The Security Guard

All of my writing is fiction, and the stories and characters are products of my imagination. They were created for my fun and, hopefully, your enjoyment. Some of the events in the stories are not particularly condoned nor encouraged by the author, but are there to create and enhance the story of the imaginary characters and their lives. Comments are always encouraged and carefully reviewed. All characters within the story that need to be are 18 years of age or older. I hope you enjoy! And take a second to vote and comment.

Much of this came from a recent visit to Scotland, but if any Scotsmen read this, don't hold me to exacting standards. Just appreciate that I loved the time I spent there, and my DNA says that I'm 56% English/Scottish.

As a note, the name Aisling, which appears early in the story, is pronounced Ash-ling. Also, the beautiful glen is spelled Glen Coe, while the village is spelled Glencoe.

~~~~~

"Brodie, where have you been?"

"I went into the village to see if anyone was looking to hire a worker."

"Well, you should have been here. Ewan Fergus came along the road and stopped to talk for a minute. He's looking for someone to help with his herds and the crops he's raising. It's just too much for him now, he says, and with his wife down with some sort of illness, he has to spend time with her."

"Did he go back home? I know about where his farm is, but I'm not certain about it."

"I've been there once or twice, when your father was still here. He and Ewan would bet on foolish things, and the loser had to do the walking."

Brodie smiled as his mother remembered times past when life was simpler and less stressful.

"Think hard then. To find someone actually looking for a worker would be a joy."

"I believe you follow our road to the north and turn on...on..."

He could see that it wasn't coming back to her.

"Thistle Path is up that way."

"That's it! That's it! she exclaimed. "You turn onto Thistle Path, and it's maybe one-half mile to Ewan's house. Beware though. It's a narrow path, and should a car come along, you'll need to be alert."

Brodie's mother was always concerned about his safety, but when he called on Aisliing McLeod, he passed Thistle Path and turned at Heather Hill Road, where she lived. She'd not too long ago moved to Glencoe from the Isle of Skye, and Brodie was doing his best to make her happy here.

"I'm going directly to Ewan's place and hope that I'm what he's looking for in the way of a helper. Wish me luck, Mum."

"I wish you luck, and will pray while you're gone. Dinner will be ready when you return."

Brodie thought about cleaning up a mite before heading to Ewan Fergus' farm, but decided he looked appropriate for applying for the worker's job. Had he been going on to Aisling's place to visit with her, he'd have had to do some cleaning up. She seemed a little fussy about how he looked. He pictured her as he walked; her beautiful red hair and pale blue eyes had caught his fancy from the first time he'd met her in the market in Glencoe village.

At the little road he knew was Thistle Path, he turned and walked until he came to a farm he thought had to be Ewan's. He called twice, but there was no response, so he went to the door and knocked.

"Who's there?" a female voice called.

"Brodie McKenzie," he answered.

"Do I know you?"

"Probably not, but I'm here to talk to Ewan about a helper he's looking for."

"Oh yes, come on in."

Brodie stepped through the open door.

"I'm Kirsten Fergus," the lady said, extending her hand from where she was seated. "Sorry, I didn't come to the door."

"No, no, we've heard in the village that you've been sick, and I sincerely hope you're better."

"Thank you, and a little perhaps. Getting well would make things much easier for Ewan. Oh, and here he comes."

"Ah, we have a visitor. Good day. I'm Ewan Fergus."

"Brodie McKenzie."

"I thought I recognized you. What brings you up this way?"

"I heard in the village that you were looking for some help on your farm, and I thought I should be able to do that for you."

"Let me get us some tea," Kirsten said, attempting to stand.

"No, no. You stay there. I'll get it."

Ewan went to the kitchen, and quickly all three had a cup of tea.

Ewan told Brodie what he needed, and Brodie agreed that he could handle it, and the pay was acceptable as well. He would begin his work the following day.

He bid the Ferguses goodbye and, as he left the farm, he wondered if Aisling might be at home. Brodie and his mother had a single cell phone, and it stayed at home most of the time. It was a short walk to her house, so he decided to chance it. He wished he'd changed clothes as he'd thought about doing.

He was still a ways from her house when he could see her walking in the front yard. Even from this far away, it caused his heart to pound. After a few more steps, she saw him and waved.

They met at the fence and hugged.

