Immortal of My Dreams

by Alexis McNeil

  All of a sudden, a loud rumbling echoed in the distance. I turned toward the source of the sound and squinted. An ox pulling a wagon with two young boys steering traveled toward me. I glanced down and realized I stood on a dirt road with wheel ruts down each side. As the wagon got closer, I moved off to the side and decided the boys seemed like a nice enough sort to ask for directions. Nearly upon me, both boys glanced over at me, said something to each other, and laughed. I stepped back not wanting to get trampled by the huge ox.

  “Um…excuse me?” I yelled as they rolled by. “Hey…I’m talking to you two!” The wagon stopped a few feet ahead of me.

  “Wot ye want…lad,” the older looking boy said with a thick accent. Both boys laughed some more, apparently I was the butt of an inside joke.

  “I wondered if you could point me toward the nearest town,” I asked. As I waited for a response, I studied the two boys. They didn’t quite appear like the other people that hung around this area, or any area for that matter. Both boys dressed in coarse linen burgundy tunics with patches and holes. The younger boys’ two front teeth were missing along with his shoes. Both appeared in need of a bath and a decent meal. “Also, what year is it?” I added as an afterthought.

  “Weel, we could tell ye, but it weel cost ye. Wot ye got?” the older boy asked.

  “I-I don’t have my purse with me…” I said patting my sides and looking around me. Slowly, it dawned on me my purse was long gone. The whip cracked and the ox and wagon lurched forward. “Wait!” I yelled frantically. “I know I have something, please…here, I have a gold watch!” I yanked the watch off my wrist and thrust it toward the boy closest to me. He took the watch and turned to let the other boy sitting next to him inspect it also. They both bit into the gold band and mumbled something to each other while looking over the watch.

  The older boy shot a look over his shoulder at me. “Aye, this’ll do.” He pointed in the direction they came from. “The nearest village is back that way. And ‘tis the year o’ Our Lord, Fourteen Undred and Ninety Five.” I stood in awe as the whip cracked and the ox, wagon, and boys continued to roll down the road. The belt worked! I traveled back in time, but…somehow I separated from Cameron along the way. I had to find him. No way would I survive in this century by myself.

  I turned toward the direction the boys said to go and took a step, nudging a hard object with the toe of my boot. I glanced down. The ruby eyed dagger peeked out from under some leaves. I quickly picked up my lost dagger, placing it between my jeans and t-shirt feeling safe once again. At least now, I had protection in case I came across unwanted company.

  Under the canopy of trees, the air stayed chilly where the sunlight couldn’t penetrate, but soon enough, I had to push my sleeves up and a good sweat soaked me. I should have asked the boys how far I had to go. It seemed I walked for hours while the scenery never changed: trees, trees, and more trees. A few more hours and nightfall would be here. The woods grew darker and darker with more shadows forming by the minute. I didn’t even want to think about what I’d do if I had to spend the night here in the dark forest by myself. I didn’t know the first thing about making a fire, or camping for that matter.

  I pushed forward when a bend came into view up ahead. I walked around the bend and skidded to a halt. Three dirty looking men sat on horses at the side of the road eating. I had to get past them. I kept my head lowered and walked at a nonchalant pace. Something inside me told me I wouldn’t want to appear scared in front of them. Didn’t bullies thrive on fear?

  Suddenly, I became a topic in their dialogue. I could feel their hungry gazes upon me.

  “-look at that”

  “-wonder wot ‘e got on ‘im”

  “-I say we find oot”

  I picked up my pace passing the three filthy smelling men feeling the excitement build in the air around them. I glanced back and saw the ruffians turn their horses out onto the road. I decided speed walking wasn’t fast enough so I quickened into a jog as a rumble of laughter came from behind me along with crude remarks.

  Horse hooves pounded behind me as I began to sprint as fast as I could. Suddenly, two thick hairy arms wrapped around me picking me up into the air and throwing me across the horse on my stomach. Abruptly, a large palm rested on my backside. The man sucked in a breath and began pulling my braid out of my sweater where it was lying under.

  “Och,” my large rotund captor yelled out, “I kenned this arse was too nice ta be a laddie’s. Looksie wot I found!”

