Chapter Seven---Rescued! Double Rescue! J

Lexie zipped back to the estate, as she climbed out of Susan's car and started screaming for Golly, Paul or anyone nearby. She latched her hands onto a ladder and tried to put it in the truck, Golly came running out… "Lex?"

"GOLLY! We got to get Arch down! He's in a tree suspended upside down! Hurry! Hurry!" Lexie scampered into the workshop and snatched a saw. Golly and Lexie climbed into the truck just as Paul was walking out from the house…

"What's goin' on?"

"Archie's hanging upside down from a tree and Susan's stuck up it with your climbing gear on!" Lexie shouted to Paul…

"I'm coming!" Paul replied back.

"Dad?" Nigel yelled out as he stood beside Megan and the twins in a double stroller and Minnie in a pram. Nigel was pushing Minnie's pram as Megan was pushing the twins in their stroller.

"Stay here Nigel!!" Paul shouted back as he climbed into the back of the truck.

"What's going on?" Nigel hollered out as the rescue team drove off down the drive in a quick hurry, leaving him standing there with Megan and the twins and Minnie.

Moments upon moments later, Susan hung to the tree and tried to talk to Archie…hoping to keep him conscious…

"Archie…"

"Hmmmm," He fluctuated into and out of a comatose state as the blood rushed to his head and closing his eyes was the only thing keeping him from becoming really dizzy.

"Don't fall asleep…they'll be here soon, Archie…" Susan tried to keep him making sounds, Archie stuttered out with his eyes closed, "I'mmmm hanging upside down…it hurts myyyyy legs…I can just barely feeeeeeeeeeel my feet…"

"I know. I know…oh good lord, sorry Archie, just hang tight, help's on the way…" Susan replied, about ten minutes passed…then about ten more until…

"Susan! Archie! Oh crickety!" Lexie yelled out, as Golly and Paul followed behind her with the ladder and the saw…

"Support Archie's body, take the strain off his legs and feet!" Golly demanded as Lexie and he tried to steady Archie. Paul placed the ladder on the ground, before asking Susan, with a slight smile, "What are you doing up there, my damsel in distress?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I tried to get Archie down and I got stuck!" Susan added, getting irritated at being wrapped around a tree and caught up in climbing ropes. Susan hung there with the climbing harness connected to the ropes being the only thing keeping her from falling to the ground. Paul laughed at how cute she looked at the moment with the oversized helmet hanging off her head, "I'm coming, just latch yer body on, Suz."

Susan grabbed hold of the ladder as Paul climbed up and spoke again, "Here," as he handed her his penknife, and climbed back down again. Susan, now on the ladder with a firm grip, cut the climbing ropes while Paul then helped steady the ladder so Susan could climb down. When Susan was free and down from the tree, she steadied the ladder at the bottom for Paul as he climbed up again with the saw, "Hang steady, Arch!" Paul cut into the rope knots with a saw as Golly and Lexie who both had a stead grip on Archie helped lower him to the ground while Paul inched the ropes lower and lower until Archie was standing right side up.

Archie spoke low and weakly, "Thanks," just as he fainted from his light head and headache…

"Archie!" Lexie called out to him as he fell to the ground in a heap. Golly and Lexie then arm carried Archie back to the truck. Susan looked down at the ground as she plucked up Archie's fallen belongings, his keys, his penknife where it dropped last, and his wallet, anything that had been in his pockets and also snatched the map. Susan helped Paul carry the ladder back to the Wild Life Truck as Lexie and Golly with a faint Archie drove Susan's car back to the estate…

Archie woke up in bed as a sleeping Lexie had cuddled herself to his side. He found himself placing his arms around her, relieved to be home.

As the music at the banquet

As the wine before the meal

As the firelight in the night

So are you to me

As the ruby in the setting

As the fruit upon the tree

As the wind blows over the plain

So are you to me

As the wind blows over the plain

So are you to me

So are you to me

Lexie stirred as she rubbed her nose with her hand and lifted her head upwards to peer into his dark eyes, "Arch?" she whispered as he whispered back, after placing a kiss on her temple, "Yes?"

"You're all right?"

"Lex, I am. I am happy to report no backache…it's a miracle what hanging upside down for awhile does for an achy backside," Archie replied…

"Inversion Therapy, the hills way?" Lexie punned, as she smiled, only for her sweet dear husband to grin back at her.

"I suppose Hippocrates, father of good old medicine, from 400BC knew what he was doing when he strung up a patient on a ladder using pullies and letting gravity take over?"

"He certainly didn't have Ferguson McBain and the Appleby boys for assistants that's for sure," Lexie grumbled and struggled to sit up, "I catch 'em any 'ere near de estate 'ere will be hll to pay. Understood?---I'll be doin' some Inversion Therapy of me own an' it won't be pretty!"

"Now Lex, it's not worth being fuddled about."

"Arch, they could've killed you! Yanno…" Lexie replied outspoken as Archie tried to calm her by rubbing her shoulder with his hand and wanted her to lie down beside him again but she continued to sit up.

"And they didn't do it. They precisely wanted answers that I couldn't give, Lex. We still haven't figured out the 40,000 pounds we owe to counsel—we need that grant renewed for that forest, which I know we own---we have to own it…and you said so yourself years ago, after going on strike as the housekeeper, remember? That I have a duty as laird to the people of Glenbogle first and not the governing party…but I can not help my people…"

"Arch, that was a long time ago that quarrel…I say you stiff McBain and Applebys with a bill for sufferin' and damages of 40,000 pounds! See how they like that there slapper!" Lexie gave a definite nod of her head as her husband peered up at her again. "What, Mr. Sweet and Innocent?"

