CHAPTER 18
MacLeod got up early the next morning and arrived at the stable only a few minutes after Garrett.
"Looks like we might get some rain." He said as he saw the young immortal turn to see him walk in the doorway.
"It's supposed to rain most of the day, but the front will clear out tonight." Garrett replied, remembering the words his teacher had said to him the night before. He'd told him he didn't care what his feelings were for Pierson, but that he was to treat MacLeod as a friend. He had also been assured that MacLeod was an extremely fair player and would not be a threat as long as he didn't pose one himself. That knowledge made Garrett a little more at ease when he realized his sword was on the other side of the entryway with his coat.
Duncan shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to see what Garrett was doing. "Want me to start filling the bins?" he asked when he saw the young man mixing feed.
"You can start with the ones on that side, but I have a special diet for the mare in the third stall. She's about to foal." Garrett instructed, handing Duncan a bucket from the wall. "Just fill it to the red line on the inside."
"Sorry about yesterday." MacLeod said as he shed his coat and went to feed the first horse. "I'm sure you couldn't have been very comfortable when Richie and I just showed up like that."
Garrett only shrugged. He wasn't about to let on just how unnerved he had been.
"I've known Adam for a long time and I guess you know about what happened with your friend Leandra. We all grew close to her over the past few months and wouldn't miss this wedding for the world."
Garrett didn't really know much at all except that Lea had been in trouble and her family knew Adam and his friends had helped her. "I'm afraid I don't know anything about that except that the guy who killed Craig came after her."
"The man who killed your friend was an immortal. 2,500 years old to be exact."
Garrett stopped what he was doing, clearly shocked. "Was he a friend of yours too?"
"Friend? Not hardly. Asher Devan didn't have friends. He was as evil as they come." Duncan replied honestly. He knew for Garrett to come to trust him he needed to tell him the entire story, with the exception of just who Adam was and what Beth had done during the quickening. That information was more than he needed to know and could compromise the safety of his friends if Garrett or his teacher wanted to cause problems.
Garrett listened and even though he still did not like Pierson or his involvement with Leandra, he had to be thankful he and his friends had been there to protect her. No wonder she thought she loved him, she was grateful he'd saved her life. But there was no way she could really feel for this immortal the way she'd felt about Craig, and the man wasn't good enough to raise his friend's daughter.
"Don't you think they are rushing into this?" Garrett asked MacLeod.
"It might be a little quick for most, but no I don't think they are rushing into something both of them aren't prepared for. Garrett, I watched them grow closer and I know what they share is deep. You don't need to worry about your friend. She's more than safe with Adam and when he makes a commitment, he keeps it."
Garrett didn't reply, but Duncan could see he wasn't convinced so he decided to change the subject.
"I know you grew up with Leandra, so the revelation of your immortality must be new to you. Do you have someone teaching you, helping you prepare for the game?" he asked.
"Are you volunteering?" Garrett asked as he started to rub down the legs of one of the older horses that suffered from arthritis.
"Volunteering? No. I don't know you and you don't know me. It would be a little premature don't you think?" Duncan began. "But I know you mean a lot to my friend and so I am interested. I'd be happy to answer any questions for you if I can."
Garrett nodded. "I don't have a teacher really, but there is an immortal who told me about the game and from time to time he works with me. That prize or whatever it is the rest of you are going after doesn't really interest me though. I'm happy just playing my music and working here."
Duncan frowned. If that really was his attitude, it was an unrealistic one.
"You know you can't stay here forever, and you really do need to learn how to protect yourself."
Garrett shrugged. "I didn't ask for this, and if I'd burned in that truck three years ago it would have been ok by me. I live my life the way I want, and however long or short, I don't have any regrets."
"Can I ask who this immortal is?"
"You can ask, but it's not for me to say. Like you said before, we don't know each other and I'd hate to be the one to set him up for you. One thing he told me is that you never let others know too much about you." Garrett replied.
Duncan nodded.
"You know about me and where I come from, but I don't know anything about you." Garrett said pointedly. He hoped to learn more about this Duncan MacLeod and why his teacher was so interested in him.
"I am Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod. Born in the highlands of Scotland about 400 years ago. Like you I am not really interested in this prize and I am certainly not interested in being the only one . even though I know in the end, there can be only one. We are both a part of this whether we choose to accept that or not."
"Does that mean you will be coming for my head Duncan MacLeod?" Garrett asked.
"I only fight when I have to for survival or if an immortal becomes a threat to those I care about. You have nothing to fear from me. Besides, you are a friend of Leandra's and her friendship matters."
"And Pierson? Should I fear him?"
"You shouldn't provoke him. Right now he only sees you as an annoyance since you don't hide the fact that you disapprove of his relationship with Leandra." Duncan began. "I wouldn't become more than that if I were you, and I wouldn't underestimate him. He loves Leandra and Cassie more than you can imagine, and if you try to interfere . I wouldn't want to be you."
