Once outside, Maggie began to gesture animatedly at Dylan, her voice a loud whisper. “Are ye crazy? Don’t ye know who that is?”
“I’m afraid not, but I’m assuming you’re about to tell me,” Dylan retorted, sounding bemused.
“I tried to warn ye before ye invited him in to eat with us!” Maggie said. She was so frustrated, she was sure there must be visible steam coming out of her ears.
“I thought you were just upset because he’d interrupted us before I made love to you again,” he teased.
“Dylan, this is serious. Sir Richard is an enemy to the MacKenzies! He has done nothing but cause trouble for them for many years and Auntie Edna told me he’s working with Brielle to destroy them, once and for all.”
Dylan lapsed into silence. His brow furrowed as he considered what she had just said.
“What are we going to do?” Maggie asked impatiently, when a response wasn’t forthcoming.
“Well, you know that old saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer? We’re sticking to him like glue.” Dylan disarmed her with a sweet smile. “You’re going to have to try and be nicer to him, Maggie. He already thinks something’s up.”
“Okay, I see yer point,” Maggie admitted. “I’ll be nice, but he’ll nae doubt be wondering what we’re out here talking about.”
Dylan winked at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
Heading back inside, they found Sir Richard sitting in exactly the same spot they had left him in, happily eating. “Ah, you’reback. These meat pasties are wonderful. Did you make these, Maggie?”
“Yes, I did,” she lied. She had almost said no, but then she would have had to tell him where she got them, and she wasnae very good at thinking up stories on the spot.
“I’m sorry about Maggie’s attitude before, Richard,” Dylan said. “Maggie’s a bit upset because we were just about to, well, you know…” Dylan winked conspiratorially at Richard.
Richard didn’t miss a beat, shaking his head and giving a hearty chuckle. “I’m very sorry for the interruption, Dylan. Bad timing on my part. If I had known, I certainly would have waited outside.”
Maggie cringed with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe Dylan would admit something like that! And now, Richard was looking at her as if she were a wanton woman. The nerve of them both! Her temper got the better of her, and before she could stop herself, she grabbed a ewer of water and spilled it all over Dylan’s head.
The look of disbelief on Dylan’s face was comical. Maggie watched as Sir Richard tried to hide his own face, obviously struggling to cover his amusement. The best he could do was to try and conceal it by coughing loudly. Maggie stormed out of the cottage, leaving the two men together and baffled as to what had just happened.
***
“I believe she’s angry with you,” Sir Richard chuckled. “Women don’t like their deepest, darkest secrets revealed, you know. Especially to a stranger.”
Dylan sat in a puddle of water; his hair was soaked, as was his kilt. “I know thatnow. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
“Where are you from Dylan? I detect an unusual accent,” Richard said.
Dylan had to think on his feet here. He couldn’t say America, as that might rouse Sir Richard’s suspicions. He bought himself some time by rising and finding a cloth to dry himself off. “It is unusual, isn’t it? I’ve travelled quite extensively since I was a lad. I’ve lived in more places than I can count, and I guess I picked up a bit of an accent from each of those places. It’s made me the man I am today.”
Sir Richard nodded. “Before you went out to speak with your lady, we were talking about the MacKenzies.”
“Were we?” Dylan said vaguely, hoping he could keep Richard from asking too many questions.
“Yes. I said that I was on my way to see them and you said it was a coincidence. I got the impression you might know them.”
“Not really. I mean, Maggie and I spent a night at Breaghacraig. They were very kind and gracious hosts.” Dylan waited for a reaction, but when there wasn’t one, he continued. “You say they’re old friends of yours?”
“Not friends, really. We’ve had some problems in the past, but I’m on my way to give them my sincerest apologies for past transgressions, and to see if we can start over again. I’ve done some things I’m quite ashamed of and I’m proud to say I’m a changed man. I’d like them to know that.”
Dylan felt he was a good judge of character and he listened carefully for any sign that Sir Richard was not being truthful, but he got the sense that the man really did want to make amends. “It takes a big man to admit when he’s been wrong. I admire that.”
“I only hope I’m not too late. You see, there’s someone else who is intent on harming them, and I’d like to warn them if possible.”
“It sounds like they have lots of enemies,” Dylan said, testing Richard.
“No. Not so many,” Richard said. “Just myself and this other party I spoke of. I no longer consider them enemies though, and if I can help them dispense of this new threat, my conscience will be clear.”