"Oh no, nothing, welcome back, my lovely wife," Archie smiled, as he had missed her feisty tongue before she had started feeling under the weather.

"What?" Lexie peered up at Archie puzzled.

"Lex, are you sure you're feeling all right?"

"I'm fine." Lexie retorted, before realizing she had become quite moody and tired in the past couple weeks, "Oh flipper."

"Lexie," Archie arched a brow at his wife, trying to calm her down as Lexie gave into his embrace and lay back down again with him, under their pink comforter and other blankets.

"Been a wee bitta out of it, meself, aye?"

"Yes, just a teensy-weensy bit," Archie held his fingers up in the air, just inches apart to show, 'teensy-weensy' bit before Lexie captured his hand with hers.

"I'm dandy, Arch, just dandy knowing you're near…safe an' sound—you mean the world, moon, sun and the stars to me," As Lexie tried to reassure her husband with a speedy kiss before he could reply, while her mind shifted onto a new thought, 'if I'm moody, ill, and snappin' like a regular snappy tortoise, then mebbe I'm carryin' somethin' 'round wit me…I was like this wit Jayne an' Wayne-wasn't I?…nah, I can't be…' As Lexie tried to push the thought out of her head while physically the 'bean' continued to grow magically inside of Lexie, and not into a vine…

Nigel opened up his backpack, before placing his comic books on the nightstand beside the twin bed in his grandfather's old bedroom. He looked around the room and then the old creaky wood floor before noticing a golf ball on the floor…

"What you lookin' fer son?" A voice called out to Nigel as he was half way under the bed trying to retrieve the golf ball. Nigel looked up and beamed at Golly.

"This."

"Ah, one of Hector's many golf balls, they've habit of turnin' up in places when ya least expect 'em," Nigel gave Golly the golf ball as he handed it back to him, "Ye keep it."

"Okay," Nigel nodded his head, "Golly."

"Aye son?"

"What does Golly stand for?" Nigel's face tipped up to look at him. Golly rested an arm on his shoulder and sat him down.

"Nothing, it's me name," Golly commented as he left out it was a 'town' nickname for an incident he had with a woman from a rave that couldn't be discussed with an eleven year old!

"I don't have a grandfather…" Nigel started to open up as Golly knew he would eventually want to talk about Hector and what he was like.

"Yea, ya do, son."

"I mean Poppa Hector is a ghost as Uncle Archie explained him…"

"He was a real person once…" Golly could see a slight resemblance of Hector in Nigel's face.

"Golly do you have a grandfather?"

"I did," Golly gave a silent nod of the head, while looking down at Nigel, as they both sat down beside each other on the twin bed.

"What was he like?"

"My grandfather or yours?" Golly knew one day Hector's grandchildren were going to ask questions about what his best friend and long time boss was like…now he braced himself, relaxed, raised his brows and started to tell, "Hector, Poppa Hector, was an average fisherman, lousy golfer, loved dogs, just like you and 'em rabbits that ye've a soft spot in yer heart fer…he loved everything imaginable about the hills."

"Really? Did he love my grandmother?" Nigel asked, which put Golly on spot, but he took his answer in stride.

"He created yer father…" Golly didn't want to answer any 'too close for comfort' questions about Hector's love for someone other than Molly…

"Molly's not my grandma—why?"

"Nigel, lets just stick to the basics, aye? Yer Mum and Da, decide it's the right time to tell you more, aye?"

Nigel quieted down in his own band of thoughts.

"He was a wonderful gent, Nigel, he'd be proud of you fer movin' into his room," Golly decided he couldn't let the conversation end just yet, "I don't've a grandson, 'anno."

"No?" Nigel's mouth actually dropped, as he was astonished to hear this news, "You should! You'd make a cool Grand Da!"

"Ye think?"

"I know so."

"Mebbe, one day, I will 'ave one…" Golly winked as Nigel smiled, "Maybe so."

Susan appeared at the door as she listened in on Nigel and Golly's conversation with a smile as she wanted to help him unpack some boxes so she could get more stuff from their flat in the morning, "Nye. Golly."

"Susan," Golly gave a nod of his head and smiled.

"We need to unpack."

"I'm good Mum." Nigel spoke up, before Golly stood up from the bed.

"I'll leave yas to it," Golly wandered out of the room.

"Well, lets settle you," Susan sighed as she opened a couple boxes, one of the boxes was mislabeled as she opened it up it was to her office top desk drawer…her hand opened the box as her eyes traced over the black ring box once again.

"Mum?''

"Wrong box, wrong place, Nye, I've to move it. I'll be right back…"

"Mum?"

"Yeah."

"What about Christmas?" Nigel asked remembering it was just three days away…

"Nigel, we'll have it here with your Dad, Aunt Lexie, Uncle Archie…"

"Golly, Molly and Aunt Lizzie? My cousins?"

"Yes."

"What about Aunt Claire?"

"Don't worry she'll be here…and I'm sure 'MacNicholas' will still find you on Hogmanay…"

"I don't believe in Father Christmas…I'm too old for him." Nigel replied as Susan laughed, "You sound like your father and him not believing in things…" Susan then voyaged out of the bedroom leaving Nigel to finish unpacking his belongings by himself.

Paul was about to knock on Archie and Lexie's door to their bedroom. He didn't want to disturb them, but he just wanted to be sure that Archie was okay since the whole tree fiasco. Archie opened the door, just as Paul's hand was about to connect to the wood, Archie with a smile spoke up, "Paul?"

