"Ye best take care in challenging me, lass." He leaned closer and whispered again, only for her to hear. "I was being considerate of yer general weak state last night."
Maggie felt the creeping wave of heat move up her face. Another wave of heat headed down her body to another spot where it joined with a throbbing deep in her core. Last night... Just the thought of what they had done together and how they had done it renewed the aching in her body. Even her skin tingled with a desire to be touched... tasted... caressed. It was no surprise that her voice sounded strained when she finally made her rebuttal.
"General weak state? I think not."
"Come then. Let's go a bit deeper in the forest. We can find a private spot, and I will test yer strength and endurance now." He matched his words with a step toward the perimeter of the village.
The wicked man, she thought. He knew what even his words alone did to her body. His breathing had slowed, but now she was panting and out of breath.
"No, Alex, wait." She pulled him to a stop, regretfully.
"Ah, ye see the foolishness to yer words?" He raised an eyebrow, mocking her weakness.
"I will accept your challenge later, Alex. Did you forget why we came tonight?"
"To dance, to sing, to share good times with family and friends?"
Still holding his hand, she pulled him in the direction where the tables of food and drink were. "Alex, we must meet with Moira. She knows about us. More importantly, she may know the way home for us."
"Aye, lass, lead on. Take me to the woman."
It took a few minutes of weaving through the crowd to reach the food tables. Maggie stood on her toes and searched around the area.
"Alex, do you know the blacksmith?"
"Aye, Maggie. Why?"
"Can you see him?"
"Aye, he's sitting across the way." He pointed off to one side. "Is that who ye are looking for?"
"Is he with anyone?" She gave up trying to see over the crowd.
"He is with a woman." He cleared his throat. "Verra much with a woman. Are ye sure ye want to interrupt them?"
"It must be Moira. Let's go." A few moments later, Maggie found that it was indeed Moira with Pol. Actually, on Pol would have been a better description of the scene. She cleared her throat this time to gain their attention.
"Moira, Pol." She nodded to each of them.
"Maggie and Alex. Are ye having a good time at the gathering?"
"No' as good as ye are, from the looks of it," Alex chimed in, and the two men broke out in loud laughter. Pol lifted Moira to her feet and stood next to her. Moira barely came to the man's chest and must be years older than him. She shook her head as the tall man bent and kissed Moira on the lips. He whispered in her ear and they chuckled at his words... a private joke of some kind.
"I will leave ye to yer talk. Alex. Maggie." He nodded his head and walked off into the crowd.
"Come, walk with me to my house."
She wondered if Alex was as apprehensive as she was at this moment. This was the only person in this time who seemed to know what happened to them. This might be their only lead to a way home. This might be their only chance. She felt him squeeze her hand tighter as they followed the woman through the village.
* * *
A coil of tension wound in his stomach as they left the ceilidh behind them. Moira gestured to some boulders outside her small cottage.
"The weather 'tis fair. Let's sit awhile here." He waited for the two women to sit first. There was still a little of the civilized gentleman left inside this barbarian. He waited for Moira to begin; this was very much her show. She did not keep him waiting long.
"Ye really do look as he does." She squinted at him, examining his features slowly, carefully.
"So I have been told."
"And, ye e'en sound like him. 'Tis a marvel."
"What else can ye tell us that we do not already know?"
Maggie gasped. "Alex, there's no reason to be rude."
Moira patted Maggie's hand before he could answer. "He no' rude, Maggie lass. He's impatient."
He had little liking for being taken apart and appraised by them. "Aye, I am impatient. So, what can ye tell us about the arch?"
"'Tis made of stone and ye can walk underneath it." Moira raised an eyebrow at him as she spoke. The sarcasm in her tone was her answer to the rudeness in his. Time for a strategic retreat.
"I beg yer pardon, Moira. Please tell us what ye know about the arch?" He removed all traces of sarcasm and displeasure from his voice. Truth be told, if she could help them get home, he would do anything she asked.
