Everything In Its Time

by Dee Davis

  Jeff walked over to the parlor fire, the seeds of an idea beginning to take form.

  Elaine watched him, her eyes narrowed and speculative. "Jeffrey St. Claire, don't even think about it. There is no way you can go there. Katherine tried to come back. She said the door was closed."

  "She said the door was closed for her. That doesn't mean it wouldn't work for me." If there was even the slightest possibility he knew he had to take the chance.

  "But you don't have a link with someone from the past." Elaine continued stubbornly. "Katherine had Iain. There isn't anyone there for you."

  "I have a link with my sister, Elaine."

  "But Katherine's link was romantic." She stood with her hands on her hips, her amber eyes flashing.

  "There are all kinds of love, Elaine." He spoke quietly, his words hardly above a whisper. "I love my sister. More than anything." Elaine flinched as if he had hit her, but it was too late to take the words back. "And I'll bet my life that my bond with her is as strong as anything she feels for Iain."

  Elaine's face softened, the anger fleeing. She laid her hand against his face. "Oh Jeff, it's just a different kind of love. Katherine loves you both."

  "Well, Iain is dead. And I'm not. If anyone is going to save her it will have to be me." He spoke forcefully, as if the words themselves would open the cosmic door that would lead him to his sister. "I know I can do this. All I need is a physical link."

  Elaine sighed with what sounded like resignation. "You mean like the earrings?"

  "Exactly. And I'll bet dimes to doughnuts that Mrs. Abernathy will have just what we need. I've a feeling she knows a lot more about this than she's letting on."

  He took a step toward the doorway, but Elaine stopped him, both her hands on his shoulders, her gaze locking on his. "Jeff, I just lost my dearest friend in the world. And now you're asking me to help you go away, too? I don't know if I can do that. What if you can't find her?" Her eyes pleaded with him. "What if you can't get back?"

  He traced the line of her lips with a finger. "Don't you see, I've got to try? I could never live with myself if I just left her there. No matter what the risk. I've got to try and find her. Hell, maybe I can even get there in time to save Iain."

  Elaine stepped back, jutting out her chin defiantly. "Okay, fine, but if you're going to do this, I'm coming too."

  "No." He hadn't realized until just this moment how much she meant to him. He'd already lost Katherine. The idea of something happening to Elaine was more than he could bear. She glared at him, daring him to argue.

  He took a deep breath, knowing she wasn't going to like what he had to say. "I don't want you to come."

  "But I—"

  He held up a hand, motioning her into silence. "Look, we have no idea if this door even works. But if it does ... well, who's to say that I'll even wind up in the right place."

  "But if you wind up in trouble I could help."

  Jeff framed her face with his hands. "No. You'll be my anchor here. My link with this time. Don't you see, as long as you're here, I'll be able to find my way back."

  He stared down into her eyes, watching as she digested the significance of his words.

  "You're saying that—"

  "That I care about you."

  "Then don't go." Her hand fluttered to her throat. "I didn't mean that. I'm sorry I—"

  He bent and kissed her gently on the lips, drinking her words, tasting the salt of her tears.

  She pulled away, her eyes searching his. "Will you come back to me?" Her lips trembled with emotion. "Katherine was telling the truth, Jeff. I do love you. And I can't imagine life without you in it," she nervously bit her bottom lip, watching him for some reaction, "even if we only stay friends."

  He gently touched her lip with a finger. "I'll come back. There seem to be some important feelings I need to check out here remember?" He smiled and bent again to kiss her, this time drawing her close, his tongue testing the warm willingness of her mouth.

  *****

  "Of course, I have no idea, but I think this might be just the thing you're looking for." Mrs. Abernathy reached into the little museum case, picked up the jeweled dirk, and reverently handed it to Jeff.

  "The dagger? I'm afraid I don't understand." Jeff looked doubtfully at the knife.

  Elaine watched him, trying to battle the little voice in her head that was praying the whole thing wouldn't work. She felt disloyal to Katherine, but going had been her choice and Elaine couldn't shake the feeling that Jeff's trying to follow her was only going to make things worse. She ran a tired hand over her eyes. Who was she kidding, she just didn't want him to go. With a sigh, she focused back in on the conversation.

