"Well I’m sorry to say but we do indeed intend to get there bright and early tomorrow and sign that contract." Scott replied.
"Not if I can help it, you won't be." he replied. And with that he gave Scott’s chair leg one great big mighty kick, which resulted in Scott tumbling to the floor.
Scott regained his composure and balance then said "Gee that was not called for mate, by the way that contract will be signed tomorrow whether you like it or not. Nothing will stop us or get in our way of signing our names on that dotted line. Come along Letticia we have better places to be than here talking to this guy.” He put out his hand for me to grab and we started to walk towards the door. Before we got to the door I turned around to give him a look of don't mess with us. As my eyes caught sight of this cold-hearted man with major issues, I saw him pick up a glass and proceed to throw it in our direction. It was heading straight for Scott. I pushed Scott to the side and the glass landed in between us and shattered into a million little pieces.
Scott regained his balance again after I had saved his life with that one mighty push. Poor Scott he was getting pushed around a lot in this Pub tonight. Scott grabbed my arm and said “run” as the bouncers started heading our way. There was no VIP section in this Pub and no Alistair to save us this time.
So, Scott and I ran out onto the road and decided to head back to the safety of our motel after the encounter we just had with the Silver Service man. We thought it was the best option to get back to our room.
"What just happened back there?" I asked Scott with half a laugh and half a concerned tone in my voice.
"I think we have some competition and they don't plan on losing the contract." Scott said.
"And it begins, the smooth sailing ship has left the harbour, I knew it was all too good to be true, to have a lovely drama free few days away." I said.
"Not if I can help it" Scott reassured me. Just as his reassurance started to take hold and I relaxed while hand in hand with him walking down the esplanade towards our motel, it was washed right back away with the sound of the Silver Service man and his assistant who came running towards us.
"What do we do Scott, Run or confront this guy with the major issues?"
Scott yelled, "Run!"
We ran through Cairns city centre ducking in and out of alleyways, at one stage we ran through a performance of dancers on an outside stage to a crowd in the park. We tried to blend in and did a few moves ourselves but I think we stood out more than anything. We had to lose them before going back to the motel, they couldn't know where we were staying. After leaving the stage we blended in rather nicely this time alongside the backstage crew and took cover under a table that was covered in a big black tablecloth. We decided to wait it out here for a bit in the hope to lose them once and for all.
We heard them walk past a few minutes later, the main guy whose name was Clive which we figured out after hearing his assistant talking to him was not happy at all. He let out a few not so lovely words as he stopped near the table to gather his breath "So Clive, what's the plan now?" the assistant from Clive’s catering company asked sounding confused.
They had stopped in front of the table and were having a conversation with each other. "Well we need to catch them and hold them somewhere until 2pm tomorrow then let them go, that way they won't get to that contract in time to sign it, and the contract is all ours, so get a move on, let's keep looking." He said to his assistant.
A minute or two later we crawled out from under the table. "Let’s go, we need to get back to the motel room sooner than later." Scott said. I agreed with a nod of my head. I was speechless for the first time in my life. I wasn't sure if it was brought on by sheer fear or excitement. I was just a tad confused over the whole situation Scott and I had now found ourselves in.
We got back to the motel in one piece. "Hells Bells! We are screwed" Scott announced.
I did not like his tone of defeat. Which in turn filled me with motivation and confidence. "Excuse me Scott. Turn that frown upside down my love. We will have that contract signed and sealed tomorrow if it’s the last thing we do. We will not be intimidated by a person such as Jack Randell." I coughed and cleared my throat, not sure why I had just blurted out that name “I mean Clive, I meant Clive." I corrected myself.
Scott was confused but had learned to just go with it, when I went into my little ‘Outlander’ world moments. Now what would Jamie do in this situation? I thought to myself. Scott pulled me back into reality and said. "I think we both need to get some sleep. We need to leave early tomorrow and unseen.”
"Oh, we might need to go in disguise then I said hopeful.