  The horse halted to a stop when I was roughly pulled from the horse embraced in a young, red-haired man’s arms, my back pressing against his front. I struggled as the other two laughed, running their grubby hands over any part of my body they could get to. All of a sudden, the dagger hidden in-between my jeans began to burn and pulsate. I thrashed about trying to get my hand behind me so I could grab the dagger, the only thing that could save me now. Finally, the man’s hold loosened enough to where I could squeeze my hand between our bodies.

  “Och,” my red-haired abductor said, “she’s eager ta unleash ‘Big Robbie’.” The men all laughed just as I pulled out the dagger and slashed backwards out at “Big Robbie” who was hard against my back. My captor immediately pushed me away from him. “Bloody bitch!” he screamed out grabbing hold of himself.

  Without wasting another second, I leapt into the woods and ran like the devil himself chased after me. My hand throbbed from grasping the dagger so tightly. I heard voices behind me, but as I covered more ground, the mumbles became non-existent.

  I ran until my throat burned and a cramp filled my side. Stopping, I rested against a huge boulder listening for any sound that might indicate the men had followed me.

  Silence.

  They must have given up and turned back. I caught my breath and glanced around. I turned so many times when I had tried to get away I had no idea which direction the road was. I peered up into the darkening sky as a shiver ran down my spine. I refused to stay the night in these woods. What if I ran into those awful men again? Somehow, I didn’t think I’d be lucky enough to get away from them twice in one night. I had to find a way out of the forest and the sooner the better.

  I half-walked, half-ran until I finally stumbled across a road and a clearing leading down to a small village in the distance. A tiny cottage bordered the woods with a rotted fence along the forest’s edge. Clothes hung on a rope tied between two trees and swayed in the gentle breeze. Smoke puffed out of the stone chimney sending a heavenly smell my way. Meat. Delicious, succulent meat had to be roasting over a fire inside the cottage. My mouth began to water as my stomach growled in response to the delectable aroma flowing into my system. I stood in the middle of the dirt road staring at the cottage, visualizing all the food inside.

  Unexpectedly, the front door swung open and an old man came out. He limped around the front of the house and over to the side where he picked up two bundles of fire wood and slowly made his way back to the door. His shaggy disheveled white hair covered his ears and a thick beard adorned his weathered face. He wasn’t skinny, but not overweight either. He wore brown, rough linen looking pants and a cream tunic with dirt smeared down the front.

  Three steps away from the front door, he abruptly stopped and scowled at me. “We dinna want no trouble laddie, keep walking,” he said nodding toward the small village up ahead on the horizon.

  “I’m not a ‘laddie’,” I grumbled. “Could I just trouble you for a drink and then I’ll be on my way. I’ve been traveling all day.”

  “Och, Robert,” an older woman said coming out through the front door, “I would like the kindling tonigh—“ The woman spotted me. She didn’t appear as old as the man. Her brown eyes twinkled and she wore her brown and silver hair in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. Wispy curls framed her cherub like face and her flushed plump cheeks--probably from the heat of cooking--matched the rose colored gown she had on with a cream apron, which tied on each side of her thick waist.

  “The
lass wants a wee drink and a bite o’ food,” the man named Robert said to the woman, all the while keeping an eye on me.

  “Lassie?” the woman said looking confused.

  “Aye, she’s wear’n breeches an hiddin’ her ‘air too,” the old man said to the woman. Suddenly, everything made sense, the two boys’ snickering, and the men calling me a lad. I remembered from my high-school history class the women didn’t wear pants in this century. My jeans probably resembled tight breeches and my braided hair hid under my sweater in a braid laying down my back. I most likely came across as a gangly boy.

  “Weel Lassie, are ye by ye’re lonesome? Did ye get lost?” the woman asked me.

  “I guess you could say I’m…lost. I’m trying to find a friend I was…traveling with.”

  “Och, Robert, bring her in the cottage where ‘tis safe,” the woman said as she swatted Robert’s shoulder. “A lassie should no be wanderin’ by herself. Do ye no remember our sweet Mary?” she said in a gentle scolding tone. She held open the door and waved at me to join her inside. I walked toward the open door hoping I stumbled across nice people. I didn’t have the energy to fight anyone else off tonight.