"The real Alex would have struck me and demanded an answer. Ye are truly a better heir for this clan than he."
It was still hard to believe that there was another one of him running around here in old Scotland. Well, not truly another but a look-alike ancestor.
"So, I have heard. But ye know we are no' of this place, and I am not the clan's heir."
She sighed deeply, sounding much older than her real years. "Ah, weel, I can hope that the fates play the same kind of trick on him, and it helps him to change to who he should be."
"The fates?" Maggie interrupted. "What do you mean?"
"Ye may call them many things: fate, God, the Almighty. But whatever ye call them," she paused and pointed at him. "Ye have offended them mightily, Alex MacKendimen. 'Tis yer fault that ye are in this trouble and here at all."
Chapter 32
His head was spinning, his thoughts scattered in his brain, and he could not grab hold of even one clear one. His fault? How could it be his fault? He closed his eyes and counted to ten. It always helped him to cool his temper. It didn't help this time.
"What right do ye have to blame me for... this?" He motioned with his hand at himself and Maggie. She looked as stunned as he felt at the moment. "What did I do to cause this?"
Moira rose from her place and approached him. She took his hand in hers, and stroked it, slowly, soothingly. He felt a calmness pierce through his anger and frustration. Her voice was all he could hear.
"I do no' blame ye, Alex. Ye asked, and I but answered ye. Do no' fear. This is but a lesson given to ye. Open to what ye are being shown, and ye will succeed in this."
Try as he might, he couldn't turn away from this woman or her words. He expected his anger to rise, but it didn't. Instead, the deep truth of her message sank into him. Instead of his heart racing as it had been, his breathing and his heartbeat slowed their paces. Instead of being alone in this, he saw Maggie... waiting.
Maggie! Whatever his transgression, it had pulled her back with him. Was she part of this? Was she the solution?
"Aye, Alex. She plays a part, too. She is here wi' ye for a reason."
"I do not understaun. What have I done?"
"Mayhap ye are no' following the path laid out for ye? By pursuing a different life, ye have offended that which sets the course. Mayhap ye turned yer back on something when ye shouldna?" Her eyes seemed to glow as she spoke. It couldn't be.
He was lost. None of this made sense to him, He needed time to think about this. Moira still had his hand in hers, stroking it. All the tension that twisted in his gut was loosening. It flowed out of him as she continued her movements on his hand.
"I need to think on yer words, Moira. But, do ye know other things about what's happening with us?"
"Aye, I can. Come closer, Maggie."
Maggie stood and walked the few steps to his side. He took her hand in his free one and pulled her close. She looked shocked, her eyes were glazed and unfocused. He wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tightly, resting his head against her chest. Shaking her head, she broke free of the reverie surrounding her and looked at him and then Moira.
"The arch was built but a few months ago and, from that time, strange things have occurred near to it. Voices and noises come from it when no one is nearby. Lights shine from it in the day and night. I am not the only one who feels the power of the arch."
&nb
sp; "I can feel it, too," Maggie said. "But I don't hear or see things in it. Do you?"
"Ye know, I have the second sight. My visions usually come in the flames of my hearth, but I now see them in the arch. It calls to me and willna brook my resistance." She paused and Alex felt her hesitation.
"What else do ye know?"
"That Alex MacKendimen will ride from London and return soon to Dunnedin."
"What?" His voice joined with Maggie's. Even Moira's calming force could not quiet his fear now. "When? When does he return?"
"I know no' the time of his coming, only that he comes this way."
"But, what will happen to us when he comes back? Alex, we must make plans to leave. Now." The frantic worry was back in Maggie's voice as she spoke. He knew that her fear was as strong as his. But, Moira was not done.
"Nay, lass. Ye canna run from the fates. Stay and live yer lives as ye have. I feel it deep in my being that ye must keep to the roles ye play. Ye must."
"Is there more to tell us, Moira?" Maggie's voice shook.
