“Together?” Brontë looked up at Tris processing what Donell said and imagining the potential impact. “We can save more lives.”
Donell shook his head. “I think ye’re getting ahead of yerself, lass.”
“We could stop the war itself,” Tris said with an ambitious light in his eyes. He looked at the older man. “Is that possible?”
“Major changes are no’ as easy to orchestrate as ye might think, but ye’re welcome to try,” he said. “I’ll no’ be there to clean up after ye. I’ve got bigger fish to fry, so ye’re on yer own, ye ken?”
It sank in then, what he was saying. A challenge they could take on together.
They were on their own.
“Do you mean it? We can stay together?”
“Hae ye no’ been listening to a word I’ve said, ye daft lass? Aye, together.” Donell pulled a device identical to the one he’d given her out of his pocket. “The center of the circle returns ye to the time ye left. If ye press here,” — he slid his finger up and another smaller ring appeared above the other — “it will bring ye to yer true time. That is, if ye were say, traveling about the world for six weeks for yer man’s job in...oh, time management, let’s say, ye’d return six weeks after ye left. Natural time progression, ye see? For as long as ye care to live two lives, they will be there for ye.”
Brontë smiled up at Tris, a world of possibilities before them. “And if I can turn time back, can I move it forward, too?”
“That functionality has been disabled on this particular model.” He tipped back his cap and scratched his head. “Dinnae fash so about the future, lass. Ye’ve a whole life to live.”
Yes, she did.
A life with rewards and purpose where she could make a difference and if not change the world completely, at least spark change for the future.
A life with Tris.
The Scot she thought she’d been destined to remember as a piece of the past had become her future. There was no doubt in her mind or uncertainty in her heart. Theirs was a love meant to defy fate and endure. He would be hers for the rest of her days. There to inspire, to share in triumphs and console in defeat. By her side. In her heart. Her arms.
Forever.
The love for all time that she dreamed of had become reality. He was everything she’d ever hoped for...even her trickle down man.
His strong arm slipped around her waist and drew her close. Her joy reflected in his green eyes as he looked down at her. “Didn’t I say ye would be my own forever?”
“You did.” She nodded.
His lips softened to mold to hers as they met and settled in for a long, drowning kiss. A firm hand at the small of her back held her flush against him as his mouth played on hers. She needed no encouragement to stay close. She was where she meant to be for the rest of her life. Looping her arms around his neck, she melted against him, kissing him back with all the passion and promise in her heart.
“Good morni —” Violet’s greeting cut off with a chuckle as Tris and Brontë drew apart...Their lips, in any case. “Well! It is a good morning, isn’t it? Why Donell, you old dear, what are you doing here? It’s been ages!”
Brontë shook her head, disbelief warring with amusement as Donell took her grandmother’s hand and kissed her cheek. “Vi, ye’re looking as bonny as ever. Merely stopped by to pick up my car. I lent it to yer granddaughter.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you knew each other.”
Tris pressed his lips to Brontë’s temple with a chuckle. “We may have the power to see time, but we’ll never know everything, will we?”
She smiled up at him knowing their future would be as bright as the adoration shining in his eyes. “As long as I know you love me, I’m all good.”
“Then, aye my love, we’re all good. For all the years to come.”
Epilogue
“YOU’RE GOING TO TRAVEL six months out of the year?”
“We kind of have to. For his work, you see?” Brontë told her grandmother while they washed the dishes together that night, standing side by side at the sink. “We’ll be back and forth. Three months in and three months away to begin with and then we’ll go from there. There may be areas” — vast areas in time — “where I’ll be unable to text or email. Are you certain you’ll be okay with that?”
Violet pursed her lips. “I lived for many a year by myself before you came around, dear. I’m sure I can handle myself adequately as long as I know you’re happy.”
“I am” She smiled at Tris.
Her grandmother looked between them with a satisfied smile. “Aye, I can see you are.”
“I was wondering, Granny. Would you mind if Aila moved in here while we’re away?” Brontë asked. “I know you like her, and she adores you.”
“We’re kindred bitches.”
With an affectionate laugh, Brontë shook her head. “Language, Granny. You don’t mind then? Since she broke up with her boyfriend, I’d feel better knowing Aila had someone to look after her.”
“Not the other way around?”
“Obviously.”
They shared a grin and her grandmother flicked her fingers at Brontë, sending fluffy tufts of suds at her. Tris snatched the china plate from Violet’s hand before it slipped and fell, and dried it with the towel he held at the ready. His first go ’round in domesticity. He was handling it well.
“Fine.” Violet relented with a dramatic sigh.
Tris tossed the dishtowel over his shoulder as if he’d been doing dishes forever and leaned his hips back against the counter. “I’ve a cousin of sorts, as well, who might do well under your guidance. If you’d be so kind as to take her on.”
Brontë cocked a brow at him. “Who?”
“Hannah.”
Her lips rounded into a circle of comprehension as she considered the possibility. He was right. Hannah was at odds with her time and the life she was confined to lead. Her immediate future provided her no happiness or gratification. Besides, there was more to her than met the eye. A spoonful of a different life might be just what she needed.
If they could figure out a way to ease her into the notion, that is.
“I’ll be happy to help your cousin,” Granny said as shifted her smile to Tris. “As long as you’ll be keeping my granddaughter safe?”
He nodded and took the wet plate she held out to him. He retrieved the towel from his shoulder to wipe it dry. “Aye, ma’am. She’s my greatest treasure. I’ll no’ let any harm come to her.”
Violet’s eyes grew suspiciously shiny before she focused on the sink full of dishes once more. “You should know she can be overly sensitive.”
“Granny!”
