Page 27 of Ruby’s Outback Love

“Not for sure but she headed in the direction of the river.”

“I know where to find her. Whenever Ruby is troubled, she heads to one of two spots at the river. I’ll let the men know I need to be out for a while.”

Linda smiled and patted my arm. “Try to get her to listen. Until you talk this through, you’ll both be caught in a hellish limbo.”

“I’ll get her to listen even if I have to handcuff her to me.”

Linda laughed. “Not sure she’d take too kindly to that.”

I chuckled. “No, she most definitely wouldn’t. Seriously, thank you for the information, for giving me the kick in the butt I needed to man up.”

I leaned forward and kissed Linda’s cheek.

“Good luck, Phil, we’ll talk later.”

I watched for a moment as Linda continued towards the hospital before hurrying inside to advise Mick, who was scheduled to be on the front desk, I had something important to take care of and would be back later.

***

After speaking to the men at the station and delegating off a few jobs, I headed towards the river. As I descended the stairs to the riverbank, the sound of heart rendering sobs carried on the soft breeze. When I neared the riverbank and glanced off to my left, I saw Ruby seated on the ground, head resting on her knees, body visibly trembling.

Seeing her that way was like a sucker punch to my heart. Somehow, I needed to relieve her of the crippling pain of a past which haunted her, as it did me.

When I stepped on a twig, the cracking as it broke sounded like a gunshot in the quiet and still of the deserted spot. Ruby’s head whipped up, tears streaked her beautiful face and her eyes widened as soon as she sighted me.

Pushing to her feet, she started away. I caught up to her within a few strides but wasn’t foolish enough to reach out and grab hold of her. I’d learnt my lesson from doing that out at Barrawon Station. I still sported a little light bruising as a reminder.

Instead, I stepped directly in front of her, halting her progress. She refused to lift her gaze to me, it stayed transfixed on the ground.

“Please go away and leave me alone, Phil.” She spoke quietly, eerily so.

She finally lifted her head and fixed her tired gaze on my face.

“I can’t do this, Phil. I can’t live my life filled with anger, fearful of what I’ll say or do if our paths cross. I need you to stay away from me – please.”

Tears poked at my eyes, the woman once filled with so much joy and life was now a mere shell, filled with sadness, almost despair. I’d done this, I had to find a way to bring her back.

“Sweetheart…..”

“Don’t call me that, I’m not your fucking sweetheart!”

“I’m sorry. Ruby, Linda told me how you’d found out about Francine and I, I never intended for you to find out that way. I know your heart must have shattered when you thought I’d used you, but I didn’t. It wasn’t what you think.”

Anger fired up her eyes, I could almost feel the heat of burning flames being directed my way.

“It wasn’t what I think? Then tell me, Phil, what the fuck was I supposed to think when I found out you’d been shoving your dick into Francine, created a baby and planned to marry her? Explain how I misread that, Phil. Did you and the other cops have a good old laugh when you told them how you’d sucked me in with lies, fucked me and tossed me aside like a piece of fucking garbage?”

Tears streamed over her cheeks as she spoke, her voice wavered, thick with her grief. I stepped towards her, but she held her hands out and stepped back.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t speak to me. I loved you, Phil. I gave you my heart and you destroyed it along with my soul. I’ll never trust another man and his meaningless words. We both have jobs we love and it’s inevitable we’ll see each other in passing, but I’ll ignore you and ask you do the same to me.”

“Ruby, please hear me out. Let me explain.” I could see I was running out of time; she was about to turn and run. My chance would be lost and I knew I wouldn’t get another.

“No, I’m not interested in your lies. I fell for them once; I’m not foolish enough to do so again.”

“I love you so much, Ruby. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

“Well, Phil, that’s your misfortune.”