Scott laughed and said. "No time for that, we just need to get to Biboohra and get that contract signed.”
“I’m with you all the way Scott. Let’s do this." I yelled with excitement and pushed Scott backwards onto the bed and gave him one big kiss.
"What's up with all this pushing me tonight, did I miss the Scott pushing memo?" he asked.
“You sure did because the memo also stated Scott will be making passionate love to his Sassenach all night long." I teased.
"Well that memo is unfortunately incorrect. Sleep will be in order for part of the night, but for now I accept." He said, with that ever so sexy Scottish accent of his and his cheeky side grin he does when he is flirty with me.
We then proceeded to do as the imaginary memo stated.
Chapter Nine
The Journey to Bibroohra.
The next morning we awoke to the sounds of big black crows squawking outside our motel room window. Scott rolled over and gave me a kiss and said in his half-awake voice. "Can’t believe I'm saying this but I much rather wake up to your bagpipe phone alarm than the crows."
I laughed and said "I knew you loved my alarm deep down.”
“I never said I loved it Letticia." he replied.
"Yeah you did." Scott gave up right then and there, he knew there was no point in getting into an argument he couldn't win.
We both decided that last night the whole Clive situation must have been just a drunk misunderstanding made by him. We were no longer afraid of him or his empty threat and decided we would enjoy today and our trip out to Bibroohra. After we had some breakfast in the Motel's restaurant and a dip in the pool.
We went back to our room, showered got dressed and checked out. Our flight back home wasn't until 8pm that night so all going to plan, we would drive out, meet the director, sign the contract and head back to the airport. This smooth sailing ship has set sail once again. I wonder if there is any turtle soup on this Smooth sailing ship. I thought to myself. Scott must have seen my eyes glaze over and drift back off into ‘Outlander’ World as he snapped his fingers and said "Earth to Letticia, Come back to the present time.” I coughed and cleared my throat.
"What, what, what, I’m here, I’m all here, what are you talking about?"
Scott laughed and said “Well you are now.”
“As I was saying before I had almost lost you back into Outlander world. If we just keep our focus and stay on route to the film set all should be well." and with that little team talk we headed off to our green Toyota Corolla hatchback waiting for us in the guest car park, or as I liked to see it as our horse and carriage that would deliver us right to the contract.
Before we trotted off, I mean drove off, Scott turned the GPS on. From Cairns to Bibroohra was only a 1.5 hour drive. We should get there by 10am all going well. I had grabbed a Biboohra Information brochure from the Motels reception on the way out. A bit of light reading on the way I thought.
As we pulled out onto the road from the Motels carpark I said in my very tour guide Steve voice, “Welcome aboard ladies and Scotsmen. Hope you enjoy your trip out to Biboohra today. Now some interesting facts about this mysterious bush town named Biboohra.” I continued with the facts. “The town takes its name from the railway station. It was named in 1884." My mind immediately thinks about time travelling to this year. I wondered if there was
a Jamie Fraser in this year and what he would have looked like and if he was as good looking as the 1745 Jamie Fraser. At that moment the car drove over a judder bar making the car judder a bit. Oh that's why they are called judder bars I thought.
Anyway I regained focus and continued my tour guide presentation for Scott. "It is indeed believed that Biboohra is an Aboriginal name for the Barron Falls."
Scott must have actually been listening to me as he asked, "And what are these Barron Falls you talk about tour guide Letticia?"
“Well Scott good question. The Barron Falls are a steep tiered cascade waterfall on the Barron River located along the Cairns coastal plains." I explained. I went on "Oh Scott you will like this fact, Biboohra is known for their variety of Coffee Plantations, what do you say Scott? Oh yes that's right, 'Coffee always and forever'”
"Aye that I do, that I do." Scott agreed.
I continued “Biboohra has a little main street with a few Shops, including a Supermarket, Post office, Petrol station and Police station."
