by Jennae Vale
“Yeah. I’m just thinking.”
“Well, don’t think too hard, babe. You might hurt yourself,” Jonathan barked, a crazy laugh escaping his lips.
“Jonathan, could we stop for a minute,” Sophia pleaded.
“No.”
“I’ve gotta pee… please, Jonathan,” Sophia begged.
Jenna wasn’t sure if this was a ploy to buy them more time, but she was grateful that Sophia would even attempt to delay their movements.
“Fine. Make it fast. And you,” he pointed at Jenna. “Stay where you are.”
Sophia disappeared behind some bushes, and when she didn’t reappear in a reasonable amount of time, Jonathan’s frustration started to show.
“Sophia!” he yelled. “Get your ass back on that horse. We’ve got to go! Believe me, I don’t have a problem leaving you here all alone.”
Jenna believed him. “Sophia, let’s go,” she suggested anxiously.
“Okay,” a voice came from behind the bushes. “I’ll be right there.” The rustling of the leaves let them know Sophia was on her way back as she appeared out of the bushes and headed to her horse.
“I didn’t know you knew how to ride, Jonathan,” Jenna commented.
Jonathan shrugged nonchalantly. “Nothing to it. I watched some of the guys at the castle and figured I could pull it off.”
“And what about you, Sophia?” Jenna asked.
“My family had a ranch out in the central valley. We had horses, cows, and chickens. I learned to ride almost before I could walk.”
“I’ve just learned,” Jenna said. “Cormac taught me.”
“Awww… isn’t that sweet? True love at last. So sorry you won’t get to enjoy it,” Jonathan said derisively, and then laughed that maniacal cackle again. It sent a chill down Jenna’s spine. “Oh, wait. I’m not sorry.”
“I didn’t think you would be. You know, Jonathan, no matter how much money you get from that insurance policy, it’s never going to be enough, if you don’t stop gambling.”
“I don’t need you to tell me what I should do. It’ll last me long enough and then I’ll find another rich bitch to take advantage of,” Jonathan sneered.
After hours of riding and getting lost, despite Jonathan’s supposed excellent sense of direction, they were approaching the bridge and Jenna couldn’t think of a single thing she could do to slow them up further. She could only hope the fog wouldn’t appear.
“What if the fog doesn’t show up?” she asked.
“We’ll wait,” Jonathan stated.
“Cormac is bound to come looking for me,” Jenna said.
“Well, he can look all he wants. I’ve got the gun. Gun trumps sword, every time.”
Jenna shuddered to think what would happen if Cormac did show up. She suddenly hoped he wouldn’t. She didn’t want to see him hurt or worse, killed, trying to save her. She suddenly found herself praying he’d stay away.
“Sophia, do you think Cormac and Latharn will be okay?” she asked.
“I hope so. Jonathan gave me the sleep potion and I poured it into the ale I was serving the men. It was just supposed to knock them out,” she explained. “That Sir Richard… I don’t know what his deal is, but he hates the MacKenzies. He said he didn’t want to get personally involved in Jonathan’s fight, but he didn’t mind helping from afar. He said he knew it would kill Cormac to lose you and he seemed pretty happy about the idea.” Sophia explained everything that had transpired between Jonathan and Sir Richard after they ran into him.
“Cormac told me Sir Richard had it in for the MacKenzies. You’re certain he went back to England?” Jenna asked quietly.
“He said he was. He rode off in the opposite direction, after he showed us how to get to Breaghacraig.”
“Jenna, what’s the secret to getting the fog to show up?” Jonathan demanded restlessly.
“I don’t know. It shows up on its own,” she replied honestly.
“Don’t lie to me! You know and you’d better tell me,” he threatened.
“Edna makes it happen,” Jenna said. “I’m not lying. I don’t know anything else.”
“Who’s Edna and where is she?” Jonathan was starting to look frazzled, as if he might lose it at any moment.
“She’s a witch and I don’t know where she is.” Jenna hoped he would believe her.
“A witch! Ha! You expect me to believe that,” he spat furiously.
