Page 39 of From Scotland with Love

“Yes; you were a bad influence! Terrible.” Lori tried to keep a straight face.

“That’s like, so not true, missy!” Rhona flipped her hair nonchalantly. “You led me astray!”

Tammy saluted Rhona. “It’s nice to see you Rhona, is Karen with you today?”

“Yes we’re meeting my sis up there, I forgot she was in your class wasn’t she Tam! Oh, and congratulations on your wedding, Alan is gorgeous!”

“He is that!” Tammy beamed, taking money from Rhona and giving her back change simultaneously. “He’ll be playing in the shinty match at the games later.”

“Oh yes, all the usual traditions each year, aye I’ll be there to watch it. Looking forward to it, in fact. I’m sure Lori will be there in the front row, watching her old flame play!” Rhona nudged her friend playfully.

Lori walked up to the event with Tammy, Rhona and her two boys. The annual Highland games always took place near the old school, and the whole area converted, with the long grass now trimmed and, luckily, not a Highland cow in sight. Tents of local produce were dotted around a large space marked out for the day’s activities. As soon as they arrived they bumped into Jean and Karen, who were eating ice-creams as Maggie and Anne ran around with chocolate-covered faces.

“Auntie Lori!” Maggie gave her a big sticky hug, with Anne running up behind and pinning Lori to the soft grassland. This time Lori had been extra careful to make sure her legs were completely covered, in defence of any ticks. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky, which ensured constant queues outside the ice cream van and the large beer tent.

“Fancy a pint Lori?” Rhona let her two boys run off with Maggie and Anne, who had instantly made friends with them. Lori's eldest niece Anne was older, and fairly responsible; so she took the boys sun-hats and strolled off behind, keeping an eye on all three children.

“I can’t, I need to do the tug of war...!” She looked at her friend’s disappointed face. “Maybe afterwards?”

Over the loud speaker came a voice. “Good afternoon everyone, welcome to the 30th annual Arlochy Games! We are delighted to see some familiar, and some not so familiar faces ready to cheer on the action! We have quite a show lined up for you today, and we’re going to start right in at the deep end with the Caber Tossing! So if you would like to make your way to the orange zone, we will commence play there in five minutes. Thank you!”

They spent time in the orange zone until a small group of men wearing kilts appeared and waved to the crowds. Lori was gobsmacked to see Callum among them. Bagpipes sounded, adding to the spectacle as each man took his shot at picking up a huge tree trunk. Callum was the smallest in build compared to the others but Lori knew he was incredibly strong, and quietly watched him, feeling proud, excited and nervous all at the same time. He picked up the smooth trunk slowly, and then flipped it up from his arms into his hands, slowly getting his balance. All the while Lori stood in awe, alongside the other spectators. Calls of encouragement came from already drunk people at the beer tent and Callum stepped forwards slowly then faster until he tossed up the trunk in the air. Lori didn’t really know what she was watching, was he to throw it further than the last man? She wondered, but hated how she felt. Something primal and instinctive bubbled within her, all she wanted was Callum. She felt ridiculous for even thinking it! She had succumbed to classic male bravado - wasn’t this the whole point of the games? Men wearing kilts, showing off in front of women? She pushed the longing away and was now determined to do the tug of war to prove a point…she just didn’t know what that point was right now. Lori removed herself from watching anymore, took Rhona’s offer of a drink and promptly went to the busy beer tent as Jean and Karen looked after the kids.

“Wow, I have to say Callum is looking mighty hot” Rhona attempted to clink plastic glasses with Lori, which made an unsatisfying dull tap.

“Oh really?” Lori sipped her drink and looked away.

“Like you haven’t noticed? He looks just like he did in high school, it’s hard to believe.”

“Yeah he looks after himself, I think he’s pretty serious about it. Involving one hundred squats, an ice bath and a clay mask every night, I would imagine!” Lori snorted.

"Well even so, I think it’s good if men take care of themselves. It can’t just be left up to the women-folk!"

Lori had to agree, and tried to focus on some of Callum’s less defined, less likeable traits. “He’s just a bit serious sometimes, moody, you know.”

Rhona looked around and whispered. “Hmmm...maybe not. I know a secret on that score and you don’t!”

“What do you know?” Lori took a gulp of her beer.

“Well... I know that he does have fun... apparently he’s been out the last couple of nights with Francesca Campbell. I’ve been told they seemed quite cosy, actually!” Rhona smugly nodded and sipped her cider.

“I don’t think he’d be interested in Francesca!” Lori dismissed the gossip almost immediately. “She’s a bit too extra - a bit vain, a bit girly. He’s not that kind of guy. No, I don’t think so.”

“Excuse me, he is a man isn’t he?” Rhona’s wide eyes met Lori’s. “There has always been something that men love about Francesca! Remember in high school, how she was so popular? All that lush blonde hair and those big boobs - I’m sure those assets helped! I don’t think everyone’s out for her personality, you know!”

Lori’s heart stopped, she hadn’t seen Callum since their trip together. She had made it clear, to herself and to him, that it had just been a business trip, which of course had been the right thing to do. After her non-breakup with Michael - she didn’t have space in her head for complicated just now. Callum had needs, didn’t he? He could date or shag whoever he wanted, he didn’t owe Lori any explanation. They were just... what were they? Friends? Ex’s? Lori thought back to how Francesca had been in high school; she’d certainly used her sexuality to get what she wanted. But was that really such a bad thing at sixteen? They had all grown up since then. Lori made herself face the reality of the situation: it was a small area; they must have slept together by now. They were two consenting adults. It was no big deal.

Two pints later, Lori made her way to the tug of war event that had just been announced over the speakers. She saw Callum waving at her from the other side of the rope and she ignored both him, and the feelings surging within her, deciding to take them out as soon as possible on that ridiculous rope. Her team was made up principally of athletic-looking middle-aged men, but on the other side, to her horror she noticed the illustrious Francesca standing, Lycra-clad, proudly part of Callum’s team. What the hell was going on? Was he trying to have the two women play off each other? Wrestling in a mud fight to gain his attentions? Whatever he had imagined, Lori was going to make damn sure her team won. The gun-shot sounded and the game commenced. Lori threw her weight backwards, bracing her shoulders and forearms as she felt the rope snap into a taught iron line, and pulled as hard as she could, aware of the crowds around them cheering. She heard Rhona screaming at the top of her voice:

“Lori come on, pull girl pull!”

Lori’s team started yelling and they gradually eased back behind the mid-line, bit by bit.

“Come on Lori!” bellowed Rhona with excitement. “Pull like you’ve never pulled before!”

It was working; they had a flow, and good coordination, and with each second that passed they edged further backward. But suddenly the pull behind Lori went, and the strain on her hands was unbearable, the rope was dragging her forwards, burning her palms. The other team’s strength came like a wave and her team’s momentum all but disappeared. There was a shout from behind her, a final pull, and then in one movement, Lori and her teammates fell like dominoes into the mud right in the middle of the circle of spectators. There were cheers all around as the winning team celebrated their triumph. Lori lay in the mud, exhausted, disorientated, and very annoyed. She got up gingerly, and Rhona and her sisters all ran out to her.

“Are you OK?” Jean asked, as Tammy tried to brush her down, but with the mud being so thick, wet, and everywhere, she grimaced, she didn’t want to get mucky hands. So instead, she patted her sister’s shoulder lightly.