Road to Redemption - Michelle Dalton Page 0,56

jumped up, standing on Boesman’s back and bowed, then hopped off and bowed as the judges presented her with her ribbon and her colours.

Their family rose in unison, clapping and proffering wolf whistles. The rest of the crowd joined in. Tears streamed down Ray’s eyes and the family laughed and celebrated. Mina closed her eyes, wanting to imprint this day on to her heart forever.

Lullu stood on her tippy-toes and whispered something to the lead judge, who nodded and smiled brightly.

Her daughter mounted Boesman and cantered smartly over to where they all sat in the front row. The horse stopped, and Lullu jumped up, standing once again on her horse’s back.

“What the heck is she up to?” Mina asked as Ray stood, leaned over and took a box from his daughter, then turned to face Mina as he kneeled.

The entire crowed “aaahed” as Boesman followed suit and kneeled, and Ray opened the small black box.

“He will admit he was afraid,” Lullu said out loud.

“But love returned and it did hold,” Ray recited.

“His heart will play no games, I made him swear,” Lullu continued.

“For it knows my name.” Ray popped open the box.

Lullu finished, “And his true desire.”

“I wrote this poem Mom.” Lullu added, eliciting soft laughter form those who could hear.

Ray shook his head and returned his attention to Mina. “I loved you once; I love you still. I honestly hope that you might too?”

A heavy silence enveloped them as the arena awaited a reaction from Mina, whose world was spinning off its axis.

“This was my ma’s.” His eyes shone like sapphires in the night sky. “And I would love for it to belong to you now. Mina van der Westhuizen, will you marry me?”

Mina glanced over his shoulder to where Boesman now stood up with Lullu sitting on his back. Her daughter smiled broadly as she nodded.

Mina looked to her ma and then to Derek, who both nodded and smiled, then back to Ray, who turned the colour of sour milk.

“Of course I will. I just wanted to make you poop your pants first.”

They all burst out laughing.

She allowed Ray to slip the onyx and diamond white-gold, princess-cut ring on her finger before he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

The entire crowd applauded with quite a few wolf whistles and whoop-whoops in addition.

It was dark and late by the time Ray pulled up to the stables at Redemption. He cut off the engine but kept the headlights on. Mina and Lullu both sat sleeping in their seats.

Ray reached back and brushed a loose strands of hair that fell across his daughter’s face. A year ago, he’d never have believed he’d be here. Back in the arms of his only love with his daughter. He’d never have believed that forgiveness was possible or that he’d ever deserve it. But here he was, on the verge of getting married, and a part of this gorgeous girl’s life.

“You’re my everything,” he whispered as a hand touched his arm.

He looked back to Mina, who looked at him with so much love and acceptance his heart burst. “And so are you, baby. So are you.”

He turned and leaned forward, kissing her like he’d never kiss her again.

Author’s Note

I’m sure if you’ve read Simple Truths, you’d have been super surprised that Ray gets to feature in his own love story. But Raymond Le Roux spoke to me early on in the process of creating his sister’s story. I always knew there was more to him than his arsehole racist persona. I saw a damaged man. A young boy scared out of his wits and coping with a situation the only way he knew how. A situation no kid or human should ever have to find themselves in—and how that trauma followed him in to adulthood.

Again, I’ve shown you little bits of South Africa’s truths, such as the poaching, human trafficking and the ever rampant farm attacks.

I also used a lot of artistic licence when describing the abalone farm because I wanted it to look a certain way. I also wanted to show how lucrative and sought-after abalone is.

Then I mentioned a man who re-created genuine seawater. He is someone I know from South Africa. He has a passion for sea life and discovered that all sea water had to be pumped in and refreshed from the ocean, so he spent millions of Rands and hours on developing fake seawater that had the same genetic make-up of real seawater. Unfortunately, for legal reasons,