Resurrection - by AureaD M (The story contains a descriptive dialogue of abuse) Categories: Drama; Romance

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author: The place names were picked at random. Distances and time scales are entirely made up. Here's hoping it will meet with your approval.

….

Chapter 1

She was having a argument with Him as to which way to go, left or right. She wanted to go left but was being told to go right, and she had to obey. So she turned right and headed along a very well-worn hot and dusty road. She had been walking for hours now and could see that the sun was high in the sky so assumed it must be about mid-day and felt she should rest for a spell. She sat on the ground and took a drink from her canteen which she had managed to fill, thankfully, at a small flowing stream she had passed much earlier in the day. She laid down now and closed her eyes and gave herself to dreaming.

When she opened them again she could see that time had gone on and got up and started walking again. She now found herself walking across a field of long grass and suddenly saw a vision that took her breath away. The vista was magnificent. She was at a very high spot and looking at a long slope of pine trees that made their way down to a beautiful lake. This, she fancied, must be what Heaven would look like and silently thanked Him for the opportunity of viewing this place as she knew for sure she would not be seeing Heaven itself.

She spied daisy-like flowers among the grass and started pulling off the heads of those nearby. She sat and pulled all the petals off the flower heads and dropped them into her skirt. When there was a fine batch of petals she took hold of her skirt, stood up, and using her skirt like a folded up apron she began to walk around, scattering them, like sowing seeds, while all the time talking very quietly to herself until all the petals were gone. She wiped the tears away that had been flowing all the while she was scattering the petals. She was totally unaware that her actions were being watched.

It was so silent not even the breeze stirred. With the smell of the pines came the sound of birds and she sat down with her knees drawn up to her chest listening to that beautiful sound. The tears began again as she imagined what it would be like to live here looking on this view every day. She sniffed and used her sleeve on her nose. She fumbled in her old carpet bag and brought out a notebook and pencil and began to draw the view in order to keep the image with her always. Not that she would ever forget it.

But her sojourn came to an abrupt end when she was rudely interrupted by a dark shadow looming over her and a deep velvet voice wanting to know what she was doing there. She quickly jumped up in a panic, dropping her book and pencil and looked around to find a rider facing her with the sun at his back, which made him look like a black knight on his charger about to attack. She could not distinguish any features at all.

"I said, what are you doing here?" He repeated. "This is private property and you should not be here."

She immediately turned and started to run back the way she had come, but the rider rode after her, easily catching up to her. Her foot found a deep rut and down she went with her arms outstretched to help save her fall. The rider jumped off his horse and knelt down to help her but she started to fight him, struggling to free herself from him.

"I'm not going to hurt you" he said, "but you've cut your arm and it's bleeding and needs to be looked at."

She stopped then and looked up. This time she could see his face clearly and the look of genuine concern captured there. It made her gasp as she fought off tears. A shiver went down her spine. This was a very handsome face and she knew now why she had been made to travel down this way.

"I need to get you to my home to take care of your arm" he said with authority. He helped her to feet. It was then he noticed how very pretty she was with her long blonde hair and green eyes. "Are you going to tell me your name? I'm Adam Cartwright."

She had to come up with something fast. "I'm Mary Kelly" she told him in her strongest Irish brogue, "and you're not taking me anywhere. Just leave me be. I can take care of meself. Unhand me you villain. I'm not goin' anywhere with the likes of you." Adam struggled to get her up as she was fighting him all the time. Mary tried to kick him in the shin, hoping it would release his hold on her. How mistaken she was.

"Will you stop fighting me; I'm only trying to help you." Adam gave her a little shake and then held her at arms length to avoid the kicks and was beginning to lose his patience, but he should have realised, as Mary did not know him, she was rightly thinking the worst of his intentions.

"I'm stronger than you are and if I have to throw you over my horse I will do so. I'm taking you to my ranch where I will be able to tend the cut on your arm since I was the reason you injured yourself in the first place. Now are you going to be reasonable?" He asked sternly.

Mary tried to pull away from him again but this time she was trying to bite his hand but again he was able to stop her from doing so.

"You bite me young lady and you'll be sorry" he forewarned.

At this threat Mary stopped fighting and allowed him to lift her onto his horse. Adam walked the horse back to where he first saw Mary to retrieve her notebook and pencil, and glanced at the drawing. "This is very good" he said, as he handed the notebook over to Mary, "You have talent". Then mounted up behind her. Then together they headed towards the ranch.

Mary felt the strangest feeling that was totally new to her and was frightened by it. She liked the way this man's arms were around her as he held onto the reins. His arms felt very strong and comforting. Mary could not allow herself to feel this way about any man. It had to stop right there.

TBC