"Is it bad luck to hug with something between us?" she asked, nose to nose with him.

"I've not heard that, but let me come inside the fence and do away with all questions."

He ran to the gate, and once inside, they hugged again.

"What are you doing up here, surprising me like this?"

"Well, you're here. Isn't that enough of a reason?"

"Brodie, you didn't walk all the way up here on the chance that I might be here."

"How about part of the way?"

"What?"

"I start to work tomorrow for Ewan Fergus down on Thistle Path Road."

"I don't know him, but Thistle Path is close."

"We'll be able to see each other more often."

Aisling gazed off at the high and stark beauty of the Highlands that surrounded them, a pensive look on her face.

"I wish you'd visit Skye with me."

Aisling always seemed to mention the Isle of Skye, and this wasn't the first time she'd asked him to visit with her. But that thought terrified Brodie. He knew she missed it horribly, and if she returned, she might never come back to Glencoe.

"I have this new responsibility, Aisling, and when I've accumulated some money, I would love to see Skye with you."

"I would love that, Brodie. Skye is a lot like here in some ways, but there are differences, too, that you might like. There are lots of places to bicycle."

"I have an old bicycle that hasn't been ridden in years. It wouldn't be much use here or on Skye."

"My family has lots of bicycles. We could do the Sleat Peninsula Loop."

"Can I use the internet to check that?"

"It's beautiful, and you'll love it. We can take all day."

"How long is the ride?"

"Only about sixteen miles."

"All day?"

"Skye is a lot like here, Brodie. No place is flat, and the hills are steep, but we can rest often."

He laughed. "So you think I can't do it?"

She put her finger against his chest. "No, I think you would try until you couldn't do it any longer, and I'd have to revive you."

"Yes, with that mouth-to-mouth thing."

She laughed, and he kissed her.

Brodie loved to see Aisling like this, the only issue being that it usually involved the Isle of Skye, and not Gien Coe, or him. He knew she cared for him, but somehow that caring was separate from Glencoe. If only once it could be different.

"Aisling, why don't you bring Brodie inside?" Aisling's father called from the doorway.

She looked at him. "Do you want to go inside for a few minutes?"

"First, give me a good kiss out here. I'm not sure your father is ready for that."

"I think he'd be fine, but I don't mind kissing you here."

It was a pleasantly long kiss that Brodie hadn't expected to receive tonight. Only his quick decision to see if she was home made it happen."

Aisling's situation was difficult. On Skye, she lived with her mother, but her mother had remarried, and she could barely stand the new husband. So, she had come to Glencoe to live with her father and his new wife, which turned out to be bearable but colored by her intense homesickness.

They went inside and talked with her father for a few minutes. When Brodie was ready to leave, Aidling walked out with him and a short way along the road. Another pleasant kiss, and he was on the way home.

*

The first day of work with Ewan was interesting, and included carrying bales of hay, milking cows, feeding sheep and a few goats, and general cleanup. It was simple work, and only the heavy hay bales forced him to strain his muscles a bit.

On Wednesday, per previous agreement, he met Aisling after he finished at Ewan's, and they walked and talked, the subject eventually shifting to how much she missed Skye. In desperation, he agreed that he'd go to Skye with her in three weeks after he had earned a bit of money.

As so often seemed to happen in Brodie's life, just two weeks later, he went to see her on the usual Wednesday night, only to find her standing in the yard with someone he didn't recognize.

"Brodie, this is my friend from Skye, Liam McDonald."

Obviously puzzled, he answered, "I'm Brodie McKenzie." He did notice that Liam had a very rugged look to him that he was certain was appealing to the girls, and probably to Aisling as well. He was trying to decide what to say, since he suspected why Liam was in Glencoe.

"Have you and Aisling known each other long?"

He saw them look at each other.

"What, about three years?" Liam asked.

"I think that's right," she replied. "We were going together when a very angry me decided to leave Skye forever."

Things were becoming clearer.

"And you are not so angry now, and are missing Skye greatly."

"Yes, that's true, Brodie."

"And, Liam has come to take you back."

He could see tears forming in Aisling's eyes.

"I never dreamed I would find someone that I would care for here so quickly, but it happened and..."

"And you're going back to Skye with him." It was one of the most painful things he'd ever said. He'd become very attached to her in the short time she'd been here.

