"Well, I blamed mysel' for that mess, as did you. But I also kent that the only way for ye ever tae be whole again was tae face yer inner demons. That meant comin' hame tae Loch Ness, but no way in hell were ye doin' that, no' wi'oot a fight anyway. When I wis arrested for Johnny's death, I kent the trial could entice ye hame, an' I kent if I goaded ye enough, the Wallace in ye wid come oot fightin'. An' boy wis I ever right. Ye went after that creature like Sherlock Holmes huntin' Moriarty. But I never intended ye tae face the monster alone, only tae prove it wis oot there."

"So you're saying the real reason you spoke up about the monster and left the Templar was to force me to conquer my fears?"

"As I live an' breathe."

"I don't believe you."

"No? Think aboot it, son. Yer mind wis hidin' the truth aboot the Loch frae ye for seventeen years. Puttin' ye up on the witness stand, revealin' yer battle scars tae the world… I had tae jolt that brain o' yers but good. Hell, ye've spent the last seventeen years deceivin' yerself."

I lay back on my pillows, struggling with the revelation.

"Put yer mind tae it, it'll come." Angus bent and kissed me on the forehead. "I've got tae go, I've an interview wi' a Hollywood agent in an hour, but we'll see each other soon enough. Oh, I almost forgot."

He reached into his jacket pocket, then tossed me a folded document. "That's your share o' oor land. You and Maxie each own thirty- three percent. Ye get the rest o' whit's mine after I croak."

"Land? I thought you sold the land to Johnny C.?"

"Leased it. I'd never sell. That land's been in oor family since William Wallace wis jist a lad. At least now we'll start makin' some money frae it, eh?"

"But Dad!"

"Butts are for crappin', son." Angus waved from the hall, his back to me as he paused to eye a pretty blond nurse. "See ye later, Dragonslayer."

Chapter 37

Inverness

Two more days passed before I was released. The nurse wheeled me out a side exit, just in case any more reporters were still staking out Raigmore Hospital. Brandy was waiting there for me, seated on a new Harley-Davidson, a gift from the local dealership. She was now doing their television commercials.

"You look pretty sexy sitting on that hog."

"Accordin' tae the ads, the vibrations make me horny. Get oot o' that wheelchair and climb on, I'm drivin."

I slid behind her and we kissed, then she gunned the engine and accelerated down the driveway.

* * *

The Great Glen was aglow in a burnt-orange sunset by the time we arrived at Aldourie Castle.

"Brandy, what're we doing back here?"

"Loose ends, as ye say." She climbed off the motorcycle, and I followed her into the ancient mansion.