She would marry me.
Magnus and Fraoch and Sean would bear witness tae my marriage, they would see me take the oath and they would ken that she gazes upon me with grace and love. It would raise me in the estimation of the family. I felt certain, but if nae, twould be all right. If they saw me make an oath tae Ash, twould raise her standin’. Twas honorable for me tae do it, and twas the least I could do for her, because she asked. I would hae tae suffer until I made it happen.
I waited, mutterin’ for hours, until twilight was on us and finally a storm rose in the clearing and I stepped intae the woods tae wait it out.
CHAPTER 16 - LOCHINVAR
THE CLEARING NEAR BALLOCH CASTLE - MAY 28, 1710
Quentin 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.”
