10. Chapter 10 - Lochinvar

Magnus and Fraoch entered the room. Magnus scooped the keys from the bowl near the front door. Fraoch asked, "Ye ready tae go?"

I said, "Och nae, tis time? But we haena heard from James yet."

Fraoch said, "Nae, lad, ye get tae yer feet, tis time tae go. We hae phones, we can hear from James."

I followed them out tae the truck and climbed in the back.

We rode in silence tae Centre Street, except for once when Fraoch asked, "Ye ken what ye are goin' tae say?"

"Aye, I am goin' tae ask her how her day was, and then I will ask if I can take her tae dinner at her favorite restaurant."

Fraoch said, "But make it sound more natural, less planned, ye hae tae be?—"

"I ken, I need tae be cool."

Magnus said, "Fraoch, I think ye are more nervous than Og Lochie."

Fraoch said, "I think ye might be right."

We were in the truck driving tae the Palace when Kaitlyn called. Magnus asked, "Did the bairn come?"

Then he listened and said tae us, "Not yet, but all is well…" He listened tae the phone again then said, "Fraoch and I are drivin' Lochinvar tae meet the lass."

He listened more then said goodbye and put the phone away. "Kaitlyn says tae be yerself."

I thought on that for a moment, then asked, as we pulled up in a parking spot down from the Palace, "What is that supposed tae mean? I am not supposed tae tell her I am from the sixteenth century. I canna tell her I killed men in an arena. I ought not burp after the ale… I daena understand what she means."

Magnus turned off the truck, then turned around and said, "I think we hae advised ye too much — ye ought tae ignore us. Dost ye think she is a bonny lass?"

"Aye."

"Then go talk tae her, talk about what men hae always talked tae with lasses all through history. The weather."

Fraoch laughed. "And if ye run out of weather conversation tell her she is beautiful."

I opened the door, climbed from the truck, and said through the window, "Talk of the weather and tell her she is bonny, daena talk of the arena, just be m'self, yet not a braggart, and daena speak of home as twill be confusin'."

Fraoch and Magnus chuckled.

Fraoch said, "Tis simple."

Magnus said, "Aye, tis… tis simply meeting a maiden, men hae been doin' it through time. This is what Kaitlyn meant, ye hae it within ye, daena listen tae the rest of us."

I said, "Call me as soon as ye ken of James and Sophie's bairn."

"We will."

***

I headed tae the door and entered.

Twas less crowded than the night before. I glanced around and dinna see her at first, but then I spotted her across the room. She was waiting on a table, talking and laughing with the men there. I felt a pang of jealousy but then her eyes rose and fell on me, her smile was enchanting, and she crossed tae me. "Hi Lochie, you came!"

"Aye…" I took her hand, bowed, and kissed her knuckles.

"Oh, wow, that's… um…you want to come sit at the bar?"

I nodded and she led me there. I sat upon a stool and ordered an ale from the bartender, while she excused herself to rush around from table tae table. I sat at the bar and pretended not tae watch her. The bartender asked, "You friends with Ash?"

"Aye."

He chuckled. "Does her boyfriend know?'

Ash walked up then, put her tray on the counter, and said, "Phew, that was a rush, but after that order I can hang out for a moment." She looked from my face tae the bartender's. "What are you boys talking about? Lochie, did you and Don meet?"

"Aye, we did." Don and I shook hands across the bar.

Don jerked his head back, and asked Ash, "I was just asking your new friend here if he had met your boyfriend."

She said, "Buck and I aren't together anymore, and why don't you butt out, Don?"

He grinned. "Not really my style. Also, come on, Ash, he's got an accent, he's not from around here. You want him to know about your boyfriend before Buck unleashes his wrath on a tourist."

I shrugged. "I am nae usually concerned about a man's wrath, I can handle m'self."

Don raised his brow at Ash.

She huffed and turned her attention tae me. "Lochie, I had a boyfriend, but…" She gave Don an irritated look, then resumed, "I broke up with him, we broke up months ago, there is no reason why?—"

Don's eyes drew up to the door. "Uh oh."

Ash followed his eyes and turned pale.

A large bearded man, wearin' leather strolled in.

I glanced back at Ash. "Tis him?"

She nodded. "I need to go speak to him, hold on."

