Out on the MOOR

As cool air blew across the moor, Jessica drew a deep, satisfying breath.

- Gwen Rollinson

This evening, the breeze was gentle, but there were times when it would rush across the landscape like an express train stunted, misshapen trees, which had been foolhardy enough to try and grow here, bore testament.

From her favourite vantage point, she could see the purple-heathered hills rolling far into the distance, bathed in the evening sun.

For someone who spent her days selling holidays and extolling the virtues of foreign travel, it seemed ironic that all Jessica needed for relaxation was to come up here.

She loved this wild, open, unspoiled place. It was no coincidence that her favourite novel was Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.

Most of all, though, she loved the solitude.

'Jess! Jess!' A voice called out and her heart sank. So much for solitude!

She'd hoped Liam hadn't noticed her slip away from his brother's noisy birthday celebrations but, evidently, that was not the case. And he knew exactly where she'd be.

Darting behind a large rocky outcrop, she pressed herself as flat as she could against the rough granite. She was fairly certain Liam wouldn't venture quite this far. He wasn't one for climbing up onto the moor at the best of times, but certainly not when he was dressed in his going-out gear.

**** '

Jess! Jessie!' The voice called out again but, this time, it didn't sound like her boyfriend. He'd probably sent one of the other party guests to find her.

'Jess, where are you?' There was urgency in the voice now.

Perhaps something had happened and she was needed.

She stepped out from her hiding place, just as a man appeared around the corner and they both jumped, startled.

'What is it?' Jess said as she found herself looking straight into the brooding eyes of Heathcliff.

With his dark, tousled hair and thick brows, he could have stepped straight out of the pages of the book.