The Track in a Forest

By Mike Upton

The Track In A Forest
Author Mike Uptons 12th novel is his 2nd book of ghost stories. Five separate erotic tales of ghosts and unusual occurrences all set in his home county of Norfolk. Are ghosts real? Do they exist?

Billy: An old ghostly fisherman long dead appears to recently divorced Theo in the small sailing harbour where he keeps his own boat. But can he convince either Hannah with whom he is having a torrid affair and then Patsy of what hes seen?

The Roman: A family move into an old cottage but soon strange happenings occur in one of the bedrooms as they uncover a past story of the missing Roman Legion.

The Track in A Forest: A young couple walking in a forest stumble on a past event which inexplicably seems to be re-enacted to them in the present day. But are they themselves all they seem?

The White Lady: Who is the mysterious beautiful lady reputed to haunt the old Barnton Manor house and will David be lucky enough to meet with her?

Millie: After discovering love and then betrayal, she finds solace with the ghost of her beloved horse Jupiter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Sep 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504990059

Mike Upton

MIKE UPTON is a retired businessman who for many years worked extensively in industry as Managing Director or Chief executive running several companies in Britain and America. This, his second novel (like his first AMBITIONS END) is a work of fiction, but it again draws from his extensive knowledge of business and large multi-national corporations and their involvement and approach to selling off parts of their business, or acquiring competitors. Living in Norfolk he has been married to Brenda for 42 years and has tw daughters and one granddaughter.

Book preview

2015 Mike Upton. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/28/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9006-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9016-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9005-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

BILLY

THE ROMAN

THE TRACK IN A FOREST

THE WHITE LADY

JUPITER

The Track In A Forest is dedicated to several people:-

• To my wife Brenda, my two daughters Catherine and Victoria and my Granddaughter Holly

• As always to Sarah my former pa for her delightfully humorous approach to life, its challenges, problems and opportunities

• To all my friends who encourage me to go on writing

• To the whole AuthorHouse team for their willing, cheerful and efficient help in turning a manuscript into a finished book

• To all who are fascinated by, interested in or bemused by the ideas of ghosts and their possible existence

• Lastly and most importantly to all my readers. I do hope you enjoy reading The Track In A Forest.

BILLY

PREFACE

I f anyone had said to me Theo do you believe in ghosts? I think I would probably have replied along the lines of ‘I don’t really know. I’ve never properly thought about it’.

However if the person who asked the question pressed me still further by saying Well go on have a think about it. Now what is your view?

Then in that case I’m pretty sure I would have said ‘No of course I don’t. Ghosts? No don’t be silly. Oh no, definitely not. Such things don’t exist. The idea of a ghost is just a complete lot of nonsense as they’re purely figments of some people’s overripe imagination!’

But then that was before I met Billy!

CHAPTER 1

I can call spirits from the vasty deep.

Shakespeare (King Henry iv, pt i)

M y marriage had broken up a few months ago so socially I was at a bit of a dead end. The divorce and the months leading up to it had taken a lot out of me emotionally and I wasn’t anxious to get really involved with anyone new for a while. No doubt in due course those hurt feelings would heal and I’d be ready to launch myself again onto the field of eligible young women, but for now I was content to leave well alone and enjoy being a bachelor. Obviously I knew that sometime I’d want to try and start a new relationship but currently I was content allowing life to evolve and not actively look for a new girlfriend and just let things take their course. However if someone happened along soon all well and good. But if not then when I felt ready, I’d take more active steps to find a new partner.

No actually that’s not all quite true. Whilst I wasn’t actually looking for a new relationship I was however beginning to feel the lack of female company. Okay let me be completely honest. I was missing not getting any nookey.

I wouldn’t describe myself as a great ladies man but all through my adult life I’d not found it difficult to meet with girls and have relationships, some short, some long, but almost all involving sex. Sometimes the sex was good; occasionally it had been very good; whilst at other times it had been rather disappointing. But nevertheless it was sex and good or bad it had kept my needs satisfied.

When I’d met Trish whilst I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight it did become pretty intense rather quickly. Like we slept together on our fourth date!

Allen was an old cricket pal and one Friday evening he’d invited me to an early summer party he was throwing at his home and there I’d seen this tall rather attractive dark haired girl by the Bar-B-Q waiting her turn for a burger or sausage.

I’d managed to manoeuvre my way through the waiting group to stand next to her and as we’d both inched nearer to the smoking, smelly, old, former oil drum which was being used to cook the food I’d opened the conversation.