“Jonathan, you travelled back in time - believing in a witch doesn’t seem that farfetched, does it?” Jenna’s patience with Jonathan was hanging by a thread. She knew she was walking a fine line and should avoid provoking him, or she might find herself dead sooner rather than later.
“Point taken,” he said. Jonathan began pacing back and forth at the foot of the bridge, when a shimmering light suddenly appeared on the other side. “What’s that?” he moved back away from the bridge.
The figure of a woman with blue hair appeared in front of them. She looked like a hologram, but Jenna knew it must be Edna. Jenna dismounted and moved as far away from Jonathan as possible.
“Young man,” Edna said. “I am afraid I am not in a position to send ye back home.”
Jonathan stared at her in disbelief. “What do you mean? You brought me here and now you’re going to send me back. And I’m taking Jenna with me.”
Sophia suddenly looked frightened and started shaking like a leaf. Jonathan was not planning to take Sophia back with him, Jenna realized. His plan had been to leave Sophia behind all along.
“Ye don’t seem to understand. Ye brought yerself here. I had nothing to do with it,” Edna explained carefully. “Ye went into the fog, looking for Jenna and were trapped by it and brought here. I cannot undo that which was not done by me. I’m sure ye understand.”
Jonathan pointed his gun at Sophia. “If you don’t send me back, I’m going to kill her.”
“Don’t be rash,” Edna said calmly. “Ye’ll need to give me some time, to see what I can do.”
“You better hurry up, I don’t have all day here,” Jonathan snapped.
“I’ll do my best, but put the gun down for now.”
Jonathan refused to do as she asked and instead stood silently watching Edna as she closed her eyes and threw back her head, arms flying out to the side. He was so mesmerized by the spectacle that Edna was creating that he didn’t notice when Sophia came up behind him intent on stealing his gun. They struggled for it and as they did, the fog began to swirl around Jenna. Jonathan saw what was happening and threw Sophia to the ground, trying to reach Jenna before she disappeared. Sophia stuck her leg out as he ran and tripped him. Jonathan quickly got back to his feet and turned on her, gun in hand.
“You’ve done it now, bitch. You’re not going to stop me again.” He started to pull the trigger as Cormac and Cailin came crashing through the brush. Jonathan fired the gun at Sophia while simultaneously turning in their direction. The shot missed her as she dove for the dirt. Sophia managed to get to her feet, running at him and knocking him to the ground. Jonathan grappled with Sophia for the gun and regaining possession of it, aimed it at her once again, but before he had a chance to fire the weapon, Latharn appeared out of nowhere and ran him through with his sword. The gun fell from Jonathan’s hand as he toppled to the ground, blood pouring from the wound he clutched with his hands. Seeing that he was obviously mortally wounded and no longer a threat, all eyes focused on the fog as it swirled up and away. Cormac leaped from his horse and tried to reach Jenna before she was gone, but he was too late, everything seemed to have happened in a split second of time. Jenna had left him, vanishing before his very eyes. He stared across the bridge to the spot where he’d last seen Edna, but she too had disappeared from sight. He sank to the ground in despair at the cruel twist of fate, which had taken his love from him before he could say a last goodbye.
THIRTY-ONE
Jenna landed with a thud and when the fog receded, she realized she was back in San Francisco. She hoped she was in the r
ight time. Everything seemed right, but after the events of the last few weeks, she wasn’t certain. The last thing she remembered before the fog swept her away, was seeing Cormac watching her with a pained expression on his face. Everything had happened so quickly, Jenna could hardly believe it. She’d had one more day to enjoy with Cormac in Breaghacraig. One more day. Jenna was grateful to Edna for saving her from Jonathan, but why had she sent her back early? She hadn’t been given the opportunity to say goodbye to Cormac. Would he know she hadn’t wanted to leave him?
Realization struck Jenna like a ton of bricks. She hadn’t wanted to leave him. Not when she did, and not if Edna had waited until the following day. She knew now, she would have stayed and made a life there with Cormac, Ashley and the MacKenzies. And instead, here she was, back in San Francisco. She’d screwed up the only good thing in her life. Could it be fixed? Only Edna could help her and there was no guarantee she’d ever show up again.
“Are you okay, Miss?” An elderly woman had stopped and was staring at Jenna.