"Yea, checking to see you're well."

"Yeah, I am. Look Paul, we need to have a word, about the lot business…I should have told you about that impromptu meeting… "

"Well, I haven't exactly been focused on estate matters, have I?"

"No, but it's not the point, I should have been honest with you from the get go about the whole issue, especially since we're supposed to run the place together."

"Arch, no harm done. Just the next order of business with lot 110536, you should tell me about," Paul added giving him the benefit of the doubt, "Now about getting that Christmas tree which no one has seemed to think of yet."

"Christmas tree, sorry, least of the worries…I'm not in a Christmas mood, I guess," Archie replied solemnly.

Lexie walked up behind Archie as they then joined Paul out into the hall. "And why not Mr. Laird? Why aren't you into Christmas? It's only three days away!" Lexie teased as she then spoke to Paul, "Susan's father came here earlier, dun't s'pose he should be comin' for Christmas Eve festivities, like the Yule log ceremony?"

"Susan's father? You sure?" Paul stood there, sensing trouble if Susan's father had showed up in Glenbogle and decided he needed to speak with her since she never breathed a word of it to him. Paul had his own unresolved issues with that man, most of them weren't pretty.

"Yeah, she was a bit riled up about it. I came to her aide in the drive apparently he had come to meet with you, Arch."

"Me? I don't know Susan's father, why?"

"I dun no…just thought I'd tell you he's thinking about showing up back here again tomorrow…" as they then heard a loud thud and Nigel's yelling from his new bedroom…and saw Susan running in Nigel's direction.

Susan wandered into Molly's room where she had set up her office at a desk in the far corner. Susan set the box on the desk chair and opened it. She started to unpack the contents and shoved the ring box into the top desk drawer with a thought, 'I've got to send this along…back to Henry.' Susan was distracted by a loud horrendous yell and a huge thud as she ran out of the bedroom and back into Nigel's.

"Nigel? What on earth?" Susan glanced at him, as he was down on the floor where he snagged his foot on a golf ball which bizarrely appeared out of no where and also tripped over one of the floor boards which hid an old safe.

"I tripped meself on that golf ball!" Nigel clutched his left foot, rubbed his throbbing knee, as Paul showed up at the door, "What's going on?"

"Nigel tripped that's all, and on---?"

"What looks like Hector's private safe," Lexie replied as Archie and Lexie joined Paul in the door way, Lexie shouted aloud, "Of course! Why didn't I think of this before?"

"Think of what?" Archie stood there scratching his head and glancing at his wife

"The solution to the land grant renewal matter Archie! Hector is tryin' to tell us something wit golf balls!"

"Oh good lord, Lexie, you're as bad as Mother and believing you're seeing things! Father's just a ghost---" Archie added, before realizing what he had said as his wife shot a fiery look at him and he replied quietly with a gulp, "Sorry."

"Ye saw that ghost!" Lexie accused as she remembered that Archie had seen his father one night right after he had died. Hector had placed a rose on his bedside table and kissed his son's forehead as away to make peace with him from the beyond…Archie shrugged his shoulders and replied,

"Fine, fine…"

"Bad as Molly?" Paul asked in a bit of confusion…

"Molly's constantly picking up Hector's golf balls around the house and estate grounds…an' for yer information, Archibald, this safe holds the check books for---?"

"GRACE." Archie added, remembering the whole conversation about Golly's health, and securing him a future at Glenbogle Estate---which is how they built the cabins in the first place, one for Golly and one for Duncan to live in, which had burned down recently, "The book that had the map in The Vault was an old accounting book from 1975…"

"1975 is thirty years from now," Lexie added smartly while doing the math in her head.

"Aye, Glenbogle Residence and Astounds Care Expenses… Hector set up an account years ago, even when the estate was in trouble he would put money into it. Grace is a charitable trust so no body can touch it. They could take every penny the MacDonald's had but they can't touch Grace," Lexie paraphrased Molly's words from a conversation not so long ago.

"Let's check the safe for documentation…" Archie shrugged, "What's the combination?"

Lexie stood there with a big ear to ear grin on her face, "110536,"

"Father's first day ever to catch a trout from the loch!" Archie exclaimed as he knew his father's life trivia quite well, "And the lot number?"

"Looks as if its so…" Paul gave a nod of his head, as Archie bent down and put the combination into the safe, turning the dial four times to the right on 11, three times to the left on 5, two times to the right on 3 then one last time back to the left on 6 before the safe cracked open.

Archie tugged out the stack of Molly's old love letters from Hector when he was in the Army, a blue velvet satchel that had content that was unknown, many old checkbooks with receipts to GRACE and then at the very bottom of the safe sat a deed, as Archie's hands picked up the brown billfold and pulled out the paper work…"

Archie read down the deed as Lexie glanced at him and implored, "So whad does it say?"

"Lot 110536, which had been named by father, belongs to GRACE, which means the lot can't be sold, or built on without the trustee's permission, which would be the land ordinance for maintaining the acreage by planting trees, supporting wild life, and etc that father had gotten a grant for…he put every penny into Grace and supposeofly they could take the estate but not Grace as in money—charitable trust or as in land, which is…"

"The old forest of Glenbogle," Lexie replied, remembering what Golly had said out in the driveway.

"There's about roughly 500 acres set for the forest and it looks as if our great grandfather Paul owned the land and passed it down to father, just like the other 34,000 and half acres, and he made sure,"

"It stayed as GRACE," Susan peeped as she nodded silently. Susan had her father on her mind, hoping he wasn't coming back to state any claim on that land or her life. Her forehead wrinkled and worry swept over her face as she walked out of the room.