Aisling looked at Liam. "I felt so bad for Liam as he'd been wonderful to me, and I simply walked away from him due to my own selfishness, which I've seen since I've been here."

"And now you're going to walk away from me."

"Now, Brodie, don't be cruel to Aisling. She and I were together for over two years, and when we return to Skye, we'll marry very soon if things go as planned."

"And I'll clean up Ewan's hogs with no special place to go on Wednesday evenings after I'm finished working."

There were more tears from Aisling when Brodie began hearing his own words. He took a deep breath. It was sudden, but his mind had been racing as they were talking.

"Aisling, I'm sorry. I hope you and Liam will be happy together. I'd have had to be deaf and blind not to see that you wouldn't be content anywhere but on the Isle of Skye. And don't worry, I have plans."

Aisling gave him a final hug as they were leaving in the morning, and he'd probably never see her again. He was certain that every time he saw a redhead, he'd remember Aisling.

*

"Brodie, you can't do that."

It won't be easy, mum, but it needs to be done."

"What will I do?"

"What you've wanted to do for years; you'll let Jack Murray court you."

"Don't be silly, Brodie. I have no interest in Jack."

He went to his mother and took hold of her shoulders. "You know that you've wanted Jack to come by, and well, you know what. And if I'm gone, he'll have no reason not to come by."

"You always said he was afraid of you."

"I didn't want anyone to take father's place. But things change."

"No, you certainly didn't, and neither did I." She sighed. "It's funny how things happen, how we change." She looked at Brodie. "You wouldn't argue with that, would you?"

"No, and I think this may be the best, for both of us."

Annella grinned, a rather melancholy grin. "Perhaps. I guess we'll find out eventually."

"Well, I think I'll stop at Jack's house and tell him you're ready for him to come calling."

"Brodie, you wouldn't dare."

"I could, mum, but I won't. When he hears that I'm gone, I'm sure he'll come on his own. He won't need more encouragement than that. With me gone, he'll want to take care of you."

"I pray I'm ready for that."

"And what will you do?"

"I'm not sure. I feel like I'm trading a son for a suitor."

"And perhaps more than a suitor."

"You seem to want it so badly, but you won't be here to enjoy it."

"I'll keep in touch as best I can, and you can update me on any progress Jack might be making."

Brodie was anxious for his mother and Jack to get together. He'd known Jack, a widower, for many years and knew that he missed the companionship of his wife, who'd died very suddenly nearly five years ago, one year longer than his father had been gone. He knew they'd get on well, and his mother might be able to stop selling parcels of their land in order to pay for the common things of life.

The following day, the time had come. Brodie had worked many weeks for Ewan and saved nearly all of the money. He'd had to spend £75 of it to get a passport, but it had arrived, and he'd tucked it away in his backpack. He felt he could go anywhere he wanted without any trouble.

"Brodie, sit down here with me for a few minutes and tell me again exactly what you're going to be doing," Anessa said, obviously not yet ready to be left alone.

"Mum, I'm going to walk and get rides as best I can across Scotland and England. Then, depending on my money, I may work for a while. Finally, I want to cross on a boat to Belgium, and I'll walk and ride again to the tiny country of Ardenistan. I've read about it, and I think it might fit me well. I'll have to see, and I'll let you know how I'm getting along."

"Give me a hug, and Godspeed to you, my son. Don't hesitate to come back if there's too much trouble."

He hugged his mother, and they each kissed the other on the cheek. "I will probably return one day, but not too soon, or it will interfere with Jack's courting you."

"Brodie," she said, playfully slapping his shoulder.

~

Brodie left Glencoe, wearing a new pair of walking boots and a large hiker's backpack. He'd researched carefully and felt that he was adequately prepared for the trip, although he'd be buying food as he went. He's gone about four miles along the highway when a car pulled over and stopped ahead of him.

"Where are you headed, young fellow?"

"England, and finally to Belgium, sir."

"I'm not going as far as Belgium, but I am going to Edinburgh to spend the night. From there, I'm taking the Chunnel to France, near Calais, and I wouldn't mind having company along the way. You may not know, but there's no longer a ferry to Belgium, so the most economical way is a ferry from Dover to Calais, which will cost you about £30. With me, you'll be going to almost the same place for free.

"That would be wonderful. Thank you."

