Page 33 of Long Live the King

A big man came over. He was wearin’ a shirt with the words Palace Saloon Security on it, and he grasped Buck’s elbow. “Out.”

Buck shook his hand off.

I put m’drink down on the bar, pushed it from the edge, and stood up, so we were chest tae chest.

He was furiously angry.

I had grown calm.

He was overpowered and dinna ken, he thought he would hae the better of me, but he had already lost the battle with the shove. He couldna control himself. I would hae him on the ground in… 30 seconds, but…

I wouldna want him tae look too weak, and though I kent four ways tae drop him I would allow him tae stand so the crowd wouldna turn.

I had learned much when I was battle-training in the courtyard of Dunscaith, that keepin’ the audience on yer sidewas part of the fight. They would want tae root for ye, the victor, but not if ye were too cruel.

Buck and I glared at each other, the rest of the sounds grew quieter, though in m’periphery I could see the man trying tae pull Buck outside. Don was tryin’ tae talk sense. Ash was pleading…och nae.

I snapped out of m’fury tae hear her sayin’, “Buck, don’t hurt him! Please!”

I scowled, sighed, and then chuckled and said tae Buck, “Clearly ye daena ken who I am.”

CHAPTER 11 - KAITLYN

THE HOSPITAL

We waited and we waited and waited.

Doctors and nurses came and went, at times people bustled around the room where Sophie was, and we would stand and hover nearby hoping to hear what was happening. They rarely told us anything.

Other times it would be quiet and we would all return to our seats in the lounge, glancing through magazines, scrolling through our phones.

Beaty spent much of the time in the chapel, but had come to the waiting room because, as she said, “I am certain tis near time.”

And then, around 10:15 pm, Emma said, “You hear that?”

I said, “Yeah, she’s begun the howling.”

Beatty said, “The bairn will be here afore the owls take flight.”

Emma said, “Yep.”

I said, “Absolutely.”

And we stood together watching the door, waiting, mentally praying, until finally a nurse came out and said, “I’m happy to tell you that mother and baby are fine.”

Then James strode out. “It’s a boy!”

We hugged and rejoiced. “Sophie’s good?”

“Sophie’s great, she and the baby are perfect.”

We hugged more, remarked how quickly it had gone. Then we all went to make phone calls to tell everyone that James and Sophie had a baby.

His name was James Andrew Cook II and James wanted to call him Junior. We all loved the idea. It fit him.

CHAPTER 12 - LOCHINVAR

THE PALACE SALOON

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