by Jennae Vale
“I forgot all about her.” Jenna had dropped the lead rope without thinking when Cormac picked her up and Rose had been happy to graze the nearby grass. “I’m sorry, Rose, I didn’t mean to ignore you,” Jenna apologized to the horse, who put her head back down and continued to graze.
“We should head back,” Cormac suggested. They had been out with Rose for quite a while, but Jenna was not at all bored. In fact, she had begun to wish this day could last forever.
“Do we have to?” she asked.
“I’m afraid so. I promised Ashley I wouldn’t keep ye out too long. She would like to spend some time with ye herself.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Jenna wanted to be certain it was okay with Cormac. If he said he wanted to spend the rest of the day alone with her, she was more than happy to do so.
“Nae. She is yer good friend and it has been a long time since ye’ve seen her. I have duties to attend to and I’ll see ye later at the evening meal.”
“Cormac. I have to ask you a question.”
“Anything, lass. I’ve told ye, I’ll always answer ye truthfully.”
“I know. But you were less than truthful with me in San Francisco. You never told me about Ashley. I don’t understand why.”
“It may not make any sense to ye, but I didnae tell ye because I wanted ye to come back to Breaghacraig with me. But I wanted to be the reason ye came. If I told ye Ashley was here, ye would have returned with me, but for her, not for me.” He paused and waited for Jenna to speak. When she didn’t he continued. “I hope ye can understand and forgive me for not telling ye the whole truth.”
“I probably wouldn’t have believed you anyway. I thought you and Dylan were playing some elaborate joke on me. And besides, it turned out to be the best surprise.”
“Aye. It was a surprise for the both of ye.”
TWENTY-FOUR
“Ashley!” Jenna called to her friend from across the courtyard and saw Ashley wave and smile a greeting.
“Jenna,” Ashley headed her way. “I see you took Rose out for a walk. How was it?”
“It was wonderful. Rose is very sweet and Cormac was so patient with me. I learned a lot today.” Jenna smiled up at Cormac, who leaned down and gave her a quick kiss.
“I’ll leave ye to yer friend,” Cormac said. Ashley stood on tiptoe and gave Cormac a kiss on the cheek.
“We’ll see you later, Cormac,” Ashley said, watching as he strode away towards the barracks. “Oh, and Cormac!” Ashley called. He turned back to see what she needed. “Thank you again for the peach gummies,” she announced, popping one into her mouth.
“Where’s he going?” Jenna asked curiously.
“Probably to the practice field with the other men. They work there every day.”
Jenna raised an eyebrow. “Doing what?”
“They practice with their swords and bows. It’s fun to watch. Sometimes I go up on the battlements and take a peek.” Ashley giggled at revealing her guilty pleasure. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
Ashley took Jenna by the hand and headed for the stairs leading up to the battlements. They reached the top and made their way past the guards, who were stationed at regular intervals around the perimeter.
Ashley seemed to know them all by name. She exchanged greetings with them and continued to drag Jenna along until they came to the overlook of the practice field. “Here.” She pulled Jenna closer and pointed down to a field filled with shirtless men in kilts. They all wielded some sort of weapon, and looked utterly amazing while doing so.
“Wow! This is quite the sight,” Jenna gasped audibly. “Where’s Cormac?”
“There,” Ashley pointed to the figure of a tall, handsome, and extremely well built man whom Jenna recognized immediately as Cormac. “Try not to drool, my dear.”
Jenna giggled self-consciously. “Is Cailin out there, too?”
“Mmhmm. And Robert.”
“And Dougall,” another female voice announced from behind them.
“Oh, hi, Helene,” Ashley greeted the other young woman.
“And what are you two ladies doing up here, might I ask?” Helene asked with a mischievous grin.
“I dare say we’re doing the same thing you are, missy,” Ashley teased.
Jenna returned her gaze to the men in question. She had to admit, they were a seriously good-looking group of men. She’d never seen anything quite like it back at home. “Do they know we’re up here?”
“I’m sure they do, but they’re busy trying not to get bonked over the head with a sword,” Ashley laughed.