Tris nodded again with a charming grin that showed off his dimples. “Aye, ma’am. I’m well aware.”
“She’s impulsive,” Violet went on with a hint of sass in her tone. “You’ll be needing to reel her in every now and then.”
“I’ve been known to fish now and again as I’m certain Brontë will be happy to affirm.”
“Tris! Granny, really,” Brontë protested, flinging her wets hands at both of them while the pair shared a smile. “I’m not sure I like the two of you teaming up against me.”
Violet took her hand in hers, suds and all, and touched her forehead to Brontë’s. “I’m merely gaining some assurance that you won’t lack in a capable verbal sparring partner in my absence. He seems a fine lad.”
“He is.” Brontë wrapped her wet hands around her grandmother’s frail shoulders and hugged her close. “Either way, I’ll miss you every day I’m gone.”
“Good. Violet hugged her back with ferocity belying her age. “Then you’ll appreciate me all the more when you’re back.”
They broke apart with another smile, though this time there was a tear blurring Brontë’s vision.
“Oh, pish! None of that,” her grandmother scolded. “I’ll be happy knowing you’ve found the love you needed in your life.”
Tris wiped the tear from Brontë’s cheek w
ith a nod. “Aye, she has.”
The unique compression of joy Tris brought to the region of her heart roused itself again. Yes, this time everything she’d wanted in life was also exactly what she’d needed. At last, she was able to look to the future...and the past with optimism.
“Besides,” Granny continued. “Donell has promised to stop in now and again to check up on me.”
Brontë took in her grandmother’s blushing cheeks and blinked in horror. “He did not!”
“He did.”
God, she was going to have to have a long talk with that wily old Scot.
The Something About a Highlander series
will continue in the fall of 2019 with
Also by Angeline Fortin
Regency Historical Romance
Once Again, My Laird ~ A Tale of Pride & Penitence
The Questions for a Highlander Series:
A Question of Love
A Question of Trust
A Question of Lust
The Perfect Question
A Question for Harry
A Question Worth Asking
The Laird for All Time Series:
A Laird for All Time
A Time & Place for Every Laird
Taken: A Laird for All Time Novel
Love in the Time of a Highland Laird
A Laird to Hold
Time Travel Romance:
Nothing But Time
My Heart’s in the Highlands
Short Stories:
In The Holiday Spirit in Spirits of the Season anthology
Author Notes
I HOPE YOU’VE ENJOYED this first installment in my new time travel series, Something About a Highlander. I promised a surprise for those readers who’ve also read my Victorian Historical Romance series, Questions for a Highlander, and I hope it was enjoyed by you all. Tristram MacKintosh was depicted as a wee lad in the series, son of Richard and Abby from The Perfect Question, book four in the series. Hazel/Hazy as a little girl in book six, A Question Worth Asking. Hannah is Kitty’s daughter from A Question of Trust, book two. The other members of the MacKintosh family I reference are other main characters of that series about the ten brothers and single sister of the clan. Having such a ready and established family to draw characters from made building the past easy.
Donell has become a fan favorite, there’s no way I could leave him out of this. Having completed his previous mission in the Laird For All Time series, he’s back with a new plan to save the future for all mankind...with more of a direct approach this time around that I hope you appreciate.
The setting of this book was an easy for one for me to choose. I’ve longed to use the time period for years. It offers a wealth of history and beauty to draw on. The fashions of the Edwardian Era are a personal favorite of mine. But it is the tragedy that occurred in April of 1912 that has drawn me to the time the most. From a young age, I’ve always been intrigued and filled with sadness by story of the Titanic and its sinking. By the people who died on it and the ones who survived. Books — both fiction and non — depict each detail so clearly, you can almost see it. The exhibition of items salvaged from the wreckage of the Titanic bring it all to life, yet settle the sorrow for those lost deeper in my heart.
Though Henry and Tris were saved from death aboard the ship in this book, I didn’t get a chance to truly describe it as much as I would like. Future installments in this series will give me that chance at long last! I hope I’ve intrigued you enough to continue on with the series!
Lastly, please remember while success for me personally is measured in bringing you joy, a moment of emotion, and escape from the hectic thing that is life, it is also measured by the quality and quantity of the reviews my books receive. They don’t just help other readers decide to spend their time and money on a book, they help me, too. I read each one that is posted. I take what you say to heart and use it to improve and grow.
If you would take a few minutes of your time to leave a review, I’d be grateful.
All the best,
Angeline
About the Author
ANGELINE FORTIN IS the author of historical and time-travel romance offering her readers a fun, sexy and often touching tales of romance.
Her time travel romance, Taken: A Laird for All Time Novel, was awarded the Virginia Romance Writers 2015 Holt Medallion Award for Paranormal Romance.
She is a PAN member of the Romance Writers of America and Midwest Fiction Writers.
With a degree in US History from UNLV and having previously worked as a historical interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, Angeline brings her love of history and Great Britain to the forefront in settings such as Victorian London and Edinburgh.
As a former military wife, Angeline has lived from the west coast to the east, from the north and to the south and uses those experiences along with her favorite places to tie into her time travel novels as well.
Angeline is a native Minnesotan who lives in Apple Valley outside the Twin Cities with her husband, two children and four dogs. She is a wine enthusiast, DIY addict (much to her husband's chagrin) and sports fanatic who faithfully cheers for the Twins and Vikings through their occasional highs and average lows.
Most of all she loves what she does every day - writing.
You can check out her website http://www.angelinefortin.com for summaries off all her books, companion information and sign up for her newsletter for news about upcoming releases. You can send her a message at mailto:[email protected].
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Copyright © 2019 Angeline Fortin
All rights reserved.
Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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A Scot to Remember Page 33
