by Jennae Vale
“You two should get a room,” Dylan’s voice laughingly called from across the street. He waved at them and then took Maggie by the hand and crossed the street.
“Hi,” Maggie said. “Are ye having fun exploring?”
“Aye. We are,” Ewan stated. “Lena has been showing me all the places she has told me about. She has painted the perfect picture. If I were to come upon it on my own, I’d know it was Glendaloch.”
“Well, I’m happy yer enjoying it. Dylan and I were just going to stop into the pub for some lunch, would ye like to join us?”
“Are ye nae cooking lunch at the inn?” Lena asked Dylan.
“Not today. You, Ewan, Irene and Robert are out exploring and the others are all in their rooms resting from the trip here. I know everyone enjoyed the snacks when they arrived, so I left some sandwiches and fruit for them if they’re hungry when they come out of their rooms. I wanted to take my lady out and we’d love it if you’d join us. It’d give us some time to get better acquainted.”
“Please join us,” Maggie added.
“What would ye like to do, Lena?” Ewan asked.
“I’d like to have lunch with my cousin and her man,” Lena answered.
Ewan nodded his agreement.
“Shall we then?” Dylan led the way with Maggie by his side.
They entered Calhoun’s Pub and took a seat in the first booth they came to.
“Four pints please, Daniel, and four orders of fish and chips.”
“As ye wish, Dylan.” Daniel Calhoun, the proprietor’s son was behind the bar. He called the order to his father in the back. “Da, four fish and chips.”
“I hope that’s alright with ye,” Maggie said. “If ye’d rather, we can get some menus and ye can choose yer own lunch.”
“Fish and chips will be wonderful,” Lena said. “When I lived here, they were always the best.” She gazed at Ewan who appeared quite at home sitting next to her. “Yer going to love it, Ewan.”
“What are chips?” he asked.
“Ye’ll see. It’s too difficult to explain.”
Ewan seemed satisfied with that answer and settled in to a question and answer period with Dylan, asking him about everything unrecognizable that he’d come across.
Daniel delivered the pints to the table. “Here ye are.”
“Thanks, Daniel,” Dylan said.
“Lena Campbell, is that ye?” He examined her face for a moment. “Of course ’tis. I’d recognize ye anywhere. How’ve ye been.”
“Fine, Daniel and yerself?” She caught a glimpse of Ewan out of the corner of her eye and noted that he seemed uncomfortable once again.
“Good. I’m still here in Glendaloch, working for my Da as ye can plainly see.”
In an effort to put Ewan at ease, she introduced Daniel. “Ewan, this is Daniel Calhoun. His sister and I were the very best of friends.”
“As the baby brother, it was my duty to make their lives as miserable as possible. I think I did a fairly good job, wouldnae ye say, Lena.”
“Aye. Ye did. There were many times when yer sister and I plotted to lock ye in the basement just so ye’d leave us alone.”
Daniel had developed a deep belly laugh, which caused Lena and the others to join him. He was all grown up now and no longer the pesky little brother she’d once known.
“How is Mary?” Lena asked. She hadn’t seen her old friend since just before she made the crossing.
“Mary’s fine. She’s living in London now with her artist boyfriend.” He put finger quotes around the word artist.
“Is she really? I never thought she’d be the one to leave Glendaloch and I assumed ye wouldnae be able to wait to get out of here.”
“I thought the same,” said Daniel, “but as ye can see I’m firmly ensconced here in town.”
“Are ye married?”
“Nay. I’m waiting fer the right woman to make her way into town. So far, no luck.” Again he chuckled. “Maybe yer mother will do some of her matchmaking magick for me.”
“Ye never know, she just might.”
“Daniel, pick up yer order!” Mr. Calhoun shouted through the kitchen pass through.
“Aye, Da. Ye’ll never guess who’s here.”
“I don’t suppose ye could just tell me. I hate these guessing games.” Mr. Calhoun seemed his old impatient self.
“Lena Campbell, Mary’s friend.”