“Dougall teases me about it all the time. I told him I’d nae come up here again and he admitted that he liked knowing that I was watching him.”
“It’s true. I know Cailin enjoys it. And it makes for some pretty amazing sex later on.”
“Ashley!” Jenna was shocked at her friend’s honesty.
“What? I can’t help it if I have the hottest husband in all of Scotland.”
The three women burst out laughing and Jenna had to admit that this was better than any sporting event she’d ever been to. Ashley handed out more candy. It was Helene’s first taste and her facial expressions went from surprise, to deep concentration, to joy. She held out her hand for another.
“Are you and Dougall married, Helene?” Jenna wanted to know.
“Nae yet, but I’m hoping he’ll ask me soon,” Helene blushed.
Jenna returned her focus to Cormac, who was looking amazingly hot. She couldn’t take her eyes off him and was disappointed when Ashley suggested they head back down for some tea.
“Come on. They do this every day. We’ll come back tomorrow if you like,” she coaxed.
“Okay.” She begrudgingly let Ashley tear her away from their spot on the battlements.
Once inside the castle, Helene went off on her own to see to some work and that left Ashley and Jenna alone. They went and sat beside the fire, where they warmed their hands after the brusque weather outside.
“I’ll go get us some tea and see if there are any sweet cakes around. I’ll be right back,” Ashley announced.
Jenna was about to offer to go along with her, when Irene entered the room. The tension was thick between them and Jenna was uncomfortable.
“Hi, Irene. I’m going to get some tea. Shall I have them bring some for you, too?” Ashley asked.
“That would be lovely, Ashley. I’d be pleased to sit with Jenna while yer gone,” Irene said.
“Be right back,” Ashley said as she headed out of the room.
There was an awkward silence, and Jenna stared down at her hands rather than look at Irene. The look on Irene’s face when she’d first come into the room told Jenna that she was probably not Irene’s favorite person.
“Well, Jenna, how are ye enjoying yer stay at Breaghacraig?” Irene suddenly asked.
“I’m enjoying it very much. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Of course. Me brothers are very important to me and if Cormac wants you here, then you are welcome here.” Irene sat stiffly across from Jenna, with a serious expression on her face. “Jenna, I hope that ye willnae break me brother’s heart. It is obvious to me that he cares deeply for ye. I dinnae wish to see him hurt.”
Jenna sighed heavily before she responded. “I don’t wish to hurt him, Irene. This is an awkward situation for the both of us. A meddling witch was certainly not something I ever believed I would come across. When Cormac arrived out of the fog in San Francisco, I had no idea he was from another time. I didn’t believe it. Coming here with Cormac was not my doing, so if you have a problem with it, I suggest you speak with Edna. Cormac and I are just the unfortunate recipients of her matchmaking scheme.” Jenna was feeling a bit defensive as she sat here with Irene’s eyes boring holes right through her.
Irene softened her tone a bit. “Jenna, I dinnae mean to accuse ye of anything. I understand this was nae yer choice, but I ask ye not to give me brother false hope.”
“I care deeply
for Cormac, too. I would never purposely hurt him. I don’t want to be hurt either, but I’m not sure how to avoid that at this point. I will be leaving when the time comes and I will be very sad to leave him behind, but I cannot stay here.”
“Why?” Irene asked.
“Why? How could I? I, I… I’m used to my life in San Francisco.” Jenna knew her response didn’t sound very convincing. Surely, she could come up with something better than that. Irene had her feeling off-kilter and that was the problem.
“Ashley did it. She came from San Francisco and she has fit right in here with us. I believe you could, as well. We would welcome you here, just as we’ve welcomed Ashley. She is a loved member of our family now.”
“I’m not Ashley,” Jenna said firmly.
“I know that ye aren’t. I just ask that ye take the time ye’ve been given to consider a life here at Breaghacraig.”
“The tea’s coming and I managed to get some sweet cakes, too,” Ashley announced, walking in and settling into a chair by the fire. She glanced from Irene to Jenna and back again, lifting an eyebrow. “What are you two so serious about?”
