“Aye, he would like tae check on his family and I am makin’ decisions in the middle of the night.”
Her voice: “On very little sleep.”
“Tis fine, mo reul-iuil, sleep for both of us, I winna be back for a couple of hours.”
“Good night, my love.”
I turned tae everyone, “Ye ready tae leave?”
CHAPTER 37- JAMES
THE CLEARING NEAR BALLOCH - MAY 30, 1710
Afew 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.