Molly found Paul and Archie leaving the study as Archie replied, "Mother,"

"Golly said you had to see me?"

"Ah, yes…" Paul held out the blue velvet satchel showing to Molly. Archie began, "We found this bit in father's safe."

"Can you tell us about it?" Paul quipped, finishing Archie's thought. Molly's dazzled face lit right up, "My, I haven't seen that in so long. Oh yes, come along you two." Molly accepted the satchel from Paul and journeyed into another sitting room off the study. Molly smiled as she did a hand gesture towards the table for Paul and Archie to sit down, before saying, "Your father loved the Amazon. He loved South America in general and also Columbia decades ago…"

Archie and Paul watched Molly closely as she searched for a photo album on a shelf, "Now I know it's here some where! There it is!"

Molly grabbed the big bulky gold and maroon bind book and then sat down with them both at the table, "There he is, my quite young dashingly handsome fellow…"

Molly's smile and fingers pointed out Hector in a mining cave somewhere in Columbia as she then opened the blue velvet satchel and poured out few tiny green gems.

"Emeralds?" Paul quipped as he glanced at Archie.

"The healing kind," Molly beamed, "He brought them back and made me an 'eternal love' ring with one of them---suppose the both of you might find something to do with one or two of them one day?" Molly winked as she hinted to Paul and Archie giving something special for a gift to their love ones…Lexie and Susan.

So You Are To Me by Eastmountainsouth

Chapter Eight…Stand by your man

That night, Susan sat at the desk as she had set up her computer and began typing, she was trying to keep her mind off of everything having to do with her father…Paul entered the room as his eyes set on her at the computer, while Useless lie at her feet.

"I'm guessin' the dog is playin' favorites now?" Paul remarked as Useless normally cuddled himself to Paul at night.

"Oh, maybe," Susan shrugged, as her eyes never left the computer screen.

"Hi," Paul leaned in for his lips to brush her cheek.

"Hi, you okay?"

"Yea, Minnie just needed a night bottle."

"Oh yea, I took care of her earlier," Susan nodded as Paul gave her a sideways glance, "You?"

"Yes, Lexie needed help, you need a break from helping move boxes and that driving back and forth from Inverness so we both sided on and so Minnie took a bottle of warm milk from me," Susan smiled as she looked up at Paul.

"There's a lot about Minnie you don't know, Susan."

"I know Lili's her mummy and I know her father is off finding himself."

"She's grown attached to me."

"Lexie mentioned that yes, but she's a wee baby, they do that sort of thing," Susan replied as Paul found himself wandering to the dresser to put out his next days clothes…

"It's just she wouldn't take the bottle from anyone but me the other day…"

"Right, well, beginner's luck or I'm the lucky lass since I'm new," Susan nodded her head and turned to watch Paul pull out his clothes from a drawer and close it, as she then gave a sigh, "You need to stop smoking those things…"

She nodded her head at the pack of fags that came out of his pants pocket, which he placed into his new pair of pants. He gave a disgruntled moan and walked over to her, dropping the pack into Susan's lap, "There was a time when the old Susan used to smoke those with me!"

"The new Susan used smoke, but she gave it up eons ago…"

"Since when?"

"Since I found out about havin' your son for starters! Remember I kept turning green when you'd smoke near me or when I'd join you…"

"And here I thought it was my cooking."

"No, not ye're absent cooking…" Susan teased as Paul gave her a look and added with a laugh, "I can cook us something healthy now, you know…"

"It's hard, you know, imaging everything different…you missed out on a lot with Nigel, didn't you?" Susan's face fell while Paul grew silent and spoke quietly, "I did, but I can make up for it now."

"That's true…except there's no more children with your age," Susan razzed Paul and got a reaction of, "What does that exactly imply?"

"Well, you're pushing over the hill…"

"I am not."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not, and you know, I could have another one very easy…" Paul chuckled and smiled as he had thought about another child with Susan two days ago but didn't bring it up to her because they had just gotten back together.

"Oh very easy?" Susan retorted and blinked, "You try carrying around a bowling ball for nine months, dealing with pains that-oh gee, hurt like a dickens, and tell me how!"

"No, I could help create one…" Paul remarked and Susan grew quiet next and changed the subject, "Back to you not smoking, and don't change the subject!"

"I didn't change the subject, you did!" Paul laughed as Susan rolled her eyes and groaned, then smiled...

"Anyway when I moved to London and accepted that job at the paper, I was always puffing away on those dreadful smokes…amazing enough, I moved back here two months ago and I haven't had any cravings since then…"

"Lucky you."

"Yes, lucky me. Stress, Pauly brought it on and when I unstressed it took that feeling for them away. I didn't need them, just like you don't."

Paul muttered again, "I dun no what I'm going to do with you…"

"You're going to let me help you kick that nasty habit for beginners," Susan winked and laughed, as Paul finally gave in, "All right, however, I'll need encouragement…"

"What kind of encouragement?" Susan's brows rose before she stood up from the desk chair and found herself tackled onto the bed again by Paul.

"I got many ways of going 'bout it…" Paul laughed before giving her a deep live-wired kiss.

Susan laughed again, "So every time you get a fag cravin' we do this?"

"Ah huh," Paul beamed as he pulled Susan closer to him while they lie neck high in bed blankets.

"I see, I guess I was wrong about the new Paul…"

"What 'bout?"

