บททั้งหมดของ Family Secrets: บทที่ 361 - บทที่ 370

"The best bottle of Scotch went to their commander. 'Compliments of my commander, sir.' I said, watching his smile spread.""Excellent," he said, grinning. "Give my regards to your Captain. Tell him to be careful, we'll make a proper Scot of ye yet, laddie."The first volley caught us all by surprise. His top NCO went down immediately, dead before he hit the ground. His lieutenant was hit, his arm almost completely torn off. And the major went down right in front of me, shot through the thigh, the bone broken and sticking through. I was hit at the same time, but I had my vest on. Still broke a rib.""They still don't know how so many of them got so close without detection, but they estimated the enemy later at at least sixty. The Scots had forty men. Four died instantly, nine had serious wounds, and maybe half a dozen more slightly. Of course, we didn't know that at the time. The ones who could started returning fire. There was a real danger we would be over run."I paused, rememberin

"It was the high point of the Colonel's efforts. A brand new center, with a staff of counselors, therapy rooms, a fully equipped gym, it even had a daycare center. And all services were free. He cut the ribbon while Charlie and I played, then toured the building and attended a reception. The center was built on the banks of a river, and there was a really large deck built out over it. Most of the attendees ended up there, by the buffet tables.""We were relaxed yet vigilant, and most of the crowd were veterans and college students, part of the new staff, all vetted, so we didn't see a problem. The Colonel had his wife, his youngest sister, and her six year old daughter, his favorite niece, along for the ceremony. His sister, following tradition, was married to the Danish version of a Duke, and was home for a visit.""Angus noticed them first, three college students with large backpacks. We're still not sure how they got them in, but the best guess is they were already there, and they

All our friends had shown up, having been flown over by the Colonel. Her mother was more than a little condescending at me until the Colonel told her what great friends we were, and that I had saved his life at least three times.It was good to see my old mates, and when they went bar crawling without me, the Colonel and I had to bail them out and pay damages. Seems Charlie took offense over some redneck telling him what a nice dress he had on. It would be hard for him to tell anyone anything else until his jaw healed.Finally, on a sunny early June day, the local Preysbeterian church was overflowing with well wishers. My boss sat in the front row, as well as the Colonel's wife and younger sister. Her second daughter was flower girl. her oldest, a teen now, sat beside her and smiled, remembering a cold muddy river a long time ago. Her husband, the Duke, sat on the other side.Amanda's new stepmother sat in the front row, a Masai woman who worshiped her father, as he did her. She was m

When I told him I was, he made calls. Don't ask me how he found a two handed Claymore almost exactly like the one I had at home, or the shield, but he did. Instead of the traditional dagger, I went with two British fighting knives, something I was comfortable with. We also went to a theatrical supply store, for something very specific. The Colonel was impressed, grinning. "Don't even think about leaving me behind. I wouldn't miss this for the world."We sent the farmer home with thanks, and got into the larger plane the Colonel had chartered. Laibon had been telling everyone I had run away, and if I didn't show up her was taking her, as spoils. He was not happy when I returned, with her father.Amanda was shocked and amazed at what I was doing, seeing the merits at once, even grinning once or twice. "He's going to shit his knickers!." she laughed, before snuggling down into my arms.The next morning, at the appointed time and place, Laibon stood, in full regalia. His hair and face wer

We played for a few more months, adding songs as we found them. We did our version of Galway Girl, with me on accordion, and I got to sing it. The crowds started recognizing it, singing 'day-I-ay-I-ay' at the top of their lungs.We did a version of 'Some Nights' that Robbie and I arranged. Three microphones, my pipes, a floor tom tom for Molly, and Robbie with his snare drum, giving it an almost martial air, everyone singing, and I faked the auto tuned voice with my pipes.Dave was a big fan of Rapalje, and he had us all listening soon. He suggested we do 'Loch Lomond', and we did, just the guys, no instruments until the last, with Dave singing lead, and at the end Molly and I did a five minute mournful Fiddle/Pipe exchange, that usually left the crowds quiet. We also broke down, after a lot of begging from our fans, and did a version of 'Danny Boy' that was well received.I was a Rod Stewart fan, and saw him several times while in service, and one day I was sitting in our living room