Chapter 1:
A plaintive yelp rose from within the undergrowth beyond the fence.
‘Archie!’ Linda Lewis called for her dog. ‘Come on, boy. Where are you?
She peered into the bushes but could see no sign of him.
‘Archie? Come out of there. Arch?’
The reply was another cry.
She followed the line of the well-maintained fence, hoping to find a place where the barbed wire might be loose and allow her access to the Oak Wood and her dog. There was none.
The dog howled again.
‘I’m coming, Archie. Mummy’s coming.’
Carefully avoiding the sharp barbs, she placed her hands on the wire and pushed down on it, creating a slight dip.
She raised her right leg and by hopping, managed to straddle the fence, her backside brushing the short metal spikes. She felt around with her foot until her toes touched the ground on the other side. She was about to pull her left leg over when a robust Scots voice made her freeze.
‘Hey! You! Get off that fence…right now!’
She twisted her head around to look over her shoulder. A gruff looking man in a heavy waxed coat strode at a brisk pace up the path towards her. She saw, to her consternation, the shotgun he had cradled over one arm.
‘I said get off the fence, young woman. You’re damaging it.’
He came to a halt in front of her. ‘Just what do you think you’re doing? That side of the fence is private property. You can’t go in.’
‘But my dog-’
‘Shouldn’t be in there either.’
‘I think he’s hurt…I heard him yelping.’
Linda shifted her position so she could feel the ground with her tiptoes on either side of the fence. Unable to maintain her pressure on the wire, it sprang taut again and she felt a sharp pain in her buttock as one of the savage barbs pierced her trousers, pricked her skin and then snagged on the material.
‘Ow,’ she squealed. ‘Ooh, crap, ow!’
‘Get off there,’ he said frowning crossly. ‘Before you do yourself a mischief.’
‘I can’t,’ she whined. ‘I think…ooh, I think I’m stuck…I’m caught…my trousers.’ She wafted her hand towards him. ‘Help me off here. It hurts.’
The man shook his head and rolled his eyes at the nuisance. With care he laid his gun on the ground. He then put out a hand and Linda grabbed at it, accepting his reluctant assistance. The hand felt rough and calloused, yet warm and strong.
His fingers closed around hers and they held onto each other tightly as she attempted to extricate herself from the fence without tearing either her trousers or her skin. She found she couldn’t. She was stuck fast. He tugged at her hand to hasten her release.
‘No! Stop pulling you silly man,’ she piped shrilly. ‘Can’t you see I’m snagged…I’m going to rip myself. Do something else.’
His frown deepened. ‘For goodness sake, woman, put your arms around my neck and I’ll lift you off.’
‘I’ll do no such thing!’ she gasped with horror. ‘I don’t even know you. How do I know you’re not just after a quick grope?’
He let go of her hand and shrugged. ‘Then stay impaled. It’s your choice.’ He turned his back as if he meant to leave her stranded.