“Well sounds like an interesting place.” Scott said sarcastically. "Now let's just hope we can find the film set location with no hassle." Scott said.
"Well tour Guide Letticia will get you there with no dramas." I replied, we both laughed at the last bit.
“Yeah right when pigs fly Letticia." Scott teased.
"Hey have some faith in me please. I have read the directions and by the looks of it the film set is located just out of town on a local farm. It's about a 5 minute drive past the township. This smooth sailing ship will get us there."
It was starting to feel hot inside the car. "Is the Air con even working?" I asked Scott.
"Aye I was going to ask you the same thing." Scott replied. With Scott driving I decided I would fiddle around with it and see what was happening. After 5 minutes or so not a lot was happening just hot air was coming out of the vents. “Well I have diagnosed the problem and it’s not looking good. We have no Air Con. Looks like it needs to be re-gassed. Windows down it is" I recommended. We both quickly wound down our windows only to be greeted with a powerful force of hot air coming inside. It was either that or windows up. We decided windows down was the best option out of the two. At Least I was on the shading side. Poor Scott had the full force of the Australian sun streaming in on his side.
We had been driving for half an hour when we decided to pull over at a rest stop and seek some shade for a bit and have a cold drink. I wandered off into the bush to explore a bit of what nature had to offer. Scott was surprised at what I was doing. “Letticia, what about snakes, I wouldn't go in there if I was you."
“Oh, Scott you're not frightened of snakes are you?"
"Who me? Don’t be silly Sassenach, Scottish men are afraid of nothing."
"Well if you say so then." I replied and put my hand out for him to help me out of this overgrown bush but instead pulled him back in with me. He screamed a girlish scream, it was so high pitched I had to cover my ears. “Oh dear god, Scott what was that?" I asked trying to control myself and not burst out in laughter.
"That Letticia, was my frightened of Snakes scream." Scott said.
"But I thought Scottish men were afraid of nothing" I reminded him.
"Yes well Snakes are not nothing, Snakes are Snakes, that's a whole different kettle of fish." and with that, he picked me up in his oh so muscly arms, swung me over his shoulder and saved me from the snake-infested Australian bush as he ran off to the car. Once back in the car I assured Scott that there were no snakes in the bush back there.
"The Australian bush is so unpredictable Letticia you can never be too careful." he said with a wink as he looked over at me. We continued to drive on. I reapplied my red lipstick. Always got to look presentable even if going bush, I thought to myself. We sat in silence for the next few minutes.
I looked over at Scott who was glowing from the sun that was streaming in through his window. I still could not believe I had my very own Jamie Fraser even if he was afraid of snakes, he was still my Jamie Fraser. He made me feel safe and secure. I felt we could tackle anything in life if we had each other.
At the moment I leaned over and kissed him. I misjudged however and planted a kiss right on his left ear lobe. He now had a big red lipstick mark covering his entire bottom lobe. I had nothing to wipe it off with so decided to leave it there and not tell him.
We were now on a long straight patch of road. With nothing on either side of us but brown, dry bushland and a few kangaroos jumping along the roadside.
Coming up in the distance I could see an object standing on the side of the road. It was still blurry so couldn't quite make out what it was until we drove closer and I could now see it was a hitchhiker with his thumb out. He had a backpack on his back and a bum bag around his waist. What's up with bum bags lately I thought, are they making a comeback, did I miss that memo too?
I felt the car slow down. “Scott, what are you doing?" I asked sounding worried.
"This poor guy is out in this heat, He has not even got a hat on, Show some compassion Sassenach." Scott said with a grin.
"Don't do it Scott, I’m warning you it's a bad idea. Have you not heard of all the terrible Hitchhiker stories that have happened in Australia?"
"Nope not one" he said, “Its normal in Scotland, people pick up hitchhikers all the time. Come on Letticia, where is your sense of adventure. Who has their sensible pants on now?" he continued. And with that we came to a complete stop just passed the hitchhiker. I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the image of a tall guy well build, but holding a few extra kilos than he needed, running towards us.