"Just put your backpack in the boot, and we'll be on our way."

"Listen, I don't know if you have reservations in a hostel or some other place, but my room in Edinburgh has two beds, and since I expense it to my company, you could sleep there tonight as well."

"You are being too kind. I was expecting to spend a week or two getting across the channel, but I'll be there in two days."

"I'm glad I can help. I hiked over most of England when I was younger, so I'm glad to help where I can. I'm Edward, by the way."

"Brodie, here, and thanking you ever so much."

Brodie enjoyed the trip across Scotland, then England to Folkestone and onto the special train. It seemed strange sitting in a car that was riding on a train going through a tunnel. And quickly, he was in France, somewhere he hadn't expected to be. He thanked Edward very sincerely for making the first half of his trip fast, easy, and inexpensive.

But he was in Calais, France, and needed to get to Ardenistan. He walked until he found a bookstore he thought would have maps. It took a while, but he found one, realizing as he went through the door that he couldn't speak a word of French. He went to the counter and asked in a fairly loud voice, "Does anyone speak English?" He saw a hand raised at the other end of the counter.

"Yes, I speak English," the young lady said, with some sort of an accent. Since he was in France, he guessed it was a French accent.

"Oh, good, I need some help."

That brought a big smile to her face.

"Where are you from?" she asked, eagerly.

"Um, Scotland. Why?"

"I've never heard that accent before. Where in Scotland?"

"Glencoe. The Scottish Highlands."

"Does everyone there speak like that?"

Brodie just spoke like he always did, and yes, most of them sounded like him.

"Yes, I guess so."

"Now I've embarrassed you, and I'm sorry, but someday I need to go there and just listen. I love that sound."

"We'd welcome you if you came, but you'd have to get used to beautiful stark mountains, and heather blooming in late summer."

"I've seen pictures of the heather, and it's gorgeous, and you can see there are no rugged mountains around here. But you didn't come in here to talk about heather. You said you needed some help."

"Yes, I'm going to Ardenistan, and I'll be walking, so I need a map."

"That's another place I want to visit. Are you on a visit?"

He shrugged. "I plan to stay there a while."

"We have plenty of maps. Let me look."

She was gone for two or three minutes, and Brodie watched her as she looked through a rack full of them. He smiled. She was very pretty with dark hair and eyes, and friendly too. He loved listening to her talk with that very different accent. She returned, waving a map in the air.

"Here's just what you need," she said, spreading it on the counter.

He looked it over, and it seemed perfect, showing lots of small roads he could use to stay away from the heavy traffic.

"How much is it?"

It's €2."

"I only have English pounds."

She glanced around the shop to see if anyone was watching them.

"Listen, it's time for my lunch, and I have an offer for you. If you'll go to lunch with me and talk a lot, I'll trade your pounds for euros at today's rate, and the map will be free. I go to England on weekends and can use the pounds." She ended that with another big smile. "Unless you need to get started right away."

He needed to eat and get his pounds converted, so it sounded good.

"I can pay for the map."

"We'll decide at lunch. I'll meet you outside."

The cafe she picked was just down the street from the bookstore, and she did the talking once they got there and were seated at a small table.

"Let me start by telling you my name is Sophie Petit," she said, a big smile on her face.

"I'm Brodie McKenzie."

"Just tell me about where you live," she said, "Was it Glencoe?"

"You remembered well."

Brodie did his best to do something he wasn't used to doing--talking about Glencoe with someone who knew nothing about it. But Sophie listened intently to everything he said, and seemed enthralled by his descriptions of the Highlands. At one point, she used her phone to pull up pictures, and Brodie confirmed that they were accurate depictions of the Highlands.

They'd ordered their lunches and were interrupted only briefly by their arrival.

Brodie found it difficult to eat and talk since his mother had taught him not to talk with his mouth full. He did his best, though, and finally, their lunches were gone.

"Let's pay, and we'll go back to the bookstore, and I'll change your pounds to euros, and you can be off, although," she said with a giggle, "I'll miss your talk."

With that taken care of, Brodie had his map and a list of hostels he might be able to use. She stepped outside with him.

"Brodie, let me give you a good luck hug for your journey."

That was certainly something he wasn't used to, but Sophie smelled delightful when they hugged a little awkwardly, with his big backpack interfering.