“Aye, I hae tae kill them all afore Archibald becomes old enough tae fight. Or he will hae tae train tae be lethal like his da.”
I clamped my eyes shut. “I can’t think about that, he’s too young. It’s impossible to imagine him fighting.”
“Aye, I hae become so modern I canna even imagine what Baldie must hae thought when he placed a sword in m’hand and began trainin’ me tae fight. I was verra wee. He frightened me terribly with his instructions: kill or be killed.”
“That’s a terrible thing to teach a kid.”
“Tis terrible, but tis also necessary. There will always be someone who wants what ye hae, ye must be willing tae defend it. But, that being said, I am going tae stop acceptin’ challenges. I am the king, I will change the rules. My throne is assured, my bloodline is strong. I hae a brother, possibly two, who would fight at my side against any encroachers, I hae a clan full of men who would fight for me, and I hae a son. It daena mean we winna hae tae defend the kingdom, but I winna allow would-be usurpers tae demand I fight.”
“Good, yes, I agree.” I sat for a moment thinking. “So who are we defending ourselves against?”
“I daena ken, but m’mother has a list.” He yawned.
I said, “Your mother, huh?”
“My whole life has just been one verra long struggle tae keep her busy so she winna be so meddlesome.”
“She is so freaking meddlesome.”
“Aye.”
“So is this a respite?”
“Aye, mo reul-iuil, tis more than that, we need a vacation.”
“Truly? A vacation? That would be amazing, we can eat and drink, play in the lake, hang out with the kids?”
“Aye, especially the eat and drink.” He smiled. “Once we get me out of the hospital and—” His head shot up. “Where is Haggis?”
My eyes went wide.
He dropped his head back and groaned. “Och, I left a man behind.”
“Oh no, poor Haggis!” I gave him a sad frown. “I’m so sorry, Magnus, where do you think he is?”
“I daena ken, he was never far away from me, but when I returned he was gone. He wasna nearby. Och nae!”
“He’s in the thirteenth century, poor poor Haggis. Do we even know if we have access to the thirteenth century? And if he wasn’t there when we left, is he still there…? He never left your side before — I don’t know, my love, I think he might be gone.”
“Och nae, I promised him a run on the beach with the bairns.”
I clutched around his shoulders and held him tight. “I’m so sorry.”
He moaned. “Och I ken, me too, I made the poor dog a promise.”
CHAPTER 59 - KAITLYN
Iwent out to the waiting room and Lady Mairead buzzed in with Lochinvar following, he was still wearing the same clothes, holding a bag of cookies in one hand, a box under his arm, shoving handfuls of cookies in his mouth. I pulled Lady Mairead to the side and whispered, “Why haven’t you sent him to get washed up, there’s dried blood on him still!”
Lady Mairead huffed. “I ken, but I daena ken what tae do with him, General Hammond is verra unhappy with me that I hae brought him along.”
“But, he’s a hero, he can’t even get a shower? Don’t we have people for that?”
“Just between us, Kaitlyn, he is frightened of everything, and daena want tae be without me. He is also verra hungry. All I do is give him cookies and try tae…”
Lochinvar sat in a chair with the metal box in his lap. He had a small bag that had once held cookies but was now empty. He turned it upside down over his face, pouring crumbs all over his beard. Then he tore open the bag and licked the inside.
Her eyes widened. “General Hammond thinks I hae taken him tae be my lover.” She smoothed back her hair. “I would nae dream of it, look at him, there are crumbs in his beard.” She gave a slight shiver, but her eyes glinted. “Daena get me wrong, he has a fine jaw, a verra braw arse—”
