16. Chapter 16 - Kaitlyn

It was late, I was almost asleep when we pulled up to the house. Lochie was slumped in a chair on the porch.

Quentin got out of the car. Beaty and I pulled our babies from their car seats and rushed up the steps through the rain to the house. Emma went up to the door. "Lochie, are you good?"

He nodded. "Just thinking."

I went into the house and put Jack into his crib. He shifted for half a minute, but then fell fast asleep.

I turned on the baby monitor and crept out and down the hall to the foyer, and peeked out the window. Lochie was still out there, alone in a rocking chair. The rain had slowed, a shower instead of a downpour, but it was the middle of the night and he was on the porch looking out at it, the embodiment of melancholy.

I went out to join him.

"How's it going, Lochie?"

"Tis fine." He looked down at his hands.

I took the chair beside him and began a slow rock, watching the rain fall. "I love it out here, this porch is one of my favorite places. You can see all the comings and goings of the family. It's like a different world from the back of the house, the sand dunes and ocean. This has trees and feels like somewhere else. It's also an in-between, connecting the outside and the house, it's protected from weather and…" My voice trailed off.

He understood, and he was quietly rocking, not talking.

We sat there for a while then he said, "I am an in-between."

"I'm really sorry about that."

"I daena ken how to be here in Florida doin' the things that men must do. I need a wife, a family, and I could go tae the past, but where and when?" The side of his mouth went up. "And how would I live in the past without bein' able tae play Fortnite?"

"Yes, that would be a tragedy."

"I am used tae this time, growin' used tae it, but I am just a visitor."

"Maybe think of yourself as an immigrant. You want to become a modern American... you know, now that I think on it, now that you can read, you could take the citizenship course and test, if you wanted. That might feel good to have that win."

He said, "And a driver's license."

"Yeah, that's a good idea, we'll get that started. I just wasn't thinking about it."

"Nae worries, neither was I, until I met Ash. I believed I was a modern man and I hae learned a great deal about m'failings."

"Lochie, I have never heard you say such a thing, what happened?"

"I got invited tae her house tae hae a slice of pie."

"This is not a euphemism? Are you saying pie to mean something else...?"

"Like what?"

"Like um... sex, Lochie."

"Och nae, ye canna..." He looked shocked and shook his head, "She is a modest and chaste lass, Kaitlyn, and I hae only begun tae... ye canna mean it. Nae, she baked a pie and served me a slice with cookies and cream ice cream on top."

"That sounds like your dream come true. Forget I said anything about ‘pie' meaning something more."

"Twas nothing more but a slice of pie. And then we began tae talk of our lives and I told her I play with m'nieces and nephews, twas goin' well. But then I couldna keep m'mouth shut, I was tellin' her I like tae spar and next thing I ken we are talking on dueling and weapons and swords, fightin' tae the death, and I couldna get control of the conversation. I could see the fear in her eyes and I left."

"She had invited you into her home and then you exposed your dangerous ways."

"Aye, twas verra dire."

"You barely knew her, maybe she wasn't right for you."

"Ye ken, Madame Kaitlyn, how ye just know someone? And tis easy tae be with them?"

I nodded.

"But tis also difficult because ye canna function over yer mind running through its mutterin'?"

"Your mind mutters, Lochie?"

"Aye, tis verra noisy, unless I am at work or battle tis always goin', tellin' me what tae do and while I was with Mistress Ash, twas tellin' me that I was goin' tae misstep and say somethin' that would expose m'self, and then I did."

"That really sucks."

"Aye, and we were meant tae be taegether, ye ken why?"

"Because of the pie?"

"That and because she said her favorite thing tae do was readin' and I just learned tae read, it means somethin', ye ken?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it does seem to."

"Hae ye heard of Twilight, dost ye think I could read it?"

"Probably, and yes, we have a copy around here, somewhere. She likes Twilight? Then she's good with a little moral ambiguity about murder."

