“Best get yer pole set up,” Jude said as he rose and headed toward Hugh who had made his way to the river’s edge.
“What should we use for bait?” Hugh asked as he watched Jude tie off one line from a large pole. Turning his head, Jude gave his son a quick wink.
“There is an art to this,” Jude said remembering how his father once taught him how to fish from the streams and creeks. “Ye have to be quick about it,” Jude said as he slipped off his shoes and peeled his stockings from his legs.
Exposing his bare feet, Hugh didn’t hesitate to follow and quickly tugged out of his shoes and socks, then walked over to his father at the water’s edge. With the pole in hand and a long string dangling from it, Jude glanced over at Hugh and smiled. “Are ye ready?”
Hugh nodded as he studied Jude intently.
“The trick is,” Jude said as he stepped into the water. Instantly, Jude wished he was back on the dry ground. The water that flowed over his feet was beyond chilling, it was icy. Chills raced up his spine. Yet he was determined to show his son what to do with the pole and spend the quality time Hugh so deserved. Standing ankle-deep in the water as it flowed violently around his legs, Jude looked to Hugh.
“Ye have to get a good stance,” Jude said, “less the river take ye away with it. The last thing I need is to go swimmin’ in this freezin’ water. I want ye to be careful when fishin’ out here, do ye understand?”
Hugh nodded his head frantically as Jude moved closer to the water and dipped his hands into the river.
“Ye have to watch which way the waters are flowin’ using the string on the end of the pole. And just when ye think they’re gonna be under yer fingertips,” Jude said as he dove his hands and pulled up his hands in a flash. Hugh’s eyes widened as he noticed his father had caught a fish by its mouth.
“How did ye?” Hugh asked as the fish floundered about in the air. Jude smiled as the fish flapped its tail about, spraying water on him. Hugh clapped his hands with joy as his face beamed with pride for his dad.
“Me turn, me turn,” Hugh said as he moved slowly towards Jude. Keeping his eyes locked on Hugh, Jude couldn’t help feeling a bit worried his son would slip. After all, the waters were rough and the current could easily catch Hugh off balance and send him floating down stream.
“Careful now, the rocks are slippery,” Jude said as he glanced over his shoulder to Aidan who was standing like a sentinel watching over them on the banks of the river.
“Should we release it, or should we have it for dinner tonight?” Jude asked as he clamped harder around the fish’s mouth and measured the size of it.
“I daenae ken, what do ye think? Do ye think Cleo would want this for dinner tonight?” Hugh asked glancing up to his father. Jude smiled and shrugged.
“I daenae even ken if she’s ever had this before,” Jude said, “it could be a delicacy for her. Who kens?”
Jude looked at the fish once more before he tossed it to the bank. It landed hard on the rocks and flopped around a bit as Hugh laughed.
“I’ll handle this,” Aidan said as he snatched the fish up before it could flop and spring back into the current of the river.
Jude watched as Aidan pulled a dagger from his side. A sharp pang shot through Jude as he watched Aidan in the corner of his eye. He tried not to think too much about the soldier who had come as their protection, yet there was an odd feeling that sprang from Jude. Trying not to pay too much attention to Aidan, Jude kept his hands on Hugh as his son tried to pluck his own fish from the water.
“Everythin’ all right there?” Jude asked as Aidan’s eyes shifted slowly to Jude.
“How much easier it would have been if ye’d just eatin’ the porridge,” Aidan mumbled. “I dinnae want to have to do it this way, but ye’ve left me nay other choice.”
“Excuse me?” Jude said as his hand was on Hugh pulling the boy closer to him. Aidan glared at the two of them as he brandished the dagger. The light of the sun shifting through the clouds caused the blade to sparkle in the light before turning dull.
“If it wasnae for that wench of yers,” Aiden said, “we wouldnae be here now. Things would have transitioned so much smoother.”
“What are ye talkin’ about, Aidan?” Jude said as he tried to step in front of Hugh to shield him from the soldier.
“Do ye ken how long it took me to make that batch? Even with that daft old man showin’ me what to do. I still couldnae get it right. Then I did and tested it. But it took days toilin’ away, only to have that wench take one sniff of the porridge to ken it was bad.”
“Hugh, stay behind me,” Jude whispered over his shoulder as he tried to keep Hugh from seeing Aidan’s face. The last thing he needed was for Hugh to get in the way or lose him in the river which flowed violently around their ankles Jude knew one false step and the current would sweep the boy away.
“Do ye have any idea how long it took toilin’ away to get the concoction just right? Of course, ye daenae have a clue. Ye daenae think about these things. Ye’ve been handed everythin’ on a silver platter as if it was yer right to have such things. But it’s nae.”
“What are ye talkin’ about!?” Jude demanded as he looked around for some kind of weapon that he could use against Aidan if he were to attack them. The only thought
