Page 32 of Long Live the King

Don said, “You seem like someone who doesn’t want that kind of trouble?—”

I took a sip of m’ale and passed him the bottle. “Can I hae another?”

He pulled out a bottle, popped the cap off it, and passed it tae me. I glanced at Ash and the big fella. And asked Don, “What dost I ‘seem’ like? I daena seem like someone who can handle that man?”

“Nah, he’s edgy, man…” He picked up a glass and began drying it with a bar towel. “Look, I think Ash is great, but that dude, he’s a real ass, don’t know how she got messed up with him, girls can be dumb as hell some— wait, here they come.”

I tipped the beer to my lips as the big guy sauntered up tae the bar. “Don, give me a beer.”

He purposely stared straight ahead and dinna look at me. I noticed Ash had drifted away tae one of the tables and was takin’ an order for more drinks, givin’ us nervous glances.

Don handed the man a beer and he took a sip, put it down, then slowly turned tae me. “What ye starin’ at?”

“Tis a fine coat ye are wearin’, tis the workmanship of the Codman John Taddoch?” I grasped his shoulder of his coat, yanked it closer, and eyed the stitches. Then I let go with a wee push. “Nae, I see, tis not the same stitch.”

He was shocked that I had touched him. Tae unsettle him even more, I rose tae m’feet, put out m’hand, and said, “I’m Lochinvar, from Dun Sgathaich on the Eilean a’ Cheò.”

He shook his head, as if confused, and put out a hand. “I’m um... Buck.”

“Where ye from, Buck?”

“Jax, born and raised.”

I tipped my beer tae him. “Och, Jax is a fine place. I myself am from a bleak and blusterin’ coast — I much prefer the summers here. Where I hail from the summers barely give ye a respite from the grey skies and the torrential rain — do ye ride…?”

He looked confused. “Yeah, I ride, a Harley.”

I nodded, “Good, good,” then I chuckled, shakin’ m’head. “Apologies, I meanthorses, do ye ride horses? I hae a Percheron by the name of Cookie.”

“No, I don’t…”

“Too bad, tis one of the great pleasures tae ride a horse.” I took another sip of m’beer.

Buck asked, “Who the hell are you?”

I feigned incredulousness. “We werna introduced yet? Here I am speakin’ tae ye like we are auld acquaintances. I thought I had said it already! I am Lochinvar?—”

“I know your name, but how are you here, in Fernandina Beach, at this bar?”

I drank from m’ale and looked around. “I think this is a public beer house, inna it? I live here on the island?—”

“Why are you messing around with Ash?”

I looked at her across the room.

She met my eyes.

The bartender was watching us.

There was a long pause where I considered what tae say. “Because she is a bonny lass and I want tae make her smile. The question I want answered is who are ye? And why are ye messin’ around with Ash?”

Buck stood up from his stool. “She is my girlfriend!”

I remained on m’stool and shrugged my shoulders. “That is not what I heard.”

He shoved me on m’chest. I saw the move comin’ and had m’feet positioned so that it wouldna cause me tae react, I stayed still.

Don yelled, “Buck, take that shit out of here! Don’t make me call the cops!”

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