He Shook His Head, Absorbed In One

"sassenach." He Had Called Me That From The First; The Gaelic Word For Outlander, A Stranger. An Englishman. First In Jest, Then In Affection.

As Usual, The Note Occupied Less Than A Page And Included Neither Salutation Nor Closing, Uncle Hal's Opinion Being That Since The Letter Had A Direction Upon It, The Intended Recipient Was Obvious, The Seal Indicated Plainly Who Had Written It, And He Did Not Waste His Time In Writing To Fools.

It Was In A Way A Comforting Idea; If There Was All The Time In The World, Then The Happenings Of A Given Moment Became Less Important.

I Stood Still, Vision Blurring, And In That Moment, I Heard My Heart Break. It Was A Small, Clean Sound, Like The Snapping Of A Flower's Stem.

He Leaned Close, Rubbing His Bearded Cheek Against My Ear. 'and How About A Sweet Kiss, Now, For The Brave Lads Of The Clan Mackenzie? Tulach Ard!' Erin Go Bragh,' I Said Rudely, And Pushed With All My Strength.