  "Well, you see," Mrs. Abernathy was explaining, "this dirk has been at Duncreag for longer than anyone can remember."

  "Yes, I know all that. Mr. Abernathy told me all about it."

  Mrs. Abernathy continued without acknowledging Jeff's interruption. "It's certain that it was owned at one time by Alasdair Davidson, but we know it's far older than that. And if that isn't enough, there's the wee stone in the hilt." Mrs. Abernathy leaned over Jeff's arm and pointed to the brownish stone.

  Jeff frowned at her. "I'm still not following you."

  Mrs. Abernathy gave him a disappointed look. "It's a cairngorm, lad. Not as pretty as the ones your sister has, but a cairngorm nevertheless."

  Understanding lit Jeff's eyes. "Mrs. Abernathy you're wonderful." As if to illustrate the point, he swept her into his arms in an enveloping bear hug.

  Elaine watched them both, wishing there were something she could do to stop them. She had never felt so afraid. "This isn't a bloody party, you know." She hated the way she sounded, but she couldn't seem to stop the words. "Even if you do manage to get through that door, there's still a very real possibility that you won't be able to get back."

  Jeff dropped his arms, releasing Mrs. Abernathy from his embrace. They both turned to look at her, their surprise reflected on their faces. She felt like a heel. But they just didn't seem to realize what was at stake.

  Mrs. Abernathy recovered first, and shot her a stern look. "Don't be so negative, my dear. If your theories are correct, then all Jeffrey needs to get him back safely is someone here to form a link with, and based on your outburst just now, I'd say your link is pretty strong. I've no worries about him getting back."

  Elaine felt hot color wash across her face, not certain whether she was embarrassed more by her tirade or by the fact that Mrs. Abernathy could so easily read her feelings for Jeff. Not exactly attorney-like stealth. She sighed, still feeling the heat of Mrs. Abernathy's chastising stare. Surely a lesser mortal would melt under such scrutiny.

  Just when she thought she couldn't take it any longer, Mrs. Abernathy smiled. "There's nothing to be afraid of, lamb. Nothing at all."

  Jeff slid a comforting arm around her, pulling her close. "It'll be all right. I promise. You just have to have faith in me."

  Faith. Now there was an easy concept. She pulled her scattered thoughts together and looked up at the man she loved. "I know, I know. I'm trying, I really am. This is just so hard." She pulled out of his embrace and took the little knife from him and held it up to the light, the cairngorm glittering ominously. Okay, now she was imagining things. "You really think this thing will work?"

  Mrs. Abernathy pursed her lips. "There's no telling for sure, but I'd say if we're right in our conjectures then this wee dirk ought to do the trick. I'm afraid there can be no test flight. The only way to find out if it works will be to go."

  "Well, no time like the present, I always say ..." Jeff's smiled, but Elaine thought it looked a little forced. It was time for her to put her feelings aside. Katherine needed them. And if that meant she lost Jeff, well... Tears filled her eyes, and she wished suddenly that she were a braver person.

  Sucking in a ragged breath and plastering on a smile, she handed Jeff the knife. "You'll need this."

  Mrs. Abernathy nodded approvingly. "According to wh
at you've told me, Katherine's visions were always at night. I suspect there is truth to the old tales of magic in the moonlight. You'll be best off trying in the wee hours o' the morning, I suspect."

  "And Katherine's room seems to be the portal." Elaine met Jeff's gaze and for a moment they were the only two people in the room.

  Mrs. Abernathy cleared her throat and looked at her watch pointedly. "It's getting late. You'd both best be about your business. It'll be time to go before you know it and I've the feeling there's things you need to be saying to one another."

  She pulled Jeff into a motherly hug. "You take care of yourself now, Jeffrey. I wish you luck. Find our Katherine and bring her back. And if you cannot do that, then think of all you have waiting for you here and come home." She pulled back, her merry eyes twinkling with wisdom. "I've the feeling your place is in this time." With a final pat she was gone, leaving them alone.

