CHAPTER 68
It was well after midnight when Methos got up from the computer. He'd been checking on
possible travel plans and destinations and on the status of his international accounts … making
sure that he had easy access to cash under a name Devan could not trace.
Beth and the others had gone up to bed earlier, so he was surprised when he found Richie still
watching the videotape.
"I couldn't sleep." Richie mumbled as he paused the tape.
"I can guess why." Methos replied, sitting across from him in one of the chairs and rubbing his
eyes.
"You can guess what?" Richie asked.
"Claudia … and don't bother with the denial. I don't really care so there's no point."
"There's not much to deny. We're just seeing how this goes." He repeated the words they'd said
earlier.
"And how do you think it will go?"
"Aww who knows?" Richie replied. "I thought I had her pegged from the get go as some
sophisticated, artistic snob that liked getting her way … and I guess to an extent she is. But
there's more to it. She can be really sweet too."
"Are you sure she's what you're looking for?"
"Maybe. But I've got to take this slow … and not just because I'm not sure about it." Richie
admitted. "I don't think she's dated much … her music seems to be all she was interested in until
now."
Methos nodded. He'd noticed how Claudia had been when they got back to the house, and her
excitement betrayed her inexperience. It was then that he remembered his promise to train
Claudia … and how he would have to break that promise, at least for now, to get Beth out of
Devan's reach.
"Look Richie … if something happens …" Methos tried to be vague. "And I can't finish her training
…"
"Do you really worried Devan can take you?" Richie said surprised and more than uncomfortable
with the thought.
"Anything is possible." Methos continued. "Don't let MacLeod pamper her … make sure Amanda
teaches her things that she will need to survive. She knows how to be … creative … And don't let
her depend on you for her protection. It may be true that you would protect her … but you won't
do her any favors if she comes to rely on any of us."
Richie listened to what he was saying and something didn't sound quite right. He studied Methos'
face and then realized that it wasn't an 'if', it was a 'when' he wasn't there to train her.
"You're going to take Beth and run aren't you?"
Methos would rather Richie hadn't guessed, but was impressed he'd been that observant.
"It's not something you can tell Claudia … or MacLeod." Methos told him. "I'll tell MacLeod when
everything is in place, but I don't want to tip off Devan. So keep this to yourself … and don't let
Beth know you know."
Richie nodded. "Take care of her man."
Methos didn't reply, but when Richie started to leave the room to go upstairs, he reached for the
remote and began to watch the tape.
It was still the video from the charity performance, and for several minutes he watched as Beth
sang with her sisters. Then to his surprise, the lights dimmed and Beth stood alone in a pool of
white light and in a clear, soulful voice, began to sing alone.
If I'd have known the way that this would end
If I'd have read the last page first
If I'd have had the strength to walk away
If I'd have known how this would hurt
He thought he'd heard the song somewhere before, but had never taken notice of the lyrics …
until now.
I would have loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
The camera panned in close and it was like she was singing only to him. He walked to stand
directly in front of the screen, not able to tear his eyes away from her as she sang another verse.
It's bittersweet to look back now
The memories wither on the vine
Just to hold you close to me
For a moment in time
And then her eyes closed and she sang even stronger.
And even if I'd seen it coming
You'd still have seen me running
Straight into your arms
I would have loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
When the tape faded to black, he was still staring at the screen. His eyes were moist and he
prayed that when all of this was over, her heart wouldn't be broken, but that however it ended she
would mean those words she'd sung long before they ever met.
(I Would Have Loved You Anyway, Words and Music by Tony Romeo)
"Are you sure she's what you're looking for?"
It was well after midnight when Methos got up from the computer. He'd been checking on
possible travel plans and destinations and on the status of his international accounts … making
sure that he had easy access to cash under a name Devan could not trace.
Beth and the others had gone up to bed earlier, so he was surprised when he found Richie still
watching the videotape.
"I couldn't sleep." Richie mumbled as he paused the tape.
"I can guess why." Methos replied, sitting across from him in one of the chairs and rubbing his
eyes.
"You can guess what?" Richie asked.
"Claudia … and don't bother with the denial. I don't really care so there's no point."
"There's not much to deny. We're just seeing how this goes." He repeated the words they'd said
earlier.
"And how do you think it will go?"
"Aww who knows?" Richie replied. "I thought I had her pegged from the get go as some
sophisticated, artistic snob that liked getting her way … and I guess to an extent she is. But
there's more to it. She can be really sweet too."
"Are you sure she's what you're looking for?"
"Maybe. But I've got to take this slow … and not just because I'm not sure about it." Richie
admitted. "I don't think she's dated much … her music seems to be all she was interested in until
now."
Methos nodded. He'd noticed how Claudia had been when they got back to the house, and her
excitement betrayed her inexperience. It was then that he remembered his promise to train
Claudia … and how he would have to break that promise, at least for now, to get Beth out of
Devan's reach.
"Look Richie … if something happens …" Methos tried to be vague. "And I can't finish her training
…"
"Do you really worried Devan can take you?" Richie said surprised and more than uncomfortable
with the thought.
"Anything is possible." Methos continued. "Don't let MacLeod pamper her … make sure Amanda
teaches her things that she will need to survive. She knows how to be … creative … And don't let
her depend on you for her protection. It may be true that you would protect her … but you won't
do her any favors if she comes to rely on any of us."
Richie listened to what he was saying and something didn't sound quite right. He studied Methos'
face and then realized that it wasn't an 'if', it was a 'when' he wasn't there to train her.
"You're going to take Beth and run aren't you?"
Methos would rather Richie hadn't guessed, but was impressed he'd been that observant.
"It's not something you can tell Claudia … or MacLeod." Methos told him. "I'll tell MacLeod when
everything is in place, but I don't want to tip off Devan. So keep this to yourself … and don't let
Beth know you know."
Richie nodded. "Take care of her man."
Methos didn't reply, but when Richie started to leave the room to go upstairs, he reached for the
remote and began to watch the tape.
It was still the video from the charity performance, and for several minutes he watched as Beth
sang with her sisters. Then to his surprise, the lights dimmed and Beth stood alone in a pool of
white light and in a clear, soulful voice, began to sing alone.
If I'd have known the way that this would end
If I'd have read the last page first
If I'd have had the strength to walk away
If I'd have known how this would hurt
He thought he'd heard the song somewhere before, but had never taken notice of the lyrics …
until now.
I would have loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
The camera panned in close and it was like she was singing only to him. He walked to stand
directly in front of the screen, not able to tear his eyes away from her as she sang another verse.
It's bittersweet to look back now
The memories wither on the vine
Just to hold you close to me
For a moment in time
And then her eyes closed and she sang even stronger.
And even if I'd seen it coming
You'd still have seen me running
Straight into your arms
I would have loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
When the tape faded to black, he was still staring at the screen. His eyes were moist and he
prayed that when all of this was over, her heart wouldn't be broken, but that however it ended she
would mean those words she'd sung long before they ever met.
(I Would Have Loved You Anyway, Words and Music by Tony Romeo)
"Are you sure she's what you're looking for?"