He’d gone completely blind and stupid with lust. And it wasn’t as if his shoulder didn’t hurt the entire time. He really thought he was going to die for a while, but he still couldn’t stop himself. Not when she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. When she blinked down at him and whimpered his name, he would have taken another bullet in his other arm only to be with her. For those moments when their lips and hands and bodies had touched, everything had been perfect.
He sighed, and unable to roll over, stared morosely at the dark beams that crossed the ceiling. Lizzie had fled in such a hurry she hadn’t blown out the candle and he was too tired to get up and do it himself. He watched the light flicker over the beams and felt guilty on top of feeling foolish.
Her damn happiness afterwards had done something to him, made him recall how happy he’d been when he thought she loved him, only to have his heart smashed. He’d acted brusque, maybe even cruel, because he knew if he let her stay with him, his heart would be lost again. He didn’t believe for a second that she would choose him over her old life, especially not when she was actually back in it.
The sooner everything was back to normal, the sooner he could set about forgetting her once and for all. If he could move his shoulder at all tomorrow, he would insist they try again to be on their way. No more letting Lizzie nurse him back to health. It was far too dangerous to be that close to her again.
His foolhardy desires were unimportant right now. Catie had been alone for a week. Who knew what she was getting up to, or if she’d found Lachlan. No, he couldn’t keep screwing up. So far everything Lachlan ever said about him was true.
He concentrated on the pain in his shoulder, finding it easier to manage than the pain in his heart. He was determined to make everything right. And that meant no more Lizzie.
Chapter 7
Piper woke up before anyone else and crept to the kitchen for a few peaceful moments before the Ferguson sibling war started anew. She needed time to adjust to the fact that Lachlan’s sister had come through time to rescue him. From her. That stung more than a little.
She massaged her temples, trying to make her pounding headache subside. It only seemed to get worse as she worked to forget about the nightmares she’d had all night. It could have just been stress that brought them on for the first time in weeks, not the thing she feared most— the return of her dead ancestor’s spirit to plague her. Yes, it had to be stress.
She hadn’t heard or felt a peep from Daria since she’d returned from the trip to the eighteenth century to find her grandma Rose. That trip in itself had been a nightmare. She’d been drugged and tossed in a cell for witchcraft, Lachlan had been badly injured, and Evie had been so distressed by it all, she was convinced she’d met another time traveler, a mysterious man she would not shut up about. The trip had ultimately served its purpose though, and she returned to the present time free of Daria’s spirit. Hadn’t she?
Yes, she had. The headache and nightmares were from stress. That made the most sense and she forced herself to believe it.
She built up the fire in the huge fireplace, and poured herself a cup of tea, poking at the miniature roses she’d just planted in glazed ceramic pots. She turned them to where the sun would shine through the window, when it saw fit to shine at all, and smiled at the tiny, perfect flowers. The cavernous room, indeed the entire castle, felt more like home to her every day.
She’d finally settled in at the plank table when Evie let herself in, cheeks glowing from the cold morning air. Hoover, the shaggy sheepdog followed her in, his paws caked with mud and straw.
“Ugh, I think he camped out with the pig again,” Piper said, pulling the bits of straw from between his toes. “Their love is true, but so weird.”
“I hope he’s not too sad when that pig becomes bacon,” Evie said, patting her former dog’s head.
Piper frowned, not sure how she would handle it either. She’d wanted a working farm, so she supposed she’d have to face it, though. She waited for Evie to get a cup of tea and sit down before spilling the news that Lachlan’s sister had arrived from the eighteenth century. Evie bounced in her seat and grinned.
“Oh my God, did you hear already?” Piper asked.
“Hear what?” Evie asked, looking like she would burst at any moment.
“Lachlan’s—”
“I’m pregnant again,” Evie blurted.
Piper was so surprised she completely forgot Catie for the moment. A series of emotions and thoughts flew through her head, starting with happiness and ending with, “Oh dear God, the wedding!” Evie smiled sheepishly while Piper got deeper into panic. “How far along are you? Geez, Evie, have you never heard of birth control?”
