by Jennae Vale
Edna elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t let him fool ye. He talks plenty when he has something to say and I’ve learned over the years it’s best to listen when he speaks.”
Dylan and Maggie nodded their heads in agreement.
“It’s true. He’s a man of few words, but much wisdom,” Maggie said.
“Yer making me blush,” Angus said and they all laughed.
“It would take an awful lot to make ye blush,” Edna said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
Tina took in all the love at the table and began to feel a little depressed about her own situation. “Dinner was wonderful, Dylan. I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll head up to bed. I could use a good night’s sleep.”
“Are you okay, sis?” Elle asked.
“Fine. Just tired. Good night, everyone.”
Alone in her room, Tina wondered what it might be like to meet a man like her sister’s husband. He wasn’t your typical guy and she liked that about him. He never felt like he needed to do what all the other guys were doing. Sure, he enjoyed the sports he was learning about and he loved spending time with the guys in the band, but Elle was his priority and he made that clear to anyone who’d listen. They just don’t make men like that anymore, or at least not many of them. She got into her pjs and climbed into bed, giving in to gravity and allowing her head to sink into the pillow and her body to completely relax. She wished Edna hadn’t suggested time travel, because now it was all she could think about. She hadn’t asked Elle too many questions about her experience. It seemed like it was a huge surprise to her, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tina did it. She’d know it was going to happen and yet she was sure that the control freak in her would be a nervous wreck because her take charge attitude would do her absolutely no good. That didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t like being out of her element and she avoided it at all costs. It was like flying. She knew she had to do it, but she wished she was the one flying the plane. Tina wondered about this guy Edna had mentioned. What did he look like? Was he big and tall like Hamish? Was he handsome? The answers to those questions were unknowable unless she went back in time. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t doing it. She missed her family back home, missed her own bed, missed her niece and nephew. No. She was going home and that was all there was to it. She cleared her brain of the unwanted thoughts and closed her eyes only to dream of a broad shouldered man with dark hair and blue eyes.
Chapter 2
Breaghacraig - 1518
Donal McCabe was having a good day. He’d bested every man he’d come up against on the practice field and he was feeling very happy with himself. Head high, shoulders back and chest puffed out, Donal accepted the praise of the other warriors as they passed him on their way by. Some clapped him on the back, others, those he’d defeated, merely nodded their appreciation of his efforts. Yes, he was feeling pretty good about himself and to top it off, later in the evening, he planned to spend some time with the new kitchen maid. He couldn’t remember her name, but that had never stopped him before. He’d simply call her love or lass or some other endearing term. It always worked.
“Donal,” Logan approached him. “Good work with the men today. Hamish would be proud of ye. Ye’ve taken on his responsibilities as if they’d been yers all along.”
He missed Hamish, although he didn’t miss being yelled at for whatever transgression it was that Hamish thought him guilty of. He’d always known he was as good a warrior as Hamish and he was sure his old friend would agree.
“Do ye miss him?” Logan asked, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
“Aye. As much as I hate to admit it, I do. He was a good friend to me, even when I dinnae deserve such friendship.”
“Come have dinner with us tonight. Sara has become quite a good cook.” Logan threw an arm over Donal’s shoulder.
“Nae. I cannae,” he replied.
“We’d love to have ye.” Logan gazed at him, obviously hoping to change his mind.
“Ye dinnae need to feel sad for me, Logan. I’m nae lonely. If all goes well, I’ll be wooing the new kitchen maid out of her apron and into my bed this night.”
Logan laughed out loud at him, giving Donal a playful shove. “Ye need a woman,” Logan said.
“Are ye having trouble with yer hearing? I just told ye I’ve got one.” Donal couldn’t imagine what was so confusing about that.
“Not just for one night. Ye need a lass who’ll marry ye.” Logan had become a big proponent of marriage since Sara and he tied the knot. He believed every man needed a wife.
