Read Blue Bells of Scotland: Book One of the Blue Bells Trilogy for Free Online

"Straight flush," he announced needlessly.
    Cheers erupted. Caroline shrieked, pumping a fist in the air, and grabbed his face in both hands, kissing him and stamping her feet. He came up for air, grinning at the Scot. Someone slapped his back. His hand fell on the money covering his trombone. "Game's over, big guy." His fingers flexed on the crisp bills.
    The noise diminished suddenly, sending a nervous chill down Shawn's back. He froze, looking around. "What's wrong?" His eyes fell on Rob's face; he followed Rob's gaze to where Jimmy had wordlessly laid out his own hand.
    "Straight flush." Jimmy's meaty hand fell on top of Shawn's. "To the king."

    Glenmirril Castle, On the Shore of Loch Ness, Scotland, 1314

    Late at night, Niall leaned on the tower parapets, gazing over the dark loch, far below. Its soft murmur reached him, and an occasional splash as a fish leapt for a night insect. A rich baritone melody floated up the tower stairs. " The Laird's own bard to war is gone. "
    Niall smiled, and sang back, softly, " His harp and sword at hand ."
    “I thought I’d find you up here.” Iohn appeared in the arched doorway, crossed the small space, and rested his arms on the wall beside Niall. "Feeling better?" he asked.
    "At times." The summer breeze lifted Niall's hair. He tugged his cloak closer. "Suppose it were true." He turned to Iohn. "Suppose you fell asleep and woke up hoondreds o' years on?"
    "Go 'won," said Iohn. "Doona tell me ye believe in fairies!"
    Niall laughed, not bothered by his ribbing. "I'll no tell ye sich. But 'tis no the only story, what Rabbie told, o' hoondreds o' years passin' when a man thinks 'tis but days or hours. Ye've heard the things Thomas the Rhymer claimed?"
    "Aye." Iohn nodded. "Being whisked away by the fairy queen for three days and findin' seven years had passed. And they say there was ne'er a more honest man."
    "What would it be like, d' ye think?"
    "To wake up and find hoondreds of years passed?" Iohn mused, staring out at the loch, resting his arms on the tower wall beside Niall's. "Mayhap the forests would be gone, as the story says? More villages?"
    "Does aught ever change?" Niall asked. "A few villages more or less. But life goes on as always, no? We fish and hunt and rescue our cattle from the thieving MacDougalls."
    "Aye, the thieving bastards." Iohn spit. After a moment's silence, he asked, "Gil?"
    "He'll be aw' right. Thanks be to God ye were there for him."
    "Aye," said Iohn, and they fell silent for a moment before Iohn said, “William’s waitin’ for us.”

    Inverness, Scotland, Present

    "Of all the damned luck," Shawn shouted once more, laughing.
    Spinning high and happy with several more pints inside, he and Caroline stumbled down Inverness's dark streets, under the shadow of Inverness Castle, and south along the banks of the River Ness. The moon glowed a silver crescent in its waters. They swung a metal pail stuffed with cash between them, singing Caledonia as they stumbled toward the castle-turned-hotel.
    Shawn routinely skated to the center of thin ice, and never fell through. He hadn't this time, either. "I don't get paid for three days," he'd told Jimmy. "We're doing one more gig. Give me my trombone, and I'll pay you right after the concert. "
    Jimmy scoffed. "I'll never see it. I'll be at your room tomorrow at noon. Wi' me mates." Shawn understood his meaning. The redhead followed the newly wealthy Jimmy out of the pub, while the patrons and musicians passed a deep bucket around.
    "Let's make sure Shawn doesn't get beaten to a pulp before he can play the next gig," Rob encouraged them. The barmaid presented it to him, and received a passionate kiss in thanks. Caroline glared at her. She smirked at Caroline.
    "Shh, shh," he whispered now, shushing their song as he and Caroline pushed in the castle's towering front door. He tripped up the broad red-carpeted stairs inside, barking his shin on the bucket. She giggled, and stumbled down a couple of stairs,