Page 18 of Long Live the King

Fraoch said, “But if ye do something stupid I reserve the right tae insult ye in the truck after.”

“I would expect it.” Lochie took a deep breath.

Magnus said, “We will go, we will buy a round of drinks, we will introduce ye, and then we will come home. Twill be painless, Lochinvar.”

Lochie had gone pale. “Tis the most excruciatin’ thing in the world.”

Fraoch clapped him on the back, “Come on, Og Lochie, throw on yer cologne and meet us in the car.”

Lochie sniffed his armpits and said, “Aye, I will meet ye in the car.”

He pushed his chair from the table and headed to the house.

I stood, “We’re doing this?”

Magnus said, “Aye, we hae tae help the lad find a lass or he’s going tae start a war.”

I said, “What makes you think he wants to start a war?”

Fraoch straightened his kilt. “Why else does a young lad want tae see a long held list of usurpers tae go over the history of a kingdom? He’s lookin’ for trouble.”

Magnus said, “Aye.”

We all went into the house to gather our things to go.

CHAPTER 5 - KAITLYN

MAY 15, 2025 - PALACE SALOON

The bar was crowded so it took a minute to find a table, but then the bartender, Don, pointed us to one as a group left. We couldn’t find enough chairs, so Magnus, James, and Fraoch stood against the wall taking in the scene, while the rest of us took seats at the big round table. Lochie was very nervous. He kept his eyes directed at the table in front of him, until James nudged him. “That her?”

Lochie glanced, our eyes all followed his. He gulped. “Och aye, she is a bonny lass, is she nae?”

She was very pretty. Petite, with strawberry blonde hair, cut in a cute shorter style, pale blue eyes, freckles. I leaned toward Hayley and Emma and said, “She looks like Meg Ryan!”

He was so smitten, whenever he glanced at her his eyes went all soft. Then he would quickly look away, looking in all directions, awkwardly, up at the ceiling, behind us, under the table. He was squirming in his seat looking uncomfortable.

He ran his hand through his hair, a redness rising up his cheeks.

The young woman approached our table. She was wearing an olive green shirt with a star on the front and a long khaki cargo skirt, covered in pockets, with elastic cords pulling up the side. Apair of dark combat boots. She was fit and cute. “Sorry, y’all, we are packed, did someone take your order?”

James said, “Not yet, we can go to the bar?—”

“No, it’s fine, just took a hot minute, Jess called in sick, so I’m swamped.” She smiled, showing off the dazzling dimples on her cheeks. “What can I get you...?”

I thought Lochie might faint, luckily she didn’t notice his reddening cheeks at all.

James ordered for all of us to keep it simple. Then said, “Your name is Ash — you’re Jim McNeil’s daughter?”

She blew hair off her forehead, then yelled across the table, trying to be heard over the raucous bar. “Yeah, you know my dad?”

“Yeah, I’m a contractor, worked with him a couple of times, he still around?”

“What?”

“Your dad still live here?”

“No, he and mom moved to North Carolina!”

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