Evie giggled and pressed her hand to her stomach. “I only found out last night, so it’s early days still.”
“Please tell me Sam knows. I cannot keep another secret like that.”
“Yes, he knows,” Evie said exasperatedly, though Piper thought it was a perfectly valid question, considering Evie had been scared to tell him the first time. But then, they hadn’t been engaged and already living the idyllic life they led now.
“But, the wedding!” Piper said again. “We’re going to need to work at top speed, or you’re just going to have to suck it up and wear a maternity dress.”
Evie sighed and looked grim, not liking either option. “We can’t wait another year, you’re right. Sam’s mom will go nuts.”
Piper got up to get her wedding planning notebook from the bar when Mellie wandered in from her room and began pulling food out of the fridge for breakfast.
“Oh, hey Mel,” Piper said, rustling through the notebook, which was woefully lacking in notes. She didn’t want to concede defeat and hire an actual, professional wedding planner, but she wanted Evie to have the wedding of the century. “No classes this morning?”
“No,” Mel answered, cracking eggs into a bowl and glancing sideways at Evie. “Does she know yet?”
“Know what?” Evie asked.
Piper remembered Catie and gasped. “I forgot. She completely upstaged my news with her own news.”
Mellie looked on with interest, always eager for gossip, and Piper knew she wondered what was so juicy it could upstage Lachlan’s sister. Evie narrowed her eyes at her before Mellie pulled her pewter crucifix from the neckline of her top and kissed it.
“I swear I’ll keep it a secret until you release me from the burden.”
Evie and Piper laughed at the wording of the vow. No one in Castle on Hill could possibly keep a secret for long, so it would have to do. After Evie shared her good news, and Mellie finished squealing with glee, she cracked a few more eggs into the bowl, eyeing Evie’s midsection.
“No, I’m not going overboard with this one,” Evie swore. “I gained way more than I needed with Mags. And Piper’s cracking the wedding whip, so we’ll have to choose a date soon.”
“Why don’t you just wear one of those Jane Austen style dresses? Do that as the theme?” Mellie asked absently, not looking up from the frying pan.
Piper exchanged a look of wonderment with Evie, and she almost heard a choir of angels and feel the light of heaven shine down on the fantastic idea. Evie was so crazy about all those books and movies, Piper didn’t know why they hadn’t thought of it before, even before the threat of the belly overtook them. The flowy Regency style would give them a few extra months of planning time.
“Holy crap, that’s a brilliant idea,” Evie said, holding out her arm. “Look, I’ve got goosebumps.” She turned to Piper. “We can have a carriage.”
“Hell yes. Carriages for everyone. I feel weak right now. I can’t even feel my arms, I’m so excited.”
“Slap some more butter in that pan, Mel,” Evie said. “A loose Regency dress will cover it all up nicely.”
“Let’s name the new baby,” Mellie suggested. “Since it’ll be a girl for sure, I vote for Allessandra.”
“Probably not,” Evie said, helping her slice bread for toast.
<
br /> “Catriona!” Piper breathed when Catie peeked her head around the door and looked like she was going to beat a hasty retreat.
“Better, but it doesn’t go with Magnus,” Evie said.
Piper ran and pulled Catie into the kitchen, offering her a cup of tea. To her dismay, the girl still looked angry and upset, and kept a stony demeanor as she sat at the table.
Mellie laughed and told Evie she still hadn’t been informed yet, as they’d been sidetracked once again by wedding talk. Piper introduced them and Catie sat there looking miserable, only offering Mel the weakest of smiles.
“Another Ferguson in the castle, that’s wonderful,” Evie said, sitting down across from her. She raised her eyebrows questioningly at Piper. Why was there another Ferguson in the castle? Piper shrugged, not sure and not convinced it was so wonderful.
“Are ye the mother of the wee lad whose pictures are everywhere?” Catie asked.
“The wee lad is mine, yes,” Evie said, whipping out her phone and scrolling to a vast album of pictures.