"The new and old Paul loves me just the same?" Susan eyed him while rolling herself on top of him. Paul wrapped his arms around her and peered into her blue eyes which lead to the sea of her soul. Paul wanted to hear the words about her loving him...she did still love him?

"Yes, of course. I do, only more."

"Good, I'm in need of a bathroom, be right back." Susan announced, as she left Paul's side, leaving him there pondering their chat about children. Paul got up and decided to save Susan's work and switch off her pc. He pulled out the desk chair where Susan had been working as he sat down without looking, on her paperwork. Paul's eyes scanned Susan's notes, 'Number for The Globe, needs scoop on land owner who wants to build a low income housing area in the Glenbogle woods…follow up to article…' His face then gave away a serious gaze, what was Susan writing about for The Globe? I thought she was done with them? Paul then got away from the PC as Susan entered the room, "You all right?"

"I'm fine…beddie bye time, Suzy, switchin' off the light." Paul's hand turned off the desk light and Susan turned off her PC, while Paul pondered on about Susan's latest article…without talking to her about it.

The next morning, on Friday, a rental limo showed up at the Glenbogle House, as Archie, Paul, and Susan were unloading another truck load of Susan and Nigel's things from their flat over in Inverness. Golly was on a ladder finishing the Christmas decorations, and fixing the wreath on the doors. Susan noticed the car hire from yesterday, as her face grew serious as she froze with her mind scrambling out, 'Not again'.

Paul didn't catch Susan's look until after…

"Who's that---Er-lord…" Paul added dumbfounded and agitated when he noticed the familiar short, stubby, and anything but wholesome, cowboy climb out of the back of the car.

"Sugar plum dumplin', we meet again! And you must be the Laird of Glenbogle," As the Texas twang reeked from Susan's father's voice as he held out a hand to shake Archie's who took it and gave him an absurdly blank stare while posing a question of,

"Yes…and you are?"

"Mr. Higgins, but yah, can call me Mr. Anthony, which works back home. I stopped in yesterday to discuss the land that was under contract by rights of the town counsel realtor. Normally, I don't discuss business outside, have a minute?"

"You're mistaken, Mr. Anthony." Archie began to explain, knowing he'd come face to face with the Mr. 'X' sooner or later about the old forest acreage, "But my land was never for sale."

"According to my documents, it was never your land," Mr. Anthony pulled out documentation and then letter from Town Counsel and Forestry Commission.

"Yes, well, it belongs to GRACE, which I am the trustee of it," Archie stated firmly as Susan became increasingly uncomfortable…remembering her ground breaking story which was a follow-up to her recent article, which won the award on Highland Economy."

"Actually, not according to my paper work or the village counsel and I own it now via that auction the other day,"

"They couldn't have auctioned the land off so soon!" Archie replied, just as Mr. Higgins nodded his head and then turned his attention to Susan, "They did. Right darlin'?"

Susan shifted her feet, as Archie glanced at her wondering what on earth her father was talking about…

"Look, the land belongs to Archie…" Susan spoke up in Archie's defense.

"I read that article, Sugar Plum…" Her father started as Susan was cut off, "Actually I was sent a copy from a boyfriend of yours…actually, come to think of it, you were writing another article on my development of housing for the less fortunate for the area too?"

Susan spoke up before Paul or Archie could further comment, "I wrote an article on Highland Economy yes, I never made a note of you…so don't twist this and toss me into any kind of foul play you have in your head!"

"The new article you're writing is about me…Henry explained it so…hence for using, Mr. 'X' since you and I have such bad blood between us…"

"It won't come clean!" Susan snapped.

"Oh hush, Susan," Her father replied slyly.

"I knew Susan's writing an article on you. There is absolutely no way you're going to belittle her…" Paul was cut off by Susan's father next.

"You know Paul, years and years ago, I gave you an offer to leave well enough alone with my daughter…your mother was one fine thing, however, raising a bastard like you…"

"Leave my mother's good name alone, you lousy crickety sorry excuse for a pansy! It wasn't an offer. It was a bribe!" Paul snickered, as Archie watched the history between Paul and Susan's father replay before him.

"I told you time and time again to stay away from her. She got a good career chosen and a good life path, without having you scuff it all up. Instead, what you do, knock up my daughter and destroy her possibilities of giving me a 'suitable' heir to my oil millions--- you should have taken the money and your way out when you had the chance. However, now, she's got someone worth marrying and she's living here—and full of it with you?"

"You're a twofaced---?" Susan watched Paul blow up, which made her reach out for him.

"Paul, it's not worth it," Susan replied, trying to cut him off from giving her father the satisfaction of causing rift between them again. "How dare you accuse Nigel of not being suitable? You don't even know him! He's your grandson!"

"You left making it perfectly clear that he wasn't, nor were you my daughter!" Susan's father accused before concluding, "At my land closing tonight around 6 at the Village Hall, you'll know, that I'm building my affordable living housing project and we'll be neighbors so best to start being neighborly! Mortimer, start the engine, we're going…" Susan's father then doubled back at his daughter, "One more thing, I gave that boyfriend of yours, Henry, permission to marry you since…you still have his ring. And he said you'd be getting that award sooner or later!"

Mr. Higgins climbed into the car and it drove off, down the dusty lane, towards the main road. Susan who was now completely at war with herself ran into the house and past Golly who was awestruck at the bottom of the ladder. Archie stood there with a dignified answer to the situation Susan's father just presented to him, "No worries, he can't touch the woods according to my documents and his closing won't happen tonight, we'll show up at 6."