She stalked over toward him and they looked immediately adversarial, but the music was so loud I couldna make out their loud whisperin'.

Don said, "You seem like someone who doesn't want that kind of trouble?—"

I took a sip of m'ale and passed him the bottle. "Can I hae another?"

He pulled out a bottle, popped the cap off it, and passed it tae me. I glanced at Ash and the big fella. And asked Don, "What dost I ‘seem' like? I daena seem like someone who can handle that man?"

"Nah, he's edgy, man…" He picked up a glass and began drying it with a bar towel. "Look, I think Ash is great, but that dude, he's a real ass, don't know how she got messed up with him, girls can be dumb as hell some— wait, here they come."

I tipped the beer to my lips as the big guy sauntered up tae the bar. "Don, give me a beer."

He purposely stared straight ahead and dinna look at me. I noticed Ash had drifted away tae one of the tables and was takin' an order for more drinks, givin' us nervous glances.

Don handed the man a beer and he took a sip, put it down, then slowly turned tae me. "What ye starin' at?"

"Tis a fine coat ye are wearin', tis the workmanship of the Codman John Taddoch?" I grasped his shoulder of his coat, yanked it closer, and eyed the stitches. Then I let go with a wee push. "Nae, I see, tis not the same stitch."

He was shocked that I had touched him. Tae unsettle him even more, I rose tae m'feet, put out m'hand, and said, "I'm Lochinvar, from Dun Sgathaich on the Eilean a' Cheò."

He shook his head, as if confused, and put out a hand. "I'm um... Buck."

"Where ye from, Buck?"

"Jax, born and raised."

I tipped my beer tae him. "Och, Jax is a fine place. I myself am from a bleak and blusterin' coast — I much prefer the summers here. Where I hail from the summers barely give ye a respite from the grey skies and the torrential rain — do ye ride…?"

He looked confused. "Yeah, I ride, a Harley."

I nodded, "Good, good," then I chuckled, shakin' m'head. "Apologies, I meant horses, do ye ride horses? I hae a Percheron by the name of Cookie."

"No, I don't…"

"Too bad, tis one of the great pleasures tae ride a horse." I took another sip of m'beer.

Buck asked, "Who the hell are you?"

I feigned incredulousness. "We werna introduced yet? Here I am speakin' tae ye like we are auld acquaintances. I thought I had said it already! I am Lochinvar?—"

"I know your name, but how are you here, in Fernandina Beach, at this bar?"

I drank from m'ale and looked around. "I think this is a public beer house, inna it? I live here on the island?—"

"Why are you messing around with Ash?"

I looked at her across the room.

She met my eyes.

The bartender was watching us.

There was a long pause where I considered what tae say. "Because she is a bonny lass and I want tae make her smile. The question I want answered is who are ye? And why are ye messin' around with Ash?"

Buck stood up from his stool. "She is my girlfriend!"

I remained on m'stool and shrugged my shoulders. "That is not what I heard."

He shoved me on m'chest. I saw the move comin' and had m'feet positioned so that it wouldna cause me tae react, I stayed still.

Don yelled, "Buck, take that shit out of here! Don't make me call the cops!"

A big man came over. He was wearin' a shirt with the words Palace Saloon Security on it, and he grasped Buck's elbow. "Out."

Buck shook his hand off.

I put m'drink down on the bar, pushed it from the edge, and stood up, so we were chest tae chest.

He was furiously angry.

I had grown calm.

He was overpowered and dinna ken, he thought he would hae the better of me, but he had already lost the battle with the shove. He couldna control himself. I would hae him on the ground in… 30 seconds, but…

I wouldna want him tae look too weak, and though I kent four ways tae drop him I would allow him tae stand so the crowd wouldna turn.

I had learned much when I was battle-training in the courtyard of Dunscaith, that keepin' the audience on yer side was part of the fight. They would want tae root for ye, the victor, but not if ye were too cruel.

Buck and I glared at each other, the rest of the sounds grew quieter, though in m'periphery I could see the man trying tae pull Buck outside. Don was tryin' tae talk sense. Ash was pleading…och nae.

I snapped out of m'fury tae hear her sayin', "Buck, don't hurt him! Please!"

I scowled, sighed, and then chuckled and said tae Buck, "Clearly ye daena ken who I am."