She handed it over, always glad to show off Magnus, and Catie seemed just as eager to look at them. Piper felt a small knot of jealousy that Evie got smiles and interest, when Catie barely looked at her. She knew she had to calm down before she started acting like a weird, desperate stepmother, trying too hard to get Catie to like her. It was completely natural that she be aloof until she got to know her better. And realized she wasn’t a witch. Her headache flared and she nearly dropped the cup she held.
“So, what brings you to this century?” Evie asked overly casually, her cheeks going red at the prying question.
“That is what I’d like to know as well.” Lachlan entered the kitchen, causing Catie to jump as he frowned ferociously at her, before switching gears and amiably wishing the rest of them a good morning.
Just having him in the room soothed Piper’s nerves and she wanted to hug him, but didn’t want a miniature Ferguson death glare aimed her way.
Mellie hurriedly slid the scrambled eggs onto a plate and slithered from the room, the coward, and Evie looked like she was torn between fleeing and making popcorn for the show that was sure to begin.
He kissed Piper, which made her uncomfortable under his sister’s oppressive side eye. He noticed and turned his wrath on Catie.
“Speak, lass,” he boomed, planting his hands on the table and leaning over her. “Ye’ve had your good night’s sleep. Now tell me why ye’ve done such a fool thing as come here.”
Not to be intimidated so easily, she shoved the bench back and scrambled to her feet. “Do ye dare to try to boss me around?” she asked, her eyes a paler blue than Lachlan’s but just as stormy. “I’ll tell ye why I came. Because I thought ye’d been put under a witch’s spell and brought here against your will, that’s why.” Catie stamped her foot and took a deep breath. “I found it’s only half true, though. Ye’re not here against your will,” she spat, glaring at Piper.
Piper wilted and moved a step away from Lachlan, her heart pounding at the words. She often wondered about the family he’d left behind, but always pushed the thoughts away.
It was his choice, and more than anything, she’d wanted him to choose her. But she would have gone to his time as well. Anything to be with him. Had he been assured of that? Did he make the right choice? Catie was just a child, really. Only seventeen. Maybe he shouldn’t have left. Lachlan reached for her hand, taking away some of the guilt, but Catie still glowered at her.
“That’s enough,” Lachlan yelled. “Ye’ll be respectful and apologize.”
Catie ignored that order as if it hadn’t been given. “I thought ye were in danger.” Her voice broke. “Ye had to be in danger to leave your family, aye? Ye’d never do anything irresponsible or selfish,” she said, shaking her head in disgust. “I came to rescue ye.” She put her head in her hands and laughed. “How foolish I was. Ye’re happy, not in peril, and certainly not giving us a thought. And I was left to think ye dead, and mourn ye.”
Lachlan dropped Piper’s hand, looking utterly stunned. “Ah, bloody Quinn making a mess of things as usual. I should never have left it to him—”
“Dinna ye dare blame Quinn,” she said, slamming her hand onto the table. “If he made a mess of things, it’s because ye left him with nothing but a mess to work with. Aye, he lied, but who would believe what ye did? I thought it madness until the moment it worked. Honestly, I dinna know which of ye I hate more.” Her face scrunched up as she struggled not to cry and Piper rushed forward to comfort her. Catie jerked away and turned to the door, but stopped, looking around wildly. “I dinna want to stay here,” she said pitifully. “I dinna want to be in this place anymore.”
Piper didn’t have the first clue what to do after she was rebuffed. Anything else she tried would make Catie feel worse, but standing there doing nothing tore into her heart. She could tell Lachlan had a tight, but tenuous control on his temper, his mouth firmly shut, a muscle in his jaw twitching. A heavy silence settled over them all.
“She’s welcome to stay with us,” Evie offered in a voice so small it barely made its way from the table where she sat frozen through the outbursts.
“Nonsense,” Lachlan snapped. “We willna put ye out. Catie can go to her room until she can ask Piper’s forgiveness and be reasonable.”
Piper gasped. She loved him completely, but couldn’t he see how much worse he was making things? Would he be this tyrannical with their own children, if they ever had any?