‘The trouble is you wait ages getting all covered in stinky bar-b-q smells and then when you get there and it’s your turn to be served, you find either that they‘re all burnt to buggery, or not properly cooked. So it’s a choice of crispy charcoal like horrendously overdone sausages, or seriously underdone undercooked burgers which stand a real danger of giving you a nasty bout of food poisoning’.

‘That’s a rather depressing thought’ she’d said.

‘Yep maybe but generally true though. I’m Theo by the way’.

‘Trish’ she’d smiled holding out a hand on which I noticed that the fingers were extremely long and elegant.

‘What a lovely hand’ I’d commented as I shook it gently. ‘Do you play the piano?’

‘Not any more. I did as a kid and teenager. In fact I was rather good and got right up to Grade eight and passed. But then I discovered that rather than spending my time playing with a set of ivory and ebony keys, it was a lot more fun to play with boys …… especially naughty ones!’

Her laugh tinkled delightfully and her part open mouth showed a perfect set of extremely white teeth and an enticingly pink tongue. Quickly flicking my eyes up and down her body in its tee shirt and tight jeans confirmed that she had a nice figure and the soft waft of her perfume was pervasively attractive. Joining in her laughter I’d asked how she knew Allen.

‘Oh we went out together a few times some years ago and have kept in touch ever since. Just as friends. Nothing more than that. And you?’

‘I play in his village cricket team every now and then. I’m not very good but he ropes me in occasionally when he’s short of other players. So I’m a sort of crap standby, intermittently useful but only to be brought out in times of dire need’ and this time it was my turn to laugh.

She’d chuckled and then stepped forward as the man behind the bar-b-q who was sweating profusely and wearing one of those aprons which showed the back view of a naked girl kneeling down suggestively creating the impression of giving him oral sex, beckoned her forward.

‘Burger in a bun or two sausages in a roll?’ he’d wanted to know.

‘Oh just one sausage in the roll please’.

‘Onions?’

‘No thanks’.

‘Ketchup, mustard, brown sauce and mayo on the end table over there’ he’d said pointing with his chin as he’d scooped up a distinctly burnt sausage, shoved it in a long roll, wrapped a paper napkin around it and handed it over to her.

‘Thank you’ she’d smiled then stood aside as it was my turn to get served. I’d intended to order a burger with onions then changed my mind suddenly deciding to try my luck with Trish and didn’t want my breath to smell all oniony. We’d moved together to the end table where I’d dolloped all four condiments onto my burger in its bun while she’d delicately squirted a little mayonnaise onto her sausage.

Leading her to a quieter corner of the large garden away from most of the forty or so other people but not too far away to be out of touch, I’d spotted an old wooden chair and indicated that she should sit there. She did and looking up at me smiled and squeezing the end of her roll to make it flatter took a bite. Some mayo oozed out onto her chin and with an ‘Oops’ she wiped it off with her little finger and licked it clean. I’d smiled down at her as I took my first bite of my burger.

‘I’m going to get a crick in the neck if I have to sit here looking up at you’ she’d chuckled. ‘Come and sit down’ and eased herself a little to the side of the chair but it was obvious that there wouldn’t be sufficient room for us both.

‘I don’t think we’ll both fit on there?’ I’d grinned. ‘I’ll sit on the ground’.

‘No you won’t’ she’d said quickly. ‘The grass will be soaking from all that rain earlier. Here you sit on the chair and I’ll sit on your lap’.

So as I’d said ‘That sounds like a plan!’ it’s what we did.

We’d chatted and it wasn’t long before she took the remaining half of her sausage out of the roll and slipping it between her lips ate it rather suggestively by accentuating the in and out movement while carefully showing her teeth as she bit down onto it.

‘I don’t want the rest of this’ she’d announced holding up the last little piece of the sausage. ‘Like it?’

‘Well ……..’

‘Go on open wide’ she’d grinned and then fed it to me so I bit off half of it chewed and swallowed then repeated it with the final portion. ‘Hungry boy eh? Yuck my fingers are all mucky. Lick them clean for me?’ and she’d slowly introduced her forefinger and then her thumb into my mouth. Extracting them she’d examined them carefully and then she’d opened my own bun, taken out the remaining half of the burger bit a small chunk off it and fed the rest to me.

‘I think you’re going to need to lick these again’ she’d smiled waggling her fingers in front of my face. I’d duly obliged and then she’d licked them as well but in a very suggestive way. Now whether it was her doing that, or her perfume, or her weight on my lap I don’t know, but what I did know was that I’d started to get an erection and wondered whether she could feel it too.

