THE TIME BEFORE THE FUTURE – PART 7 "I don't mean to be rude,..." Archie sighed as he looked at the Bank Chairman & stood up presenting his hand to be shaken, "...but there is absolutely nothing you can say that will change my mind. Ms. Moon tried to sabotage Glenbogle & caused someone I love a great deal of pain." The memory of Lexie's crying bout reared its head causing Archie's heart to shiver in his chest, but he pushed it away; this had to be done, & done as quickly & cleanly as possible. "My family can do what they like with their personal accounts, but I & the Glenbogle Estate no longer bank with Lassles Bank." The Chairman took Archie's hand. The young man was immovable & he could see it. "I'll have the transfer papers drawn up by next Tuesday. The First Edinburgh Bank you say?" "Yes please." "As you wish Sir, & may I say again how sorry I am for the distress Ms. Moon caused you. Lassie's does not normally employ sabotage, I can assure you." The look on Archie's face was a false smile masking a grimace: "I'm sure." Then he had an idea that turned his smile genuine: "Could you please have the papers in my name, but have them addressed to 'Mrs Lexie MacDonald'?" The Chairman, who had stayed at Glenbogle for the day before the Ball & been particularly harsh on Lexie's housekeeping, recognised the name, squirmed visibly & then smiled: "Ah, congratulations. Of course, that will be no problem Mr MacDonald. I'll see to it personally." Archie held back a sigh of relief, it was nearly over: "Good. Now, unless there's anything else you need me to sign?" There wasn't & a couple of minutes later Archie left Lassles Bank for the last time in his life, feeling as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. Golly stood tall & stretched. His back hurt from bending but he wasn't about to let young Duncan next to him see that. Instead he had a thought: "Duncan, I'm going to check on the doe. It won't be long, but when I saw Lexie, she said the meal would be served at six & I have a few other things to do." Duncan looked up surprised: "But Golly, you know I'm not supposed to do this alone, not after Jamie & all; Hector's orders." He said earnestly. Golly sighed. Sometimes, in spite of himself, he forgot how 'unique' Duncan could be: "Well then, you can help me pack away & then go & see about moving that truck of Molly's from the Library to her Studio." Duncan looked horrified & Golly read his mind: "No-one could lift that up the stairs alone; we'll move it tomorrow. Molly said she needed someone to help her unpack it first." He explained. "Duncan's face brightened: "Oh, ok. No problem." With that they cleared up & went their separate ways, Duncan striding purposefully over to the house (as he always did when given a job to do), & Golly quickly checking on the doe, before doubling back & setting himself up at the work bench in his cottage. It took Archie longer than he thought to find a suitably sophisticated- looking jewellers for what he needed. When he did, he tried to smarten himself a little before he went inside. He wasn't really one for suits (if ever absolutely had to dress up he was, surprisingly perhaps given his past attitude, more comfortable in his kilt). After the last horrendous year or so his old bank was the last place he'd felt like treating with respect, but now he wished he had taken more care in choosing his clothes. He needed these people to take him seriously & here he was looking like he'd been dragged though a hedge backwards! Going in to buy an engagement ring was one thing, but placing a design order for a 24 carat band was, he suspected, going to be a different matter altogether! There was only one thing for it, he sighed, if this place was anywhere near as posh as he thought it was, he might have to 'Play the Laird' to get served at all. It was the last thing he wanted to happen, for Lexie, he would risk it. He took a minute to get the design exactly right in his mind's eye. He would settle for nothing less than perfection. After one last check on Aunt Sarah's ring, he took a deep breath & rang the shop security bell. His task was difficult because by design the metal was far too frail to be reused, but Golly smiled quietly to himself as he sat down to gently take a piece of sandpaper to the 'ring' young Lexie had given him. Lexie's request was an unusual whimsical one, particularly for such a headstrong girl, but, despite being anything but sentimental normally, Golly wouldn't have refused to do this little job for the world. He could see more than one set of fireworks in the future for her & Archie, but he was secretly delighted for them. Archie, in particular had been through so much for Glenbogle that they deserved happiness. For far too long now Golly had stood by, hands tied, unable to do anything but watch as that 'city lady' had spun this place 'til it stood on it's head, becoming less & less like the Glenbogle he knew & loved with each passing day. Oh, there was no doubt she had done some good things, but in his humble opinion, she had done much more insidious mischief. If she had kept just to her job it wouldn't have been so bad, but the way she had tried to get between young Archie & Lexie had been just plain wrong & more than once he'd had to bite his tongue hard to stop himself from saying so. She was gone for good now though. Although Duncan (Whom Golly would bet his last penny was secretly sweet on Lexie himself.), would need pulling up by his bootlaces at first & Hector would have some hot words to say on the matter; Golly was fairly confident that good sense & love would win out in the end. A few minutes later, happy with his efforts, Golly put the now smooth & safe 'ring' carefully in his pocket, cleared his things away, got washed up & made for the main house & his meal with a lighter heart than he'd had for many a day. TO BE CONTINUED...