Nicole stopped talking when Cassie directed a heavy frown her way.
Leslie sat on the edge of the couch and took Cassie’s hand. “I’m not going to tell you I’m sorry because I know that’s the last thing you want to hear but…” She squeezed her hand. “You’ve come to the right place because though your eyes might be weak there are parts of you that are so much stronger than you think.”
“I know,” Cassie said because she did. Long ago, she had mentally prepared herself for what lay ahead. “I might be going blind, but I’ve still got intelligence and a positive attitude on my side.”
“‘Tis good that,” Bradon said with a level of pride she didn’t expect. He headed for the foyer when someone knocked on the front door.
Darach grinned and nodded with approval. “You are every bit a Broun, Cassie.”
“He’s right,” Leslie agreed. “You are. One who deserves the truth.” She twisted her lips. “A truth I would have been inclined to give once your other two friends arrived, but I don’t think we have that kind of time.”
When Cassie tried to sit up, Darach shook his head and gently pushed her back down. Though she scowled, she didn’t fight him. “What truth? And what do you mean we don’t have time?”
Bradon came in with a bag full of Chinese boxes and chopsticks. “Why don’t we eat first?”
Cassie shook her head. “No. Please, just tell me.”
Leslie nodded and gave Bradon a look before she turned her attention to Cassie. “As I hinted at earlier, we Brouns inherited a gift, better yet, witchcraft. It means that we possess something a little extra special. Sometimes it’s a small thing, sometimes it’s big, but it’s always important and an intricate part of who we are.”
“So you’re saying we’re all witches?” Nicole said around a mouthful of what Cassie suspected was pork fried rice.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Leslie kept her eyes on Cassie. “And I’m guessing you can often see things much clearer than most despite your eye condition.”
Cassie swallowed hard. This was the number one reason she had been so eager to search out her Broun heritage to begin with. But she wasn’t quite ready to share as much. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”
“No, I wouldn’t imagine you’re ready to admit it yet,” Leslie said. “Either way, here’s the long and short of it. I’m a witch as are my cousins, all of whom currently reside in medieval Scotland.” She nodded at Bradon. “He’s from there.” Then she nodded at Darach. “And so is he.”
Nicole froze with chopsticks halfway to her mouth. Cassie stiffened as Leslie’s eyes returned to her and she continued. “I’m not sure how thoroughly either of you read Sean’s manuscript about the Next Generation, but that story definitely revolved around me and my cousins' tales. And yes, the Highlanders you read about, even the ones in this room, are wizards.”
Wide-eyed, Cassie’s gaze went from Bradon to Darach, who was smiling broadly as though immensely pleased with what Leslie had said.
“But you don’t need to worry about me and Bradon’s story." Leslie's eyes went to Darach. “But likely his.” Then her eyes shot to Cassie. “Not for you though I don’t think. Darach that is.” Then she shook her head. “But then this end of things is sorta new to me.”
“You can be for me, Darach,” Nicole volunteered then shot him a wink when he grinned at her.
The glasses were starting to make things blurry at this point, so Cassie yanked them off, glad that the room was bright and clear again as she eyed Leslie. “So let me get this straight. You were actually part of the Next Generation story that’s set to hit bookstores soon?” She cleared her throat. “A story about time-travel between the twenty-first century and medieval Scotland? Something that couldn’t possibly exist in real life?”
“But does,” Leslie assured. “And I suspect you and your friends are gonna find that out soon enough, but at least you’ll go into it with a bit of knowledge under your belt.”
Cassie’s stomach flipped and she shook her head. “This isn’t what I was looking for when I came here.”
“Not intentionally,” Leslie said. “But I’d guarantee something inside of you was seeking this out. In fact, when the horses showed up a few days ago, Bradon said I needed to call you back.”
“Horses?” she said weakly, already knowing the answer.
Leslie nodded. “All four of them. Gifts we're assuming are from the medieval MacLomains. Gifts that were not for Bradon and me.”
“What are the odds?” Nicole looked at Cassie, awed. “Considering how there are four of us Brouns coming here.”
