scrape of spades scooping and tossing dirt filled the air.
To anyone who looked, he was concentrating on his job. In truth, Arran was focused on Ronnie. There were many conversations, but Arran blocked them all out. All except for Ronnie’s. With his enhanced hearing, he was able to pick her voice out of so many.
Just by listening to her, he found she was precise in her management of the dig, and took no quarter from anyone. She worked harder than those paid and the volunteers.
And her excitement when an artifact was found made him smile. She truly loved what she did. Even if she did use her magic to do it.
Hours faded away while Arran continued to dig and push the others to keep working. By the time the bell for supper was rung, it was clear whatever they were uncovering was large.
What it was was another matter entirely. Everyone speculated, but no one had any idea. Even the way Ronnie looked at the rocks that clearly formed some type of roof had her stumped.
Arran wanted to keep working, but his strength and endurance were beginning to look conspicuous. He slammed the tip of the shovel into the ground and stepped out of the dig site to call it a day.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep his eyes from Ronnie. He heard her voice before he found her inspecting another section. Section two, and one that everyone said wouldn’t yield anything worthwhile.
Yet Ronnie kept having them dig.
While everyone made for the food tent, Arran went to wash the dirt and sweat off. The bucket of water waiting for him in the tent wasn’t nearly enough. He’d prefer a nice long swim in a loch. There was one near. Near enough to visit.
As tempting as that was, Arran pushed aside the swim for another time. He stripped out of his dirty jeans and scooped the water in his hands and over his body.
When he’d gotten all the dirt and sweat off, he ducked his head in the bucket and scrubbed his fingers along his scalp. Only then did he lift his head from the water and towel off.
He pulled out a pair of cargo pants and a plain white tee that he put on. After raking his hands through his hair and scratching his jaw, which was in need of a shave, he put his boots back on and headed for the food.
“You’re late,” Andy said when he saw Arran walk into the food tent.
Arran shrugged. “Aye, but clean.”
Andy laughed and reached for another shepherd’s pie. “The food isn’t all that great, but it’s food. Tomorrow some of the volunteers are heading into the nearby town to stay at the hotel for hot showers and hot food.”
“You have no’ truly experienced Scotland unless you sleep beneath the stars and hunt for your own food.”
“Ah … yeah. I think I’ll pass on truly experiencing Scotland, then, dude. I wouldn’t know the first thing about where to hunt for food, much less what to do with it after I caught it.”
“ If you caught it,” Arran said, trying his best to keep the smile from showing.
Andy grew pale and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Have I mentioned I hate the sight of blood? This is why archeology suits me. Everything is already dead. Bones I can handle. Blood? Yeah, not so much.”
“So I guess I shouldna come to you if I get cut?”
Andy rolled his eyes. “Dude, you were just joking with me! I should’ve known. Ronnie says I take everything too serious.”
He walked away, leaving Arran chuckling after him. He liked Andy. Arran grabbed a shepherd’s pie, a roll, two apples, and a beer. There was a huge tub of bottled beer stuck in ice off to the side, and everyone had taken at least one.
Arran sat with other volunteers. Even though he’d been in this modern world a year and had learned much, he still found the people interesting to listen to. Especially when they came from different countries.
Many at the site were Brits, but there was also an equal number of Americans. There was the odd Irishman, Frenchman, and even a German or two.
Arran was content to listen to them talk of
To anyone who looked, he was concentrating on his job. In truth, Arran was focused on Ronnie. There were many conversations, but Arran blocked them all out. All except for Ronnie’s. With his enhanced hearing, he was able to pick her voice out of so many.
Just by listening to her, he found she was precise in her management of the dig, and took no quarter from anyone. She worked harder than those paid and the volunteers.
And her excitement when an artifact was found made him smile. She truly loved what she did. Even if she did use her magic to do it.
Hours faded away while Arran continued to dig and push the others to keep working. By the time the bell for supper was rung, it was clear whatever they were uncovering was large.
What it was was another matter entirely. Everyone speculated, but no one had any idea. Even the way Ronnie looked at the rocks that clearly formed some type of roof had her stumped.
Arran wanted to keep working, but his strength and endurance were beginning to look conspicuous. He slammed the tip of the shovel into the ground and stepped out of the dig site to call it a day.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep his eyes from Ronnie. He heard her voice before he found her inspecting another section. Section two, and one that everyone said wouldn’t yield anything worthwhile.
Yet Ronnie kept having them dig.
While everyone made for the food tent, Arran went to wash the dirt and sweat off. The bucket of water waiting for him in the tent wasn’t nearly enough. He’d prefer a nice long swim in a loch. There was one near. Near enough to visit.
As tempting as that was, Arran pushed aside the swim for another time. He stripped out of his dirty jeans and scooped the water in his hands and over his body.
When he’d gotten all the dirt and sweat off, he ducked his head in the bucket and scrubbed his fingers along his scalp. Only then did he lift his head from the water and towel off.
He pulled out a pair of cargo pants and a plain white tee that he put on. After raking his hands through his hair and scratching his jaw, which was in need of a shave, he put his boots back on and headed for the food.
“You’re late,” Andy said when he saw Arran walk into the food tent.
Arran shrugged. “Aye, but clean.”
Andy laughed and reached for another shepherd’s pie. “The food isn’t all that great, but it’s food. Tomorrow some of the volunteers are heading into the nearby town to stay at the hotel for hot showers and hot food.”
“You have no’ truly experienced Scotland unless you sleep beneath the stars and hunt for your own food.”
“Ah … yeah. I think I’ll pass on truly experiencing Scotland, then, dude. I wouldn’t know the first thing about where to hunt for food, much less what to do with it after I caught it.”
“ If you caught it,” Arran said, trying his best to keep the smile from showing.
Andy grew pale and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Have I mentioned I hate the sight of blood? This is why archeology suits me. Everything is already dead. Bones I can handle. Blood? Yeah, not so much.”
“So I guess I shouldna come to you if I get cut?”
Andy rolled his eyes. “Dude, you were just joking with me! I should’ve known. Ronnie says I take everything too serious.”
He walked away, leaving Arran chuckling after him. He liked Andy. Arran grabbed a shepherd’s pie, a roll, two apples, and a beer. There was a huge tub of bottled beer stuck in ice off to the side, and everyone had taken at least one.
Arran sat with other volunteers. Even though he’d been in this modern world a year and had learned much, he still found the people interesting to listen to. Especially when they came from different countries.
Many at the site were Brits, but there was also an equal number of Americans. There was the odd Irishman, Frenchman, and even a German or two.
Arran was content to listen to them talk of
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