The door to the kitchen flew open and Mr. Calhoun strode quickly to their table, lifting Lena from her seat and hugging her so tightly she thought her eyes were being squeezed from her head. Next he held her away from him and tipped his head from side to side examining her face. “Aye. ’Tis ye.” He pulled her back in for another hug.
“Mr. Calhoun, I cannae breathe,” Lena gasped.
“I’m sorry, Lena. I never thought to see ye here in town again. Our Mary missed ye so after ye left, as did the missus and I.”
“I spent a lot of time here with all of ye,” Lena smiled fondly at father and son. “This is my husband, Ewan.”
Ewan stood and extended a hand to first father and then son. “I’m pleased to make yer acquaintance, sir.”
“As are we,” Daniel said.
“We’re back visiting Ma for the holiday with our two sons and some other members of Ewan’s family. I hope ye’ll stop by for our Christmas Eve celebration.”
“We just might do that, lass. I’m closing the pub early to be sure everyone is home with their families, as they should be on a night like that.”
“Good. I’ll tell Ma and Da to expect ye then.” Lena sat back down. “I can hardly wait to taste yer famous fish and chips.”
Mr. Calhoun looked back to the pass through, jumping into action as he retrieved the food and brought it to them. “Here ye are. Lunch is on me today and I’ll nae hear another word about it.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Calhoun. We appreciate it,” Dylan said. “Would you care to join us?”
“Nae. I’ll let ye enjoy the food and I’ll see ye on Christmas Eve. I can hardly wait to meet yer little ones, lass.” With that he turned and went back into the kitchen and Daniel retreated to the bar.
Ewan squeezed her hand under the table. “Ye’ve many good friends here in Glendaloch.”
“Aye. I do.”
The walk back to the inn was a quiet one. They were all quite stuffed from their meal.
“I hope the boys are napping,” Lena said. “I think I’d like to do the same.”
“Dylan and I will watch them so ye can have a rest,” Maggie volunteered.
“That’s so sweet of ye both. Thank ye.”
They opened the door to the inn and were greeted by Edna and Angus. “Did ye have fun, Ewan?” was the first question out of Edna’s mouth.
“I did.” Ewan gazed at Lena who was yawning and leaning into him. “We’re verra tired though. We thought we’d take a bit of a rest.”
“Oh, please do. Lena before ye go, Michael Allaway called. He wanted to know if he could take ye to lunch tomorrow.”
Ewan did his best to control his jealousy. This was merely an old friend and he trusted Lena to have lunch with him without incident, but why did he feel there was something more to it. She looked to him and he nodded.
“What did ye tell him, Ma?”
“I said ye’d be happy to.”
“Ewan do ye want to join us?” Lena appeared worried.
“Nae, love. Ye go and enjoy yer time with yer friend.”
“Are ye sure?”
“Aye. Dinnae worry about me.” I’ll be busy worrying about ye, my love.
Chapter 5
Irene & Robert
“Ooo, Robert, I love it here. Do we have to go back?” Irene was mesmerized by all the unusual things she was seeing at the local apothecary. She picked up everything that caught her eye and examined it from top to bottom. “I’ll have much to ask Edna when we return to the inn.”
Robert smiled adoringly at his wife. “Irene, no matter how much ye love it, we
must go back to Breaghacraig when the time arrives.” It was their first afternoon in Glendaloch and they were both excited to explore, so they’d left the children with Edna and headed out. For his part, Robert also spent a lot of time pushing buttons, pulling levers and generally trying to figure out how all these modern luxuries worked. He’d already decided he wanted a shower, although he had absolutely no idea at all how to create one. Plumbing is what Angus had called it, trying his best to explain the workings to a puzzled Robert.
He finally managed to pull Irene away from the apothecary and their next stop was the hardware store. His eyes lit when he saw things that he recognized as parts to the light fixtures. “Mayhap I’ll find what I need here in this store.” Robert took off and left Irene running to keep up with him.
“Robert! Wait!” she called after him.
“Dinnae fear my sweet, I’ll nae leave ye. Come. I think I see things to make a shower.”
