He blinked and nudged my arm with his head.
I went tae the cold box, opening the door, the light blaring, causing my eyes tae sting. I found a beer bottle and after some fumblin’ figured out how tae open it by twistin’ the cap and yankin’ it clear. “Dude, tis not for ye, tis for me.”
I drank from the beer then searched for good cat food, findin’ a package with sliced beef.
I put it on the counter, used a knife tae stab the package and sliced it open.
Dude’s expression was cross.
“It might not be yer favorite, Dude, but ye need tae ken, ye eat when ye are near food. Ye canna put it off for a better time, ye might miss that next meal.”
I peeled off a slice for Dude and laid it at his paws on the table. “Eat up.”
I leaned against the counter and watched him eat, staring at the vessel.
I could wait tae return tae the Uncles and Max tae fight the battle, I had a time travel device, twould still go as planned.
But what of Alexandria? How would I find her?
She was gone — then I heard a verra far away voice, “Torin!”
35
TORIN
JULY 9TH, 2004 - LAUREL RIDGE
It sounded like a cry. I raced down the hall tae find her, standin’ in the doorway — how had I not heard her approach? Her clothes were streaked with dirt and blood. There was blood on her pants. I rushed tae her. “Tis yer blood? Are ye covered in blood, Princess?”
Her hair was wild, there were bags hanging from her shoulders.
“I killed them! I got away, I killed them!” Her chest was heaving, her eyes blazing —och nae, she looked like she had been tae war.
She dropped the bags tae the porch.
I held her, kissing all over her face. “Nae, nae, I am sorry I dinna see them in the house, forgive me, we took too long, I dinna check the house. I should hae guarded ye better, I dinna mean tae put yer life in danger, I thought I could protect ye.”
She cried in my arms.
“I am sorry, I dinna mean tae, tis all my fault.”
Her arms went around my neck.
“How did ye get away?” I put her feet back on the floor.
“I woke up and my wrists were bound, but my bag was right in front of me. I was able to dig out the gun Ryan gave me.” She began tae act it out. “I raised that gun and, bang bang bang, I shot all of them!” She looked down at her clothes, “One of the men grabbed my legs, I was clean. My clothes were clean. He was on me and… ohGod,now there is blood everywhere.”
“Thank Heavens ye are alive, but twas my foolishness that almost got ye killed, I will never forgive myself.”
“Torin, my love, it’s okay, I got away?— “
“Ye shouldna hae tae! I should hae been there. All for a shower and another meal. We dinna need tae come back for the horses!”
“But… we really needed the food and the horses, you’re about to fight a war, you have to have your horse.”
“Ye might hae been lost tae me forever.”
She brushed hair from her cheek with a filthy hand. “Well, I’m not. I shot them dead, or if not dead then I wounded them, they’re likely dead now, that’s a fact, and I stole their vessel, and?—”
