AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"How do you know he'll let us borrow it?"
Errol smirks. "Because I asked him yesterday."
"But you hadn't agreed to participate yet at that point."
"I knew I'd say yes. But being a stubbornbod ceann, I had to delay for a wee bit."
"Bod ceann?"
"It's Gaelic for dickhead."
"Oh, I see. But you aren't like that."
He smiles. "Thank you, Ashley."
I get a warm sensation in my chest, but I have to ignore it. Too much to do now. Equipment to load onto the plane. More supplies to buy. Wow, this is really happening.
Our expedition is about to begin.
Chapter Seventeen
Errol
I can't believe I'm going on a barmy expedition to find a mythical treasure. That's how I viewed this hunt yesterday. But now, I don't think of it as barmy or mythical anymore. Ashley has convinced me, and we found evidence that strongly suggests the treasure might actually exist. I haven't agreed to this escapade solely because I want to discover a lost treasure. No, I've done this for Ashley and her father too. Well, mostly for her.
When I ring Evan to inform him we want to leave as soon as possible, he assures me he'll arrange everything. The jet will be waiting for us at the Inverness airport. Next, I ring another of my cousins—someone I haven't seen in several years. No one has seen him because he prefers to keep to himself. No matter how many times my cousins try to coax him into rejoining the family life, he refuses.
Aye, I'm ringing Munro.
I get his answering machine, which doesn't surprise me. My other cousins have told me that Munro uses an old-fashioned answering machine since he does not own a mobile phone and uses only a landline. He screens his calls and rarely picks up. I have a feeling what I mean to suggest to him will convince Munro to answer the bloody phone this time.
After his curt recorded message, I hear the beep. "Munro, it's Errol Murdoch. Your cousin. Remember me? I've heard you hide out in a remote cabin in the woods, like a serial killer. But I could really use your help now. I'm going on a hunt for a mythical treasure, and anyone who comes along will probably die in a cliff collapse or drown in the rapids. It's the Grand Canyon treasure, and I've teamed with a bonnie lass to find it."
I hear a click, then Munro's rough voice. "What do ye want, Errol?"
"You know what I want. You are the best river guide who ever worked in the Grand Canyon."
He grunts. "I donnae do that anymore."
"But you're still the best. This will be a small, secret expedition that will probably get us all arrested. Just me, you, and Ashley Hartman."
"Who the bloody hell is Ashley Hartman?"
"A bonnie, sweet lass who's also very clever. This is her expedition, but we could use your expertise."
"Cannae do it. The salmon are running."
"This will be more exciting than that."
Silence follows.
I can hear Munro breathing, but he says nothing for long enough that I can't take it anymore. "You know ye want to come. So just say yes and get it over with. Then you can start griping about it."
"Donnae gripe." He sighs heavily. "Taking a woman into the Grand Canyon is not a clever idea."
"You're a sexist, eh? Ashley is clever and strong, not a silly wee lassie."
More silence. More faint breathing sounds. "All right."
