Page 186 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

"So, what do ye make o' it all, lad," he said, thoughtfully, before adding. "An' I ken it is an awu' shock about yer father, an' all..."

"I ken," said Malcolm, his heart still heavy. "An' it is hard to get the measure o' it, but I think the fishermen were right..."

He drained his dram, as James waited to listen.

"That Bruce has pulled the wool o'oer their eyes, or at least, some o' them. But they seem to ken that there is something stinky aboot this, an' as God as my witness, I intend to get to the bottom o' it!"

James glanced at him sideways, before cocking his eyes around the bar. His dark gaze met and followed every comely lass in the building. Malcolm hid a smile. He knew James. If Marisse did not stick about, he would not either.

But James appeared to be thinking about something. For a moment, he tapped impatiently at his quaich, before looking quickly to Malcolm.

"Aye, ye should," he said softly, playing with the base of his cup. His wind beat hands stroked the wooden quaich deliberately. Malcolm wondered if he was in a hurry to set sail.

"So, then when ye off, next? Where are ye off next?" he asked as James looked uncharacteristically thoughtful. For a minute, it looked as if the captain had not heard him, but then he looked up.

"I dinnae ken," he said, eventually. "That would depend on ye..."

His eyes raised to Malcolm, who looked unsure.

"Me?" he said, surprised. The throng in the room was lifting. Suddenly, it was even louder than it had been before. If that was possible.

In between the noise of the thunder, and that of the chatter, it was becoming hard to hear what James was saying.

"Aye, ye," said James, pulling closer. "Because I am nae sure whether to return to the port, at all, at least for some time..."

Malcolm was puzzled. "Whit for?"

Glancing around, he wondered where Ainslee was. Had she got a room upstairs? The tantalizing prospect of knocking on her door later filled his head. Although of course, he wouldn't. Would he?

Without realizing, Malcolm had begun to drift off. A combination of too many drams, and a stuffy room started a reverie in him.

He could just picture Ainslee in her room, taking off her shawls, and laying down among the rushes. Would she have a bath? He wondered.

He was deep in such thoughts, when James' voice brought him suddenly back into the room.

"Because I will come wi' ye, lad..."

Malcolm's eyes shot open. Suddenly, he was wide awake. In surprise, he looked at James. His brown eyes fixed him with a deadly seriousness.

"Ye... ye will come wi' me?" Malcolm asked. James nodded, self-assured.

"Aye, like I said," he said, stretching out and setting his feet on the opposing bench. "Because if yer going to see yer brother, then, by all accounts, yer gonnae need all the help ye can get!"

Malcolm could not believe what he was hearing. "James, ye dinnae have to... ye've got a ship to lead... men to..."

He was speechless, his mouth opened and shut, without a sound. Seeing his face, James just laughed.

"An' yer my right hand man. An' if ye've got a problem, then it is my problem, like it was when we both overthrew Captain McGivern!"

Malcolm looked. James was serious. "I... cannae ask ye, to do this," he said.

James regarded him seriously. "Ye didnae ask. I offer. Because, as I said, yer problems are my problems, an' lad, is Bruce Duncan a problem!"

Malcolm did not know what to say. Amazed, he could only laugh.

"Well, yer nae wrong there, James," he said. Before adding, with gratitude. "An' I thank ye... for saying that. Perhaps I could do with some help there..."

"Nae fash, son. My only regret is that I didnae do it sooner - when ye first came aboard that boat... I should have helped ye then...," said James, with a sigh. "Now I ken the whole story, it is my duty to..."