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Thank you,” I said walking past the woman and into the cottage. “Just a bit to drink and I’ll be on my way, I promise.”

  “Nonsense! Ye’ll be stayin’ with us till we find ye’re fellow traveler. Come Robert, the air grows chilly.” She held open the door for Robert and his armful of wood.

  The cottage appeared bigger once inside. As I entered into their home, I scanned the room. A large stone fireplace—-which I could probably stand up to my full height in-—had iron poles and arms holding a steaming pot over the fire. The heavenly piece of skewered meat I dreamt of roasted to perfection next to the pot. Two wooden rocking chairs sat on one side of the hearth and a huge wooden table with bench seats on the other. Across the room, chopped carrots and radishes lay on the counter along with a basin of water. I assumed that area was their kitchen. The only two windows in the cottage faced the dirt road and a back door graced the far corner of the cottage. I guessed the steps on the back wall led to bedrooms upstairs. I know I couldn’t pray hard enough to have a real working bathroom appear upstairs, which reminded me, I really needed a restroom.

  “Please, ha’ a seat lass,” the woman said eyeing me up and down. “We’ll get a bit o’ food in ye’re belly and get ye all cleaned up. I canna quite tell, but ye look thin like our sweet Mary. I bet her old clothes would fit ye.”

  “Thank you, my name is Jillian Murray.”

  “Och, where are our manners? My name is Rebecca McDougal and this is me husband Robert McDougal. Mary, our only child was our daughter. Please sit, sit,” Rebecca said shooing me to the table with her hands.

  “Actually, I need a restroom…ah…er, a privy,” I said trying to think of what she would call a bathroom in this century.

  “Aye, a privy.” Rebecca pointed toward the back door. “Go straight outside, follow the stone path.”

  I followed a small path leading to a tiny wooden outhouse-looking shed. I opened the door and almost cried. A wooden bench seat with a hole cut out in the middle made up the toilet seat and a pile of hay lay to the side. I quickly did my business trying not to touch anything. By habit, I reached for toilet paper. Uh-uh! No way was I going to use hay to wipe! I remembered stuffing a few tissues in my pant’s pockets before I left this morning with Cameron. I used one tissue, knowing I’d have to use them sparingly. Thank goodness for allergies.

  Once I was back inside the cottage, Rebecca showed me over to a basin of water where I washed up for dinner. I took a seat at the table as Robert bent over the fire throwing more wood into the bright orange flames. As I gazed into the fire, I couldn’t believe only a few hours ago I lived in a whole other world, a different time. Here, living and breathing in this age seemed almost magical. Life here wasn’t the same as the hustle and bustle of the twenty-first century with cell phones, laptops, and people always in a hurry to get somewhere. My eyelids began to droop as I realized how exhausted I was. I wanted to curl up on the braided rug in front of the McDougal’s fire and fall into a deep peaceful sleep.

  Rebecca served me a plate full of fresh bread, tatties, sliced carrots, and radishes cooked in a thick brown sauce. The leg of lamb tasted so good I ate two servings. For dessert she brought out bread pudding and tea with honey. All through dinner Robert ate and Rebecca talked…endlessly. The chirpy chatter was nice though, listening to a real 15th century woman divulging tales, informing me about the past with their late daughter. When I asked how she died, Rebecca changed the subject.

  When Rebecca and Robert asked me how I ended up lost, I did something I rarely do. I lied. I couldn’t reveal to them I journeyed from the future, so I explained how I traveled to this area to visit distant relatives with my escort and got attacked by thieves--which kind of really happened. I continued on about how luckily, dressed like a boy, I escaped, but unfortunately didn’t know where I ended up. I only knew I had to find my cousin, the Chieftain, Cameron Lachlan Murray of the Clan Murray and he’d help me.

  Rebecca held her hand to her throat with a horrified look. “Aye, ye’re lucky indeed, lass. When ye’re fully rested, weel get ye on ye’re way. Come, let me show ye ta Mary’s old chamber. Ye can use her room as ye’re own while ye’re here.” Rebecca lit a candle and headed over to the stairs.

