Chapter Fourteen - Two Troubled Souls

Cloverdale, although it consists of a few homes scattered sporadically around the entire valley, isn't impervious to the latest dramas that have suddenly sprung up from it's peaceful surroundings.

As we are just about to find out......

Brooke needed time to think.


Yes, she'd acted impulsively and tore shreds out of Alex, who, like a true gentleman, stood there and took the full force of her anger. But she was getting stressed with everything that was going on. The sudden appearance of her elderly father, with his constant nit-picking of her life.....
.... the suspicion that her boyfriend Deano was 'playing the field'.

The broken shower was just the icing on the cake for her.

And now, she needed to take a long, long walk to clear her thoughts.
Yes, she felt guilty for exploding in front of her boss. She realised it was very unprofessional of her.


But what's done is done. She couldn't turn back the clock.
Dipping her shoulders in defeat, she sighed heavily.

"When is this all going to end?" she thought to herself.

The twittering of birds distracted her momentarily as she stared into space, lost in her own thoughts.

Suddenly, Brooke's feet took her walking.....

.... in the direction of Deano's trailer.

She didn't want to go there, but she needed someone to talk to and Charity, her best friend was never around when she needed her. Her cell phone was proof of that.
Several times Brooke had tried to contact Charity, but failed miserably as the voicemail kicked in.


But as she approached, her nerves got the better of her and she paused, wondering if this was a good idea or not......

In the meantime, Father Thomas was still reeling from the shock of his new assignment.
On the long journey by public service bus, he'd been in deep deep thought.
Wondering how he'd walked into this sudden chain of events.

He'd read all the reports and his heart sank even deeper. It was much worse than he'd imagined. Of all the boarding schools around, statistics proved that this one St Mitchells, had the worst reputation....

.... and the poorest, most uneducated in-house boys around.


All thoughts of a beautiful, sand swept beach and adoring faces, retreated hastily from his memory. His face grew ashen underneath the fading tan and he felt physically sick as the Bishop droned on about all the new changes he expected Father Thomas to undertake.

And the most shocking news of all, was that he was expected to start immediately. There was no respite, no preparation. He'd been thrown into his new task feet first.

And now, after a hasty apology from the bus driver, he was about to be dropped off, right in the middle of nowhere.

"Sorry Father," he'd muttered gruffly, "this is as far as I can go. But it's just a short walk along that road."

He pointed a nicotine stained finger in the direction of a long, narrow road that vanished over a hill.

"You can't miss it."

"Thanks," replied Father Thomas, picking up his small valise.

He shot the driver a nervous grin, before turning and making his way along this road.
Behind him, the doors of the bus clanged shut and the spluttering cough of the diesel engine told him that the bus was already leaving.


This was it......

..... no turning back.

Luckily, he was well prepared for a long walk. He astounded himself at the thoughts of wearing walking shoes.
Only a couple of hours previously, he'd fussed himself into a stupor, wondering if it was a good idea to wear these or his brand new, never been worn, shiny shoes that might pinch and cause blisters.

Thinking back, the very idea of fussing over shoes, was ludicrous compared to what lay ahead for Father Thomas.

Just as he was peaking the ridge, his eyes fell on a small trailer.....
.... and the sight of a lost looking woman, stood outside, her shoulders stooped.


Brooke didn't see Father Thomas approaching. Her mind was elsewhere.

Listening to the sounds of giggling emanating from the trailer.......