"I'm not worried about land anymore," Paul found himself going after Susan, because he wanted answers about her new article (the notes he had found near her computer last night) and why she was continuing to work for the Globe and more about the ring…amongst other things: sharing a home and love with him.

"Susan?" Lexie replied surprised as Susan made a mad dash into the kitchen, completely unaware of Lexie, as she noticed Susan pulling out the packet of smokes, grabbing the meat cleaver that Lexie had been using on the counter and then proceeding to chopping up some of Paul's fags with the Boucher's knife…Susan pulled out more cigarettes from the packet on the countertop.

Susan stood there, her own anger buried deep inside of her. She had been meaning to destroy Paul's fags earlier and now she felt it was the perfect time to do so… as she swung the meat cleaver down on three defenseless smoke sticks…splitting them in two like using an axe to chop wood for a fire.

Lexie's eyes widened, "What are you doing?"

"Preventing anything else from ruining my life!" Susan slammed the cleaver down again…

"Okay, let's just back up a wee bit, what did the fags do to you, just by chance?" Lexie wasn't sure of what Susan was going to do with the meat chopper next, as she had never seen Susan act this way. Instead Susan dropped the cleaver into the sink, threw away the mashed fags into the garbage and pulled the last smoke one out of the packet… before replying to Lexie, "Matches please. I need matches, Lexie!"

Lexie complied and handed her a matchbox that she had used to light up the range for boiling her water as Susan bolted out the back of the kitchen, and actually lit up the fag on the back stoop. Lexie stood there wide eyed, "Since when do you puff on those?"

"At the moment it seems like a smashing choice!"

"Ye smashed what ya could in 'ere…Golly, should have ye help 'em wit the wood pile every spring…I bet ye'd get a lot done wit an axe…" Lexie replied soundly and joked after witnessing her chip pity chop up the package of cigarettes with her meat cleaver.

"Sorry."

"No bother, I'd puff on those too…however, I dun't anymore, not since I moved in at Glenbogle."

"I puffed years ago…now, I'm---?"

"Hang on, lemme get ye wee somethin' to go with…" Lexie shrugged, after she went into the house and came back out with one of Molly's stashed Tequila bottles, from when she lived at the house and needed it as a confidence boost. Lexie decided Susan needed the ego boost and comfort…

"Grand idea," as Susan handed the fag over to Lexie who waved her hand in her face, wafting the smoke away…and watched Susan open the bottle top, and slug the stuff down…

"Easy killa," Lexie added with a laugh while handing the fag back over to Susan…she was starting to feel ill to her stomach as she watched Susan, puff away and slug the liquor down…

"Thanks," Susan gasped, then continued to drink and made a remark, "Dun worry, I could drink Pauly under the table years and years ago. I bet I still could too."

"Luck no wormy in 'ere…Pauly?" Lexie let out a laugh at the childhood name for her brother in law.

"Of course, he'd sky rocket to the moon after drinking whiskey!"

"I know about the whiskey…" Lexie joked, remembering when Paul had drank whiskey the night of her cousin's funeral after going to the pub with Archie and Duncan. Lexie noticed Susan had drunk a quarter of the bottle with in a moment's time and wasn't buzzing, "Mind telling me what's rattling on in your head like a rattlesnake?"

"My father is the most inexcusable…"

"Father troubles, aye? I knitted them!" Lexie took the Tequila from Susan and had slug too…knowing what it was like to have father troubles…as Lexie hadn't seen her father since she was a child… Meanwhile, Paul arrived outside of the doorway as he listened in on everything Lexie and Susan were saying as first he wanted to interrupt them, but decided against it.

"Yes."

"I reckons yer Da didn't leave you young?"

"Aye, he did…however, he's just been here and I'm ready to---!"

"Toss in a tea towel, why?"

"I was in amidst of writing another article. My last one for The Globe, Lexie, I'm sorry, but I had no idea it was to be on my father. The bubblehead has money coming out from every corner because of his 'inheritance' of oil fields in Texas! However, instead he's here trying to buy his way into the hearts of people! I dun no what's worse him getting the paper to have me write another article on only him…"

"Just plain using you?"

"Or to get at me via riling up Paul…my father, years ago, gave Paul a 'write off' and he simply said, Paul's not worth it, never was, never would be and that he took his money---the man lied to me, because well I didn't believe Paul would do it but he threw his check book at my face and made me see he had written the check out to him and well anyway I disowned him. I felt betrayed especially at him for helping drive a bigger wedge between Paul and me—but I left Paul on my own accord because I felt I had too—he needed this sense of home and I wasn't sure we could create it. I couldn't exactly give him false hope back then, could I? No, I couldn't. My father kept thinking I'll be back since I'd need money…I went out on my own, got my own job with that paper and now he's mettlesome again and because Henry called him---can you believe it?! I'm sure Henry had no clue that my father tried to buy Paul off because he felt Paul was going to frig up my life—which is a crock of it!"

"Does he know about Nigel?"

"Yea, I was pregnant with Nigel when the whole situation erupted because my father didn't approve of Paul as a father. He saw him as useless and coming from nothing…which didn't matter to me and still doesn't! My father hated the fact that we were living, breathing the same air, or walking on the same planet! My mother, no wonder why she never married him, as she was so smart! I once I told my father I didn't want anything to do with him or the money. I made sure no one could tell my father where Nigel and I were, up until…"

"Now?"

"Yea, now. I still have the damn engagement ring…I'm ready to shove it up Henry's---?" as Susan blew out an exasperated breath and concluded, "Donkey!"

