To Follow My Heart (The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time Novel Book 3)

by Sherry Ewing

  Jenna took Fletcher’s elbow and made him sit on the couch next to her. He bounced on the cushion like a child, feeling the softness beneath him, but settled down when Jane cleared her throat at his unruly behavior. Fletcher laid his sword at his feet, within easy access and reached over to clasp Jenna’s hands. He gave her a silent, pleading look not to leave him.

  Amy came with a tray full of glasses. Jenna reached for her red wine and handed Fletcher his whiskey. They each took a sip in unison then sighed in pleasure. The wine tasted like pure bliss. A full bodied oak bouquet with a hint of spice and, for once, not watered down.

  “At least one thing has not changed, and ’tis the taste of a good whiskey,” Fletcher mumbled with a snort of laughter as Jenna joined him in their private joke.

  Their laughter didn’t last long as the quietness of the room became overbearing. Her mother peered at her and Fletcher from head to toe and back again. “You’ve been safe? And did he just use the word ’tis?”

  Jenna nodded. “Yes, Fletcher found me and took care of me.”

  “Really? And just exactly how well did he take care of you?” her mother asked with a touch of mistrust, seeming to stop just short of accusing the stranger before her of having taken advantage of her daughter.

  “Madam, I assure you, I have held your daughter in the utmost respect.” Fletcher stated, puffing out his chest, probably because her mother had all but insulted his honor. “As such, she was properly chaperoned at all times and no harm befell her. ’Twas an honor to protect her whilst she was in my care, even though, it appears, ’tis I who must now needs look askance to her in order to find my way in this strange land,” He turned to Jenna. “I am afraid to ask, but I assume we are in this Sanfran Cisco of yours?”

  Silence. Jenna could have heard a baby crying a block or more away, it was so quiet in the room. Both Amy and her mother sat there with their glasses half raised to their lips before setting them down on the coffee table in unison.

  “That’s it. I want answers, and I want them now, Jenna. You can start by explaining why the two of you look like you’ve escaped from some renaissance fair,” her mother shouted.

  Jenna laughed out loud. “Mom, you’re not gonna believe this.”

  It took several hours of explaining before Jenna was able to finally convince her mother and Amy the impossible tale she was telling them was indeed true. But the hour had become late, and Jenna was tired, so she changed the subject and asked, “I’m wondering about my room in our apartment, Amy. Do I still have one?”

  “Oh, yes. I kept your apartment in hopes you would return.” Her mother answered before Amy could speak. Sheer happiness returned to her mother’s eyes, then uncertainty clouded them. “But just yesterday, I told Amy I wouldn’t be able to afford any more rent payments.”

  “Yah, I was going help your mom pack your stuff this weekend. Imagine my surprise when you called me, out of the blue, today,” Amy interrupted joyously. “The thought of not having you as my roommate was awful.”

  “I don’t think Amy has had time to place an ad for a new roommate yet. Have you, Amy?” Jenna’s mom continued. “Though, I can’t imagine your job is waiting for you. But, I can help you for a time. You’ll have to find employment soon, Jenna.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I always know I can count on you. As far as work, I’ll make getting a job my top priority.” Hopefully, I can just walk in and get my old job back, because my boss will be so pleased to see I’m okay, she thought to herself, not particularly thrilled at the idea.

  Jenna had to give her mother another long hug and Amy a quick squeeze before she was able to leave with Fletcher to make her way home. For her, not much time had seemed to have gone by, but here, months had passed. The whole experience felt like a puzzling dilemma, one she would wait until tomorrow to try and untangle, after they had gotten some well-needed rest.

  Knowing a major problem would be facing her the minute she unlocked the door, Jenna climbed the stairs to her upper floor apartment with some trepidation. Just how was she going to explain, to this medieval man, all the modern wonders of her world? But, more importantly, she highly doubted his large physique would fit on her couch. How was she going to tell him she only had the one bed?