  Using a dead girl’s room freaked me out, but exhaustion won. I only wanted to shut my eyes and go to sleep. Two bedrooms filled the second floor. Mary’s room appeared clean and sparse with a small bed, a roughly put together wooden night stand, and a wooden chest at the end of her bed. The wood floor creaked as I walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.

  I turned to Rebecca. “Thank you, I’d be sleeping in the woods with an empty stomach if I hadn’t run into you and your husband. Anything I can do to repay you, please let me know.”

  Rebecca shooed her hand like it was no big deal. “Och, lass we couldna let ye travel by yerself. Besides, ‘tis nice ta ha’ company. Now, let’s see…there’s a pitcher o’ water and a linen cloth on the night stand for ye ta clean up with. In the chest ye’ll find night clothes. The sheets are clean and the heat from the fire below makes this room toasty warm. Ye shouldna need any more blankets, but let me ken if ye do. Try and get some rest, Jillian lass. Och, and put ye’re clothes outside ye’re door. I’ll wash them for ye in the morn. Goodnight lass.”

  Rebecca left the room closing the door firmly behind her. The floor creaked with every step she took. I pictured her moving down the hall, down the noisy steps, and every step there after until she reached, what I imagined, to be one of the rockers by the huge fireplace.

  I peeled off my dusty, dirt covered clothes and placed the dagger under the pillow on the bed, just in case. I dipped the linen cloth in the lukewarm water and sponge bathed my entire body until I felt somewhat clean. Rummaging around in the chest, I found a plain white night gown. I pulled the gown over my head and tied the ribbon at my chest to hold the opening closed. I shoved my clothes out into the hallway and snuggled down into the tiny bed.

  Leaning over, I blew out the candle on the night stand and pulled the heavy coarse blanket up to my chin. The ropes holding the hay-filled mattress under my weight twisted and creaked as I tossed and turned finding a comfortable position. I soon drifted off to sleep listening to the McDougals’ murmured conversation from below, making out my name here and there, not caring in the least.

  * * * * *

  My nose twitched from the succulent smell of bacon cooking below. Once out of bed, I stretched the pains out from my back and neck making my way over to the pitcher of water. I swished water around my mouth and washed my face using the water from the pitcher. Once I became more awake, I dug through the chest discovering an emerald green gown and an under dress of soft white linen. I kept my underwear and bra on from yesterday, too afraid I’d never see them again
if I removed them. Surprisingly, the dress fit perfectly from what I could tell without having a mirror to look into.

  I put on the worn pair of tan leather slippers I found at the bottom of the chest which fit snug, but still allowed me to wear them without pinching my feet too much. I ran my fingers through my hair, letting the auburn waves fall down my back. Lastly, I found a leather tie in the chest and tied the dagger around my thigh, hoping the weapon would stay in place. I couldn’t make myself look any more ready, so I opened the door and made my way downstairs.

  Robert sat at the bench table stuffing bacon in his mouth while Rebecca yapped away in the kitchen preparing more food. Suddenly, Robert looked up, his hand frozen halfway to his mouth. Rebecca turned around, saw me, and dropped the empty cup she held throwing her hand to her throat. “Oh my!” she gasped.

  “I found the dress in the chest,” I said quickly. “If you don’t want me to wear this gown, I’ll change, I’m sorry.” The dress must have held special memories of their late daughter.

  “Och, the dress is fine,” Rebecca said wringing her hands in her soiled apron. “’Tis just, ye…ye remind us of our bonnie lass.

  “Aye,” mumbled Robert, looking away with scarlet colored cheeks.

  I smoothed the front of the dress not knowing what to say. Rebecca filled a plate with oatcakes, bacon, potato patties, and strawberries. She carried my breakfast over to the table. “Come lass. Ye’ll be needin’ ye’re strength. The dress looks lovely on ye. We’re glad it fits.”

  After breakfast I used the privy, using another one of my precious tissues which I stored in my bra for safe keeping. Right now, those few tissues were the most valuable items I owned. It only seemed fair to repay the McDougal’s for their generosity, so I spent the day weeding the garden with Rebecca and helping with a few chores around the house. At first, she wouldn’t let me, insisting a guest never helps with chores, but eventually she gave in.