  Elaine swallowed, for the first time in her life at a loss for words. "I... I don't want you to go." She looked up at him, her heart pounding in her ears.

  "I know." He reached out and brushed away a tear that threatened to tumble down her cheek.

  "All right, then let's not waste the little time we have left talking about it." Elaine sniffed back her tears as she linked her hands with his.

  He pulled her closer, their hands trapped between them. She lifted her face for his kiss, waiting for the first gentle touch of his mouth. And when it came, the sweetness of it almost undid her. She pressed closer against him, her need communicating with his. The kiss deepened, moving from gentle exploration to the bright spark of passion.

  Elaine pulled her hands free, desperately running them over his back and shoulders, wanting to seal the feel of him in her memory. She kissed him with all of her emotions, with love and fear and longing and desire, all combined into one burning flame. She felt his hands on her breasts and arched against him, demanding more. As his fingers circled her nipples, she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

  Wordlessly, she pulled from his embrace, pulling him toward the stairs and his bedroom. When they finally reached the landing, he swung her into his arms, his lips claiming hers as he carried her down the hall. When they reached his room, he gently released her, allowing her body to slide against his. She felt the power of his taut muscles as she slid to the floor and shivered in anticipation at the feel of his hardening desire. Her legs were rubbery and unsteady and she was grateful when his arms slipped around her, holding her upright. His lips found hers again and she met his kiss fully, drinking in his essence, breathing in the crisp spicy smell of him.

  With a groan, he pulled back, looking into her eyes, searching her face.

  "You're sure?"

  She raised a hand and ran it along the curve of his lip. Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze. Never had she been surer of anything. Slowly releasing the breath, she whispered, "I'm sure."

  Smiling, he lifted her into his arms again and carried her into the room, kicking the door closed behind him.

  *****

  The alarm shrieked out its message: "Get up! Get up! Get up!" Jeff sat up blearily, trying to remember what had possessed him to set his alarm for the middle of the night. He slammed a hand on top of the clock, effectively stopping the racket. Hell, according to the numbers on the luminous dial, it wasn't even the middle of the night. It was barely eleven-thirty. He yawned, then shook his head in an effort to pull himself from sleep. Someone next to him rolled over with a moan.

  "Is it time?"

  Elaine. Memory suddenly came flooding back—it was time for him to attempt to reach Katherine. He lay back on the bed and pulled Elaine into his arms, resting his chin on her head.

  "It's time."

  He turned slightly, then tipped her face to his and kissed her deeply. She whimpered and pushed closer to him, her body already responding to his. He groaned with regret. "I've got to go."

  Elaine nodded and buried her face in his chest. He held her close for a moment and then, releasing her, gently slid from the bed.

  She sat up, pushing wayward curls from her eyes, squinting when he turned on a lamp. She watched him dress in silence, her eyes never leaving him. After zipping his jeans, he came and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'll come back to you, Elaine. I swear it."

  Unable to talk, she nodded, fighting back tears.

  He pulled on a shirt and leaned across to kiss her. Standing, he pushed his feet into his shoes and reached for the dirk. He turned, and with a last long look at her walked to the door.

  Chapter 18

  THE BEDSPRINGS CREAKED as Jeff shifted and rolled onto his back. Propping his hands under his head, he surveyed the room. Not a damn a thing had changed. It was just as it had been three minutes earlier. This time traveling stuff wasn't exactly a proactive thing. And waiting was not one of his strong points.

  He sighed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts of Elaine crowding into his mind. He smiled with the memory of the evening's activities. He flexed his body, feeling again Elaine's soft curves pressed against him. He was amazed at how content he felt. Usually, after an encounter like theirs, all he wanted to do was get as far away from whoever's bed he had tumbled into as quickly as possible. But being with Elaine had been different. In fact, all he had done since leaving her was think about curling up with her again.

