
“No, I think you mean progressing. I told you right at the beginning to relax and go get the girl, but no, you make friends.”
“There’s no need to be sarcastic. You’re supposed to be my guide in life and provide me with worldly advice.”
“Now who’s being sarcastic? Listen Rachel, I’ve never been good at giving you advice when it comes to women. We always fall out.”
“No we don’t. You quite rightly didn’t trust or like Michelle.”
“Rachel, I wasn’t the one in love with her. Anyway, what about the last two women?”
“You couldn’t know what they were really like?”
“I still insisted on setting you up, especially with weird, sexual, foot-fetish woman.”
They both laughed. “I don’t know, Margaret, one minute I want to rip the clothes off her back, and then the next I’m absolutely petrified at the thought. I honestly wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like Jess.”
“What do you mean?”
“She knows what she wants and is content.”
“You’re just a little intimidated by her. You feel she has more experience than you.”
“Well, she has.”
“Rachel, she may have confessed to no long-term relationships and a number of women. That doesn’t automatically mean she’s had sex more times than you, just maybe a little more variety. She may well be intimidated with the fact you’d been with one woman for so long.”
“You can be crude sometimes, Margaret. Yet that’s an interesting way of looking at it.”
“You know what I’m going to say, Rachel? If you want more, it’s up to you. You’re the one who thinks she has a lot to lose.”
Chapter Eleven
Guests had been arriving all afternoon. Marie was away for the weekend, at Jack’s insistence, enjoying her sixtieth birthday with Bill and her daughter’s family. Jess had taken on the responsibility of ensuring the lodges, inside, were to the standard their visitors had come to expect, as well as her usual outside jobs. Jack hadn’t stopped either, enjoying every minute of it and it was only now that he was beginning to tire.
The last few days since the diagnosis had been difficult for everyone. Marie initially was devastated, but had proved to be as supportive as ever and had gone away grudgingly for the weekend. Jess, on the other hand, had been quiet, not wanting to show too much emotion and how she was really feeling.
Jack’s thoughts were interrupted by the last guest to arrive. The name in the diary had been aggravating him since this morning, and the person standing in front of him looked vaguely familiar. Rachel had followed the woman in and held back, perusing the leaflets of places to visit and the activities that were available in the area. After booking the person in, Jack was still none the wiser as to where he had met her before.
“You think I look familiar, don’t you, Mr. Hamilton?” The woman smiled smugly.
“My apologies. Is it that obvious?”
“I came here one weekend. Oh, about fifteen, sixteen years ago. Jess invited me, and I stayed at the house.”
Rachel’s interest was suddenly piqued, and she watched a myriad of emotions cross Jack’s face after what had been irritation, by the guest’s initial arrogance. Now it was plain. He didn’t like this woman at all and neither did she. Jack glanced toward Rachel, and she then thought she saw disappointment.
Or was it sadness?
She couldn’t work it out as it all disappeared and he looked back to his guest. Embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping, Rachel quickly feigned great interest in the leaflet she’d just picked up, but not being able to help herself, continued to listen.
“Ah yes, I do remember now. It was a long time ago. May I ask why you are here again? I don’t remember Jess mentioning anything.”
“I’ve come to see if she has as good a memory as you.”
“Well I’m afraid she’s not here.”
“She still works here, though, doesn’t she? I enquired before I booked.”
Rachel looked up at the woman as Jack simultaneously glanced her way again. She turned to place the leaflet back and rolled her eyes as she actually read it,
The Ten Best Rock Faces to Climb
.
“I’m sure you recall, she more than works here, she is a part owner of the estate.” Jack proudly smiled.
“Yes, I’m sorry. If you wouldn’t mind telling her that I’m here and if she wishes to speak to me, you know where I’m staying. I would appreciate that.” The wretched smile appeared again. “I don’t want it to be too much of a shock.”
“I’ll let Jess know. Is there anything else?”
“No, I think you have covered everything, thank you.”
“Would you like to be shown to your lodge?”
“That’s fine, I’d like to see if I can remember my way around.”
“Very good.”
Rachel noted the relief in Jack’s voice and the fact he didn’t push it. It would be usual for Jess to be summoned to escort a guest to their lodge and make sure they were happy with the facilities and how they worked. Not necessarily someone who had stayed before, but this woman hadn’t, not in a lodge anyway.
***
Later that same day Rachel sat waiting on her balcony for Jess. She was bringing over a detailed map of the larch wood trail, a circular walk of around eight miles. Off the walk, there were apparently magnificent waterfalls and she desperately wanted to paint them. She hoped Jess would actually offer to take her.
She scolded herself again as her mind wandered to the strange woman. She was curious as to who she was. She had to be more to Jess than just a friend. She muttered, “Jess might tell you, give her a chance. Forget it, please.” Spotting Jess walking up the path, she called, “Come straight up.”
“Sorry I’m late.” Jess plunked herself down in a chair. “Uncle Jack was tired and said he was going to go to bed early, so I waited until he went up. I think he overdid it today. Although I can’t deny he’s enjoyed it. It’s good to see.” She looked up at Rachel as she was handed a glass of wine. “Thanks. All the guests have booked in, and I have the emergency mobile with me, so I can relax.”
“Good.”
Jess watched as Rachel sat. “I have the route, but wondered if you would like some company? The map is pretty detailed, but it’s not as easy to the falls as it looks.”
Rachel’s heart rate instantly increased. “I was planning on going tomorrow. But I could go on Monday instead?” Her voice sounded a little excited too.
