by Lexi Post
“Yeah, if we don’t screw it up.”
“Our only control over our TWI teams is their conscience.” Jules leaned back against the steel beam separating the glass. “That is not a lot to work with. At least Diana agreed to stay on birth control, but how long that will last is anyone’s guess. I just hope no one in the other districts decides to bring home a mate. Who knows what that will do to the future.”
“We knew involving these natural time travelers would be risky. They will change mankind’s future and not simply by fixing what the Disruptors changed.”
Jules sighed. “I know. I just wish we had more information before we left. Then maybe we could guide the changes.”
“Even then the question would be, did we make it better or worse?”
The buzz of the phone sitting on the blue glass coffee table drew both their gazes. Jules walked over to it, touched the screen and listened.
“That was Rafter. We have another one.”
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Author's Note
On Highland Time was inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s narrative poem, The Lady of the Lake, published in 1810. The title of this poem had always conjured up magical realms for me, so it was a surprise when I read it to discover there was no magic at all, just a king in disguise. However, it does include the love story of Ellen Douglas, the Lady of the Lake. She and her father, who has angered the king, have taken refuge on an island owned by their host, Roderick. While there, a hunter (the king in disguise) falls in love with Ellen, and though she doesn’t return his love, he gives her a ring that will grant her any boon from the king.
Roderick, whose advances are also pushed aside by Ellen, decides to make war upon the king because the man Ellen loves, Malcolm, is loyal to the crown. It is Roderick’s goal to kill Malcolm. The disguised king runs into Roderick on the road to Stirling Castle and mortally wounds him while at the same time Ellen’s father turns himself in, hoping to stop the battle. Ellen hands the king the ring and requests that the king spare her father’s life. Eventually, thanks to Ellen, the king and Douglas make amends, no battle ensues, and Ellen is free to wed Malcolm.
Ellen’s significant role in the narrative shows how a woman, in a male dominated society, can significantly affect history. Though this poem focuses on a later time in Scottish history, it was my inspiration for On Highland Time. My thoughts were: What if instead of a disguised king, there was a disguised time traveler? And that time traveler was a woman bent on restoring history? Like Ellen, could this time traveler affect history and have her happy ending, or would time be against her?
On an historic note: it is important to acknowledge that the term “laird” was not used this early in Scottish history; however, for the sake of easier reading, this address is present in the book. Also, the “Highlands,” as we refer to them today, were not considered as such by those who lived there in the fourteenth century, but as my time-traveling heroine is from present day, it was the simplest way to refer to the area where the fictional Gealach Castle was located.
Acknowledgments
A special thank you to Cindy Vallar for her expertise on life in medieval Scotland. Any inaccuracies are either for fictional purposes or of this author’s making. Also, a special thank you to Marie Patrick, my critique partner, for all of her feedback and suggestions.
Lastly, thank you to my wonderful editor Tera Cuskaden for nudging me in the right direction and making my work so much better.
About the Author
Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She spent years in higher education teaching the classical literature she loved, but Lexi’s first love is romance novels, so she decided to write sexy romances inspired by the classics. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.” Lexi lives with her husband and cat in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, and you’ll never see her without a hat.
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