“I mean… maybe? Do you remember the markings for the vessel to get to my house in North Carolina?”
“Aye, they are seared in my mind.” I finished scrubbing my arms from the elbows down and toweled off.
She said, “Let’s just do it then, let’s go after we left, we’ll come back here at the same time. Easy. We rewrite the whole story. It can’t hurt.”
“It canna possibly be ‘easy’ tae turn time around, and it might hurt verra much, but aye, we will try it.” I put the towel down and she picked up the shirt.
“Do you need help putting it on?”
I rolled my arm around. “The shoulder feels surprisingly good. And the shirt will go on with ease.” I stretched the fabric, pulled it over my head, and pushed my arms in. “We could get the horses, ye ken? Every time I hae fought the battle I wanted Cathbarr tae be with me. If I think on it, not havin’ him with me is the problem with yer uncle’s whole plan.”
“You really love your horse, and I’ve barely met him. But this is good, if you’re going to do everything the opposite you’ll need to include him.”
I nodded. “We’ll return here with the horses, meet Max, the uncles will be good and healthy and ready tae go. We will be successful this time, Princess, good as gold.”
“I don’t know if I believe you, but… I do like having you explain it to me, assuring me that it will work.” Another long sigh of her breath. “You really have to fight again?”
“Aye, I really hae tae. I feel in m’chest that we hae tae win this and that we can. I saw it in m’mind as sure as I was watchin’ his cloak flick in a breeze around his legs. I came verra close tae killin’ him, I will this time, and I will win ye the throne.”
“And the uncles won’t die, Max will survive.”
“Aye, if I hae my way, if tis God’s will.”
She nodded.
“Okay, let’s do this then.”
“Ye are verra agreeable, thank ye.”
Then I asked,“Ye ken what I was thinking of while the physician was tendin’ tae m’wound?”
“I have no idea.”
“Dost ye remember the other day, when was it… it feels like years ago now, ye said ye missed riding through Scotland?”
She smiled wide. “That was likeyesterday.”
“It fills m’heart tae hear ye say it. I was worried I would never talk ye intae doing it again. Ye gave me hope.”
“It’s why I’ve been taking horse-riding lessons, so that next time I won’t complain about anything.”
“I canna wait, it sounds heavenly. What dost ye think will be the part ye will complain about the least, the midges or the decade auld stew?”
“I might have to complain about those.”
I said, continuing the teasing, “Or the chamberpots, or the straw mattresses, or the rain?”
She laughed, “Fine, I will complain all the time about everything, but I do really miss it.”
“I will get us back there, mo leannan, with our horses, and the fine room at the Muckhart inn. Ye remember, if we are ever separated, tis where I will be, waitin’ for ye.”
“I know, I have it memorized, here.” She patted her chest. “North of the Forth, between the Ochil Hills and the Devon Water”
“Good,” I shook m’head, “but how did ye learn it?”
“You showed me on the map, remember?”
“Nae, I daena...” I exhaled. “We ought tae check on Max and Charlie, ye ken, time is of the essence.”