Moments later though I knew the answer as gently squirming her bottom on me she’d said quietly ‘I hope I’m not too heavy for you as I’d hate to squash anything of importance down there!’ and with a smirk she’d deliberately pressed down again.

‘So would I’ was my reply.

‘Shall we go for a little wander around the garden now?’

‘Can we wait a few seconds?’

‘We’ve both finished eating so I’d like to see all the lovely flowers’ she’d giggled with a wicked smile on her face.

‘As I said can we hang on for a few seconds?’

‘Why?’ and her look was utterly licentious.

‘I think you are well aware of why’ I’d smiled.

‘Ooh, in a state of awkwardness are you?’ she’d asked while slowly sliding her bottom from side to side on me.

‘Yes’.

‘You naughty boy. Whatever could have caused that I wonder?’

‘You know very well what’s caused it’ I’d replied a little more sharply than I’d intended.

‘No I couldn’t possibly imagine’ she’d said quietly before sliding off me and leaning down popped a kiss on my cheek then holding out her hand said ‘walking around will sort it out!’ and grinning broadly she’d pulled me to my feet.

As we’d set off I was still conscious that I had a part hard on but glancing down at myself nothing really showed. She’d seen me looking and with a grin said ‘Relax. No-one would know’.

‘Good’.

‘Can’t be very big then can it?’ she’d mused putting her head on one side and staring rather obviously at my crutch.

‘I’ve never had any complaints!’

‘Glad to hear it. Come on’ she’d sniggered.

We’d walked around the garden; we’d chatted; we’d laughed and we’d made a date for the following day.

So on Saturday morning I’d driven to her apartment which was in a new block near the river in Norwich. Over the past few years many of these blocks had sprung up in the City as old industrial premises had been converted or torn down and replaced with modern city apartment living.

She’d opened the door, smiled, said she was ready and that she just needed to collect her jacket and moments later we were in the lift travelling down to the ground floor where we’d walked across to my car.

‘Umm nice’ she’d commented as I’d held open the passenger door of my red Mazda MX5 sports car and she’d slid into the car. Wearing a pale green flowery pattern blouse and cream calf length designer slacks, heeled sandals and with her dark brunette hair hanging loose to her shoulders she’d looked quite stunning. It was a lovely sunny day and the hood was already down.

‘Have you got an elastic band by any chance?’ she’d asked.

‘No why?’

‘Well I didn’t know we’d be in an open car and I need something to stop my hair blowing all over the place’.

I’d rummaged in the glove box and the little storage space between the two seats and behind the seats but to no avail.

‘Sorry I haven’t. Look I don’t mind of your hair gets messed up’.

‘Maybe you don’t but I do’ she’d observed.

‘I tell you what. I’ll put the hood up for now, drive to a shop that sells rubber bands, then you can fix your hair and we’ll put the hood down again. It’s such a lovely day that it seems a shame not to take advantage of it’.

‘Fine but head for a chemist. I’ll get a proper hair restraint rather than a rubber band’.

‘So that’s what we did, finding a chemist where she’d bought her hair thingy, then with the hood down again drove out of Norwich; stopped at a pub near Aylsham that did good salads and sandwich lunches; ate, laughed, talked; she’d drunk a glass of wine and I’d sipped a half pint of beer; then we’d driven up to Blakeney on the coast to walk along the coastal path for a while; came back into the little coastal town and wandered around enjoying the quaintness of the place before driving slowly further along the North Norfolk coast road. I’d taken time and we hadn’t rushed stopping every now and then to explore some of the coastal villages. Eventually we’d finished up near to Hunstanton where we’d found another pub that served evening meals and ate there.

Afterwards I’d driven her back to her apartment in Norwich, parked in a visitor’s space in the car park for the block, leaned in for a kiss and got a quick peck but that was all.

‘I’ve had a really lovely day thank you’ she’d said easing away from me.

‘So have I’.

‘It was really nice. I’ve only lived in Norfolk for a few months and simply haven’t got round to exploring that north coast so it was great to do so today’.

‘Well thank you for making it such a nice day’ I’d replied. Bit of a soppy sort of reply but I’d meant it.

‘Good’ she’d agreed quietly giving me another little peck before getting out of the car saying she didn’t need me to see her inside and with a wave and a lovely smile she’d left me.

We’d dated again a couple of days later and had gone for an evening meal after which I’d taken her back to her apartment block where we’d kissed again in the car. Properly this time and for quite a while during which I’d gone for a feel of her breasts but she’d pushed my hand away, said quietly ‘Not yet it’s only our second date. It’s too soon but thanks for a lovely evening’ and began to get out of the car. Before she’d disappeared I’d asked if she’d come on another date and she said yes.

