16. Chapter 16 - Lochinvar

CHAPTER 16 - LOCHINVAR

THE CLEARING NEAR BALLOCH CASTLE - MAY 28, 1710

Q uentin and James woke up at almost the same time. I was standin’ above them, a light on m’forehead, blindin’ them, and joked, “Och, ye are squealin’ pigs in mud, look at ye.”

James said, “Is this because Sean isn’t here? You filling in as the smart-arsing Scottish dude?” He held up his arm tae block the beam. “And ouch, man, shine it somewhere else.”

I pushed the light higher on my forehead so it wouldna blind them. “Aye, tis m’job tae jeer at ye, as one of the last funny Scottish dudes at the castle. I told Liam he could stay there, I am your greetin’ party, I hae tae make ye feel welcome.” I put out a hand and helped heave them both up. “But I need ye tae ken, there is danger afoot, I am here tae welcome ye, but I hae a full guard with me and we need tae get back tae the castle.”

“What happened?”

“Asgall is sniffin’ around.”

James said, “Great, but Sophie and Beaty, the kids, they’re safe?”

“Aye, Liam is guardin’ over the castle. We are safe enough, but we will be better behind walls.”

I directed the beam down and shined it around at all the stuff they brought. “Tis a good thing we brought men tae help drag all of this tae the castle.”

Quentin looked around, “Aye, it’s a big load.”

James said, “We already had to load this once, I’m frankly tired of moving it.” They had a pile of boxes strapped tae a trailer, but also some boxes for the trailer we kept here in the clearing.

I set up a few lanterns and called the guards over to help us stack boxes.

James said, “We should have brought an ATV tae pull it.”

Quentin said, “We should have brought earplugs so I don’t have to listen to you bitch and moan.”

“Fine, fine.” James said, “How’s Junior?” We began strapping loads tae the trailer.

“Good, he’s well... Noah’s well, our worries haena affected them.”

Quentin asked, “So what happened exactly?”

“A group of men arrived last night, claimin’ tae hae news from Edinburgh, but it seemed they were lookin’ around, seein’ who was home. I tried tae stay clear. The women hid in the nursery.”

James tightened a strap over the load. “Crap, we need to get up there, I bet Sophie is freaking out.”

Quentin said, “I think the sooner we get all of us together the better.”

James nodded. He looked pensive.

Quentin said, “So, are you still going to Florida first before you go to Stirling castle?”

I nodded. “We hae tae, Ash needs tae speak tae Don. But as soon as we are done we should go tae the thirteenth century.”

Quentin said, “I agree, we are drawin’ Asgall here to Balloch. I think all of us need to get to the thirteenth century, sooner than later. When will you leave for Florida?”

“I planned tae once ye returned, but now tis dark, and Ash is at the castle and?—”

Quentin nodded. “Wait for morning. Let’s get inside the castle walls for the night.”

I sighed like a huff. “Och nae... I wanted tae go sooner than later.”

We were done harnessing the trailers, we began walkin’ tae the castle, leadin’ the horses, bein’ mindful of the dark woods around us.

Quentin said, “We all armed?”

James and I said, “Aye.”

We walked in silence for a moment, until James said, “So, what’s going on with you, Lochie? You look uneasy. Beyond the danger, we always have danger — trouble in paradise? You look bothered, got relationship troubles?”

“I am just tired.”

He laughed. “Been busy all night? I get ya, man, I do.” Then his brow drew down. “But you don’t look like a man who enjoyed himself. You look like a guy who slept on the floor in the barracks. Doesn’t he, Quenny?”

Quentin said, “Yep, you got the ‘I slept with one eye-open’ look.”

I trudged along with a sigh.

Quentin said, “Jeez, dude, seriously, what’s going on?”

“I slept outside the room last night.”

“Damn, boy, you got kicked out?”

“Aye.”

Quentin said, “What did you do?”

“Wasna what I did, I dinna do anything, yer wives and Lizbeth told her I ought tae marry her first.”

James said, “Oh shit, they didn’t, did they?”

Quentin said, “Course they did.”

“She told me that I had tae marry her in front of m’family or nae one would respect her.”

James said, “Yet another reason why you want to get your Florida errand over and get to Stirling as fast as possible.”

“Aye, there is danger about, but mostly because m’arse hurts and twas cold.”

James said, “Did you tell them you already did that thumb thing? And they didn’t believe you?”

“I told them, and nae, they dinna believe us.”

James joked, “I’m shocked, shocked I tell you. Who would have thought women would want a wedding and not just a spit-thumb pressed together after fornicating.”

I scowled. “Tis not funny, we dinna fornicate. I married her. She agreed.”

Quentin clapped me on the shoulder. “I know, Lochie, I get ya, you married a modern girl — they are much more casual about all this. Then you introduced her to a bunch of historic women and they got to her... now you have to wait until marriage. Sorry, this sounds... man, unintended consequences.” He bit his lip tae keep from laughin’.

“I am verra glad Magnus and Fraoch arna here, they would be arses along with ye, and I daena hae the patience tae listen tae it. I rescued her from Asgall and I dinna even get a proper thank ye. Tis unfair.”

Quentin and James both started laughing.

“Verra funny.”

James said, “Damn, you rescued the maiden and she told you that you had to marry her first? That does sound unfair.”

I scowled deeper.

Quentin said, “Look, Lochie, I know this is hard, but you are going to marry her, right?”

I nodded. “Of course, I asked her last night.”

James said, “How?”

“I got down on m’knees and begged her because she told me tae.”

James’s eyes went wide. “Man, I wish Zach and Mags and Frookie were here to hear this story. Okay, you got down on your knees, you begged her, she said yes?”

“Aye, she said yes.”

“Good, then quit your bellyaching, you just have to make it happen.”

“Tis why I wanted tae leave tonight.”

Quentin said, “I know, it sucks, it’s too dark, but if there’s danger afoot none of us need to be out in it. At dawn you can go.”

I nodded. “I ken, I am just irritated that I will sleep yet again in the passage outside her door.”