“Oh, nothing. We were just talking about Breaghacraig,” Jenna replied breezily.
The servant arrived with the tea and cakes and served the ladies while they sat by the fire.
“Don’t you just love it?” Ashley asked. “I’m certain Breaghacraig is the most beautiful place on earth.”
Jenna didn’t answer. Instead, she sipped her tea and carefully examined the sweet cakes on the tray in front of her.
“I have something to share with the two of you,” Ashley said excitedly. “I haven’t told a soul. Well, I’ve told Cailin, but I swore him to secrecy.”
“What is it?” Irene questioned.
“I’m pregnant,” Ashley blurted out. “I think I’m about three months along, but I wanted to be certain before I said anything.”
“Ashley! That’s amazing news! Congratulations!” Jenna gushed.
“Ashley, I am so pleased to hear yer news,” Irene took Ashley’s hand and rubbed it gently between her own. “You are going to be a wonderful mother.”
“How are you feeling? Have you had any morning sickness?” Jenna questioned.
“No. None at all. That’s why I wasn’t sure. I’ve always heard stories of women being really nauseous all the time and I’ve been so lucky so far. Not even sick once.” Ashley was beaming. “I wanted you two to be the first to know. Cailin has been a bit over-protective though. He won’t let me carry anything heavy and he’s always right at my elbow, making sure I don’t fall down. I mean, honestly, I’ve been walking practically my entire life. Does he think, all of a sudden I’m going to forget how?” Ashley laughed at the silliness of it all.
“He’s just concerned for yer safety, ‘tis all,” Irene said. “He loves ye so much, Ashley.”
“I’m sure he’ll lighten up, once he realizes that you won’t break,” Jenna agreed. Thinking back to the day she arrived, she couldn’t help but wonder. “So the day I got here, he was trying to keep you from running over to me. I guess that was because he was afraid you’d fall?”
“He’s so sweet and concerned. I can’t get mad at him about it. I think he’s going to tell Cormac and Robert today. He’s just about bursting with keeping the secret.”
“So, in six more months, my best friend is going to be a Mommy. I can’t believe it!” Jenna said.
“The way my life was going last year, I wouldn’t have believed it either,” Ashley said. “But now, I’m the happiest woman on the planet!”
“Ashley, we’ll have to start making baby clothes, don’t ye agree?” Irene seemed to be calculating in her head just how many things they could manage to make before the baby was due.
“I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right,” Ashley agreed.
“Maybe someone could throw you a baby shower,” Jenna suggested.
“A what?” Irene asked.
“Oh, you know - a bunch of women friends get together and bring gifts for the baby and they play games and eat. In 2014, that’s what we do,” Jenna explained. “That way, the new Mom has everything she needs when her baby arrives.”
“We could do that, Ashley. We would invite Lady Lena, Kenna, Helene and the other women of the clan,” Irene agreed enthusiastically.
“I would love that,” Ashley beamed with delight.
Jenna suddenly felt very sad. Her very best friend in the world was going to have a baby and she wouldn’t be around to celebrate with her.
“Is everything okay, Jenna,” Ashley queried.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I just wish I could be here when the baby is born,” Jenna explained quietly.
“Then stay,” Ashley begged. “Please, I’d feel so much happier knowing that you were going to be here with me.”
“I can’t, Ashley. I just can’t.” Jenna was determined she was not going to have this conversation. She was leaving and nothing anyone could say would make her feel differently.
Irene grasped Ashley’s hand a little tighter when Ashley seemed visibly deflated by this announcement. “Dinnae fash, love,” Irene comforted her. “Ye’ll have many to help ye. All will be well, ye’ll see.”
A sense of not belonging began to overwhelm Jenna. “I think I’m going to lie down for a while. I’ll see you later.” She was miserable and needed to distance herself from her friend and from her own emotions. There was no way she could even begin to explain to anyone how she felt - jealous, angry, sad, lost, confused and as if she needed to get as far away from Breaghacraig as possible.
***
“So, brother, what is this news ye have for us?” Cormac asked.