Cassie pinched the bridge of her nose when pressure built in her forehead. “I know.”
Compassion flickered in Leslie's eyes. "I get how overwhelming this is. I also get that you’ll likely not believe a word I’m saying until you’ve lived it. I sure as hell didn’t.”
Cassie ran the tip of her forefinger back and forth over her lower lip as she contemplated.
Nicole kept eating and shrugged. “My Nana was a tea leaf reader, the real thing, so I’m not that surprised to hear I'm a witch.” She shook her head, still eying Darach. “But what’s the point of traveling that far back in time?” Her eyes shot from Bradon to Leslie. “Is it all for the romance? No offense but that seems like an awful long way to go to hook up with a guy.” Then she arched a brow at Cassie. “Makes Winter Harbor, Maine look a whole lot less long distance, doesn't it?”
Leave it to Nicole to take this all in stride. Cassie gestured at Leslie and Bradon. “Assuming they’re from different centuries, do they look like they’re living in a long distance relationship to you?”
Nicole took a swig of beer, released a dainty burp and shrugged. “True enough.”
Darach chuckled as his eyes went from Nicole to Cassie. “She’s a free spirit, aye?”
“To say the least.” Cassie shot Nicole a little grin. “But she is who she is and we love her for it.”
“Back at ya, girl,” Nicole said and worked her chopsticks like a pro as she kept at her food.
Cassie met Leslie’s eyes. “I get that you think we’re witches and that the guys are wizards but what else exactly are you trying to tell us? That we’re going to be traveling back in time to medieval Scotland?”
She ignored the thrill of the idea because honestly, it was only thrilling to think about, not actually do. That thought scared the heck out of her. Some things were better left to the imagination. Yet she knew it wasn’t precisely her imagination at work when she saw the Scotsman on the horse, Athdara.
“I’m trying to tell you that there is an unending tie between the Broun and MacLomain clans, whether it’s in the medieval period or here,” Leslie said. “I’m trying to tell you that it’s time you and your friends become very open-minded because there’s a good chance things are gonna get real crazy real soon.”
“I just came here to connect with relatives." Cassie tried to keep her voice level. “Nothing more.”
“And you will,” Bradon assured, offering her a box of Chinese food. “You’ll find a family you never could have anticipated.”
Cassie shook her head. “No thanks, I’m not hungry.” Her eyes darted between the men before they landed on the picture of Ferchar, Caitlin, and Logan. Shoot, had Logan’s eyes just glowed again? She tore her gaze away. “If Athdara really exists then who is the guy I saw riding her?”
Leslie glanced from the picture to Cassie. “Do you really need to ask?”
"It can't be Logan." She shook her head and breathed deeply through her nostrils. “He’s just a little kid.”
“He was,” Darach said. “But time passes differently back home than it does here. Much faster. Now he’s a few winters older than me.”
“But you’re what, in your mid-twenties?”
“I'm twenty-six winters. Logan is five winters older.”
So Logan had about six years on her?
Cassie’s eyes again flickered to the child in the picture. “
Really?”
“Yes, really,” Leslie said. “Caitlin, Ferchar, and Logan moved to medieval Scotland about a year and a half ago, but it’s been over twenty-five years in their time. The theory is that the past is trying to catch up with the future, that’s why it works like that. Faster and faster as time goes by it seems.”
When Cassie heard the sadness in Leslie’s voice, she said, “So your cousins have aged that much and you’re still only a year and a half older than you were when they left?”
Leslie nodded. “Yeah. My cousins and my sister are now in their fifties.”
“I’m so sorry,” Cassie murmured.
“No need to be sorry.” Leslie sat up a little straighter, renewed strength in her voice. “I chose my path and have seen them on and off through their lives. Now I’m glad I decided to stay here because someone needed to be around for you and your friends.” Bradon was right there to squeeze his wife’s hand, their eyes meeting one another’s. “And I wasn’t alone, not even for a minute, to face all this.”
“Nay, lass,” Bradon said, lowering enough to kiss the back of Leslie’s hand.
Tender as the exchange was, Cassie felt like she was in way over her head and had officially hit information overload. “Listen, I’m super wiped. Totally in need of a clear head. Any chance I can lay down for a few hours somewhere?”
