Page 17 of Always Beth
I push the door closed without another word and finally allow myself to break out into a smile, he just can’t help himself, can he?
James
We’ve been out for hours and I’ve barely thought of Jacob. That’s probably why we’ve been out for so long, because as soon as I go home, I’ll have to face the music.Just think about speaking to him, for me.
The fact of the matter is, I can think about it for as long as I want. I know I’m going to do it. Because it’s for her. It must be when I’m ready. When I think about the last time Jacob and I saw one another, it chills me to the bone. Telling your little brother you wished he’d never been born is a bold statement to make. I’ll never forget the hurt in his eyes as I threw him out of my apartment. At first I wondered how I would cope without him, but it turned out okay. All because of Lauren. There’s no way she’s going to let this go this time, not this time. I’ve taken Beth around every rambling route I can remember, stopping every so often so the dogs can have a rest. Dick’s going to sleep well tonight, that’s for certain.
‘The views are spectacular, I never knew.’ Beth’s breath catches as we gaze down across the valley.
‘Well, now you do.’
She turns and smiles at me and I can’t help but notice how radiant she looks as the breeze gently tousles her hair. It gently stirs me in a way I haven’t felt in a long while.
‘We should probably head back.’ I wander towards the stile and wait patiently for Beth to catch me up, but she can’t tear herself away, every so often stopping to take another picture on her phone.
‘Sorry,’ she mutters breathlessly as she comes hurtling towards me. I hold my hand out and she takes it tentatively in her own as I help her over the stile into the farmer’s field.
‘Are you sure this way’s okay?’
‘It’s fine, Beth, I’ve been walking through these fields all my life.’ I place Dick on the ground and glance up ahead. ‘Look, we only have to get over there.’
As I examine our exit route, I begin to wonder if I’ve fucked up. It’s too late now. I’ve got to keep going.
‘What about the cattle?’ she whispers as her pace begins to quicken.
‘Oh they’ll be fine as long as…Dick, Dick, don’t you dare.’ As his bark echoes across the field, I momentarily forget his size, because for a small dog he’s about to get us in a load of fucking shit.
Beth stills, clutching at my forearm, and pushes me in front as a human shield. ‘James, they’re looking at us.’
‘Just ignore them, they’re cows, they won’t—’
‘James!’
‘Run.’
I bend down, scooping up both dogs, as Beth Olympic sprints across the field to safety. Across my shoulder, Dick barks over and over, antagonising the cattle that are heading towards us at breakneck speed. ‘Shut up, Dick,’ I hiss through clenched teeth as I try to preserve as much breath as possible. I hurriedly pass both dogs across the fence to Beth before I launch myself over with a fraction of a second to spare.
‘Wow, that was close…’ I grin as I turn towards her in triumph.
‘Errr, James—’
Fuck.An almighty force between my shoulder blades sends me hurtling towards the ground, taking Beth with me in the process. Hitting the ground with a heavy thud, it takes a moment for me to register what’s happened. There, staring down at us over the fence, is the biggest bull I think I’ve ever seen outside of a rodeo.
‘Just stay still,’ I whisper as I take her hand in mine.
‘You told me it would be okay.’
‘Well, I was mistaken,’ I grind out between my teeth.
With a couple of scratches of his hoof and some exasperated grunts, he turns and leaves us lying in the grass. I take my hand and rub it firmly around my neck, man I’m going to be sore tomorrow.
‘I told you. Now look at me!’ Pulling grass from her hair, she waves her arms around hysterically as she stumbles to her feet.
‘Calm down, Beth.’
‘How about you calm down. I can’t go anywhere with you without you getting me into trouble. First, park wardens, now this!’
I smile up at her from the ground and she’s as exasperated as the first time I met her. ‘I think you’ll find the swimming was all you.’
