Page 30 of Long Live the King

She smiled, then moaned, clutching under her rounded stomach.

Beaty said, “Twas quick upon the heels of the last, I think she be ready tae go.”

I turned around to think,what do we need?to see James, standing at the door, keys in his hand, overnight bag on one shoulder, Sophie’s purse on his elbow, a messenger bag on his other arm.

“I see you’re ready.”

“Yep.”

Quentin said, “I got the van pulled up to the steps.”

I joked, “Well look at us, all organized!”

Emma and Beaty helped Sophie up, and we all got her out to the van.

I called, “Hayley!”

She called back, “We got the kids!”

A big bunch of us rode to the hospital.

Then we sat in the waiting room. And waited.

CHAPTER 10 - LOCHINVAR

THE BAR AT THE PALACE SALOON

Magnus and Fraoch entered the room. Magnus scooped the keys from the bowl near the front door. Fraoch asked, “Ye ready tae go?”

I said, “Och nae, tis time? But we haena heard from James yet.”

Fraoch said, “Nae, lad, ye get tae yer feet, tis time tae go. We hae phones, we can hear from James.”

I followed them out tae the truck and climbed in the back.

We rode in silence tae Centre Street, except for once when Fraoch asked, “Ye ken what ye are goin’ tae say?”

“Aye, I am goin’ tae ask her how her day was, and then I will ask if I can take her tae dinner at her favorite restaurant.”

Fraoch said, “But make it sound more natural, less planned, ye hae tae be?—”

“I ken, I need tae be cool.”

Magnus said, “Fraoch, I think ye are more nervous than Og Lochie.”

Fraoch said, “I think ye might be right.”

We were in the truck driving tae the Palace when Kaitlyn called. Magnus asked, “Did the bairn come?”

Then he listened and said tae us, “Not yet, but all is well…” He listened tae the phone again then said, “Fraoch and I are drivin’ Lochinvar tae meet the lass.”

He listened more then said goodbye and put the phone away. “Kaitlyn says tae be yerself.”

I thought on that for a moment, then asked, as we pulled up in a parking spot down from the Palace, “What isthatsupposed tae mean? I am not supposed tae tell her I am from the sixteenth century. I canna tell her I killed men in an arena. I ought not burp after the ale… I daena understand what she means.”

Magnus turned off the truck, then turned around and said, “I think we hae advised ye too much — ye ought tae ignore us. Dost ye think she is a bonny lass?”

“Aye.”

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