Jess chuckled. “I’ve been given the day off tomorrow. In fact, I was almost ordered. Don and Jean will be around all day. I’m just to make sure I have this on me.” She patted the mobile radio in her pocket.
“Sundays tend to be busy though, don’t they? And Marie’s away.”
“Yes, I know. But I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that they can manage fine.” Jess mimicked Jack’s voice. “Anything the two old men can’t deal with, we’ll just leave for you later. Wouldn’t want you to feel we can run the place without you.”
Rachel laughed.
The evening rolled into the early hours before Jess found herself heading back down to the house. She had immediately relaxed when she’d spotted Rachel on the balcony, staring at the stars, not an obvious care in the world.
She, on the other hand, had been on edge and angry. When Uncle Jack had told her who was staying in Leven Lodge, she couldn’t believe it. What on earth would possess Alison, after all these years, to appear? How could she even think Jess would want to see her, let alone speak to her? Her uncle’s words echoed in her head. “If you wish to speak to her, you know where to find her.”
She had no wish to speak to her.
Chapter Twelve
Looking forward to the day ahead, Rachel rose early. Packing up the sandwiches she chuckled at the extra she’d made up for Jess. “What an appetite that woman has.”
Last night had turned out to be so relaxing, she marveled at how close they had become over the past few months. It was as if she had known Jess for years. What had started as sexual inquisitiveness had developed into a firm friendship and now… She quickly reprimanded herself and then sighed. This time it wasn’t an infatuation with someone she didn’t know. She wanted Jess the person, as a friend and lover. Someone to share her life with.
She groaned and went back to her packing, only to be haunted by images of Jess looking at her. Dark, dilated pools of blue would undress her, piece of clothing by piece of clothing, until Rachel felt completely exposed and could almost feel Jess’s touch. It never made her feel uncomfortable and she would never dream to mention it. Jess was either unaware she was doing it, or she just didn’t realize it was plain to see on her face. The desire was palpable, yet Jess never yielded, never lost control. Rachel sighed.
***
She and Jess spent the morning slowly wandering up to the falls. It was a wonderful day, the sun shone brightly and a light breeze kept the day comfortable. Jess carried the food and water in a backpack and had a pair of binoculars hanging around her neck. She named the array of flowers they passed and any birds they saw, or even heard. She also started to name all the peaks along the mountain ridge, until she saw Rachel’s face. She loved the look of them, but she would never remember all those names. She couldn’t even pronounce most of them.
Rachel had carried her sketching and basic watercolor materials. There were so many opportunities to put pencil to paper and as they exited a forest, consisting mainly of alder and oak, Rachel was taken aback by the view. They overlooked a fast-flowing river that tumbled over rocks and around boulders, carving out the deepest gorge Rachel had ever seen. To her right were the waterfalls, three cascades, and they were as beautiful as Jess had described. She looked up, the river was obviously much wider at the top of the first fall, but that couldn’t be seen, and as the water tumbled over the edge it was forced into a much narrower area. The pool at its base was dark and only appeared to sedately ripple, considering the battering it was receiving from above. A huge boulder sat at the pool’s edge, blocking the water’s continued flow to the river below, forcing it to go around and resulting in two lower falls. The speed of the water didn’t slow, if anything it appeared to fall faster and the noise was deafening. She tapped Jess on the shoulder to attract her attention and shouted, “What are those amazing trees?” They were overhanging the gorge, clinging on desperately to the rock as they were showered in water.
“Birch. Incredible aren’t they?” Jess smiled as she watched Rachel shake her head and look in awe.
***
After lunch Rachel returned to her sketching. Her ears had eventually stopped feeling like they were stuffed with cotton wool. The peace amongst the sparsely growing larch and juniper was the perfect contrast to the roar of the falls. Watching Jess, she produced a number of sketches she herself would treasure, especially one of Jess stretched out for a rest, a hat over her face. Her close-fitting vest outlined the curve of her breasts and the peak of her nipples, which slowly rose and fell as she dozed. Rachel’s pencil continued downward to a stomach so firm and flat, then to a small amount of pale, soft skin exposed between vest and shorts. She scanned down the crossed, lean, muscular legs and then smiled at thick ankle socks and a large pair of walking boots. Jess gave off an air of someone who was comfortable with herself, totally unaware of how magnificent she looked to others. There was no arrogance in the way she held herself. Not like Michelle, she thought bitterly.
They climbed further up the hill, way off the beaten track, where Rachel saw all number of chicks in a variety of boxes and nests. When they reached the plateau of the hill, Jess took her to a gloriously hidden lochan where they spotted a female otter with her young, playing in the water. Heading down the other side into a forest of Scots pine, Jess pointed out evidence of pine martins and wildcat. The highlight, though, was the nest of a Scottish crossbill. It was deep in a thicket and they had to climb a nearby tree in order to see it through the binoculars. A brood of six, a record in Jess’s book. The chicks were close to leaving the nest and filled it to overflowing, glimpses of wing and beak visible through the tangled bush. The parents were frantically rushing in and out feeding gaping and hungry mouths.
***
As the lodges came back into sight, Rachel realized how tired she was, yet extremely content with the entire day. The mysterious woman at the lodge had not entered her thoughts since this morning, and Jess hadn’t mentioned her at all. Neither had she appeared preoccupied. Rachel thought it peculiar; the woman obviously wanted to see Jess. Maybe she had already seen her? But when? Jess had been with Jack and then her until almost one in the morning, and then they were up early and out for the day.