Page 108 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Finch said, “Apparently from what we are learning from the LA lady givin’ us a tour, four thousand years ago everyone in Scotland was draggin’ big stones around, now we are joinin’ in the fun, carryin’ shovels and digging holes under boulders. We are a verra plain folk.”

Liam laughed and dug some more.

He shifted and shoveled up dirt until he got the top of a chest exposed, half under the shadow of the boulder. He used his hands to pull the rest of the dirt away.

“The boulder is in the way, we canna get it out without breakin’ it. Let me just open it down there in the hole.”

He crouched and looked all around it. “I canna see a lock.” He tried to pull up the lid and felt all around the edges. “Canna find a release. Did Lady Mairead give us any more instructions?”

Blakely looked like she was reading, then said, “Nothing, but she seems like she isn’t sure the box is even here, so maybe we just report back…?”

Finch crouched beside him. “It looks like a pad for yer handprint.”

Liam pressed his hand, but nothing happened. He said, “I am too muddy.” He wiped his hand on his jeans and tried again.

Finch leaned forward and put his hand down on the pad and the lid flipped up.

Liam said, “Och, is it because ye are a brother, ye think?”

Finch shrugged.

We all crowded around to look inside. The box was empty except for a few pens, some pieces of paper, and one piece was folded in the middle with handwriting on it.

Finch said, “What are we lookin’ for?”

Blakely said, “We’re taking an inventory for when she calls later today. She wants to know if there are weapons or a vessel.”

Liam said, “Nae weapons, nae vessel, nae coins or jewels, nae ChapStick.”

Blakely noted it on her phone.

Finch pulled the letter from the box. “Just some pens and this note.” He read for a moment. “It’s a love letter from someone named Lochinvar.”

I said, “Lochinvar? We met Lochinvar! He’s one of the brothers. Young guy, why would he leave a letter in this box?”

Finch turned the letter over and read both sides. “It’s a letterfromLochinvar and a letter tae Lochinvar from a woman named Ash. Look, it’s dated 1683.”

Blakely said, “We ought to take it to the house, we can give it to Lady Mairead when she returns.”

PART II

CHAPTER 49 - KAITLYN

THE DO-OVER - MAY 15, 2025 - FLORIDA

The kids were wiped out by a day of partying, a bouncy house with a water slide, and cake and ice cream. The littles had been melting down, and had all gone to bed. Archie and Ben, already in their pajamas, were watching a movie in the living room and eating popcorn.

And we adults were out on the back deck, a long table decorated with a floral centerpiece, and takeout from Zach’s favorite restaurant. He had to sit there while we served it too, not helping, since he was part of the couple we were celebrating.

He gripped the edge of the table comically, pretending like it was hard to watch Fraoch pull boxes from the bags, popping the clamshell lids open, and peeking inside. Fraoch poked a finger in and licked it. “Och aye, tis garlic potatoes.”

Zach groaned. “It says it on the box! You don’t have to put your finger in!”

“Aye, but ye canna trust everything, Zach, this is yer problem, ye are too trustful!” Fraoch grinned at Hayley. “Inna it true?”

“I disagree, his problem is he’smistrustful, look at him, he can’t even trust us to open the boxes and put them in front of everyone.” She pulled a box out of the bag, checked the tag taped to the side. “Short ribs, who ordered short ribs?’

Zach said, “Me!”

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