Catie’s mouth slowly dropped open and Evie rushed to assure him it wouldn’t be any trouble. Piper put her hand on his arm, urging him to let her stay, at least for a night, so they could take a breath. This seemed to outrage Catie more, that she should get what she wanted, and even worse, to be assisted by Piper in any way.
“No. I dinna need your permission,” she said. “Ye canna lie to me and then expect me to follow your orders.” She turned to Evie and smiled shakily. “I thank ye for the offer. I shall just take a moment to gather my things.” With a glare at Lachlan and a grimace of distaste in Piper’s direction, she slammed from the kitchen.
“Sorry,” Evie whispered.
Piper sat down on the bench and put her head on her arms, feeling as if she’d been caught in the middle of a tempest. Catie hated her and thought she was a witch. She didn’t know what to do with that. Lachlan squeezed her shoulder and sat beside her, placing a comforting kiss on her forehead.
“She’ll come around, love. She’s got a bit of a temper is all, and doesna mean what she said about ye.” He sighed. “She meant what she said about me, though. I didna handle it right at all, leaving the way I did.”
Piper wanted to remind him that he hadn’t had much choice at the time, with the Glens wanting him dead and Bella needing to marry Pietro as soon as possible, but she still reeled with her own sense of responsibility in it. She’d only wanted him back with her, and hoped she hadn’t had a hand in destroying his relationship with his family.
He reached over and patted Evie’s hand. “I hope ye know what ye’ve got yourself into,” he said.
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll be fine with me,” Evie said. “I haven’t betrayed her in any way.”
Piper reached over and half heartedly swatted her for that crack. Much too soon. Lachlan groaned and massaged his temples.
“Hey,” Evie said. “Did anyone bother to ask her how she got here?”
Chapter 8
“I’m sorry you’re going through this, Catie,” Evie said as they pulled up to her and Sam’s little stone cottage. “I admit I only ever saw it from the one side and was always so happy that Lachlan chose to stay. I never thought about who got left behind.”
Catie looked up from her phone and sniffed. “Nor did Lachlan, apparently.”
“Hmph, well, love makes people silly sometimes.”
“Silly is it? Leaving his clan and land and family?”
Evie sighed and unlocked the front door, letting Catie go ahead of her, dragging her bag a
long the wood floor. She paused to admire the gallery of Magnus that lined the entryway.
“Are you and your brother very close?” she asked.
Catie shrugged, looking bereft. “No, not really. But he took care of things. If anything went wrong, Lachlan fixed it straight away. Everyone was glad to follow Lachlan. Now Quinn’s in charge and no one is properly scared of him, they’re just scared he’ll gamble away the profits from the crops.”
Evie showed Catie into Magnus’ room. She’d have to find the folding cot and set it up and move the crib into her and Sam’s room for the duration.
Good lord, she’ hadn’t called Sam. She quickly rang him up and told him to get home, then turned and led Catie into the kitchen. The kid just followed as if she was in shock, and Evie didn’t want to offer false platitudes like most adults did when things were messed up beyond repair. She was determined to be better than that. She filled the new six slice toaster with bread and waved Catie to sit at the kitchen table.
“I’m sorry to be cramming my gullet while you’re so upset, but if I don’t keep some food on my stomach, it gets pretty ugly.”
Evie rubbed her belly and smiled. This second pregnancy had been an exciting surprise, and she hadn’t freaked out in the least. Motherhood suited her, and forced her to be calm, and Magnus was the absolute light of her life. Sam might have turned a little green around the gills for a second, because he worried about money.
His bookshop always seemed on the verge of collapse no matter how many new souvenirs and pastries he brought in to lure customers, but she often wondered how much of his moaning was unfounded. When Piper had been gone for eight months, she’d learned a lot about managing the estate, and as it turned out, was a natural at it. She offered to go over the books for him, since his regular accountant was ninety-two and she didn’t think the man had his heart in the game anymore. But Sam was loyal and Mr. McGivray had been their accountant since the shop belonged to his grandfather.
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