"No' at this time, lass. But I know that my part in this is to aid ye both in this journey ye make. I will tell if there are more visions, more wisdom. Keep to yer roles and..."
"And?" he asked.
"Take care when yer around the lady Anice."
"That goes without saying." He looked to Maggie for her agreement.
Moira pointed at Maggie and warned, "Ye must watch yer step carefully. Trouble is coming to ye from Anice."
He saw Maggie tremble at Moira's words. He stood and put his arm on her shoulder. "We are aware of the problems that Anice could cause. She haes started trouble already. We will be careful."
Before any of them could move, a small boy came running full-tilt into the clearing next to Moira's cottage. He stopped in front of Alex.
"Alex, I come from the castle wi' a message from the laird."
"Aye, Kenneth, I know ye live at the castle." He could not help teasing the boy who served as Struan's page. He ran his fingers through the mop of unruly red curls on the boy's head and mussed them even more.
"Alex I am trying to carry out my duties," Kenneth whined and stepped away before continuing. "The laird said ye must come at once," the boy's voice was even and serious and grossly out of place for a body so small. "There be a messenger just arrived from the MacNab."
Alex waited for more, but none came. At the end of his words, the boy bowed and ran back as fast as he had come. Trouble thy name is Anice, Alex thought, amending Shakespeare's line. It seemed absurd that he was remembering it before Shakespeare wrote it. He had accepted weeks ago that this whole situation was beyond absurd.
"Weel, I better go and find out what else awaits at the castle. Maggie?"
"I will find Rachelle and Brodie and come back with them, Alex. It's best if I'm not seen there with you."
"That may be a good idea, but I doubt ye will find them now." She frowned at him and he laughed. "Most of the couples have drifted away to the same bit of privacy I mentioned earlier to ye."
Her laughter, when it came, was a welcome thing to him. He turned to Moira before leaving. He wanted to say something to her but didn't know the words.
"I know, Alex. If anything happens to ye, I will help Maggie as best I can."
"Ye have my thanks for that assurance, Moira, and for being with us in this. It feels good to have a friend and ally."
"Alex, I will follow in a few minutes and meet you in our room when you've finished with the laird."
He nodded and reached down for a quick kiss. He needed the touch of her lips at that moment. The feel of something real in this world of what should be make-believe. It reassured him that she would be waiting for him.
Taking a deep breath, he started for the path leading to the castle. He'd been able to completely block from his mind the impending wedding to Anice. He thought about it as he hiked along. One week, that's all that was left before the wedding. He could think of no way to postpone the ceremony, and yet he could not even consider taking Anice to wife. What would happen then? Would the other Alex arrive before or after the wedding? Would they make their way back home? More importantly, would they be alive to go back home? One more week...
* * *
Four more weeks?! Alex wanted to shout out his relief but, in the face of the information about the unfortunate MacNab, it didn't seem right. He kept his expression blank as the messenger completed his duty and bowed to the MacKendimen, to him and then to Anice. Struan, seated in his high chair, looked at Anice and Alex. Plainly uncomfortable with facing Anice after the news of the accident, Struan cleared his throat and coughed a few times.
Anice sat on a stool at Struan's side, immobile, tears running down her face. At that moment, she looked her young age. He had to do something to ease this awkwardness.
"Anice?" He waited to catch her glance. She rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief and looked at him. "I am glad that yer faither wasna hurt badly. His leg should heal quickly."
"Yes, Alex," she whispered.
"It will be but a short delay, a few weeks. Ye have been mightily patient waiting for me. Can ye wait just a bit more?" He smiled at her, trying a little charm to ease the way. He could see her lips trembling before she answered. She nodded her head and rose from her seat.
"Aye, Alex, I will wait a few more weeks." She turned to Struan and curtsied. "By yer leave, laird Struan?"
"Of course, lass." Struan stood and waved Alex over to her side. "Alex, 'tis late. Escort Anice to her chamber."
