John holds his breath, closes his left eye, and he releases the arrow. The arrow whooshes through the air, slightly lifting upward with a small gust of wind and hits the target just proud [(3)] of the top of the bull’s eye on the target.
John: “Blast!” John uncharacteristically exclaims in frustration at missing his mark. Being around his hot tempered Scottish relations has broadened John’s vocabulary and usage when he is around them.
But others are quick to praise John’s nascent skill with a bow and arrow.
Cameron: “Well done, Laddie!”
Baird: “Nice shot!”
Margaret, Fiona, Angharad, Thistle, and Hannah: Unintentionally gushing in unison. “Ooooh!” Then they laugh as they clap for him. “Ha ha ha ha ha!”
John smiles at the ladies, stands his long bow to his side like a staff or sword, and he respectfully bows deeply to the ladies who smile delightedly.
***
Opposite the archery practice area, Lord Jamie Ogilvy [(4) right]--looking more wild than the Thornton’s have ever seen him before, with his long unruly hair and a fur covering his upper torso--is also exercising in preparation for the Angus Highland Games opener next weekend. The six feet six inches tall Laird Jamie--as Team SCOT Angus Highland Games Team Leader--will participate in the more athletic games requiring brute force and strength, like caber tossing [(5)], tug of war, and such.
So for now, Jamie lifts weights from the sidelines rather uniquely by carrying a custom made wooden yoke on his shoulders with two swing seats dangling from either end--upon which sit his forty pound five year old daughter Blythe on one seat and her nearly forty pound friend Lissa Dillard on the other seat. First Jamie executes a dozen or so deep knee bends as the girls giggle when they go up and down.
Blythe and Lissa: “Ha ha ha ha ha!”
Then Jamie stands and lifts the yoke up and down high above his head a dozen times to more girlish giggles.
Blythe: “Papa! Ha ha ha ha ha!”
Lissa: “We’re tallerrr than anyone, Blythe! Ha ha ha ha ha!”
Jamie: Then setting the yoke securely back upon his shoulders, he asks his daughter Blythe and her friend Lissa [(6a&b) right]. “Arrre me little gerrrils rrready for the Ogilvy Scottish Twirrrl?” He made up this exercise variation years ago to delight his children.
Blythe: Clapping her hands together with glee, Blythe gushes delightedldy. “Ooh! Yes, Papa!”
Lissa: “Blythe? What is an Ogilvy Scottish Twirrrl?” Lissa asks her friend quizzically with a slight lilt to her voice.
Blythe: “Papa spins us arrround!” Blythe replies excitedly while twirling her hand around in a several circles.
Thistle: Watching from the sidelines, Blythe’s mother Thistle in tones. “Not too fast, Jamie. We do na want the gerrrils to fall off.”
Lissa: “Fall off?” Lissa asks fearfully.
Jamie: Jamie soothes his wife and the girls in his deep but gentle voice. “I will starrrt spinning slowly, then pick up speed. Gerrrils? Arrre you sitting comfortably?” He looks at both girls and they nod--with Lissa nodding quite uncertainly.
Blythe: “Tis fun, Lissa! Papa spins us like a top!”
Lissa’s eyes widen--she has seen how fast tops go. But she is determined not to show fear. If Blythe can do it, she can do it.
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"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", by Gratiana Lovelace (2013-2014) (Done)
FanfictionJohn Thornton has an eager mind, starved for intellectual stimulation. But what John could not have foreseen was that just as his mind needs nourishment, so does his heart. Mr. Hale's proud, beautiful, kind, stubborn, and compassionate daughter Mi...
Ch. 60 (PG-13, D): Preparations
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