  Chapter 26

  Fletcher watched Jenna insert one of several keys into the door of what she called an apartment. Even the keys were different than the few that opened many areas of Berwyck and Amiria kept on a chain around her waist. Opening the door, Fletcher saw the room was dark, but as Jenna entered, she put her hand along the side of the wall, and a soft click illuminated her dwelling. More magic, he thought, almost in a daze from everything he had beheld this day. He had the distinct feeling ’twas only the beginning of his bewilderment.

  Wondering how his lady could live in such a tiny space, he frowned as he scanned the smallness of the room. She began picking up random articles that had been tossed to and fro, and looked at him with a seemingly embarrassed smile.

  “Sorry it’s such a mess. Since I haven’t been around, I’m not surprised Amy let the place go,” she muttered with an apology.

  “Will she be home soon? ’Tis dark and not seemly that a lady should be out unescorted and left to the dangers of the streets.”

  “Fletcher,” Jenna began slowly, “we’ve talked about this on the ride over here. Times are different. Let me be the teacher now.”

  “’Tis my nature to worry when someone has been put into my care.”

  “I’m sure Amy would be honored that you think of her as being under your care. Truly, she is more than capable of taking care of herself. She’s spending the night with a friend, if that eases your mind. Amy thought we might like some privacy,” Jenna replied softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Please, don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine.”

  He muttered beneath his breath and made his way to where the light was coming from, only to peer inside the hurricane glass. Puzzled, he looked again, wondering what sort of candle this was. He put his hand towards the light and could feel the heat, but ’twas not like the flame of a fire.

  A soft click went off, and he was plunged into darkness. Fletcher drew out the dirk he kept in his belt. “Where are you, Jenna?” he asked in concern for her safety.

  A muffled laugh told him she was by the door, and with another click, the lights came back on. “This is a switch, Fletcher. This controls the lights along with other things. Give it a try,” she encouraged.

  Crossing back towards the door, he flicked this thing called a switch down, and off went the lights. Up, and they went on again. “What is the material this switch is made of?” he inquired, giving it a tap with his fingers.

  “Plastic, but what makes it all work are a lot of wires behind the walls and electricity,” she answered. She pointed to a spot low on the wall then pulled out a chord and pointed to the prongs. “See…you plug this into the outlet and turn the appliance on. Voila, things just start to work.”

  “Fascinating.” Fletcher knelt down next to her near the wall. His dirk still in his hand, he reached out to test it with the tip.

  “No, Fletcher!” She took hold of his arm and gave it a hard yank, pulling him away from the wall. Caught off guard, he looked into her troubled eyes, acutely aware of her alarm for his wellbeing. “Never, and I mean never, put anything metal in the outlet like a knife. You’ll get yourself electrocuted. Trust me, it’s not a good thing, and you could wind up in the hospital or, as you would say, with the healer. But Kenna wouldn’t be able to fix what would ail you.”

  “Explain this e-lec-tri-city to me.” Fletcher asked, confused about the nature of the danger from which she had apparently rescued him.

  “That’s easier said than done. It’s kind of like those crazy currents that race up our spines, letting us know we’re alive whenever we touch one another, only on a much bigger scale.” As she explained this curiosity in such personal terms, he noticed the tone of her voice soften, and she placed her palms flat upon his chest.
His flesh began to feel hot beneath her touch, even whilst a tingling sensation ran all over his body. “Look at my arm. See how I react whenever I’m near you?”

  Fletcher rubbed his fingers along the tiny raised bumps on her skin on both of her limbs. Jenna took a step closer ’til their bodies were a mere inch apart. Heat exploded between them. Hot desire rushed down the length of him, as if he were ready to explode. He pulled her against him and saw her eyes widen in startled surprise. She was so slight in his arms the top of her head barely reached his chest.

  “Somehow I think what happens between us when we are together is more powerful than anything a mere man could have invented,” he murmured huskily. “What say you, ma cherie?”