“Ashley has finally given me permission to tell ye,” Cailin started.
“Why do ye need yer wife’s permission to share a story with us?” Robert interrupted with a knowing smile.
“I’m sure ye know why, Robert,” Cailin answered.
“Well, come on, out with it.” Cormac was impatient to hear the news.
“Ashley is with child,” Cailin announced proudly and he immediately found himself being pounded on the back by both men.
“Congratulations to ye,” Robert said. “When is the happy event to take place?”
“Ashley says ‘twill be in about six months,” Cailin beamed.
“Brother, ‘tis wonderful news. I am so happy for ye both,” Cormac added.
“Thank ye, Cormac,” Cailin said. “I must admit, I’ve been a bit worried about leaving Ashley’s side. She is a stubborn lass and would do many things that might nae be good for the bairn.”
Robert laughed at that. “Cailin, dinnae fash, Ashley will be fine. I’ve been through this enough times to know it.”
“Aye, now that I think on it, I dinnae believe I ever saw Irene allow Robert to carry her up and down the stairs,” Cormac teased.
“If I had tried to hold her back from hurrying about the castle, she’d have taken me head,” Robert agreed.
“Yer right. Ashley willnae put up with it for much longer, I fear. I will try to stop meself from being over-protective.”
The three had left the practice field and were walking towards the stables. “A ride would do ye good,” Cormac suggested.
“Aye,” Cailin agreed.
“I have some business to attend to inside, so I’ll leave ye both here,” Robert said. He clapped Cailin on the back one more time and was off.
“Cormac, what of this lass ye brought home with ye? Do ye think she’ll stay?”
“I dinnae think she wishes it,” Cormac reported sadly.
“Ye must try to convince her then.”
“‘Tis what I plan to do, but I dinnae hold out much hope that she’ll change her mind.”
“Let’s get our horses and mayhap we’ll come up with some brilliant plan to get her to stay,” Cailin said with confidence.
They brushed and saddled their horses and were out the gate and on their way in less than thirty minutes. They travelle
d at a leisurely pace past the little cottages that were scattered along the path to the castle. Happy clan members greeted them as they passed. Many offered food or drink if they’d care to stop and talk. The brothers politely refused, after making sure that there was no serious need for their help. They had just arrived at the tree line and were about to enter the woods when movement off to their right caught both their eyes. Cormac froze in his saddle at the sight before him.
“I dinnae believe it,” he said, as he urged Saidear into a canter. Cailin followed suit with Cadeyrn, his massive chestnut stallion.
“Who are they?” Cailin wanted to know.
“They’re from the future. ‘Tis Jenna’s former husband and a waitress named Sophia.”
“How did they get here?”
“‘Tis a long story, but the last I saw of them, they were with Sir Richard.”
“Sir Richard? When were ye going to tell us about him?” Cailin asked, concern written all over his handsome face.
“I’m sorry, Cailin. I guess it slipped my mind. I was so happy to be home and I’ve had Jenna on my mind almost constantly.”
“When we get back to Breaghacraig, I expect to hear the whole story,” Cailin demanded.
“Of course,” Cormac agreed as they came up beside Jonathan and Sophia. “What are ye doing here?” Cormac demanded.
“Thank goodness you found us, Cormac,” Sophia said. “We’ve been wandering around in the woods ever since we got here.”
“We need some help to get back home,” Jonathan said.
Cormac couldn’t help but be wary of Jonathan’s motives. He didn’t mention Sir Richard to them, instead waiting to see what they were about.
“Ye’ll have to come with us,” Cailin said. “No decisions will be made out here. The others must know of yer arrival.”
“Sure thing, dude,” Jonathan said.
Cormac smelled a rat. He knew they were up to something. He looked around for Sir Richard, but he was not visible anywhere nearby. “Just keep heading towards the castle. We’ll be right behind ye.”
Sophia looked up at Cormac adoringly and spared an appreciative glance for Cailin. She started walking and Jonathan fell into step beside her. Cormac held back and let them get a good distance ahead of them before he spoke to Cailin.
