Ch. 01: Night Picnic
The train journey was long, 500 miles. It had been difficult, with delays and problems, and Jeannie was so tired as she arrived at journey's end. She wearily managed her suitcase off the train, and stood on the platform and looked around. The few people who had shared the small train with her to this remote place in the north of Scotland had been locals, being met by friends, getting into their own cars in the car park. Her hire car was nowhere to be seen, and she was alone on the station in the dead of night. But she was not quite alone. He was there again. He must have been well into his fifties, nicely mature, tall and slim, with smiling blue eyes, greying hair, open shirt revealing a St Christopher pendant nestling in dark chest hair. At her age, a decade younger, he was the type she would certainly go for.
His name was Cliff. He was American, a writer and photographer, now living and working on the island which was just a mile across the water. She had seen him twice along the way, the first time being when he helped her with her suitcase on the mainline station, and they chatted in the queue at the ticket barrier. She had thought that the woman standing near him was his wife, and when Jeannie pointed out that she had gone without him, he explained that he was not married. Jeannie was mortified, but he laughed. She liked his polite, easy manner, gentle American accent, and ready smile. Later, she saw him come through the train towards the buffet car, and they had another pleasant chat. She wanted to know him more, but probably this was just going to be a brief encounter.
So here he was, fortunately for her taking his time to leave the station. She explained the lack of hire car, and he offered to wait with her for a little while. He told her a little about his work, how he had been down south on business, how he had to return to the rat race every now and then to maintain a profile. He asked her what she was doing in those parts, and she explained that she was on a photography trip herself, worked into her annual holiday. Thinking she definitely wanted to meet him again, she told him where she was staying, in the guise of asking him whether it was a nice place. And then the lady arrived with the hire car, and she hadn't finished talking to this guy, hadn't sealed the possibility of future meetings which she knew she wanted. He looked dismayed too, but just said "Probably see you around, it's a small island," and that was that.
Jeannie felt keenly the lost opportunity, remembering the chemistry between her and Cliff, knowing he was geographically close, but unattainable as she had lost him. Her holiday continued for some days, negotiating mountain roads, discovering castles and standing stones, spotting wildlife and generally taking in the beautiful scenery. On the fourth day, Cliff came to the guest house. Jeannie was surprised and delighted, although her outward demeanour was just calmly friendly. The hostess made them a pot of tea in the lounge, they sat and chatted, and Cliff stated his purpose: to invite Jeannie on a photography trip to a certain part of the coastline, where there was a colony of rare sea eagles, and he would bring a picnic for them to enjoy at the same time. She had to see this, and she had to see Cliff, and he knew it.
Exercising due caution, Jeannie drove her own car to the village nearest to the bird sanctuary, and sure enough, Cliff was in the car park, waiting outside his American Chevrolet 4x4. This had not been bought from America, but had British plates, and it stood out from the other vehicles. She saw him first, and had chance to have a good look at him before he greeted her.
And she liked what she saw. Cliff was a little older than her, with greying dark hair, but still very handsome and well-kept, wearing chino slacks, a showerproof jacket and walking boots. His long legs were shapely under the chino, and her gaze travelled upward, lingering on the slim hips and broad shoulders. She was beginning to feel aroused already....
They said hi, and just stood there shyly in the car park. Then both spoke at once, he with "so you found it all right...." she with "I'm not late I hope...." , and they both burst out laughing. They donned rucksacks and set off along the soft grass above the shoreline, he putting his hand on hers as he held a gate for her. As she climbed over a stile, he took her arm to steady her, and after she landed, he deliberately stood holding her too long, his gaze lingering on her face, and travelling downwards a little, before coming back to reality and moving on.
Cliff told Jeannie about the sea eagles which nested on the crags above where they were heading, how they were Arctic birds, which summered down here in Scotland. He said how they mated for life, and only produced two or three chicks per year. Jeannie listened, but was distracted by how attractive Cliff was, how much she would like to feel those strong arms encircle her, pick her up, carry her to some quiet corner....
She was brought to the present again as Cliff suggested they sat and rested. They sat down on the grass, she deliberately sitting next to him, near to him, as he poured them a coffee from a flask in his rucksack. He explained that the picnic basket was back in the Chevy, and he would go back for it later, when they were ready to eat. They sat in companionable silence, staring at the tempestuous sea and drinking their coffee.
At one point Jeannie shivered in the strong breeze, at which Cliff took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. As he placed his arms around her shoulders, settling the coat, his face was right in front of hers. He was so tempted to kiss her full, pink lips, stroke her smooth cheeks. She in turn looked into his eyes, unable to disguise her desire, but just murmuring "thank you for the coat".
As they walked on, the storm began to ease, and they chatted as they walked, sometimes about mundane things, sometimes details of themselves. The sun came out again, and it was excellent weather for photographing the birds, both on the ledges and in the air. Presently they came to the hide, from where they could see an outcrop of rock where there were breeding chicks. Inside, as they looked through the narrow slot, Cliff stood close to Jeannie, just behind her, and as he handed her the binoculars, he brushed against her body. She leaned back, almost lying back on his chest, and turned her face to him slightly. He put the binoculars down and, taking her chin so gently in his fingers, he drew her nearer to him, and kissed her on the cheek. They looked long at each other, and she turned fully towards him, matching her body to his as they enjoyed a prolonged and passionate kiss.