  “I…umm...couldn’t agree more, but I think, I should show you a few more of the fundamentals of what you need to know about life here in the future.”

  He chuckled, watching how her face became flushed in excitement when he held her. She began to wiggle, and he let her go with a fair amount of reluctance. ’Twas probably for the best, and he reminded himself of his vow to keep her safe, even if that meant from his own advances, no matter how well intended they were. He was unsure how he would keep his hands off her, now he knew they were alone for the eve.

  He only listened with half an ear as she showed him the kitchen. Opening and closing a large rectangular box, he was surprised to feel the icy blast of cold air hit his face, along with seeing stored inside something she called frozen foods. How one were to cook something solid as a boulder was beyond his ken, but he figured she would explain it at some point. She gave several more brief demonstrations of other appliances afore she stood with her palms resting on the counter. Her head down, she started to shuffle from foot to foot, proving she was deep in thought. She was clearly troubled about some inner workings of her mind whilst biting her lip with a look of worry etched upon her lovely face.

  Aye, lovely she was, along with being a temptation that could easily break his code of chivalry with just one glance. There was a confident air about her, now that she was back where she belonged among her own things and in her own time. Her face had lit with such delight, he thought, that she was now able to teach him so many things. So many, his head spun trying to keep up with all the new knowledge of this modern world. Everywhere he turned, there was another wonder to behold, and she seemed happy to show all to him for his pleasure.

  Fletcher went to her and tilted her head with his fingers upon her chin. He hardly recognized the woman who had shown such courage throughout the long day, and he wondered at her mood and what was wrong.

  “There is another place here I should show you of…umm…a personal nature,” Jenna stammered, blushing a very becoming shade of red.

  He followed her ’til she stood at the doorway at what he presumed was her bedchamber. ’Twas the larger of the two, and, as she continued through the room, she opened another door at the far end. With a wave of her hand, she beckoned to him to join her.

  Fletcher’s curiosity was piqued as she turned knobs and water poured forth. He quickly put his hands underneath the stream afore it disappeared. Was this more magic that Jenna could make something as wonderful as water just appear? He turned the metal made of iron for himself, and the water only dripped. He did not understand where it had gone. Leaning down, he peered underneath from whence it had poured forth just moments afore. He turned the handle again, and he was rewarded with a face full of water. Sputtering, he shut the offensive thing off.

  At least he had made her smile, he thought, as Jenna’s laughter burst forth.

  “This, Fletcher, is a shower,” she stated, and she handed him a drying cloth that was soft and fluffy, more so than any cloth in his time had been.

  “I see the tub, but what is this shower you speak of? You can make it rain inside?” he asked in awe.

  “In a manner of speaking, yes.” Turning more knobs, she did indeed again perform a miracle afore his very eyes. “The left nozzle is hot water, the right cold.” Jenna continued, pointing out other various items in containers he assumed were made of more of this plastic. “Shampoo, conditioner, soap, and I’ll get you a razor for shaving.”

  “And what of this contraption?” Fletcher was not sure if ’twas glass, but as he lifted the lid, he frowned in puzzlement that it had water in it.

  “Well…think of it as a modern garderobe to…err…take care…of your…business. This handle will flush everything. And always close the lid when you’re done. Got it?” She smirked, as if she were giving a lesson to all of mankind.

  “Aye…Left, hot water. Right, cold. Handle for flushing. Keep the…lid closed when done.” He smiled smugly, knowing he had, at the very least, gotten something right this day.

  She proceeded to show him how it worked ’til Fletcher was unsure if he could take any more for one day. Her world was complicated, far worse than worrying about who was invading the land or stealing one’s cattle.

  “Fletcher, are you all right?”

  Jenna’s voice brought him back from his past life with an alarming sense of loss, the loss of all he had known. Though he staggered under his grave sorrow, he managed a smile for her benefit. “Aye, as well as I can be, considering I am not of this world.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower and wash away about eight hundred years off me,” Jenna declared, leading him back out to the living area.

