Call of a Highlander: A Scottish Time Travel Romance (Arch Through Time Book 8) by Baker Katy

Author:Baker, Katy [Baker, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi
Publisher: Katy Baker
Published: 2019-01-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

As they stepped into the glade, Beth saw a campfire burning in a pit several meters in front of the house. Rabbie and Elspeth sat together on a log, Travis perched in his chair next to them. A spit straddled the fire, one of the pheasants Cam had caught that morning slowly roasting over it.

“Ah!” Rabbie called as he spotted them. “There ye are! Perfect timing as ever, my friend. The food is almost cooked.”

“Why do ye think I made myself scarce?” Cam replied. “Ye know how much I hate cooking!”

He and Beth seated themselves on a log on the opposite side of the fire. Rabbie passed over two beakers and filled them with whisky.

“Look, Uncle Cam,” Travis said, holding something out in both hands. “I’ve been practicing my letters, just like ye taught me.”

He was holding the slate tablet Beth had seen him writing on earlier. It was covered in neat, precise letters.

Cam took the slate and peered at it. “My, little man, ye have a fine hand. Finer than my own, I can tell ye. I’ve seen nay better work in all the Highlands.”

The boy beamed at the compliment. “Does that mean I can be a scribe someday like ye said?”

Cam ruffled the boy’s hair. “Any laird would be proud to have ye.”

Elspeth leaned close to Beth. “Cam taught him his letters. Neither Rabbie nor I can read. We hope Travis might one day be good enough to earn a place as a scribe. His father and I willnae be around forever and when we’re gone what will happen to him? He canna stay here—not with his difficulties. Cam said he’ll do his best to find him a place in a lord’s hall when he’s old enough.”

There was worry in her voice and Beth reached out to squeeze her new friend’s shoulder. “Then he will. Cam keeps his word.”

Elspeth forced a smile. “Aye, that he does.”

“Right!” Rabbie said, rubbing his hands. “I reckon it’s ready. Who’s for roast pheasant?”

There was a chorus of agreement and Rabbie took the bird from the fire, carved it expertly with his belt knife, before passing it around on wooden plates. There were roasted vegetables to go with it and gravy that Elspeth had made from the pheasant’s juices. It was by far the best meal Beth had eaten since she’d come to this time. In fact, as she tucked in, she reflected it was one of the best meals she’d eaten in any time. The meat came apart on her tongue and the vegetables were crisp and juicy.

Silence descended as everyone ate, broken only by the crackle of the fire. Rabbie refilled everyone’s cup with another dram of whisky. He and Cam had already drunk three or four but neither of them seemed in the least affected by the potent spirit. Which was more than could be said for Beth. Anymore and she’d wake up with a headache. She accepted the cup politely but then set it on the ground by her feet without taking a swig.

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