“I dinnae wish to be married. I wish to do as I please. There are a good many pretty faces about and I wish to bed as many lasses as I can. I’ll think about marriage when I get old.”
“Yer daft. Ye dinnae ken what yer missing.” The look of disbelief on Logan’s face was comical and Donal laughed.
“I do ken it and I dinnae believe I’m missing anything. I dinnae have to answer to anyone, but myself. If I had a wife,” he lifted his hand and put up one finger and then the next as he counted all the reasons he didn’t want a wife. “She’d want to know where I was, what I was doing, why I wasnae home early enough to suit her and I tell ye she wouldnae like the answers.” He laughed. “I appreciate yer concern, but I’m no’ the marrying kind.”
“Alright. I’ll leave ye to yer debauchery, but mark my words, some day a lass will come along who’s more woman than ye ever knew ye needed or wanted. When she does, ye’ll be the marrying kind.”
He guffawed at this “Of one thing I am sure, that willnae happen.”
“Well, when it does, remember I’m the one who told ye it would.”
“I’m sure ye willnae allow me to forget.”
The two men laughed and walked together to the well. Buckets of water were already waiting for them, placed there for their use. They splashed their faces with the water and then accepted drying cloths from Helene, who happened by just in time.
“Thank ye,” Logan said.
“Yer welcome. I was just on my way to find Dougall. Have ye seen him?” she asked.
“Aye. He’ll be along shortly,” Donal replied.
“How are ye both this fine day?” she asked.
“Well,” said Logan.
“Excellent,” chimed in Donal, still feeling pride in his day’s performance.
“Excellent? What wondrous feats have ye done to warrant that response?” Helene asked, tipping her head and regarding him with a scowl.
Donal didn’t think Helene cared for him much. Like some of the other married ladies, she always seemed to frown a bit when she saw him. He certainly wasn’t one to brag about how he spent his evenings when in mixed company, but he got the feeling that Helene knew more than she should about him. Thank goodness her husband, Dougall, and the other men appreciated him for his skill as a warrior and didn’t care about such things. The women of the castle didn’t approve of his penchant for wooing, not that it was any of their business. He didn’t understand why they should care at all, but they certainly liked to hold it against him. Donal knew it wouldn’t matter to her if he had defeated every warrior of the clan, she wouldn’t give him the praise he deserved. Luckily, someone was approaching that would distract her from judging him.
“Helene! How I love seeing the most beautiful woman I ken.” her husband, Dougall, kissed her cheek and her scowl immediately became a smile. She was a lovely lass, even when she frowned at him, but when she looked at Dougall her face glowed. He wondered for a moment what it would be like to have someone look at him like that. He shook the thought away before it could take hold. He wasn’t after that particular look from a woman.
“Are ye hungry? I’ve some food waiting for ye inside,” she said.
“Aye.” He looked at Logan and Donal. “What are ye two doing?”
“Just discussing why Donal doesnae have a woman,” Logan said.
“’Tis a good question,” Helene said. “I cannae imagine why.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she turned and w
alked away. The men slapped him on the back and laughed again, then Dougall followed along behind her like an obedient husband, something Donal never wanted to be. Dougall, one of the finest warriors of the Mackenzie clan was reduced to following orders from a woman. He couldn’t believe it.
Donal knew Helene and the others had been poking fun at him and he didn’t like it. How dare they ruin his perfect day with their judgement? “’Tis none of yer business,” he called after them. “Now, if ye dinnae mind. I’m hungry.” He marched off to the kitchen to see what Mary had to offer, never looking back, despite the laughter coming from Logan and some of the others who’d joined him. Why were they always trying to marry him off? It made no sense to him and never would. He was a happy man. He didn’t need the same woman warming his bed every night. The smile he’d worn only moments ago had turned into an angry scowl. By the time he reached the kitchen his temper made him fling open the door at the same time as a young lass exited right into his arms.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Dinnae be sorry, lass. I quite enjoyed it.” It was his kitchen maid. He gave her his best smile, the one that always worked. “Where are ye off to in such a hurry? I’ve only just arrived.”