"You may live to regret this Scott and if you do I will be the first to remind you. Last chance you still have time to drive off." I said.
Scott laughed at that image, "Letticia that is so mean. This poor guy thinks he has a ride, look at him running in excitement to get to us, we can't just take off now."
“You can if you want to get to that contract signing alive." I reminded him.
Scott looked at me with those two beautiful big Brown Scottish Eyes of his and agreed. “Actually, Letticia I think you are right. Sorry not sure what came over me. Maybe I was still on a high with our snake encounter back there.”
I felt like saying ‘what snake encounter, there was no snake encounter.’ But decided to hold back in case he changed his mind again about the Hitchhiker. "Yes indeed Scott that Snake encounter was terrifying you must still not be thinking straight because of it. Now put your foot down and let’s get back on the road.” He leaned over kissed me and went to drive away just as we heard the back door open, I looked at Scott and said “It’s still not too late to just drive off." Scott knew all too well it was too late, if he drove off now he would badly hurt this poor Hitchhiker who was already halfway in the car. I looked at Scott and said quietly. "Oh dear god, Let us live." I proceeded with the sign of the cross and did a little prayer. I would need the help of a higher power to get out of this situation I felt.
The Hitchhiker got in, threw his backpack on the seat next to him, unclipped his bum bag and placed it next to his other bag. “Haigh,” he said in a very Irish Accent.
Scott turned and said "Aye we have an Irishman in the car do we?”
“That we do.” He said.
Scott put his hand out and said, “I'm Scott, nice to meet you.”
The Irish Man shook his hand back and said, “Nice to meet you, I’m Emmett."
Scott then introduces me to this random stranger, “And this is Letticia,” pointing over to me. I choose to not look back at this random Irish man who was now sitting in the backseat of our hire car. I wished not to look at my killer in their eyes.
Scott whispered, "That was a bit rude Letticia."
"This whole Situation is a bit rude”, I corrected him. “I feel the Smooth sailing ship has left the dock again and we are no longer on board.” I said. Emmett sat in the back fully capable of hearing every word we were loudly whispering to one another. I tu
rned my head and stared out the passenger’s window. I was in no mood to chit chat with the Scottish or Irish man that I was now in the car with. I did however have to muster up all my strength not to crack up laughing listening to their accents as they talked away to each other. Scott asked Emmett why he was heading out to Biboohra. Emmett explained he was going out to visit his Aunt who lived in an old farmhouse. Scott was falling for this load of bollocks. I on the other hand smelt a rat.
I decided to try and catch this Irish man out, I turned around and looked at him for the first time. He had brown hair and squinty eyes, he looked nervous to me. He looked like he was hiding something. He reminded me of a famous actor although I could not put my finger on who it was. I'm sure it would come to me later. “So, Emmett, What's your aunt's name? What farm does she live on? What animals does she keep on her farm? How long has she lived in Biboohra for?” All these questions made Emmett nervous and uneasy, his voice become shaky. At that very moment he asked Scott to pull the car over so he could go for a wee.
Scott said "Really you can't wait until we are in Biboohra? We are only 25 or so minutes away."
"No I must go now, I have a weak bladder,” Emmett said in his very Irish accent.
“Well if you have to go, you have to go I guess, I will pull over just up here where it is safe.” Scott said. I looked at Emmett again to try and work out who he reminded me of but still nothing. But what I did notice, clear as day was a big red birthmark on his left lower ear lobe. I froze unable to tell Scott as Emmett was right there.
"Let the poor man go to the toilet Scott would you." I said to Scott.
"As you wish master." he replied. Scott pulled over at not such a safe spot and Emmett jumped out of the car and ran into the bush to find a tree to release his bladder against. As soon as he was out of earshot distance I said to Scott. "Oh, dear God, we are giving a bloody fugitive a lift. He's the jewellery thief Scott."
Ozlander Page 4