Old James MacDougal

Amanda looked at her reflection in the mirror. Was she nuts to dress all in white? she wondered. Oh well, too late to change now!  She grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door.

She was thinking how eerie the road to Sams house was when she heard the familiar 'thump thump thump' of a flat tire.

"Oh Great! Just what I need!" she muttered under her breath as she pulled to the side of the road.  She turned off the car and looked around, hoping to spot a house where she could go for help, but to no avail.  This was a deserted spot in the road, miles from anywhere. 

With a sigh she got out and opened the trunk. "Oh, this is perfect! The one time I dress in all white, I end up having to change a tire! Now I'll end up with dirt and black stuff all over me!"

  As she bent over the inside of the trunk looking for the jack, she heard someone approaching. She turned and spotted a man walking towards her.  Her first thought was "Wow! He's hot!".  He stood over six feet tall with dark hair and the most beautiful blue eyes she'd ever seen.

"Need some help lass?" came the thick Scottish burr.  He had the most amazing voice!

"Yes...Please." Amanda answered, "Are you from Scotland?" she asked out of curiousity.

"Aye lass. That I am." he replied as he lifted the spare tire from the trunk.

She intoduced herself, "I'm Amanda."

"James MacDougal at your service" he replied with a slight bow that she thought was a little strange, but okay!

He made short work of changing the tire.

"Here.." Amanda reached for her purse as he replaced the tools in the trunk, "let me pay you for your help."

He turned and put a hand on her cheek, "There's no need lass. It's a grand pleasure to help a bonnie lass such as yerself."

Amanda could feel herself blushing. "Well.... thank you then. I really appreciate your help. Can I at least offer you a ride somewhere?"

He looked at her with eyes filled with sadness, "No lass. My home is just through the trees there." He pointed to the area at the side of the road.

Amanda turned to take her keys out of the trunk and also grabbed a bottle of water, she turned to offer him the water and he was gone! She looked high and low and couldn't see him anywhere.  She shrugged and returned to the car.

When she arrived at the party she apologized to the host telling him about her flat tire.
"How did you manage to change a tire without getting filthy dirty?" asked Mike.

"Oh! There was a man. He said he lived nearby and he changed it for me."

"Really?" asked Mike skeptically, "Where did you have your flat?"

"About 10 miles back." she replied, wondering at this line of questioning.

He looked at her strangely, "The only thing in that area is an old cemetary. The nearest house is at least 30 miles from here. What did this guy look like?"

As Amanda described the man that helped her. Mike's face turned white. "Oh! And he spoke with the most amazing Scottish burr!"

"Was his name, by any chance, James MacDougal?" he asked quitely.

"Yes! Do you know him?" she asked.

"You might say that." he replied with a wry grin, "Come with me."

He led her to the library and showed her  a picture hanging on the wall. "Was this the man?" he asked.

"Yes! But why do you have a painting of him?"

"This is my great-great-great-great grandfather, James MacDougal. He was an immigrant from Scotland. He was also a well known rakehell!  He had a way with the girls.  He died young when he was thrown from his horse, and is buried 10 miles down the road."

Amanda was stunned. She couldn't say a word. Mike offered her a glass of whiskey and she downed it, once she came to her senses she smiled wryly. 

"Well..." she laughed, "it certainly gives me a story to tell around the campfire!"

Mike laughed and took her hand and they joined the others agreeing not to discuss the incident again.