"Maybe not. I don't care."
"You should care. If you wind up destitute and still can't prove the treasure exists, what will you do?"
"I'll worry about that when and if it happens."
He flattens his lips and studies me for a moment. "Even if you don't care what happens to you, I do."
Errol shuts the door.
I watch him walk around to the driver's side. He cares what happens to me? I can't understand why. We don't know each other well. But he sounded completely sincere when he told me that.
During our meal, we agreed that we need to go to a bigger town to shop for equipment. Errol suggested Inverness. It's three hours away from Loch Fairbairn, and I expect we will endure the trip in silence or maybe listen to the radio. Instead, Errol tells me about his huge extended family. The MacTaggarts really are a wild bunch, though I still think Errol is the wildest by far. He loves to blow things up, for heaven's sake. But he swears his cousin Munro is even crazier.
"He's known as the Wild Man," Errol says. "He earned that nickname, and he's very proud of it. But let me tell you more about Logan…"
Every story he shares makes me laugh. His cousins are strange, for sure, but I can tell he has genuine affection for every single one of them. I don't have cousins. All my grandparents passed away years ago, and my mom is gone too, which leaves just me and my dad. I can't comprehend having a huge pool of cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Our shopping excursion is successful, netting us nearly all the supplies we'd hoped to find. Errol tells me he will need to "acquire" a few more "specialty items," but that I don't need to worry about that. Since the last "specialty item" he showed me turned out to be a land mine, I do worry. What crazy thing will he "acquire" this time?
Despite his weirdness and his cavalier attitude toward explosives, I do trust Errol. I believe he would never knowingly hurt me or lie to me.
On the drive back to Loch Fairbairn, Errol tells me even more stories about his family. I feel like I need to reciprocate, so I relate some stories from my adventures in the field with my dad. My experiences aren't anywhere near as wacky and entertaining as his tales of the MacTaggart clan, but he seems to enjoy listening to them anyway.
"Have you ever been married?" Errol asks after I've finished my last story.
"I was engaged once, but it didn't work out."
"What happened?"
"He screwed my maid of honor in the cloakroom of the venue where we held the rehearsal dinner—during the rehearsal dinner. Everyone heard them. They didn't even try to be sneaky about it."
"That's horrible. I hope you gave thecacana right skelping."
I glance at him sideways. "Not sure if I did that, since I have no idea what you just said."
"Acacanis a wee shit. I said I hope you smacked him about."
"No, I didn't do that. I threw a glass of champagne in his face, and the next day, I pawned the damn engagement ring."
"Good for you,gràidh."
"Don't congratulate me. I also cried for the better part of two days. A strong woman would've walked away and never looked back."
"That's rubbish." Errol holds the wheel with one hand so he can clasp mine. "Even strong women cry. Strong men can too. Real strength comes from picking yourself up again after a devastating blow. You've done that."
"How do you know?"
"Because you're here, fighting to prove your father was right about the Grand Canyon treasure." He squeezes my hand. "You are a force to be reckoned with, Ashley."
My eyes sting, like I might cry. But it's not shame causing that reaction. I want to cry because Errol just gave me the best compliment, and for the first time in my adult life, I feel like I have someone besides my dad on my side, someone who will never betray me or ridicule me. "Thank you, Errol. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."
"It's the truth, that's all."
"You honestly are a gentleman. And a sweetheart too. Not crazy at all, just quirky."
"Donnae spread that rumor. Can't have my image as the fire starter tarnished."
I lay my hand over his on my thigh. "You like for everyone to think you're a lunatic?"