“I must go home. My mother sent word. She needs me,” she extricated herself from his arms and tried to squeeze past him.
“Ye’ll be back soon, I hope,” he snaked his arm around her waist, holding her still so he could look into her eyes. Nothing there gave him hope.
“I dinnae ken that I will,” she said, glancing back into the kitchen.
“Will ye still meet me later?” he asked, worried that this day was going from good to bad too quickly for his tastes.
“Nae. I willnae,” she said with certainty.
Damn it all. “Mayhap tomorrow night then?” he hoped.
“I’m nae sure. I’ll tell ye tomorrow… if I’m back.” She seemed in a hurry to escape him. Maybe he should try a different tactic.
“What’s wrong at home, lass? It must be something quite terrible if yer nae sure of yer return.” There, he could be sensitive when it was called for.
“Ma’s having her baby. I must go.” She disconnected herself from his hands and ran across the courtyard. He watched as she headed off through the castle gates and out of sight.
Entering the kitchen, all hope of celebrating his victories dashed, Mary pushed a bowl of stew in front of him. “There ye go, lad.”
“Thank ye, Mary.”
“Ye look in quite the state,” she noted.
“Aye. This day is not turning out the way I had hoped. The lass… she has to go see about her ma,” he said.
“Oh, ye mean Bethia.”
“Is that her name? Bethia,” he repeated as if it were a foreign word. “Are ye sure? It doesnae ring a bell.”
“Well, it should.” She scowled at him much like Helene had. “Ye’ve been sniffing at her skirts for a week now. Shame on ye fer nae remembering.”
Mary made him feel guilty in a way no one else could. She reminded him of his grannie. She was sweet and kind, but dinnae cross her or anyone she cared about.
“I’m sorry, Mary. Yer right. I should hae remembered.”
“So, yer night’s been ruined by the inconsiderate way her ma decided to have her bairn this day,” Mary said. Her obvious mocking tone lost on him.
“Aye.”
Mary cuffed him on the back of the head. “Ye daft oaf. What is wrong with ye?”
“I dinnae think there was anything wrong with me until today,” he answered, rubbing the back of his head. The only person who understood him was Hamish and he wasn’t here anymore. He’d succumbed to the lure of a woman and run off with her. He never even said goodbye.
Donal ate his stew, but didn’t really enjoy it the way he usually did. Maybe it was the way Mary tsk-tsked at him as she worked.
“Oh, hello, Donal,” Sophia said, entering the kitchen. “Mary, Bethia told me about her Ma and I thought ye could use some help.”
“’Tis yer day off, lass.” Mary wiped her brow with her apron. The warmth of the kitchen could be overwhelming at times. How Mary did it day in and day out he didn’t know.
“I know, but I wasn’t busy, so I’m here if you need me,” Sophia said.
“I do, thank ye, lass” Mary said, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Latharn told me ye bested him today on the field,” Sophia said, directing her comment to Donal as she wiped down the table he sat at.
“And I was feeling pretty good about it until now,” he answered, glancing at Mary who narrowed her eyes at him.
“You should be proud. He’s a tough one.” She lifted his bowl and wiped under it. “He wasn’t happy about it, but he said he was impressed with your skill.”
“Finally, someone has something nice to say about me.” His narrowed eyes were directed at Mary’s back.
Sophia laughed. “Is someone feeling sorry for themselves?”
Sophia was one of the lasses that had come from the future and decided to make Breaghacraig their home. They had an odd way of speaking, forcing him to ask on more than one occasion just what it was they were talking about. In this case, he understood exactly what she was getting at. He didn’t agree. He was merely baffled by the lack of respect he’d been shown by everyone he’d come across since his resounding victory on the field this morning.