“Robert, ye cannae possibly believe ye’ll make one.”
“Do ye doubt me, Irene?”
“Nae,” she admitted. “I ken when ye decide to do something that ye’ll move heaven and earth to do it.” As they walked, Robert stopped at a wall of books. “Irene. Can ye believe it. Do ye see all the books?”
“Aye, Robert. I do.”
He searched each title and then exclaimed, “Here. ’Tis a book I can use.” Robert happily grabbed the book and held on tightly, a huge grin on his handsome face. “Look Irene, it says, ‘Plumbing.’ ’Tis what Angus called the workings of the shower.”
“Can ye nae make a room without a roof?” Irene tipped her head in question.
“Nae roof?” Robert was puzzled by her question.
“Aye. Then when it rains ye can stand in it and ’twill be like yer fancy shower that ye love so much.” Irene giggled and Robert knew she was teasing him.
He broke into laughter so loud that others in the store turned to look at them. “Come let’s purchase this book.”
Robert continued walking, searching for someone to help him buy the book. Eventually he saw a man wearing an apron, who looked as good as anyone to speak with.
“Sir. I wish to purchase this book.”
“Aye. I can help ye,” the man answered.
“Edna Campbell requested that ye put it on her bill.”
“If ye’ll come with me, I’ll take care of it.” He reached for the book, but Robert wasn’t about to let it leave his grasp. The man shook his head and gave Robert an odd look, but turned and walked away. “Follow me.”
He led them to the front of the store where he stood behind a counter and punched buttons on some strange contraption that Robert found fascinating. The man reached a hand out for the book and again Robert held onto it tightly. “Sir, I need the book so I can ring it up for ye.”
“I don’t understand,” Robert said.
Irene elbowed him in the side and nodded her head in the man’s direction. Robert reluctantly handed the book over and the man passed some strange wand over it before handing it right back to Robert. “Here ye go. This will appear on Mrs. Campbell’s bill. Ye must be one of her out of town guests,” the man observed.
“We are indeed,” Robert responded.
“Well, enjoy yer stay. If ye need anything else, please come back and see us.”
“I may be back. I wish to build a shower.”
“We have everything ye’d need for that, sir.”
“Good.” Robert took Irene’s hand and tucked it in his as he walked away with his book.
“Where shall we go next,” Irene asked. She was thoroughly enjoying herself and the company of her husband. “The children are fine with Edna and I’ve no wish to go back yet.”
“I’ve no idea where to go next, love. Let’s just walk.” Robert led her down the street where they peered into the store windows as they passed by. It was beginning to get dark and the fairy lights strung up and down the street went on, causing Irene to gasp at their beauty. “Robert, arenae they wonderful. Yet another thing I’d like to bring back to Breaghacraig.”
“I’ll ask Angus about them. Mayhap they have them at the hardware store.” He pulled Irene closer. “Are ye warm enough, Irene?”
“Aye. I’m always warm when ye’ve yer arm wrapped around me.”
He sweetly kissed the top of her head. This is a rare time fer us. ’Tis not often that we are completely alone.”
“I’d forgotten what it could be like.” Robert was right. The business of running Breaghacraig, caring for their children and Robert’s position as Laird of the clan meant their lives were quite busy and filled with children and castle residents who were always in need of something. Before they married, they’d had much more time to themselves and it was nice they’d been given this opportunity to reacquaint themselves with each other. “I’d like to do something nice for Edna and Angus. Ye ken to thank them for all of this.”
“Aye, but what?”
“We’ll speak with the others about it. Maybe one of them will have an idea.”
“Very well then. I believe we should head back to the inn. The shops seem to be closing for the night and our children may well have worn out our hosts.”
Robert kept Irene tucked close by his side as they made their way back. Irene could feel how relaxed he was and it made her happy. He had so much responsibility on his shoulders all the time. She was proud of him and proud to be married to the Laird of Clan MacKenzie, but she was also happy to have him to herself, even for this brief time.
Reaching the inn, Robert opened the door for Irene and followed her inside. Their children came running.