He owed her some attention and some soft words; she was devastated by this news. He did not know whether she was more upset by the news of her father's broken leg or by the delay in the ceremony. He had his own idea, but he held his tongue and offered her his arm.
"Come, Anice, I will walk ye to yer room."
She wrapped her arm around his and allowed him to lead her down from the dais and through the darkened great hall. As they made their way up the steps and down the passageway to her room, Alex spotted Maggie just closing their door. It was quiet as they passed by and walked to Anice's doorway. He paused when they arrived and thought about what to say. She beat him to it.
"Alex, about the other night... in yer room. I was..."
"Anice, there is no need to talk about what happened then." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "A few short weeks, and I'll make ye my wife. Things will work out for the best." He stepped away and turned the knob to open the door. It pulled from his hand as Anice's maid, the tall one, opened the door and waited for her mistress to enter.
"I will see ye in the morn, Anice. Mayhap we can ride out to the other side of the loch one afternoon soon?"
And, as Firtha closed the door in his face, he made his getaway. Running down the hall, he threw open their door and grabbed a very startled Maggie, She screeched as he swung her around in a circle.
"Alex, what has gotten into you?"
"Four more weeks, Maggie. We got a reprieve! No wedding for four more weeks!"
Maggie reached out and wrapped her arms around Alex's neck and hugged him to her. He kissed her and used his other foot to close the door to their room. In their excitement and relief, neither one saw that Anice's maid had followed him down the darkened hallway, and neither one knew that she overheard their words of joy at the postponement of the wedding to her mistress. But by morning, her mistress knew.
Chapter 33
As silent as a tomb, she thought as she made her way from the stairway to the great hall's entrance. She'd like to believe that the quiet, subdued atmosphere was the result of too much ale and too much dancing, but she knew better. Gossip swirled through the entire clan within minutes of the messenger's arrival from the MacNab. All knew of the delay in the coming marriage of Alex to Anice. And all knew of the lady's fiery reaction that came this morning in the hall.
Maggie had waited for Anice to leave the hall so she could get to the kitchen without being seen by the angry fiancée, but she could wait no longer. Sha
king her head about this situation, she decided to go out to the bailey and walk to the back entrance. Passing through the dusty courtyard, she met Brodie and Rachelle coming in from the village.
"So, Alex was right?" She tried to keep a straight face as guilty grins crossed both faces in front of her. "You didn't come back from the ceilidh last night, did you?"
"Weel, Maggie, we..." Rachelle stammered and blushed as she tried to answer.
"Aye, Alex was right," Brodie broke in. "I am surprised to find ye here as weel."
"Alex got called back last night by Struan. A messenger came from the MacNab."
"We heard the news in the village. Ye may be the only one happy about it." Brodie's stern expression now matched the others inside the castle.
"Happy about it? Why would you think I'd be happy that the MacNab had an accident?"
"No' about that, Maggie, about the rest of it." Rachelle was still smiling.
"That the wedding has been delayed?"
"Aye, lass, how do you feel about that?" Brodie demanded to know.
"Well, I'm not completely unhappy about it." She chuckled after her words.
"Nay, I guess ye are no' unhappy to have Alex to yerself for a few more weeks. But ye better keep it to yerself. There are those in the clan who will watch for yer reaction."
"My reaction? But, Brodie, I am just an outsider. Why should my thoughts on this matter be of importance?" She stopped and turned to face them.
"Maggie, Anice will be waiting for yer words and actions. She is deeply hurt by yer presence here and now by this."
"I keep out of her way." There was more bitterness in her response than she expected. "There is no insult intended by my being here with Alex. It's just... the way it is for now."
"Aye, for now. But, that will change with Alex's marriage."
"Brodie, are ye against her now? Have ye changed yer mind?" Rachelle stepped closer to the big man, her hands on her hips, legs spread. "I thought ye had no objections to her."
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