Garrett had seen the ice in Adam's eyes more than once, so he could imagine the man had a temper. And Duncan's words sent more than a slight chill down his spine. He had been warned.
It was starting to rain outside and Duncan's idea of borrowing one of the horses for a ride would have to wait. He'd said all he had to say to Garrett for now.
"I will see you around." MacLeod said as he turned to go.
Garrett nodded.
"Listen, you seem like a nice kid and I know Leandra wouldn't have been your friend if that wasn't so. None of us mean you any harm, and if you give it a chance . you might find people who can help you or at least make things easier." Duncan said. "Oh and by the way, Richie and I aren't the only immortals here for the wedding. You might enjoy meeting Amanda and Claudia. They are Leandra's friends as well.
Duncan thought by preparing Garrett to run into the others, he could win a little of his trust.
"I've never met a woman immortal." Garrett replied, realizing his teacher had been right about MacLeod. The man was bending over backward it seemed to befriend him.
"They are charming." MacLeod replied before he closed the door behind him. "But like the rest of us must, they know what it means to be immortal."
Garrett waited until after MacLeod's car drove away before using the phone in the tack room to call Rick. He gave him a rundown of their conversation and then waited for a response.
"I know you have issues with Pierson, and I'll be there tonight to discuss that with you. But don't provoke him. MacLeod wouldn't have warned you about the man if there weren't reason to be concerned. And remember, if you appear to be warming to the idea of your friend's relationship with him, then it will put you in a better position to catch him off guard later."
Garrett listened and told him he would do as he asked, but he was worried. The way Rick talked about MacLeod, they must be on friendly terms. He wondered if his teacher would indeed cross the man to help him with Pierson. But he kept those thoughts to himself for now. They were going to meet later that night and he could wait to calm his uncertainty.
Back at Beth's house, Adam, Beth and the baby had only just arrived when Duncan came back from the stable. Joe was pouring coffee for Amanda, but when she saw Cassie it only took a matter of seconds before she had taken the baby from Beth and was sitting at the table marveling at how much the little cherub had grown in the few days since she'd seen her last. Richie and Claudia were still upstairs.
Beth knew Adam probably wanted to talk to Duncan alone, since it was obvious he had only just been with Garrett, but was surprised when he opened the topic in front of her.
"How did it go?" Adam asked as they all sat around the table.
"I may have made a little ground with him." Duncan replied. "He does have a mentor of sorts. Someone he wouldn't identify, but it doesn't sound like he's had much training and doesn't appear to want it. He seems to believe he can simply stay here and out of the game. He said when his time came he was prepared."
Adam saw the concern on Beth's face.
"Why wouldn't he tell you who this immortal was?" Joe asked.
"He said he didn't know me well enough and wanted to be sure he wasn't setting them up. Evidently whoever it is, they have taught him a few things about survival."
"Are you sure he hasn't been trained?" Amanda asked.
Duncan hated to say this in front of Beth, but evidently Adam had decided the best way to deal with this was to be open with her. "I'm not sure. His answers were almost too easy. He doesn't seem to be the passive type and yet that is what he wanted me to believe."
Beth swallowed hard and closed her eyes briefly. She cared so much for Garrett, but he wasn't being honest . or at least if what he told Duncan was true, he had changed dramatically over the past three years. Adam noticed her reaction but didn't say anything. He waited to see if she would tell him what bothered her so much.
"Garrett is anything but passive." Beth said softly. Her admission reinforced Adam's instinct that he shouldn't shut her out of this. "He loves his life, and when pushed . he was always the one to push back. Craig had to pull him out of more than one bar fight, and usually it was Garrett who seemed to start them."
Taking the baby from Amanda's arms, she got up from the table and went into the main room. As much as she understood she had to let Adam and the others know about Garrett, a part of her felt like she was betraying him in the worst way. But like Adam and Duncan, she wondered about who he had found to help him, and as long as they didn't know if this other immortal wouldn't pose a threat to their family, she didn't really have a choice.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to put her through this?" Joe asked in a low voice.
"I don't see any other way." Adam replied. "If this goes bad, she needs to know why. But God help me if the young fool does try and challenge me. I know she loves me, but I'm not sure if things could ever be the same."
"We'll have to do what we can to make sure it doesn't come to that." Duncan said.
"As much as I know she loves her family and wants to make our home here for now, I'll take her away before I'd let that happen . if I could." Adam responded. "Until I know for sure, I don't think we can make any permanent plans."
"He said this friend of his comes into town from time to time. Maybe we will get lucky and it won't be a problem." Duncan said, hoping that is how it would turn out.
"Maybe." Adam said, downing his cup of coffee before going into the main room to make sure Beth was all right.
