CENTRAL VIRGINIA-HOTEL
The Present
Clarion quickly but carefully, repacked his bag with all the items he had removed during his stay. In a short while he would be meeting back up with one of the witches that could send him back in time, or so he hoped. If not, the curse would never be broken and he would not be able to save the lass, the one that he had somehow become transfixed by.
♦
Mildred elbowed Rubric when she saw the highlander walking down the hall towards the lobby.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Mildred?”
Rubric turned and looked towards where her gaze was riveted. He nudged her back. “Close your mouth, Mildred, before something flies into it.”
Mildred didn’t care, because she didn’t even hear him. She hustled around the desk and practically ran to meet the highlander. “Here, let me help you with your bag.” She latched onto the handles and pulled.
Clarion stopped and yanked the bag out of her grasp. “I can manage on my own.”
“Oh, of course,” she muttered apologetically. “Sorry.”
Clarion felt a pang of guilt. Her expression reminded him of a wounded animal. “What I mean ta say, is, that I do appreciate yer kind offer but a lady such as ye, should no have ta carry my things.”
Mildred beamed from ear to ear. “Well, I just didn’t want you overexerting yourself after you have been feeling so poorly.”
Clarion eyed her curiously and had to wonder how she even knew he wasn’t feeling well, but since he didn’t want to encourage anymore prying questions, he kept silent.
“I suppose you are leaving.” She took three steps to catch up to his one.
“Aye.”
“Where will you go?”
Clarion cut her a look out of the corner of his eye. “I have some things I need ta attend to.”
“Oh,” she said and then asked, “anything I can help you with?”
“I will need some kind of transportation,” he said. “Would ye be a dear and arrange that for me?”
“Me?” She pointed to her chest.
Clarion nodded.
“Of course. Would you like a car, or would you rather wait for the bus?”
“How long before the bus arrives?”
Mildred glanced down at her watch. “About fifteen minutes.”
“I will wait for the bus, then.”
“Perfect.” Glad she had something to do, Mildred hustled past him back into the lobby. “Rubric, call Winston.”
“Now?”
Mildred gave him another one of her staple angry looks.
“Right. I’ll do that now.”
“Hurry up,” she spat.
Out of spite, Rubric moved as slow as he could to the end of the desk where the phone was located. Picking it up, he dialled the bus drivers’ number.
Adjusting his bag, and removing it from his shoulder, Clarion walked over and sat in the chair he had occupied the first night he arrived and set his bag on the floor.
“I have something for you.” She shoved the bag out to him that she had prepared from the kitchen.
Clarion eyed the bag and then lifted his eyes to her face.
“It some food and necessities, for your travels.” She gave him a weak smile.
Taking the bag, Clarion opened it up and looked inside. There were several sandwiches wrapped in plastic as well as bags of chips, cookies, and water, etc. On the bottom there was even a toothbrush. He looked up at her with gratitude. “Thank ye.”
“No problem. I was glad to do it.” Mildred perched her hip on the edge of the chair by his side.
Clarion didn’t quite understand how she knew he would need food, but he did appreciate her offerings.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked expectantly.
“I am no sure.”
“Will you be coming back, here?” She stressed the last.
“Nay. I do no think so.”
“Oh.” Her face fell.
“But ye never know,” he added quickly, seeing her sadness. “Stranger things have happened.”
Mildred perked up to that. “Did I mention I saw another highlander here not too long ago; he had a striking resemblance to you.”
“Nay. Ye did no tell me that.”
“Oh, well, he did. If I didn’t know better, I would think you were related.”
“Is that so?” His brow raised a notch.
“Aye…I mean, yes. He was a bit smaller than you of course, but he did have the same look as you.”
Clarion stroked his chin in thought. “Interesting.”
“There is also a book with a picture of a man, like you, that shows a resemblance to you as well.”
Clarion dropped his hand to his lap and tightened his fingers into a fist. “Is that so?”
“Yes. Would you like to see it?”
“All right.”
Mildred lifted her bottom off the edge of the chair and scuttled over to the bookshelf on the far wall. “It’s an old book,” she was saying, as she searched for the book. Up and down, she rose on her toes and then squatted to get a look on the lower shelves. But no matter how long she looked, she couldn’t seem to find the book. “Rubric,” she yelled. “Where is the book?”
Startled by her yelling, the pastry Rubric was about to eat slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor with a resounding plop.
“I don’t know where the bloody book is!” he snapped back because he had lost his snack. Seeing her face turn red, he changed his tone quickly and added, “Maybe you left it in our room.” He gave a wincing smile.
“I’m sorry,” she quickly said. “My husband,” she stressed the word, “seems to have misplaced the book. If you give me but a moment I will…”
Seeing the bus pull up outside the window, Clarion stood and pulled his bag on his shoulder. “I apologize, Ma’am, but I can no wait. I have someplace ta be. I do thank ye for yer offerings and company. “
“Oh,” she sighed. “You are welcome. If you find yourself in these parts again, stop by and I will hopefully have found the book to show you, and of course, I will also have some of my homemade biscuits.”
“That would be nice.” Walking up to the counter, he gave the short man a nod. “What do I owe?”
“Not a thing.”
“Are ye sure?” Clarion asked, reaching into his bag.
“Yes. We are sure.” Rubric nodded his head as though to accentuate his point.
“I have coin,” he said on the off chance the man may want to reconsider his kind gesture.
Rubric was having none of that. “Your coin is no good here, lad.”
Frowning, Clarion released the bag of gold coins he had been holding and pulled his hand back out. “I can no thank ye enough.”
“No problem.” Rubric pushed his shoulders back, lifted his chin a notch, and sucked in his substantial gut. “We Highlanders need to stick together.”
“Aye. That we do,” Clarion agreed, smiling conspiratorially.
Rubric smiled back. “Safe travels, lad.”
“I will endeavour ta try.” And with that, Clarion turned from the desk and walked towards the door.
Mildred, quickly opened the door for him, but as Clarion walked forward, she flung her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. “Be safe.”
Clarion patted her back and finally got her to disentangle her arms from his waist. “I will,” he assured her and then walked outside and climbed onto the awaiting bus. As he sat down, the bus began to pull away.
He looked out the window and waved.
Mildred and Rubric enthusiastically waved back as the bus drove out of sight.