Chapter Nine---Prelude

Paul finally joined Susan and Lexie sitting on the stoop of the kitchen back door as he had been listening to everything Susan had said about their current situation and explaining where she stood. Lexie who was now starting to turn green from smelling the lit fag, decided to stand up, "I need a minute."

"You okay?" Susan asked Lexie quickly sensing Lexie feeling not well.

"Feelin' ye ill again…" as Lexie retreated into the house quickly as possible…

"What are you doing?" Paul sat himself down beside Susan on the old stone stoop as he witnessed her sitting with a half drunk Tequila bottle and a lit up fag, confusion arose in himself more as the Susan-- new and old-- never drank hard liquor at that time of day.

"What does it look like?"

"Susan, I'm not upset with you…"

"Great, then just get in line…" assuming Paul was upset and not hearing a word that he wasn't…

"Why?" Paul tossed her a baffled glance.

"I'm havin' a row with myself more than anything else. This is why I needed to get away from the paper—that's why I quit, but Henry talked me back into it months ago until he found a 'suitable' replacement reporter—

"I thought I was done with it, until I got a call from Henry asking me about writing this article. I lied to you about not hearing from Henry after him being here days ago. I'm sorry about it, so sorry---he didn't ask me about the ring, he didn't talk to me about coming up here---it was just this work thing, an article, which would have been on this Mr. 'X'. I had no idea it was on my stupid father---I only accepted to write it days ago because you and I weren't on speaking terms and I needed to make sure everything financially was covered for Nye and I---it was a strict money thing… I didn't mean to keep anything from you. I told Henry I wanted to be done with the paper after this article…

"I'm unemployed once I figure out how to get rid of Henry, the stupid articles, and the annoying posh imbeciles who seem to think its okay to laugh me while I put my back out trying to make them look oh so joyously glorious…and when I get that award, Paul, I want to just burn the damn thing or toss it in the loch!"

"Susan, your father isn't going to ruin anything we've built for the past week and half…or what we had eleven years ago or all of our lives… I told you I'd help. You shouldn't have to look to Henry for that kind of help…" Paul thought more about her insecurities about building a sense of 'home' for them. Paul wanted a place to call home and a family all of his life, even when growing up with Susan and his mother. Susan still signifies a possible 'home,' possible family, even eleven years later, and he had to figure out how to convince her of it.

"I'm really sorry, Paul. Good to know you're here, however, I'll ruin it myself somehow again…wait, I already did by holding onto the ring, oh, Paul, sorry, I meant to send it back to Henry but with this moving? Suppose I should move back to Inverness? I can see it. You want me too, don't you?" Susan's body started to feel the affects of the alcohol as she bumbled on like a chatty Cathy when she was, old Susan, could liquor and talk your ear off like a speed demon…Paul just shook his head and snagged the almost burned down to the filter fag from Susan's fingers and stomped it out with his boot, "No, you're being silly, Suzy. Stressed? Let's not puff on that again? What happened to the Suzy who quit successfully smoking?"

"I needed it."

"No you don't, what happened to my craving helper?"

"Okay, so maybe not…"

"Lemme have that too…" Paul took the half drank bottle away and poured it out onto the ground and put the empty to aside.

"I needed that as well…"

"Not at two in the afternoon, you don't."

"Okay, maybe not. How did you know I was writing that article?"

"I found your notes last night actually I was going to switch off your PC and anyway... I know you're between two rock walls, Susan and your hands tied, and I understand why you took on the article, all right? I can't say I wouldn't have done deliberately same simpleton thing if I were in your shoes. We're talking now…there's no reason to continue working for that paper."

"Oh."

"I'm not upset about the blasted ring. I'll deliver it to Henry if need be, unless… talk to me."

find me here
speak to me
i want to feel you
i need to hear you
you are the light
that is leading me
to the place where
i find peace again

"Talk to you about what? How messed up everything is? This whole land thing wouldn't have happened with my father if Henry hadn't called him asking for a hand in marriage and making note of that stupid award!"

"Forget 'bout your father, I'm more for this idea of creating a 'home'…"

"He's just looking for a peep hole and trying to get a low blow in…" Susan continued to talk without noting Paul's concern for creating a 'home' for them.

"Okay, maybe…"

"Paul, he could take Nigel away…then where's the sense of home?"

"It won't happen, promise," Paul draped an arm around her and gave her a loving squeeze.

you are the strength
that keeps me walking
you are the hope
that keeps me trusting
you are the life to my soul

"I hope not…Paul…I'm sorry about keeping the ring…I just…"

"If you got doubts…"

"No, I'm not."

"Then don't worry about the ring, it'll go first class to Henry or he'll go air post to the moon with it."

"Why are you being so understanding? The old Pauly would be flipping out at me by now?"

"Susan it doesn't help if I'm angry, nor you, it only hurts us both. If you mean what you say, then there's no harm done to us, besides I heard you were planning on shoving it right up---?"

"Henry's donkey?" Susan realized Paul had been listening to everything she had told Lexie, even the part of not being sure she could create a 'home' with him years ago. "Paul it was years ago about being afraid to create a home with you. I just didn't want it to get…"


you are my purpose
you are everything
and how can i
stand here with you
and not be moved by you
would you tell me
how could it be
any better than this

Paul gave a laugh, "Shattered? Suz, my whole life has been in pieces, you would've just helped keepin' 'em glued together. I've wanted a family and a home for as long as I could remember—we used to chat on about it as kids, you and me. Archie offered me this place as a home, gave me a job, and well, some sense of family—since I came in search of getting to know my father. But it's not---?"