For our next date we’d met at a pub, had a quick drink then went to the cinema as there was a film she’d said she wanted to see. Frankly I thought it was boring but I contented myself sitting in the darkness holding hands with her, delighted that this was our third date in a short space of time and wondered whether to try to persuade her to sleep with me tonight? After the film we went for a pizza, chatted about the film, then in the car had some deep and meaningful kissing during which I’d had another go at touching her breasts.

This time she didn’t object to me feeling them over her jumper and even allowed me to slide my hand up underneath it and begin to squeeze and massage them over her bra but she refused to allow me to undo the two little clips on the back strap of that little garment. But the kissing was lovely.

On our fourth date we went for an Italian meal and when I’d driven her back to her apartment and parked in a visitor’s space as I’d moved close to kiss her, she’d smiled and said ‘Why don’t you come upstairs? There’s more room and we won’t be so cramped’.

Inside I’d looked curiously around her apartment which was all stainless steel and glass fittings with a largish sitting room, two white settees but no armchairs, a small dining recess led off it and through there lay the extremely well fitted kitchen. The bathroom was all bright and gleaming white with lots of ceiling spot lights. She’d told me it was a two bedroom flat but they were the only rooms I couldn’t see.

She’d made coffee, ground not instant, and then poured herself a whisky and offered me one.

‘Well okay but only a very small one to go with the coffee as I’ve got to drive home’ I’d said sitting down in one of the settees which was very soft and sort of enveloped you in it.

Putting some music onto her audio system she’d brought my drink over and sat beside me smiled and said ‘Cheers’.

‘Cheers’ I’d replied. ‘Thank you for a lovely evening’.

We’d chatted for a while until at some point the music stopped which happened to coincide with our conversation also coming to a halt.

‘Like another drink?’ she’d asked softly.

‘No thanks as I’m driving’.

‘Such a shame you’ve got to drive isn’t it’ she’d said softly getting up and then sitting down on my lap where she’d leant forward and whispered ‘kiss me’.

I’d done so and was delighted when she’d responded positively and quite fiercely including pushing her tongue right into my mouth. I was even more delighted when she’d begun to wriggle her bottom on my lap and with a little smile said softly ‘Remember what happened the last time I sat on your lap?’

‘Yes’.

‘Do you think it might happen again?’

‘I’m sure it will’ I’d grinned and as we began kissing again even more passionately, the combination of her weight on my lap, and her not objecting when I’d begun fondling her breasts, initially over her blouse and then when I’d unbuttoned that over her bra quickly resulted in the inevitable erection.

When she’d unbuttoned my shirt and began alternating between stroking or kissing my chest and nipples, I’d decided that if it was alright for her to play with my bare chest and nipples then it would be churlish of me not to reciprocate, so I’d unclipped her bra and taken both breasts in my hands and while gently massaging them had begun to lick and kiss her nipples.

Fortunately it wasn’t long before she’d sighed, looked deep into my eyes, smiled and said quietly ‘Theo this is really lovely but I’m sure we’ll be much more comfortable in bed. Don’t you think so?’

With a big grin I’d said I thought we definitely would!

Next morning was Sunday and we’d spent the whole of it in bed. Trish was attractive with her clothes on, but really lovely without them. I’d lost count of the number of times we made love altogether on the Saturday night and throughout Sunday morning but it was more than I’ve ever done with any other girl in such a short space of time.

We’d met a couple of evenings during the following week and then spent the whole of the next weekend from Friday evening through to Monday morning together spending some of the time out and about in the City of Norwich or the surrounding countryside; some at her smart apartment; some at my rather dingy flat; but a very great deal of it in bed!

Our relationship blossomed and after a few months I’d asked her to marry me.

She’d said yes and three months later we’d exchanged vows in a rather dull registry office, but the party afterwards at the grand but quite old fashioned hotel set in beautiful grounds outside Norwich was great and we’d both finally stumbled off upstairs to bed in the bridal suite, rather drunk but incredibly happy, where we’d made love slowly and for a long time and then fallen deeply asleep.

The next morning we’d slept in late; made love; had breakfast in bed; made love again, then after bathing and dressing driven to the little cottage in a tiny village near Loddon that we’d just bought on a joint mortgage, having both given up renting our individual apartments.

After I’d carried her over the threshold and kissed her very passionately we’d decided that the best way to christen our moving in properly together into our first home as a married couple was to go straight to bed and make love.

So that’s exactly what we did!

The cottage was over two hundred years old and quite small, but cosy. I’d lived in a rented fully furnished flat