MacLeod got up early the next morning and arrived at the stable only a few minutes after Garrett.
"Looks like we might get some rain." He said as he saw the young immortal turn to see him walk in the doorway.
"It's supposed to rain most of the day, but the front will clear out tonight." Garrett replied, remembering the words his teacher had said to him the night before. He'd told him he didn't care what his feelings were for Pierson, but that he was to treat MacLeod as a friend. He had also been assured that MacLeod was an extremely fair player and would not be a threat as long as he didn't pose one himself. That knowledge made Garrett a little more at ease when he realized his sword was on the other side of the entryway with his coat.
Duncan shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to see what Garrett was doing. "Want me to start filling the bins?" he asked when he saw the young man mixing feed.
"You can start with the ones on that side, but I have a special diet for the mare in the third stall. She's about to foal." Garrett instructed, handing Duncan a bucket from the wall. "Just fill it to the red line on the inside."
"Sorry about yesterday." MacLeod said as he shed his coat and went to feed the first horse. "I'm sure you couldn't have been very comfortable when Richie and I just showed up like that."
Garrett only shrugged. He wasn't about to let on just how unnerved he had been.
"I've known Adam for a long time and I guess you know about what happened with your friend Leandra. We all grew close to her over the past few months and wouldn't miss this wedding for the world."
Garrett didn't really know much at all except that Lea had been in trouble and her family knew Adam and his friends had helped her. "I'm afraid I don't know anything about that except that the guy who killed Craig came after her."
"The man who killed your friend was an immortal. 2,500 years old to be exact."
Garrett stopped what he was doing, clearly shocked. "Was he a friend of yours too?"
"Friend? Not hardly. Asher Devan didn't have friends. He was as evil as they come." Duncan replied honestly. He knew for Garrett to come to trust him he needed to tell him the entire story, with the exception of just who Adam was and what Beth had done during the quickening. That information was more than he needed to know and could compromise the safety of his friends if Garrett or his teacher wanted to cause problems.
Garrett listened and even though he still did not like Pierson or his involvement with Leandra, he had to be thankful he and his friends had been there to protect her. No wonder she thought she loved him, she was grateful he'd saved her life. But there was no way she could really feel for this immortal the way she'd felt about Craig, and the man wasn't good enough to raise his friend's daughter.
"Don't you think they are rushing into this?" Garrett asked MacLeod.
"It might be a little quick for most, but no I don't think they are rushing into something both of them aren't prepared for. Garrett, I watched them grow closer and I know what they share is deep. You don't need to worry about your friend. She's more than safe with Adam and when he makes a commitment, he keeps it."
Garrett didn't reply, but Duncan could see he wasn't convinced so he decided to change the subject.
"I know you grew up with Leandra, so the revelation of your immortality must be new to you. Do you have someone teaching you, helping you prepare for the game?" he asked.
"Are you volunteering?" Garrett asked as he started to rub down the legs of one of the older horses that suffered from arthritis.
"Volunteering? No. I don't know you and you don't know me. It would be a little premature don't you think?" Duncan began. "But I know you mean a lot to my friend and so I am interested. I'd be happy to answer any questions for you if I can."
Garrett nodded. "I don't have a teacher really, but there is an immortal who told me about the game and from time to time he works with me. That prize or whatever it is the rest of you are going after doesn't really interest me though. I'm happy just playing my music and working here."
Duncan frowned. If that really was his attitude, it was an unrealistic one.
"You know you can't stay here forever, and you really do need to learn how to protect yourself."
Garrett shrugged. "I didn't ask for this, and if I'd burned in that truck three years ago it would have been ok by me. I live my life the way I want, and however long or short, I don't have any regrets."
"Can I ask who this immortal is?"
"You can ask, but it's not for me to say. Like you said before, we don't know each other and I'd hate to be the one to set him up for you. One thing he told me is that you never let others know too much about you." Garrett replied.
Duncan nodded.
"You know about me and where I come from, but I don't know anything about you." Garrett said pointedly. He hoped to learn more about this Duncan MacLeod and why his teacher was so interested in him.
"I am Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod. Born in the highlands of Scotland about 400 years ago. Like you I am not really interested in this prize and I am certainly not interested in being the only one . even though I know in the end, there can be only one. We are both a part of this whether we choose to accept that or not."
"Does that mean you will be coming for my head Duncan MacLeod?" Garrett asked.
"I only fight when I have to for survival or if an immortal becomes a threat to those I care about. You have nothing to fear from me. Besides, you are a friend of Leandra's and her friendship matters."
"And Pierson? Should I fear him?"
"You shouldn't provoke him. Right now he only sees you as an annoyance since you don't hide the fact that you disapprove of his relationship with Leandra." Duncan began. "I wouldn't become more than that if I were you, and I wouldn't underestimate him. He loves Leandra and Cassie more than you can imagine, and if you try to interfere . I wouldn't want to be you."