"Enough?"

"Suz, it's not enough, because I found out about Nigel and I'm thrilled you're both back in my life. I want the home and the family with you."

you calm the storms
you give me rest
you hold me in your hands
you won't let me fall
you still my heart
and you take my breath away
would you take me in
would you take me deeper now
'cause you're all i want
you are all i need
you are everything
everything

Susan froze and replied, "That's it."

"What's it?"

"I have figured out how to get rid of my father! You're a genius, Paul!" Susan gave him a big smooch, stood up and ran back into the house leaving Paul wondering what was going on in Susan's mind.

Paul still unsure then spoke to himself, as Susan retreated to the inside of the house, "Happy to be of service…what about our family and home?"

At the 13 hundred hour at Molly's shop…

Molly had decided to drop by and see Lexie and the twins for lunch at the house as she was preparing to leave the shop, as she ran right into…Edith Rankin, as it was still early Friday afternoon.

"Molly."

"Edith."

"I've got to have a word with you," Edith replied stopping Molly on the street. Molly stood there and asked, "What is it?"

"It's been over 24 hours and I have had no word from Archie or Lexie about piece of property…basically since the forest commissioner hasn't. He had the land auctioned off yesterday afternoon. I'm wondering…"

"What piece of land?" Molly found herself posing the question…

"Lot 110536,"

"That's not for sale, Edith…"

"How was I supposed to know?" Edith's brows rose and replied, "I sent Archie a letter denying the request to have the land grant renewed because he's not the rightful owner---as I was instructed by the forest commissioner."

"I'd have to get back to you and look over the trust paperwork… I mean…"

"Molly, there's a closing on the lot at 6pm."

"You can't close on land you can't rightfully sell…"

"I know, I know, I found some paper work but I think it's too late and the deal will go through…"

"Edith, you have your wires crossed, I'll show up at 6pm with my paperwork on the matter."

"Thanks Molly."

"Next time come to me about it. Archie has no idea how the trust had been set up." Molly announced as Edith gave a nod of her head, "I'm sorry Molly for not saying something sooner…the land grant won't be renewed…"

"Well, renew it."

"It's been three years, Hector was the one who requested the renewal every year…Archie tried too, but he doesn't own the lot…so he can't get the grant…" Edith set her personal feelings on the last time Archie requested a grant for a 'Scottish Disneyland' or 'Adventure Centre' which Archie received the grant anyway…

"Renewed, but the first benefactor can." Molly added, as Edith nodded her head, "Leave this mess to me…I'll see you at 6pm sharp."


At 16 hundred hour on the Glenbogle Estate…

Susan was in the study, making a few phone calls and talking to old colleagues about favors they owed her. Archie and Paul stood outside of the doorway as both glanced at each other, wondering what Susan was up to…

"What's she doing in there?" Paul asked as Archie shrugged, "I told her she could use the phone as long as she needed too and as many times as her business required…"

"Her business?"

"I'm not certain, but I think she's conducting some sort of a 'newsworthy' moment for Glenbogle…"

"Newsworthy?" Paul answered still confused, while peering into the room.

"Angus, you owe me big for saving your rump last year…" Susan turned her back towards the door, "I need a few news crews…nothing fancy mind you, but this a very big! I mean enormous, Gus!"

"Well, I dun no, Susan…"

"I'll set you up with my sister…"

"Claire?"

"Yes, Claire, the one you liked at the Christmas party two years ago." Susan gave him a huge hint.

"Fine crews, I can get one up there…Susan, it could take awhile…"

"I want more than one."

"I dun no if I can…"

"Angus, you owe me. Call the Scottish affiliates and get someone here pronto…there's gotta be someone on telly news that's interested in saving a village from a land destroyer tyrant!"

"I know. I know. Ring up Henry. He'd know of more…he'd help you…"

"I need you, Gus. Please…its important…just think of the wonderful publicity…"

"Fine, I'll see what I can do. I'll phone Niall right away, where do the crews have to show up?"

"You're marvelous. 18 hundred hour at Glenbogle Village Hall, you can't be late---think press conference. I'll phone Janey now…"

"Janey?"

"Yes, I need reporters here as well…"

"Janey…"

"Angus, just hang up from me and get going! You got two hours…"

"Only two hours??"

"YES!" Susan exclaimed into the phone as she ended the call and then dialed up her (free lance) colleague from Highland Magazine…who had a huge network of other magazines in the area which supported Highland life…

Archie and Paul interrupted Susan as she hung up the phone and both brothers gave her a huge look of confusion, "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry. I'm taking awhile…"

"Susan, not a problem, happy to help, just not sure what you need news crews and reporters for…" Archie stood there unsure of Susan's plan.

"Don't worry about it, it's covered, just leave it to me. I need to ring Janey, and I also need to phone Henry."

"Henry?" Paul asked worried, sensing trouble with Susan if she got Henry involved.

"Look, I need his help on this and it's nothing to be worried over…" Paul began to fuss and Susan cut him off again…"Just trust me on this one, Paul, if I screw over Henry, he won't help. If I follow him, get what I need, and then screw him over…well, that's a different story."

Paul wasn't sure of how Susan had 'intended' to follow Henry as Paul then inquired, "What's with the engagement ring?"

Susan had pulled out the box and opened it while pulling out the diamond ring and handling it between her fingers, she smiled, "This is my leverage, Paul. It doesn't mean anything to me, as you just have to trust me on this one."

Everything by Lifehouse