His brow drew down. "I believe we are meant tae be." He sighed. "I canna tell her about the kingdom, about time travel, about livin' in a castle, and growin' up in the sixteenth century. What can I tell her? I am made tae lie, and if I lie what good is it? If I tell her the truth she might think I hae lost m'mind and how can I involve her in this life? Tis tae ask her tae take on a great deal of danger."

"Don't I know it. But here's the thing, Lochie, I wouldn't change anything, I would marry Magnus, always."

"Did ye ken of the time travel afore ye married him?"

I shook my head.

"I dinna think so. Women are too weak tae want tae face this danger."

I sighed. "Lochie, you are such an ass, sometimes. This is not the takeaway from the situation, that women are weak, yikes, she's a soldier! She's not weak and she's ready to face danger."

"She daena want tae face unknowable danger, the kind of danger that twists time. Tis too disorderly for women. Women follow the moods of the moon, ye ken. There is an order, and she has never heard of the real fact of time travel?—"

The front door of the house opened and Magnus came out, wearing his pajama bottoms and a t-shirt, his hair sticking up on the side. "I realized ye hadna come tae bed, and wanted tae check — all is well?"

I said, "Yeah, but Lochie has some heartache we are talking over, want to join us?"

Magnus drew up another chair. "What happened with the lass, Lochinvar?"

"I spoke of duelin' and frightened her."

Magnus said, "But she is a soldier? She must hae tae fight sometimes."

I said, "It's one thing to sign up to face danger and another thing to invite it into your home in the middle of the night. I've grown used to hearing about your battles but I married you first."

Magnus teased, "And ye arna like most women."

Fraoch opened the door and said, "Ye helpin' Og Lochie?"

Magnus said, "Join us, Fraoch. Lochinvar was tellin' us he frightened the lass when he spoke of his battles."

Fraoch leaned n the rail, "Och nae, ye canna speak on it, Og Lochie, women daena want tae think about war. They daena want tae face danger."

I sighed. "I was trying to tell Lochie that this isn't true about women?—"

Fraoch shrugged. "Depends on what ye are meanin' by women. Are ye speaking on Campbell women? If we are speaking on our Campbell women, they will readily face danger, but most women winna."

I said, "I'm sure Ash, who signed up for the military, has plenty of courage, just like the Campbell women. Thank you for the compliment by the way, Fraoch."

"So why did she grow frightened?"

"Because Lochie was in her kitchen. It's one thing to be in the military, another to have a stranger bragging about his prowess in battle while standing in your kitchen."

Magnus nodded. "Aye, ye were within her walls."

Lochie said, "Aye, I frightened her by speaking of fighting, she thought I was dangerous."

Magnus asked, "Tis how ye left it?"

"Aye, she fed me pie and?—"

Fraoch said, "Ye mean somethin' else or a dessert?"

Lochie groaned, "I mean dessert, och nae — she is a fine lass, ye canna think she would invite me home and... is everyone in on the joke, does pie mean somethin' more?"

We all nodded.

He screwed up his face then shrugged. "Tis funny, she does hae verra fine pie. I think she might hae the finest pie in the modern world, and ye can find it amusin' all ye want, but m'heart is sore and ye ought tae stop mocking me and advise me instead... she fed me dessert. We talked and drank a beer and even toasted once or twice and twas a fine night, but then I ruined it by speaking on fighting and she grew frightened and I left. What am I tae do?"

Magnus said, "Ye like her?"

"Aye, I do."

Magnus said, "There is an easy situation tae solve, she is a new woman tae ye and she is tryin' tae discern one thing, are ye goin' tae bring danger intae her life, or will ye be keepin' danger away."

I nodded. "That's well put."

Fraoch said, "Aye, she wants tae ken are ye goin' tae frighten her or protect her."

"I frightened her."

Magnus said, "Tis because ye dinna tell her ye would protect her."

"I should hae fought Buck?"

Fraoch said, "Nae, ye proved ye could protect her by not fighting him."

