By mid-morning the sun had broken through the clouds and blue sky was once again on show. Louise soon began to wish she hadn't worn her thick fleece, but she was pretty much stuck with it until they stopped for a rest. She stayed towards the middle of the long line of cyclists traversing an endless succession of winding country lanes.
Cows mooed mournfully as they pedalled past and she scowled at them miserably. At least they didn't have to face the fact they'd been shafted both literally and figuratively. She rode onwards, determinedly focussing on the middle distance and trying to forget about the man who was somewhere behind her, probably making eyes at another likely target. Occasionally Alicia's irritating giggle floated down the line and Louise couldn't help but wonder if Rick was flirting with her now. It seemed anything was possible with that hateful man.
* * *
"Are you still torturing yourself?" Gillian asked her quietly when they stopped for lunch at a pretty village pub nestled beside a stream. The pair of them stood in the ladies toilets while Louise pulled her unruly hair back into a tight ponytail.
"No," she said firmly. "I told you this morning – he's an arse and that's all there is to it."
Gillian shook her head crossly. "I still think you're wrong about him," she said.
"No, trust me, I'm not!" Louise scraped the last few strands of hair into the band and stared at her reflection. She looked far better than she felt surprisingly. Her skin was tanned from the sun and she had a healthy glow to her cheeks.
It was amazing what cycling and sex did for a woman,
she thought bitterly.
"Why, what else has happened?" Gillian leant forward curiously, sensing that there was something she had missed.
Louise quickly related what she'd seen in the Duty Free shop and Gillian sighed. "Maybe you've jumped to the wrong conclusion?" she said hopefully.
"No, I didn't." Louise applied some pink lipstick and threw her bits back in her pack. "Come on, let's go eat something." She was in no mood to discuss the incident further – what was the point? After a few hours she would never have to see the man again and that suited her just fine, thank you very much.
* * *
The beer garden was idyllic in the warm midday sun. Large umbrellas shaded the wooden tables and fragrant flowers bloomed cheerfully in terracotta pots. The landlord was a friendly soul who seemed more than happy to pass the time of day with them all. He noted their food orders and chatted cheerfully while he served drinks.
Louise took her pint of cider and walked back outside. She quickly glanced around to see who was sitting where before deliberately choosing a table at the end of the terrace, away from the rest of the group. Bob was sat near the wall with Rebecca and Lucy, apparently showing them the photos on his camera. Louise tuned out of that conversation; she had a strong suspicion that windmills and tulips didn't feature all that heavily in the selection.
The view stretched across the valley they had cycled along; endless fields of acidic yellow rape-seed and undulating green pasture. It was a stark contrast to the flat expanses of Holland. Louise rested her feet up on the bench and waited for Gillian to come and join her. She closed her eyes momentarily, enjoying the soporific warmth of the afternoon sun on her face. After the lack of sleep she'd endured in the last three nights, it was difficult to stay awake.
A slight movement of the bench jolted her eyes open again and she looked up expecting to see Gillian.
"Are you ignoring me again?" asked Rick mildly. He placed his pint of beer on the table and sat down beside her, apparently not feeling an invitation was needed.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Sarcasm positively dripped from her tongue.
"Erm...the fact I've noticed a ten mile exclusion zone around you all day?" He raised his eyebrow questioningly and waited for her response.
Louise took a long slug of cider and fervently wished Gillian would hurry the fuck up. "Don't know what you're talking about," she said eventually, refusing to look at him as she sipped her drink.
"LOUISE!" Gillian yelled across the terrace. "Come and get your sandwich, I only have one pair of hands!"
"Excuse me," she said with icy politeness. He looked mad as hell as she left him sat there while she re-entered the cool interior of the pub. Sweat trickled down her back and her nerves jangled painfully. Less than ten minutes ago she'd been starving. Now she just felt sick.
Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Did he not understand that she had sussed him out now?
"Here you go," said Gillian with a faint smile. Louise took the plate with a chicken baguette and side salad.
Perhaps she could stay in here and hide for a bit. Perhaps he would really take the hint then? Or maybe he wasn't that sensitive – after all he was a man.
She followed Gillian back outside and noted with some irritation that Rick had moved and was now sitting with Gary, Alicia and Cindy. The four of them appeared to be sharing some amazingly amusing joke and Alicia was braying with laughter in her best donkey impression. Louise couldn't help but notice how the bitch rested her hand possessively on Rick's thigh as she turned and said something else to him with a flirtatious smile.
A sharp pang of insane jealousy ripped through her in response to the overtly casual gesture. Rick must have sensed that she was looking for he turned towards her with the glass of beer glass raised half way towards his mouth. For a long moment everybody else in the vicinity faded out and it was only the two of them, their eyes locked in silent combat.
Louise broke the stare first. She could feel her resolve slipping in the heat of his blue-eyed stare and she forced herself to head for the table in the corner again. Gillian was waiting, already tucking in to her tuna roll with gusto.
"Wow, this is delicious!" she said enthusiastically. "I may have to order another one shortly."
Louise didn't reply. She was far too busy staring at the interesting pattern of cress on her plate. It seemed a good alternative to obsessing over Rick and Alicia. If she had to watch that woman touching him for much longer, she was worried that some kind of homicidal rage might take over. The ensuing headline, "Psychotic Cyclist's Killing Spree!" would hardly be welcomed as great publicity by their designated charity.
* * *
The sun was low in the sky by the time Gary announced that they had less than a mile to go. It seemed like another lifetime ago when the ride had set off from the shopping outlet in such high spirits. Now, after four gruelling days of cycling and partying, most of the women were feeling pain of some description.
Louise was certainly in discomfort; her shoulders were aching quite considerably. Her head was also aching after listening to Alicia for the last few hours. It was amazing how one woman could talk non-stop for so long, she thought bitchily. The fact that most of Alicia's conversation was directed at Rick had absolutely everything to do with her bad temper.
Gillian had tried to engage her in chit chat several times, but Louise really wasn't in the mood. The finish line couldn't come soon enough as far as she was concerned. She just wanted to go home and bury her head under a pillow. The thought of a long soak in a hot bath followed by an uninterrupted nights sleep was like the Holy Grail.
"Are you gonna do this again next year?" Sam said, directing her question to Gillian who was cycling in front of Louise.
