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His head turned as he watched a sign go by. “Aye, tis, when I time-journeyed the last time I ended up being chased and fell from a cliff. My death was near-assured.”

“Ugh, that does not sound good. Besides the fact that Max is the prince, the danger is for his throne, you’re just his friend.”

“I hae sworn to protect him. His troubles hae become my own. I must lay down m’life for him.”

I said, “That’s very devoted of you. I’ve got a few close friends, and Cooper and Jen, I’ve never asked them if they would lay down their lives for me... I’m sure they would, possibly, but I don’t think we measure friendships that way anymore.”

He watched my face as I spoke. “Hae ye lived here yer entire life?”

“Yep. In the house where I grew up. It was built by my great-grandfather’s father way back in 1820. My parents um… passed the house down to me.”

He nodded, then looked out the window again.

Then he looked back. “I appreciate all ye hae done for me, Mistress Lexi. Someday I will learn tae wield the time travel vessel and bring Max tae see these wonders. Twould lift his heart tae meet the bonny mistress who took on our troubles. Ye hae done a great service, I daena ken what I would do without ye.”

“Likely sleep on the ground in the woods.”

“Aye, I would be even more disgustin’. I want ye tae ken, as I am invited tae share a meal, I am usually in better form.”

I said, “Yeah, right, true. You need clothes. I don’t think Cooper has anything you can fit. My uncle has a box in the attic, but I don’t know…” I turned on my blinker and took a left. “Hold that thought?—”

He gripped the dash as I turned the corner, laughing. “I hae nae idea what ye want me tae hold ontae while ye careen. If this were a carriage and I had been ridin’ alongside, I would likely be chasin’ one of its wheels down the hill!”

“But this is my BMW and there is no way a wheel is coming off.” I swerved the car a little just to keep him on his toes.

“We have a second-hand clothing store. We’ll grab you a shirt and pants so you’re more comfortable at the meal.

You made a good point, and I mean this with all due respect, you stink. ”

He chuckled and sniffed under his arm. “Tis the sweat of fear and it has turned.”

I pulled into the parking lot of the Attic and he got out of the car as if it were the easiest thing in the world. “Sword?”

I shook my head and he followed me into the thrift store.

I went to the men’s section and found a pair of chinos that looked like they would be the right size and a dark shirt with a collar. I held them up, they looked like they would fit.

He held the clothes bundled against his chest as his eyes drifted to the rack of shoes. “Will they hae shoes?” He rubbed his right boot against his left to show that there was a gaping hole in the side. “Or I will need a needle and thread tae mend them.”

I went over to the rack and we tried a couple of pairs up against his feet. There were a pair of Nikes that looked like they would fit. “There, you will look clean and ready for a meal.”

At the counter I paid for the clothes. “Can I return them if they don’t fit?”

Her brow went up as she looked at his chest.“He can try it on in the um... dressing room.” She literally licked her lips.

I glanced into the corner, there was a small curtain, it wouldn’t come up to his neck. “Sounds complicated.” I tossed a couple pairs of socks in with the clothes and a package of underwear in what I guessed was his size.

She said, looking at Torin’s bicep as he had his hand resting on his sword hilt. “He can’t return the um... the underwear.”

“I get you.”

I paid, took the plastic shopping bag, and led Torin to the car.

As I drove us back home, I said, “I have a lot to do to get the meal ready, do you think you can figure out the shower and put on all these clothes?”

He chuckled. “Aye, but what if I said ‘Nae, Mistress Lexi’?”

I laughed. “I don’t know what I would do. I guess it would be inappropriate to help you.”

“Aye, I imagine yer man, Cooper, would take issue with his bonny maiden helpin’ another man dress.” He looked down at the clothes in his lap. “Is m’presence goin’ tae cause problems for ye, Mistress Lexi?”

“No, not really, not problems. Cooper won’t be mad, it’s just going to take some explaining, and I’m not sure if he’ll take me at my word. It’ll actually be good that you’re here, once he meets you…”

“He will ken I am from another time?”

“Yep, it’s pretty apparent. Though you are pretty relaxed in the car now.

” I pulled into my driveway. “And after we eat we’ll all try to come up with some ideas to help you get back.

I don’t know if I can help, but I’ll try.

The back-shack is unlocked, get cleaned up, make yourself comfortable.

I’ll call you up when it’s dinner time.”

He grinned, “Ye canna get rid of me so quickly, ye will need m’help carryin’ in the supplies.”

“Great point. Yes.”

I opened the trunk and we pulled out the bags and beer and wine and lugged it up the steps to the door. I unlocked the handle and pushed it open. My cat wrapped around my legs, purring. “Careful, he will trip you if you’re not careful.”

“Tis yer cat? I met him earlier, he visited me in yer wee cottage.”

“Yep, his name is Dude. Are there a lot of cats where you’re from?”

I glanced back to see he was smiling down at Dude. “Och aye, ye are a lion, leòmhann gaisgeil Albannach!”

“What does that mean?”

“I told him he looks like a brave Scottish lion. He is a verra braw cat. When he visited he told me he catches many wee beasts.”

“Whenever he can, that’s why I let him stay. He just walked up one day and now he lives here.”

We put the groceries down on the counter and Torin knelt down and put out a hand and Dude sniffed his fingers, rubbed against his arm, and while I was still marveling, Torin picked him up and stood petting him and nuzzling with him.

I said, “Wow, he likes you, Dude doesn’t usually like people right away.”

“He can see we are both fellow travelers. We both carry the scars of our rough lives, and we are both lookin’ for a place tae land.”

He grinned at me, with Dude purring beside his strong jaw line. “We hae both been taken in by the bonny Mistress Lexi, we are verra fortunate, arna we, Dude?”

Dude meowed.