Garrett had seen the ice in Adam's eyes more than once, so he could imagine the man had a temper. And Duncan's words sent more than a slight chill down his spine. He had been warned.
It was starting to rain outside and Duncan's idea of borrowing one of the horses for a ride would have to wait. He'd said all he had to say to Garrett for now.
"I will see you around." MacLeod said as he turned to go.
Garrett nodded.
"Listen, you seem like a nice kid and I know Leandra wouldn't have been your friend if that wasn't so. None of us mean you any harm, and if you give it a chance . you might find people who can help you or at least make things easier." Duncan said. "Oh and by the way, Richie and I aren't the only immortals here for the wedding. You might enjoy meeting Amanda and Claudia. They are Leandra's friends as well.
Duncan thought by preparing Garrett to run into the others, he could win a little of his trust.
"I've never met a woman immortal." Garrett replied, realizing his teacher had been right about MacLeod. The man was bending over backward it seemed to befriend him.
"They are charming." MacLeod replied before he closed the door behind him. "But like the rest of us must, they know what it means to be immortal."
Garrett waited until after MacLeod's car drove away before using the phone in the tack room to call Rick. He gave him a rundown of their conversation and then waited for a response.
"I know you have issues with Pierson, and I'll be there tonight to discuss that with you. But don't provoke him. MacLeod wouldn't have warned you about the man if there weren't reason to be concerned. And remember, if you appear to be warming to the idea of your friend's relationship with him, then it will put you in a better position to catch him off guard later."
Garrett listened and told him he would do as he asked, but he was worried. The way Rick talked about MacLeod, they must be on friendly terms. He wondered if his teacher would indeed cross the man to help him with Pierson. But he kept those thoughts to himself for now. They were going to meet later that night and he could wait to calm his uncertainty.
Back at Beth's house, Adam, Beth and the baby had only just arrived when Duncan came back from the stable. Joe was pouring coffee for Amanda, but when she saw Cassie it only took a matter of seconds before she had taken the baby from Beth and was sitting at the table marveling at how much the little cherub had grown in the few days since she'd seen her last. Richie and Claudia were still upstairs.
Beth knew Adam probably wanted to talk to Duncan alone, since it was obvious he had only just been with Garrett, but was surprised when he opened the topic in front of her.
"How did it go?" Adam asked as they all sat around the table.
"I may have made a little ground with him." Duncan replied. "He does have a mentor of sorts. Someone he wouldn't identify, but it doesn't sound like he's had much training and doesn't appear to want it. He seems to believe he can simply stay here and out of the game. He said when his time came he was prepared."
Adam saw the concern on Beth's face.
"Why wouldn't he tell you who this immortal was?" Joe asked.
"He said he didn't know me well enough and wanted to be sure he wasn't setting them up. Evidently whoever it is, they have taught him a few things about survival."
"Are you sure he hasn't been trained?" Amanda asked.
Duncan hated to say this in front of Beth, but evidently Adam had decided the best way to deal with this was to be open with her. "I'm not sure. His answers were almost too easy. He doesn't seem to be the passive type and yet that is what he wanted me to believe."
Beth swallowed hard and closed her eyes briefly. She cared so much for Garrett, but he wasn't being honest . or at least if what he told Duncan was true, he had changed dramatically over the past three years. Adam noticed her reaction but didn't say anything. He waited to see if she would tell him what bothered her so much.
"Garrett is anything but passive." Beth said softly. Her admission reinforced Adam's instinct that he shouldn't shut her out of this. "He loves his life, and when pushed . he was always the one to push back. Craig had to pull him out of more than one bar fight, and usually it was Garrett who seemed to start them."
Taking the baby from Amanda's arms, she got up from the table and went into the main room. As much as she understood she had to let Adam and the others know about Garrett, a part of her felt like she was betraying him in the worst way. But like Adam and Duncan, she wondered about who he had found to help him, and as long as they didn't know if this other immortal wouldn't pose a threat to their family, she didn't really have a choice.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to put her through this?" Joe asked in a low voice.
"I don't see any other way." Adam replied. "If this goes bad, she needs to know why. But God help me if the young fool does try and challenge me. I know she loves me, but I'm not sure if things could ever be the same."
"We'll have to do what we can to make sure it doesn't come to that." Duncan said.
"As much as I know she loves her family and wants to make our home here for now, I'll take her away before I'd let that happen . if I could." Adam responded. "Until I know for sure, I don't think we can make any permanent plans."
"He said this friend of his comes into town from time to time. Maybe we will get lucky and it won't be a problem." Duncan said, hoping that is how it would turn out.
"Maybe." Adam said, downing his cup of coffee before going into the main room to make sure Beth was all right.