Once they were filled, we all sipped silently, our exhaustion making us far less enjoyable company than Mary seemed to desire. Eventually, I could take no more of Mary’s disappointed glares and turned to address Bri.
“Do ye know of any games? I couldna make sense of most of them, but when I was serving drinks in Edinburgh, people would at times play games while they were drinking.”
“Well, I’ll confess to my lack of drinking knowledge. Teaching gave me little time for a social life, but I suppose I know of one or two games we could play, if Mary still wishes to continue with her wild night.”
Mary nodded, smiling wide as she poured more into her cup. “Aye, o’course I do. Have ye yet to see me change me mind about something once it has been set?”
*
Shortly thereafter, Bri and I found ourselves tending to a very rambunctious Mary, whom twice had thought it would be a grand idea for us to take off our clothes and run naked through the break in the trees where we’d set up camp.
We’d both quickly done our best to divert her attention elsewhere.
The game ‘Never Have I Ever’ as described by Bri had started off innocently enough. We’d given Mary the opportunity to ask questions first.In her effort to get both of us drunk as well, she’d asked questions that only we could drink to such as, “never have I ever travelled through time.” But quickly the questions were turned over to Bri and me. It seemed no matter how wild our statements, Mary had participated in the activity. Soon, I’d learned things about Mary that not only shocked me but made me slightly nervous to be in her company. ’Twas certain neither of us would ever look at the woman quite the same way again.
Thankfully, what seemed to be a never-ending bottle of whiskey finally ran dry. Shortly after, an exhausted and what was sure to be a rather unpleasant Mary come morning, succumbed to sleep.
Chapter 19
Before sunrise, I rose to gather water. The trip hadn’t taken me long and while I’d expected to find both Mary and Bri still asleep, I returned to find Mary fully awake, busily ordering Bri to wake up and help her pack up camp. She showed no signs of suffering after her bountiful whiskey consumption, instead seeming rather more rested than both Bri and meself.
“How do ye feel, Mary? I was sure that ye’d sleep for quite a while longer.” I bent to roll up me own belongings, following Mary so that we could strap them to our horses.
“I doona know why ye would ask such a question. I feel fine, o’course.”
She wouldn’t look at me, keeping her head down as we gathered another load to bring back to the horses. Bri joined us this time and, having heard the beginning of our conversation, joined in. “How could you possibly feel fine, Mary? You drank more in the course of an evening than Arran drinks in a day. Do you even remember anything about last night?”
Mary stopped walking and whirled on both of us, quickly setting down her load. “Nay, I doona, and it doesna matter. Both of ye are never to mention what happened last night ever again. Do ye understand? I’ve never behaved in such a way, and I find meself feeling a wee bit ashamed this morning.”
I shook me head, interrupting her. “Doona feel that way. There’s no need.”
Bri nodded. “Yes, please don’t feel that way, Mary. You’ve been under a lot of stress with Eoin and me being gone, Arran leaving, and then the visitors. Not to mention, my mother.”
Mary smiled as she seemed to forgive herself just a little. “Aye. We shall blame it on yer mother. Now, let’s finish gathering camp and be on our way. I doona wish to spend another night on the ground. I believe that neither of ye will speak of this, no that anyone would believe ye even if ye did.”
She was right. No one would. Laughing, we packed up and mounted our horses. It took both Bri and meself to hoist Mary’s short legs up on the great beast. As we moved on in the direction of the new Conall Castle, I tried to keep me mind on anything other than the knowledge that I would be seeing Arran again, and meeting his new wife, come nightfall.
*
The Castle Formerly Known as Kinnaird
“Did we know that visitors were arriving?” Arran followed the messenger to the entranceway of the castle, all the while wondering if his new guests were just one more thing he’d forgotten. The many duties required by the laird were far more than he’d realized, and each day he found himself being more impressed with the way his brother had handled the responsibilities so soon after their father’s death.
“Nay, sir. Ye would have been informed if we had received news of their arrival beforehand. ’Tis three women, sir.”
Arran stopped before opening the castle’s main doors and faced the messenger. “Three women? Do ye know who they are?”