Page 9 of Promises to Keep

Magnus said, “Ignorin’ Lochinvar, what we are sayin’ is we need to apply some historicalandmodern ideas tae our plannin’.”

Fraoch eyed a bear claw pastry, turning it around, admiring it. “There are a great many modern things I like — I really like the do-over button, daena I, m’bhean ghlan?”

Hayley said, “You do, you’re begging me for a do-over all the time.”

Magnus said, “I like a do-over as well. Tis a little like askin’ God for forgiveness, yet tis verra modern. Historically, if men made a mistake, the bears would come and eat their family. Now we hae tae only ask for a do-over and twill likely be better.”

James said, “If your family has been eaten by bears, who’s giving you the do-over?”

We laughed.

Lochinvar said, “What exactly is a do-over?”

Magnus said, “For instance, ye insulted all the women in the room a moment ago, a do-over would be when ye apologize tae them and they accept it and tell ye they will forget ye said something so stupid.”

Lochinvar groaned. “I hae tae apologize? Och nae, I daena like tae, tis a sign of weakness.”

Magnus said, “Nae it inna, Lochinvar, ye arna thinking on it right, ye are a young man, prone tae doin’ stupid things. Doin’ stupid things makes ye look weak. But if ye acknowledge it and apologize ye winna seem weak, ye will sound strong.”

Lochie scowled. “I daena get how that works.”

Fraoch said, “It works like this: Ye canna care if apologizing is weakness. Ye daena care about it, because ye are too strong tae care. Ye say ye’re sorry, because ye are strong and wise and ye ken it daena change ye tae be wrong sometimes. Ye hae wronged someone, ye admit it, and in doin’ so ye are seen tae hae strength. Do-over magic. I hae grown verra strong over the years.”

Hayley said, “That you have, my love. Me, too.”

Magnus said, “Tae apologize tae someone shews yer strength.”

Fraoch said, “If they deserve it. If they daena deserve it, ye ought nae. Instead ye ought tae... what...?”

Lochinvar answered, “Kick their arse with... nae with swords, tis not a good idea in Maine or New York, I would kick their arse with my fists and m’boots.”

Fraoch said, “Aye, like a civilized man.”

CHAPTER 6 - KAITLYN

Iwent up to our bedroom to begin preparing for my jump.

Magnus was brushing his teeth at the sink. I was taking a long luxurious shower. “I am using all the shampoo and sweet-smelling soaps because who knows when I will get another, I doubt the whole of New York in 1929 has this much hot water.”

“It daena matter, ye are nae going tae be there long enough tae worry on it.”

“Right.” I ran water through my hair and then poured some conditioner in my palm and began working it through the strands.

I said, “Just for the record, downstairs you said something… youconqueredme?”

“When did I say I conquered ye?”

“You said you settled yourself between my legs like a conqueror.”

He took the brush from his mouth and spit in the sink. “Och aye, tis true, I conquered ye so hard, just last night, I conquered ye until ye quivered. Ye ken, I am amazing.”

I took the shower wand down from the wall and held it above my head and rinsed my hair. “I will need to build my fortifications so you don’t think I am so easily conquered.”

His eyes went wide. He rubbed away some of the steam on the glass so he could see into the shower. “How would that work, mo reul-iuil? Ye would tell me ‘nae’?”

“Yes, I would tell you ‘nae’.”

He looked wary. “Ye wouldna, right? Nae, ye wouldna, ye are incapable of sayin’ it tae me, I hae kent ye for many long years, ye are powerless. I conquered ye long ago, as ye ken.”

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