Page 49 of Promises to Keep

“Aye.”

* * *

On our way up the stairs, I said, “I can’t believe you used Eminem to talk Lochinvar down!”

“Tis his favorite, James and Zach introduced him tae it, explained the words, and he listened tae it about twenty times a day at camp. Tis a great song, it can be used tae solve all kinds of trouble. Ye ken, Kaitlyn, that feelin’ he had when he was on the stage for the first time, twas much like my own feelin’ when I was out in the stadium for the first time, the feeling that ye must prove yerself, and this is it — all men feel it.”

We made it to the hallway, dragging because I was so tired.

Magnus continued as he led me down to our room, “Twas a bit of a different meaning, as I was askin’ him tae stand down, but I kent he would understand — he has proven himself tae me, I ken he can fight. He daena hae tae fight, he has tae keep from going intae that barbarian condition. He has tae pull himself back from the brink and be civilized — it inna an easy path for him but he will get it with practice.

We went down the hallway to our room and collapsed on the bed. I lay on my back, he curled up with his head on my breast.

“He will be okay here?”

“Sean will see tae him. He dinna take it seriously when I first asked, but he understands now. I am glad the row happened afore we left. Sean would hae let Craigh die afore he understood that Lochinvar inna tae be dueling, he is too lethal.”

He chuckled and rolled on his back. “Craigh is going tae handle him. Craigh is an arse, he is strict, and he winna take any trouble from a young lad like Lochinvar. He will hae him saying ‘yes sire,’ and ‘ nae sire’ in nae time.”

I laughed. “Poor Lochie, but also he needs to learn a lesson before he kills someone.”

“Aye, the Earl would hae him hung from a rope before the next crow of the cock.”

CHAPTER 26 - KAITLYN

The next morning I saw Lizbeth at breakfast. “There was trouble with young Lochie, last night?”

I nodded and told her what had happened.

She shrugged as if it was normal. “It sounds just like a fight I saw between Liam and Young Magnus once, tis nae a big deal unless he is too dim tae learn his lesson. If there is a battle he must fight for the Campbell men, nae against them, tis an important lesson.”

“Yes it is, I hope he’s smart enough.”

Lizbeth asked, “Would ye like tae walk with me tae the village tae see Madame Greer? I missed my visit last week, and now she is holding it against me, by refusin’ tae come tae the market, so I must go. It has been a long time since you and I entwined our arms for a walk along the path.”

“I would love to.”

“Good, I am glad I dinna need tae plead with ye, the weather is shite, absolutely terrible. It will feel like rain without rainin’ but I need tae go, so I would love the company.”

I joked, “The weather is shite? Is it too late to change my decision?”

She teased, “Of course it is, and what else are ye going tae do? Twill be so boring without me!”

I laughed and ran up to my room for a wrap and met Lizbeth in the courtyard where it had already begun to rain.

She said, as we went out through the main gate, “We will be wet as trouts in summer spring once we make it tae her house.”

I asked, “How is she? I haven’t seen her in so long.”

“Longer for ye than for her, Kaitlyn, she feels strongly that she has seen ye just the other day.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

She laughed. “Yer carryings on make ye forget yer days of the week, daena they?”

“They do. It is very confusing.”

We leapt across a wide mud puddle, and splashed along a wheel-rutted route.

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