37. Chapter 37- James

CHAPTER 37- JAMES

THE CLEARING NEAR BALLOCH - MAY 30, 1710

A few hours later, with Liam and surrounded by Balloch guards, we were unloading the trailer in the clearing.

I said, “I thought of something Magnus needs?—”

Quentin said, “You’ll be near stores, start your own list for next time.”

Beaty said, “Is this everyone? Ye all hae yer gold bands on the back of yer heads?”

She checked Noah’s head for the third time. Sophie checked Junior’s head.

Beaty peeked in the bag on her shoulder, at her chicken, Saddle. She also had a leash draped over her arm that was hooked to Mookie’s rhinestone collar. She said, “We are all ready, Quennie.”

Quentin said, “Liam, I will return long before Lochinvar, but just in case he gets here early, tell him I’m coming back day after tomorrow. Tell him to go ahead and take the weapons if he can, I’ll meet him there... I... I’m not sure that this is the right thing to do, but I want to get Beaty and Sophie out of here.”

Liam said, “I understand, Black Mac, tis a good plan, I will see ye soon, and I will give Lochinvar the message.”

“Tell him we have gone to the North Carolina house.”

Liam said, “I hae nae idea where tis.”

“He’ll know.”

I said, “Stay safe, Liam. Give Lizbeth our love, tell her we are sorry about all the drama.”

“Och she daena think a bit on it, it fills her heart tae hae ye here, she will miss ye, but I will tell her ye are safely off. Her only sadness will be that the castle will be too quiet from now on.”

We all gathered in a circle, I put my arm around Sophie and Junior, and watched as Quentin worked on the vessel. “Man, I hate long awkward goodbyes, we already said it, we need to go.”

He twisted the vessel. “It’s not working.”

“What the hell do you mean, not working? No way.”

“Yes, way, it’s not working. I’m twisting and nothing is happening, but it also feels dead. Like it’s not on.”

Beaty’s eyes went wide. “Tis out of batteries?”

Quentin said, “That’s what it feels like, but... it doesn’t have batteries.”

I took the vessel and began twisting it and working it.

He asked, “You don’t trust me?”

“It’s not that, you know how it is, I just have to see.”

Nothing happened. I shook it and banged it against my palm.

Liam called, “Is everything well?”

I passed it to Quentin. “Our vessel isn’t working!”

He twisted it and then lowered it by his side, exasperated. “I’m supposed to get you to safety and then deliver a pile of weapons and supplies to Magnus and the freaking vessel isn’t working.”

“But what if we need to get out of here? We’re stuck?”

He nodded. “In the eighteenth century, but look at the bright side, at least we’re not in the thirteenth century. Magnus isn’t going to get his delivery of weapons.” He sighed. “He needs the weapons.”

I said, “But probably Lochinvar’s vessel will work, when he gets here you can use his.”

“You think his is working?”

I shook my head. “I have no idea.”

He said, “Let’s think this through, if ours isn’t working, what could go wrong because of this — so much could go wrong.”

I said, “First thing, most importantly, we’re not getting the weapons to Magnus, he’s probably going to need them.”

Quentin joked, “Glad he’s got a chill temper.”

I laughed. “Hide his sword — was there anything he was expecting besides weapons?”

Quentin calculated. “Diapers, toilet paper, I have everything a man needs to stay in a good mood, I just have to get it there.”

“Maybe it will work tomorrow.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Who did this?”

I said, “Shit, I don’t know, could it be Arsewipe? Damn.” I looked around at everyone. “I guess it’s good we have the weapons now.”

Quentin said, “At least Lochie is coming, day after tomorrow. No panic, not yet.”

“Unless he’s stuck.”

“We ought to get back.”

We all returned to Balloch.