  The great halls of yester year are certainly gone, he thought, whilst he attempted to imagine himself living in such small quarters. “I will await you here.” Fletcher took off his belt and placed his sword against the wall. Sitting down proved just the thing he stood in need of as he began to process the life ahead of him. At least Jenna was here.

  She went to the kitchen and brought him a beverage called beer. Pouring it into a large cup, she set it in front of him on the table.

  “I’ll turn on the television, and you can find something to watch,” she announced, picking up something long, flat, and also plastic, by the look of it, from the table. She pushed something on the flat wand-like object and another one of her appliances sprang to life.

  “By all that is holy! What the─” He jumped out of his seat, drawing his dagger again and holding it in front of him as small people began moving and talking on a flat dais raised against the wall across the room.

  “Easy, Fletcher, it’s okay. This is TV, and you can change channels like this, using these buttons.” After she showed him how, he pushed more buttons, and various scenes flashed afore his eyes. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, then it can be your turn.”

  He waved her off, not daring to take his eyes from the monster in front of him, for surely ’twas in league with the devil. The cushions met his back side, but he could not relax, so he sat on the edge, still wary of what he was witnessing. Soon realizing what was on the wall did not venture forth into the room, Fletcher looked about this chamber, and he began to ponder how he would ever fit in here amongst strangers. He took a sip of the beer and found it had no flavor, and ’twas not to his liking.

  And therein lay the problem. Nothing in this modern world appealed to him with the exception of his lady. It remained to be seen if he would survive another day in her world. Mayhap, if he prayed with all his might this eve, God above would see them back home.

  Chapter 27

  Jenna wiped at the mirror fogged with steam. She took a deep breath of the heavy air, letting it fill her lungs until she exhaled. Apprehension consumed her. She didn’t know if she should be enjoying this luxury she had been missing for over a month or running to make sure Fletcher was handling being left alone in a strange place with strange things that clearly made him uncomfortable.

  Being with him held its own drawbacks. She couldn’t deny they were attracted to one another. That was perfectly clear every single instance they were in the same room. But a tiny apartment was a far cry from a great hall filled with occupants, along with guards who protected her both day and night. She wasn’t afraid to be
alone with him, but on a small scale, she was scared her heart might not survive falling for a man who could possibly be ripped back to where he truly belonged at any time of…well…Time’s choosing.

  She looked at her toothbrush still conveniently standing in a glass on the sink, took it in hand, and gave a sigh of relief. Who would have thought the mere act of brushing her teeth with toothpaste could give her so much satisfaction? For the first time, in a long while, she was clean from head to toe. Jenna felt as though it had indeed been six months since she was this clean.

  Taking the lavender nightgown off the hook, she slipped it over her head, and the silk slid down the length of her body, making her shiver. The matching robe felt luxurious and familiar as she tied the belt at her waist. Dylan had barely looked at her the last time she had worn this very gown. His indifference should have told her much of the state of their relationship. She put aside thoughts of her life with him. Then, she wasted no time blow drying her hair, added just the smallest dab of perfume to the inside of her wrists and behind her ears, and glided a pink lip gloss across her lips.

  Knowing she had wasted enough time, she opened the door and quickly went to her dresser to grab some pajama bottoms Dylan had forgotten. During her frenzied cleaning spree, she had found several items of his clothing, and, if they were lucky, Fletcher might be able to fit into them until they could get to a mall.

  She stopped short when she went into the living room. If ever there was a person in a state of shock, it would be the perfect description of the medieval man sitting on her couch. His mouth hung open, his beer was for the most part untouched, and yet his eyes were glued to the television. Considering he was watching a commercial for women’s underwear, she could certainly understand his apparent state of confusion.

  “You’re turn, Fletcher. I’ve laid some things for you on the counter in the bathroom,” Jenna offered, trying to coax him out of his stupor of disbelief he was in a modern world.