“Ma! Da!” Isobel called as she wrapped herself around her father’s leg. “Where did ye go?”
“We were exploring Glendaloch,” Irene said. “Did ye miss us?”
Isobel looked rather sheepishly up at them and whispered, “No.”
Irene and Robert chuckled at this and then led the children back into the lobby area of the inn. Angus was sprawled on the floor with the twins, as they did their best to wrestle him into submission. Edna was seated in a nearby chair with a pile of books on the table adjacent to it.
“We were just reading,” she said. “The children have been verra well behaved.”
“Can Edna keep reading?” Fiona asked. Little Brian climbed up into Edna’s lap and made himself at home.
“We’re mid-story, so if ye wish to go upstairs and rest, I’m happy to keep reading.” Edna waited for their answer and when she didn’t receive one, she said, “Go on then. Have a bit of a rest before dinner. I’ll call ye when ’tis time.”
“Thank ye, Edna. I don’t ken how we’ll ever repay ye fer yer kindness.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m not doing this for payment, I’m doing it out of love.”
Irene was so overwhelmed by Edna’s statement that she surprised herself by going to her and giving her a big hug and kiss. “Children, continue to be good for Edna. We’ll see ye at dinner.”
Robert and Irene headed upstairs to their room. “’Tis odd having nothing to do.” Robert said as they topped the stairs.
“I can think of something to do, even if ye cannae,” Irene winked at him and swiftly opened the door to their room. Robert was quick to follow.
Edna chuckled to herself as she watched Irene and Robert retreat to their room. The children, Wee Robert, Fiona, Isobel and Brian, were a delight and Edna was enjoying the fun of spoiling them. They were such well-behaved little ones for the most part. The description did not, however, extend to her own grandsons. Yes, they were adorable, but the two of them could get into more trouble, more quickly than anyone would have imagined possible. It only took a moment of inattention on her part. Speaking of which, she’d been so focused on Irene and Robert that she’d forgotten all about the twins. It was much too quiet for her liking.
“Rowan! Ranald! Where are ye?” Edna called into the silence. No one answered. She cautiously entered the room, searching every corner as she went. She approach
ed the center of the room and stood a moment, knowing that they had to be there somewhere. A swishing sound came from behind her and before she knew it, she had four little arms wrapped around her, tickling her for all they were worth. Robert and Irene’s children joined in and Edna hooted with laughter. “Why ye little rascals!” She squirmed out of their grasp and then turned the tables on them, grabbing the first child she could get her hands on. Ranald squealed with laughter. She let him go and one by one she chased them down until they got the tickling they deserved. “Enough of that now.” Edna caught her breath. She wasn’t as young as she used to be and as much as she wished to run and play with the children, she knew it was probably not the best idea. “Come. Let’s sit for a moment and catch our breath.” Edna plopped herself down on the sofa and was immediately surrounded with children all trying their best to be the one’s sitting right next to her.
“Edna, what are ye doing?” Angus asked as he entered the room.
“’Tis a good question. I’m apparently wearing myself out in an attempt to wear these children out.”
“Leave that to me, my love. Children, get yer cloaks and we’ll go out back to spar with my straw man.” He put his hands on his hips.
“Grandpa, can I go first?” Rowan asked.
“We’ll see, lad. Come, let’s go. ’Twill be too dark soon.”
The children jumped from the sofa and all ran to the coat rack to grab their cloaks. Robert, being the tallest, handed them down to the others.
Edna gazed gratefully at her husband. “Thank ye, Angus. Yer too good to me.”
“I won’t be long. They’ll be ready for their supper and then bed soon enough.”
“I’ll see to the food, while yer out with them.” She watched the little ones all line up behind Angus and head for the door leading to the back. If she wasn’t so exhausted she’d go with them, but for now she’d take a quick breather and then head to the kitchen to get their supper together for them.
Chapter 6
Maggie & Dylan
Maggie and Dylan were excited to see their old friends, especially Sir Richard. Edna had reassured them that after their battle with Brielle, he was alright, but it was good to see him in the flesh, happy and healthy.