Jenna nodded, and brushed off her clothes. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”
“Did you fall? I was walking along the marina and I didn’t see you, and then all of a sudden, there you were. Of course, my eyes aren’t what they used to be,” the woman said.
“I guess I did fall. Thanks for your concern. I’ll be okay now,” Jenna offered her a weak smile.
The woman walked away, leaving Jenna alone. Tears began to fall as Jenna started walking towards the home she shared with Dylan and Chester.
“Dylan!” she cried, when she walked through the front door. “Dylan, I’m home!” Silence greeted her. Where could he be? The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of just how alone she was without Cormac.
She wandered into the kitchen and saw a sink full of dirty dishes. “At least I know he’s in the city,” she said to herself. She went into her bedroom and sank sadly onto the bed. “I can’t do this without you, Cormac,” she cried. She picked up her cell phone, which was on the end table next to the bed and pulled up the photo she’d taken of the two of them together. Staring at it, she saw two very happy faces looking back at her. Next, she watched the short video she had of Cormac. I can’t believe this. I’m such an idiot. “Edna, if you can hear me. I want to go back. Please, let me go back.”
Nothing. This was it. This was her life. She’d have to figure it out. If no one was going to help her, she’d have to do it on her own. She’d find a way to get back to him. She had to.
Jenna heard the front door open and she ran out of her bedroom to find Dylan and Chester staring at her in disbelief. She ran straight into Dylan’s arms and he held her and let her cry until she had no tears left. Chester was leaning into her legs, trying to get as close to her as possible. He’d always hated to see her cry.
“Jenna, tell me what happened. Why are you back?” Dylan questioned.
“I don’t really know why I’m back. I mean, I guess I know, but it wasn’t what I wanted. It’s just what happened.”
“Tell me all about it,” Dylan guided her towards the living room where she sat beside him on the sofa. “Are you okay? Can you talk about it?”
“Yeah. It’s all so unbelievable. I thought you were pulling a prank on me, but you weren’t.”
“I told you I wasn’t,” Dylan said.
“I know. I know. You have to admit though, time travel seems like something that only exists in fictional stories and in the minds of sci-fi geeks. But now I know it’s true. I experienced time travel myself.”
Dylan ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m jealous. I wish I could have been with you.”
“I saw Ashley, Dylan. She’s there! She’s married and she’s having a baby! Can you believe it?”
“Cormac told me she was there, but I didn’t know she was pregnant.”
Jenna smiled wistfully. “She is and she’s so happy. I’ve never seen her so happy.”
“What about you? Were you happy there?”
“Yes. I was, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself. I just wanted to come home, but now that I’m here, I realize this isn’t my home anymore. My home is with Cormac. What am I going to do, Dylan? I don’t want to live my life without him.”
“Jenna, I don’t know how to fix it for you,” Dylan replied sadly. “Maybe we can try to find Edna. She’s a real person, isn’t she?”
Jenna sat up straighter and a hopeful expression spread across her face. “She is a real person, and she’s a twenty first century person! She lives in Scotland.” She jumped up from the sofa. “We have to find her, Dylan. You will help me, won’t you?”
“You know I will, Jenna, I want you to be happy. For now though, I think you need to rest and then you can tell me everything that happened. I want to know every detail. Okay?”
“Okay. I am tired. I didn’t sleep very well last night and this has all been so draining.”
“You go lie down and I’ll try to remember if Cormac ever told me anything that might help us find Edna.”
Jenna pulled her cousin into a hug. “I love you, Dylan. I want you and Chester to come with me.”
“I think we’d like that very much, but for now you go rest and then we’ll try to find Edna.”
***
“Edna! Edna, where are you?” Cormac called. He had been in his room trying to contact Edna ever since they had returned to Breaghacraig without Jenna. She wasn’t answering him and he wasn’t sure if yelling her name into the emptiness of his chambers was going to work. Edna was in another century, so he couldn’t go riding off to find her. Mayhap Lady Lena could help. They arrived back at Breaghacraig to find that she and Ewan had returned home. Cormac would leave as soon as possible to speak with her. He had to get Jenna back, or at the very least make sure she had arrived back in her time without incident. He’d been angry with Sophia initially, but when she explained that Jonathan had forced her to help him, Cormac couldn’t blame her. Jonathan had planned to kill Jenna in San Francisco, to collect some more money from her. Sophia had explained that she led Jenna to believe she needed her help with Latharn and Jenna had gone with her, only to be taken against her will by Jonathan. Cormac hoped that she knew how much he loved her. He hoped she had seen him, when he arrived at the bridge with every intention of saving her from Jonathan.
