I looked down at them, my favorite boots. They looked beaten up and muddy. I sighed. It went against my nature to not have my boots in good condition, but I was so grateful I had been wearing good boots. What if I had been kidnapped wearing flip-flops? Ugh. I reminded myself why I liked a good pair of boots —you never know when you will need to run from a zombie attack.And at least now I was wearing clean socks.
When I emerged from the bedroom Lochinvar had dressed in jeans and a light blue button up shirt. He was bent over the gun box, and passed me a belly band holster with a handgun that I strapped on under the waistband.
I held out my arms. “Can you tell?”
“Nae, canna, can ye see mine?” He put out his arms.
I said, “Nope, is it there on your side?”
“Aye, and there is a knife here and here. Quentin says ‘If ye’re close enough tae stick yer blade in someone you dinna use yer gun effectively.’ But I feel naked without a blade.”
I said, “Words to live by.”
And we went to the garage to get in the truck to drive into town.
CHAPTER 20 - ASH
THE PALACE SALOON, FLORIDA - MAY 20, 2025
Lochinvar got in the passenger seat and put on his seatbelt. I paused for a moment with the keys in the ignition, “I’m sorry you’re not driving. I’m following orders, you know?”
“I ken, tis fine. I ken how tae drive, tis just that James is verra particular...” The corner of his mouth went up. “He daena like it when I drive over the mailboxes.”
I laughed. “Okay good, we have had enough excitement, I’m going to drive this big-ass truck very carefully.” I loosened the sling. “Let me see. Yeah, this works. Doesn’t hurt at all.”
I backed out of the driveway and Lochinvar went through the glove compartment and pulled out a phone. I said, “A burner?”
“Aye, if we need it.”
“I could call Don, but I don’t know his number, hmmmm.” I drove us out onto the road, checking the clock. “He’ll be at work around the time we get there, I’ll surprise him.”
I got comfortable, but when I adjusted the rearview mirror I accidentally tapped the gas and the truck jerked forward. “Sorry, out of practice.”
As I drove I marveled at the passing landscape, strip malls and trees. “Florida looks weird now that I’ve been in medieval Scotland.”
He said, “Scotland looks weird now that I hae lived in Florida.”
I pulled into a drive-thru and ordered burgers and fries and large sodas for both of us. We paid with cash from a roll that was under a gun in the glove compartment.
I pulled to a space under a tree to eat, dipping fries in ketchup and moaning happily as I ate the burger. “Wow, this is amazing after being in the past for so long.”
“Aye, a taste of modern food
I asked, “Can I tell Don about the time travel?”
Lochinvar said, “Tis against our rule, but naething good comes from secrecy. If ye trust him, ye ought tae tell him.”
I nodded. “I just don’t know how.”
Lochie said, “It inna easy, I hae nae advice on it, but I wish I had just told ye, first thing.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.”
We pulled up in front of the Palace Saloon and Lochie looked up and down the street. He got out, looked all around, then came around the truck and opened my door to let me out. He followed me up to the front door.
I peered through the glass and knocked seeing Don, inside, mouthing, “No shit! Ash! Ash, it’s you?” He rushed to the door, unlocked it, and hugged me in the doorway.
Lochie said, “Ye alone, Don, nae one else?”