  He suddenly grimaced. No wonder he wasn't going anywhere. He had to think of the past, of Katherine. He closed his eyes and pictured his sister, her hair gleaming and her gray eyes shining with laughter. He tried imagining Duncreag as it must have been in its glory days. He even tried to picture Iain, which was pretty close to impossible, considering he had absolutely no idea what the man looked like. But it was to no avail—unless wingback chairs had suddenly become the rage in the Middle Ages, he was still stuck in the twentieth century.

  Frustrated, Jeff rolled to his side, wondering what he was doing wrong. Okay, maybe if he touched the knife. He rubbed the leather sheath at his side, pressing his thumb against the cairngorm. Nothing. He sat up disgruntled. What he needed was an incantation. He groaned, and amended that thought—what he needed was a miracle, with a time machine attached for good measure.

  He walked to the window, looking out on the tower grounds below. There was only a sliver of moon visible, leaving most of the lawn in deep shadow. It was odd how the shadows almost made the old walls seem whole again. In fact, if he squinted just a little, it almost looked as though there were buildings of some kind straggling around the wall. If he'd truly gone back then there'd be a smith, and a stable, and a brew house. Now there was a welcome thought. But this was the twentieth century and those outbuildings were long gone. He sighed at his flight of fancy. Moonlight was an amazing thing, changing the landscape in an instant with a simple wash of pale light.

  He frowned, his detail oriented mind struggling with something that was out of place, something beyond the magic of moonlight. He looked again at the lawn and the wall. One of the small buildings even seemed to have a light in it. A flickering light, just like a ...

  Jeff froze, his subconscious finally registering what was wrong with the picture. He should have been looking down on the roof of the new addition. There was no lawn on the east side of the castle. He deliberately blinked. The images stayed the same.

  With a deep breath, he slowly turned around, surveying his surroundings. Moonlight filtered in through the open window behind him, dimly illuminating the room. It was hard to see clearly in the shadows, but he could tell that the corner the floral wingback chair had occupied was empty. His pulse quickened as he continued investigating. Just visible was the curve of a fireplace, and opposite that the shadow of the bed. He frowned. Surely it was larger than before. Slowly he stepped out of the window alcove, his shoes clicked against bare stone.

  He released the breath he had been holding, then reached for the dirk. He felt the leather scabbard, but when his hand closed over what should have been the hilt, he felt nothing. The scabbard was empty. Stepping back i
nto the alcove, he knelt and carefully searched the floor. He felt along the darker corners with his hands. But the little knife wasn't there.

  He crossed to the bed, intent on finding the dirk. He quickly realized that if he had lost it there, it was irretrievable now, for this bed was obviously not the one he had been occupying only a little while ago. It was much larger and heavier, its frame ornately carved. And there was a fur of some kind covering the top. He brushed his hand across it absently, trying to acclimate himself to his new surroundings. He'd done it. Or perhaps more accurately, it had been done to him. He mentally shook himself. It didn't matter one bit how it had happened. The fact remained that he was here. He hoped. At least he could be certain that he was no longer there.

  Laughing silently at his whimsy, he walked toward an archway set into the wall by the fireplace. He reached for the iron ring that served as a door pull and tried opening the door. It wouldn't budge. He tried pushing it. It swung open maybe two inches and then thudded softly into something behind it. Feeling frustrated, Jeff pulled the door closed and began searching for another exit.

  He spotted a dark arch adjacent to the one he stood in. It was bigger, and now that he was growing accustomed to the faint light, he could see that it was elaborately decorated, obviously the main entrance to the room. He walked to the door and was reaching to pull it open when he suddenly stopped, realizing for the first time the precariousness of his position. He was alone and unarmed in a strange place. If he was where he thought he was, he was surrounded by people who reacted with force first, discussion later. And—he frowned at the thought—he had no idea how to discriminate between friend and foe. Great, some cavalry he was.

  Well, he could hardly stay in here forever. Squaring his shoulders, he slowly inched the massive door open.

  *****

  Iain paced in front of the fire's flickering light. There had been no word of Katherine, no order for ransom, nothing. He had waited impatiently all day and well into the evening, expecting a messenger from the Macphersons. There was no sign, either, of the Mackintosh men Fergus had sent to Cluny. They should have returned by now.