Page 97 of Only a Breath Away

I laughed because his feet were covered in mud from the shoreline.

Fraoch looked down. “Tis a lesson that is hard tae remember. But ye hae tae remember it tae get along with the Moderns.”

I laughed again, “I had forgotten that is what we called them when we were in the past together all those long months.”

“We are the Historics, they are the Moderns. The Moderns have a way about them that is hard tae understand but ye must, tae live here.”

Lochinvar narrowed his eyes. “Are ye sayin’ ye daena hae tae fight here?”

Magnus said, “I am sayin’ we hae tae guard, we hae tae protect, sometimes we are in a great deal of danger, but if we live in modern times we must pretend we arna doin’ any of it.”

Lochinvar screwed up his face.

Fraoch said, “We are only advisin’ ye. Ye daena hae tae listen, but we will drop ye off in the eighteenth century and then ye will regret ye dinna listen when ye are back tae eatin’ blood sausage and—”

Lochinvar said, “I like blood sausage.”

Fraoch retched. “Figures, Og Lochie, tis yer problem because ye daena like fish.”

Lochinvar’s eyes traveled up the driveway where Tracy was parkin’ and stepping from her car tae help with the meal. I said, “And ye canna be interested in modern women, if ye canna behave. They are verra tricky, ye must ken and follow many rules.”

The screened door banged behind Tracy as she walked inside.

Fraoch shook his head. “I daena think Og Lochie can handle a modern woman, I think we ought tae return him tae the past.”

Lochinvar said, “What are the rules?”

Fraoch said, “Ye daena get tae decide if they like ye, if they want ye. Ye hae tae ask nicely.”

I chuckled. “Tis true. Ye hae tae ken tae be gentle with them.”

Lochinvar said, “I can do that.”

I said, “Perhaps, but tis far more likely ye daena even ken what I mean by ‘gentle’. I think that ye ought tae wait until we take ye tae the Earl’s castle, Balloch. We will go soon, I will introduce ye tae my sister and brother and the Earl and ye can live there with them. Twill nae be as confusing as this time, ye will get along verra well I think. And Lizbeth will set about finding ye a woman.” I clapped him on the back. “In the meantime, ye must leave our kitchen assistant alone, and ye canna tell dark murderous tales tae the bairns. Ye must listen more than ye speak.”

“Aye, King Magnus, but ye ought tae make sure ye change the rules about the challenges tae yer kingdom, I took an oath tae protect ye and yer son, but he is already almost a man and he canna lift a sword yet—”

Fraoch said, “He is barely seven years auld! He is too wee — Och, this is what Og Maggy was just saying, listen more, Og Lochie, daena speak if ye are going tae be an—”

I interrupted, “I will change the rules in the kingdom, we will all agree that Archie is too young tae fight, and Lochinvar, ye will listen more. Now how about we go tell Chef Zach that we are hungry and we can share some treats with the bairns so they will forgive yer story earlier.”

CHAPTER 68 - KAITLYN

Hayley was standing near the house phone when it rang, we all looked shocked, because frankly I didn’t know it worked. She said, jokingly, “What do I do?”

“Answer it… I think.”

She said hello and yes and yes and um… and um…

She put her hand over the receiver. “It’s Joe Munro, what am I going to do?” She waved Fraoch over for support.

Then she said, “Yes sir, yes, I know sir. Yes, I know, Lady Mairead is a special lady, yes sir.” She put her hand over the receiver again and said to Fraoch, “He wants to talk to Lady Mairead about the letters and book we left.”

Fraoch’s eyes went wide. He said to Magnus, “Tis the man we robbed for the Bridge.”

Hayley continued, “Yes, of course. I… yes he’s here. Yes. Okay, yes. Okay at seven.”

She hung up and called into the kitchen. “Um, Zach, we have company for dinner.”

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