"Of course. Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t ask ten minutes ago.” Leslie stood. “I have guest rooms set up for you and your friends.”
Nicole set aside her food. “I’ll come with you, Cassie.”
“No.” Cassie shook her head. “No need. Hang out. Learn all you can, okay?”
“Are you sure because I don’t mind staying with you until you crash.”
“Positive.” Cassie smiled at Darach. “Keep an eye on her?”
He surprised her when he kissed her forehead and murmured, “‘Twould be my pleasure. If you need me, lass, think it and I will be there.”
Think it? Now didn’t that sound a bit magical. A blush warmed her cheeks. These Scotsmen weren’t just delicious but dashing. “Thank you.”
Cassie grabbed her duffle bag from the car then Leslie led her to a room at the top of the stairs. With cream colored walls and flowing silk curtains, it was elegant and warm. “This was Caitlin’s room when she lived here. She would want you to enjoy it.”
Right, Caitlin was Logan’s mother. “Great. Thanks so much.”
“No need to thank me.” Leslie set a glass of water on the bedside table.
Cassie’s eyes fell to the little wooden box carved with Celtic symbols beside it. Propped open, three gold Claddagh rings glittered from within.
“Ah, yes.” Sadness flickered in Leslie’s eyes as she looked at the box. “Caitlin still wears hers, but two of those belonged to Broun women who lived in this house during the eighteenth century.”
“What about the third?”
Leslie shook her head. “Not sure but rumor has it the third was once worn by a druidess. Like the others, the story goes that is was created by a Celtic god named Fionn Mac Cumhail then given to an Irish goddess named Brigit.”
“Oh, wow,” Cassie whispered. Her eyes went to Leslie’s hand. “I see you wear one too.”
Leslie nodded. “All the Broun cousins do now.”
Before Cassie could continue questioning her, Leslie said, “Listen, I’m sorry about how snippy I was when you arrived. I meant no harm. Just overprotective of my family I guess.”
Cassie was about to respond, but Leslie took her hands and shook her head. “No, really, I can be a total bitch on occasion. Just habit I suppose.” She pressed her lips together. “It was a whirlwind at the beginning of last year and now I’m on the opposite end of the stick. That’s big and I’m gonna try my hardest not to screw it up, okay?”
“Sure, okay.” Cassie squeezed her hands. “But as far as I’m concerned you haven’t screwed up anything. You’ve just given me a lot of info and I seriously need to assimilate.”
“Assimilate?”
“Sorry, I’m a bit of a Matrix fan.”
“Matrix?”
“You’ve never watched the movie, The Matrix?”
Leslie shook her head, totally confused.
“With Keanu Reeves?”
Leslie shrugged, still baffled.
“Oh, dear God.” Cassie pulled her in for a hug on that one. “Life really is rough if you haven’t watched The Matrix.” She frowned as she held Leslie at arm’s length. “Epic sci-fi movie, came out in ’99. Ringing any bells?”
Leslie shook her head. “No time travel involved?”
“No.” Cassie arched her brows. “But, there was a definite sense of not living in reality. That there was a whole lot more out there you didn’t know about.”
Leslie chuckled and shrugged. “Then I guess it’s safe to say you entered a little bit of a matrix the minute you contacted me.”
Cassie nodded. “So it seems.”
“I’m putting your eyeglasses right here.” Leslie set them on the table next to the water. “If you need anything at all, please let me know."
“You got it.” Cassie worked at a smile. “Again, thanks so much for letting us stay here.”
"No problem." Leslie smiled then left.
Cassie stared after her, almost wary to look around…to be part of this place. When cold wind whistled through the partially open window, she went to shut it but stopped. Instead, she opened it and touched the spindling oak branch beyond.
Like earlier, tiny tingles covered her body and for a second she swore she saw the oak from afar with a sweeping castle behind it. Cassie squinted and realized that it wasn’t the same oak, but a much larger one covered in green leaves. When she pulled her hand back sharply, everything returned to normal and autumn leaves once more blew in the wind.
