PART 7

Very early the next morning Archie went training. When he came back in the kitchen Lexie was making breakfast.

"Morning Lexie " She turned around and was wondering to see him in sporting clothes.

'Oh how gorgeous he looks ' she thought at herself.

" So you took the right decision ? "she asked him. Archie nodded to her.

"Lexie, I hope you're not angry at me for what happened this night ? "

"No Archie !" she laughed a little smile " Hungry ? "

"Starving " he said. She made a big breakfast for him with scrambled egs, bacon and a lot of toast. When she put his plate before him he took her at her arm.

"Friends again ? "

" Weren't we then anymore " she asked with a smile. " But I have to go now. You're dad is calling me "

And indeed when she opened the door with the dish in her hand you could hear Hector shouting through the whole house.

" Lexie, Lexie where are you ? A man can starve in his own house with a housekeeper like you ! "

"Morning Hector, morning Molly " she said when she came into the dining room. " Sorry but there was a sportsman who was almost starving in my kitchen "

" A sportsman ? " Hector asked.

"Yes, Archie " she said and ran away before he could ask her more.

Hector was looking like he couldn't believe it. Molly took him at his arm.

"Isn't it time to talk with him Hector ? "

Hector took a deep breath.
"I think you're right Molly " he said looking very sad before him. " Molly what have I done wrong ? " Molly decided to not answer on it, she had her own thoughts and hoped that it wouldn't take long before everything was allright again between father and son.

After breakfast Molly asked Hector to pose for her for the painting she was making of him.
Then he started again talking.

" It's all my fault Molly. I only used to love Jamie. He was the eldest. Where I was you could find him. I didn't realize I also had other children. I'm so sorry. I wish I could do it all over again."

" Sit quiet, Hector " Molly said " well it is as you're saying, you only thought that you had one child, but I know and could feel I had three of them. After Jamie's death you locked yourself up. Even Lizzie couldn't break the wall that you build around you. That's also the reason she left home some years later. But things are never to late Hector. Go to Archie and talk with him. NOT NO, DON'T MOVE ! " she shouted at him.

That afternoon Archie was training again. He tried several times to call Justine but she wasn't in the restaurant. Lenny, the cook promised him to give the message to her that he couldn't come back this week.

When Archie came back at the house Hector was standing before the entrance, the dogs were running around his legs. Archie decided to ignore him but at once Hector called him.

" Hi Archie, you're training for the race I heard ? "

Archie was standing still, looked at his dad and answered. " Yes I'm training for the race dad. But I am doing it to prove myself that I am not a looser. It's not for you that I'm doing it. Not for the name of the MacDonalds clan ! " Archie said with restrained rage.

"Sorry Archie " it was more a whispering Hector did. Now Archie looked surprised "What are you saying ? " Hector turned around and looked his son in the eyes.

" Sorry Archie for what I have done to you. I ignored you many years. There was only one son for me but he's death. It took several years for me to accept it, and still I can have my bad days that I'm thinking at him. I'm sorry that you always thought I blamed his death on you. That isn't true Archie. It's hard for me to express my feelings but I also love you my son. Believe me please ! " Archie could see his father was telling him the truth. Tears were in his eyes. Archie had never seen that. He thought his father couldn't show feelings at all.

It was like the dogs were waiting for Archie's answer. First they were looking at their boss while he was talking and now they were looking at the young boss to what his answer should be.

" I'm sorry dad " Archie started, he rubbed through his hair, a sign that he was feeling desperate. " Will you encourage me next Saturday at the start of the race ? " Both the men were smiling now. Hector hugged his son and hit him lovely on his back. " Of course Archie " he said with a gasp in his voice.

Molly was working in the garden a bit further away. At the moment she was standing up to stretch her back she saw them standing together. She smiled and was happy that father and son found eachother back.

One of the times Archie was training he met Katrina who seems also to do the same. He was very surprised to see her back again after all those years. With her long curled blond hair she was an attracting appearance.

"Hello Archie" she said "Didn't know you were back ?"

Archie stopped also for while, placed his hands on a tree and stretched his legs.

"Hi Katrina, I arrived some days ago " He didn't tell her the reason why he came back. "How's life ? You're looking good ! "

"Fine Archie, and yours " They changed some experiences of their live in some minutes. He heard that she was the head teacher now and did a lot for the community.

" So you'll be my rival in the race ? Don't think so, I'm gonna win " she laughed. "I also win the last times. People of the community expect me to win. "

" Well then I think this time there will be another winner ! " Archie also laughed with her. "Let's wait and see tomorrow who shall win the bowl " They said goodbye and followed their own way.

The next day a lot of people was standing at the start. More than fifty members took part at the race. Archie was preparing himself on the race while stretching his legs and swinging his arms.

" Good luck my son " Hector shouted. Lexie was waving at him and threw him a handkiss.
With the firing of the starting gun the race began. At first everyone was together but after a quarter of an hour a group of six lost the others. Archie fell down in the mud but was standing up again very quickly. Duncan and Katrina were also in that group with him, but after a while the tempo was to high for Duncan and he had to let them go.

When Archie could hear from far away the shouting of the people at the arrival there were only three left of the group, Katrina, a man called Hamish and himself. At once Katrina almost fell over something and she took Hamish with her in her fall. Archie stopped for a while, should he help her ? Now he heard his father and Lexie shouting over all the other voices. He hesitated not longer and decided to run further. It was good he did it caus it didn't take long the other two followed him again.

He won the race. He felt down on his knees very tired. His dad took his hands.
" Congratulations my son ! You did it ! " Together with Hector he walked further. Lexie wrapped a towel around him and kissed him on his mouth.
" Congratulations Archie, I'm so happy you won the race ! " Molly and Golly hugged him also and he accepted all the congrats of a lot of other people who shaked hands with him.

Some minutes later he took the bowl over from the provost of the village and was holding it above his head.

" Kiss ! " a photographer shouted. Katrina and Lexie who were standing at his sides gave him at the same time a kiss on his cheek.

In the mean time a taxi arrived and a young lady came out of it.

" So after you have kissed all the women of Scotland, can I also get a kiss of you ? " Archie heard a wellknown voice saying.

"Justine ! " Archie shouted surprised. Lexie looked at her. She was feeling herself unattractive in opposite of this welldressed lady with a lot of make up on her face who was standing before her. Was this Archie's girlfriend ?