The Thistle & Hive Inn - 2018
Edna’s office was a cozy retreat tucked in behind the registration desk in the lobby. Tina was seated on the comfy sofa having tea with Edna and Maggie, enjoying the fact that there was absolutely nowhere she had to be and nothing she had to do. Elle and Hamish were exploring the village and she was free to enjoy her down time. The tour was over and her duties as the tour manager were also over. She had no commitments back home and had no idea what she’d be doing with her time once she got there.
“I could get used to this,” Tina said.
“Why don’t ye stay with us for a while?” Edna asked.
“I should,” she said only half joking.
“We’d love to have ye,” Maggie said. “Dylan and I can show ye around Glendaloch and the surrounding area. Ye’d love it I’m sure.”
This was sounding more and more attractive to her, but Elle and Hamish were expecting her to head back home with them. She really shouldn’t.
“Maggie, I was speaking with Tina about taking a little time travel journey to Breaghacraig. What do ye think?”
“Does she want to?” Maggie asked, sounding surprised and looking to Tina.
“I don’t think I can. It all sounds so incredible to me, but I’m expected at home,” Tina said.
“Well, don’t let Auntie Edna pressure ye into anything,” Maggie eyed Edna with some apparent disapproval.
“Oh, Maggie, ye ken ’tis perfectly safe,” Edna protested.
“’Tis, but we decided we weren’t going to send anyone else back against their will,” Maggie replied with an arched brow.
“It wouldn’t be against her will,” Edna sounded a little defensive.
Tina watched the verbal ping pong match going on between aunt and niece. It seemed like such a crazy idea, but if she could find a man like Elle had, it might just be worth it. Maybe if she had a better idea of what to expect, it wouldn’t be so overwhelming. Knowing exactly what was going to happen would give her the control she liked and maybe then she could think about having a little fun. “This man you say is waiting for me. What’s he like?”
Edna seemed pleased with her question and shot a look of satisfaction at Maggie. She smiled brightly as she replied. “He’s a good man, like Hamish, but he is a bit lost at the moment. He needs a woman in his life who can lead him in the right direction.”
“So he’s heading in the wrong direction?” Tina didn’t like the sound of that.
“I wouldn’t say it was the wrong direction, he’s just a bit lost and he needs yer help.”
“Help?” she asked, thinking she certainly di
dn’t want a man who needed help.
“Aye. Ye ken how the menfolk are. They always need our help. Isnae that right, Maggie?”
Maggie looked as confused as Tina felt. “I guess.”
“Ye wouldnae have to worry. Wallace will meet ye on the other side of the bridge and he’ll take ye to Breaghacraig. There are several others there who have traveled through time.”
“Why are they still there?” Tina wondered.
“They wanted to stay.”
“I don’t want to stay.” She surprised them all with the vehemence in her tone, but the idea of staying somewhere like that was terrifying. She was fine with a little adventure, just not too much of one. She took a breath and controlled her emotions. “I can’t stay.”
“Understood, dear. I’m just telling ye that Ashley, Jenna and the other lassies would be there for ye and, of course, when yer ready to come back to present time they’ll help ye get here.” Edna’s warm smile and compassionate eyes put her at ease. She made everything sound so easy. Tina couldn’t believe it, but as crazy at it seemed, she was actually considering this!
“I don’t want to condone my aunt’s meddling,” Maggie gave her aunt a meaningful look, “but it is a once in a lifetime chance to see a place that no longer exists, at least not on this side of the bridge.”
“Have you both been there?” Tina asked.
“We have and so has Dylan,” Maggie said. “No matter what ye decide. My offer still stands to take ye on a tour of the Highlands.”
Tina’s mind was at odds. It was so nice to be able to sit still, to not have people asking her a million questions a day. And as much as she loved her family, they had spent an awful lot of time together. A bit of time all on her own seemed like a great idea. She wasn’t sure if she could really go through with traveling through time, but the idea of spending a few more days in Scotland was appealing.
“Thanks, Maggie. That’s so kind of you. I haven’t made up my mind about the time travel, but I’m definitely going to stay. I could use some time off.”