She blinked in disbelief and shut the window, more inclined to think this had to do with vision issues than anything else. Right? Because everything Leslie said couldn’t possibly be true. Could it?
Exhausted, she threw on some sweats and an oversized t-shirt then crawled into bed. She should brush her teeth, wash her face, something, but she figured she would cat-nap then rejoin everyone. It was the least she could do considering Leslie and Bradon’s hospitality.
That was the last thought she had before she rolled over and thumped to the floor.
Huh?
Sitting up, discombobulated, she looked around. Shoot, she had fallen out of bed. That was a first. Her eyes shot to the digital clock on the table. It was a little past midnight. Untwisting from the blankets, she wiped an unfortunate bit of drool from the corner of her mouth and stumbled to her feet
Everything was pitch-black but the barn.
Her eyes narrowed as Athdara trotted out of the dark into the building. Uh oh. Why was she running free? Did anyone know? Sliding on sneakers, Cassie headed downstairs. The house was dark. At this hour, it was safe to assume everyone was sleeping. So she headed for the barn. Wind gusted and the doors banged off the outside walls. A single, glass enclosed lantern swung lazily between stalls halfway down.
“Darach? Bradon?” she called. “Anyone?”
The lantern swung so wildly she swore it would drop and catch the hay on fire. That alone had her rushing forward. Yet by the time she got to it the lamp had stopped swinging. It was perfectly still. As if it had never moved to begin with. Still, she touched it just to reassure herself.
And saw the ring.
When the hell had she put on one of the Claddagh rings?
“Oh no.” She tried to pull it off, but it wouldn’t budge. Squinting, she eyed the stone nestled in the middle of a handheld heart. Clear, it almost looked like a dull diamond. Now she wished she had pressed for more answers about these things.
Athdara was staring over the stall, eyes wild, nostrils flaring.
Disregarding the ring, Cassie leaned against the opposite stall and breathed a sigh of relief as she eyed Athdara’s stall. Strange that it was locked. “You
’re safe. That’s good.”
The horse eyed her for a few seconds before it huffed and backed away. Convinced Athdara was okay, she headed toward the exit but stopped short when a whinny rang out and a loud thunk pounded behind her.
Turning slowly, her eyes locked with Athdara’s. Head over the stall door, the horse’s nostrils again flared and she released a mighty neigh.
“Sorry.” Cassie shook her head. “I’ll go get someone who can take care of you.”
Completely weirded out, she headed for the house but stopped again when a loud bang echoed behind her. By the time she turned, Athdara was trotting up behind her. Within a foot, she stopped, sunk to one knee and lowered her head.
Surprisingly enough, she wore a saddle.
“Oh, hell,” Cassie whispered. All she could think was that this big horse was loose and she didn’t know how to get her back into her stall. So she started making motions toward the barn. “Go back, girl. There, where you came from. Please.”
Athdara kept her head lowered and a steady eye on Cassie.
She gestured at the barn. “Go on now. Get to where it’s safe, all right?”
But no, the horse wasn’t budging.
So now she could do one of two things. Head into the house to get someone and hope Athdara didn’t run off or she could try to walk her back to the barn. Not particularly frightened by the horse but well aware that she was clueless about how to handle one, she figured the most logical thing to do was to go get help. Then again, would she ever forgive herself if the horse took off and got hurt?
Decision made, she slowly came alongside Athdara, murmuring over and over, “It’s okay, girl. I won’t hurt you.”
The horse made no movement, but Cassie sensed rather than saw that Athdara continued to watch her closely. She ran her hand carefully over the horse’s mane until she had a firm hand on the leather strap attached to the bridle. Eyes closed, she inhaled sharply when heat rushed over her. It almost felt like she stood in a fiery hot wind. One the horse clearly felt as well because her eyes grew a little wild and she neighed.
A strong sense of ‘fight or flight’ seized hold and while Cassie briefly contemplated running away from the horse, she did not want to leave Athdara alone. Unlike anyone with half a wit that knew nothing about horses would do, she followed an overwhelming impulse.
Quest of a Scottish Warrior Page 3