With his mind made up, Cormac went to the stables and saddled up Saidear. He was determined to find Edna and convince her to at least let him be able to see Jenna one more time.
“Shall I come with ye, brother,” Cailin appeared in the doorway of the stables.
“Nay, Cailin. I’d nae be verra good company. I’m going to see Lena. I hope she can help me to reach her mother. I must speak with Jenna one more time. I need to tell her that I love her.”
Cailin squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “Cormac, I’m sure she knows.”
“Aye, but I must try to find her,” Cormac knew he was behaving irrationally, which was most unusual for him. He was usually so calm and reasonable. His love for Jenna was driving him mad. He hadn’t slept or eaten since they’d returned from the bridge, and grew more agitated by the hour.
“Cormac, please allow me to go with ye. I’d verra much enjoy seeing Lena and Ewan. I dinnae care if ye speak to me even once on the journey.” Cailin went to retrieve Cadeyrn. “I don’t know why I’m asking you. I dinnae need yer permission, if I wish to pay a visit to Lena and Ewan, I shall.”
Cormac relaxed a bit and laughed at his brother’s determination to join him. “Fine. Ye may ride with me, but I’ve already told ye I’m nae verra good company.”
“I’ll be ready in no time at all,” Cailin said.
“Do ye nae need to tell yer wife where yer going?” Cormac asked.
“Nae. She already knows. She doesnae wish to see you travelling alone.”
Cormac realized he was a lucky man - he had a wonderful family. They were always there for him and he could count on it. Now, he needed to find a way to get Jenna back. Once outside the stables,
Cormac and Cailin mounted their horses to begin the trek. They were met by Ashley and Irene who came bearing food, which they packed into the saddlebags.
“Cormac, good luck,” Ashley said warmly.
“Bring her back with ye,” Irene added.
“That is my plan, sister. I’ll see ye soon.” Cormac spurred Saidear forward and Cailin followed, catching up with him just outside the gates.
***
“Dylan, we’ve got to be able to find something to lead us to Edna.” Jenna had been exhaustively searching the internet, looking for anything which might help them locate the woman.
“She’s not the only Edna in Scotland, Jenna. It’s not that easy. We need a little more to go on. A last name… anything.”
Jenna sifted through the cobwebs in her brain. There had to be something she was missing. She had a nagging feeling that the key to finding Edna was right under her nose. What could it be?
And then it suddenly came to her. “Ashley… Ashley met Edna in Scotland! I remember, she told me if I needed to contact her, I should look Edna up. She gave me the name of the inn Edna owns. What did I do with it?” Jenna began searching the kitchen frantically, rifling through drawers and cabinets. “It’s times like this that I wish I wasn’t such a neat freak. I probably threw it away in one of my cleaning frenzies,” she lamented.
“Don’t give up so soon. We’ll just have to search every room. Do you remember where you were, when you talked to Ashley?”
“No. I should be able to remember. She called me and said she had been staying at this little inn. What was the name of it? Urgh… I can’t remember!”
“Just relax, it’ll come to you. You’re trying too hard. Let’s go get something to eat and unwind a bit. Maybe if you put it out of your mind for a while…”
“Okay. Let’s go get some food,” Jenna agreed. Dylan was right, she’d been totally consumed with finding Edna for the past few hours. A little food and some wine might be just what she needed. She grabbed her purse and headed for the door and Dylan had to run to catch up with her.
They walked up the hill to a little Italian restaurant, which was one of Jenna’s neighborhood favorites. Everyone at Massimo’s Cucina knew her and she always felt like a welcomed family member. Massimo himself greeted them at the door and showed them to a corner table, where they could dine without interruption. “Wine?” Massimo asked.