"I daena ken what tae do then…"

I said, "Think of it this way, she is a red-blooded American girl, and a soldier, she's brave, but the only danger in her life right now is if she gets called up to fight. On the day to day, she has her ex, he's an ass, but you proved that you could disarm him with charm. That's a win, but now she sees you as dangerous. That's a loss, but, you can fix this, Lochie, because a lot of young red-blooded American girls like a strong protector. Did you tell her you were in Magnus's military?"

"I dinna think I could talk about it."

I said, "I think you have to, she's a soldier, you're a soldier too. You have that in common and she'll understand that. Even if she weren't a soldier she would like that. Girls will marry soldiers, there's a whole ‘sexy-in-a-uniform' thing."

Fraoch said, "And a kilt."

I said, "True, but if you're wooing a young woman and she is trying to figure out if you're going to bring danger or protect her from danger, the best way to signify that is by wearing your uniform."

Lochie said, "Magnus, may I wear it here?"

"Usually I would think nae, it draws attention, might cause problems, but I will waive m'reservations, ye can wear it. Yer dress coat with the kilt."

I said, "That should do it."

Magnus grinned. "All I hae tae do is put on m'dress coat and kilt and Madame Campbell is reminded that I am her master and protector."

I laughed and rolled my eyes. "That is not true, Lochie, half of what they're telling you is bull-hooky."

Lochie laughed, "What part is the half?"

Magnus said, "She will say the wrong part is that I am her master, she is probably right. But I remain convinced that if I am wearing m'royal uniform she wants tae please me."

I said, "Now I suppose that is true." Then I asked, "So, Lochie, how did you leave it with her?"

"I rushed out intae the rain, canna remember if I said goodbye."

Fraoch groaned. Magnus grunted.

I sighed.

"Tis useless? I hae ruined m'chances?" He dropped his head back. "I will move back tae Dunscaith Castle and marry a farmer's lass, she will be dim but she winna hae many thoughts on me. I can tell her what to do."

Now it was my turn to groan. "There have been so many terrible thoughts on women here tonight, I can't bear another word of it. You're all monsters."

Magnus said, "But ye love me."

"True, I do, even with all your old fashioned notions, and it is not as dire as all that, Lochie. You don't have to live in a hovel in the sixteenth century."

Fraoch said, "I hae done it, tis terrible, Og Lochie, ye daena want it."

"I ken, it sounds terrible, but perhaps tis all I hae open tae me. I ought tae give up the time travel, move tae a long ago time, and find a maiden and live a simple life."

Magnus said, "Ye think ye ought tae give up bein' m'brother, the brother of the king? I daena think ye get tae decide it, Lochinvar, for better or worse, tis yer role."

"I lent ye m'sword and now ye winna allow me tae leave?"

"Ye dinna lend me yer sword, ye owed it tae me because I saved yer life and ye saved m'throne, and ye spared Fraoch and we are brothers. Tis not that I winna allow ye tae leave, tis that ye canna, ye must stay. Ye need us and ye are needed."

"Tis a terrible thing tae be such a great warrior. This is a verra dangerous life tae bring a bonny lass like Mistress Ash intae."

Magnus said, "Ye ken, Lochinvar, all of life is dangerous, tis all a trial and tribulation, and ye hae one purpose, tae honor God by livin' yer life well. Ye must love yer family, care for the bairns, protect yer hearth and home. This is yer life."

I nodded. "Our lives are very dangerous, and although it has calmed a great deal from the last evil turns of time, I am still on edge. But humans always have dangerous lives: they explore, they travel, they compete, and far too often they go to war. You are doing a disservice to decide for her that she can't handle it. She's brave. If you like her, she might like you, too. She deserves to decide for herself."

Magnus slapped his hands down on his thighs, "Tis verra verra late…"

I said, "Are you going to be okay, Lochie?"

"Aye, I will stay up for a wee bit longer, I will take the first watch."

Fraoch said, "We hae guards for that now."

"Aye, but I canna grow used tae it."

We all said goodnight and left Lochie alone on the porch staring out at the diminishing rain.