by Diane Darcy
No wonder he was so busy building huts and concerned about stores of food.
A chill went through her at the realization that they would literally starve if he wasn’t successful in providing for them.
A bigger picture started to form in her mind.
He’d lost everything.
He’d been jousting in front of the king to win it back, when she blundered in, and interfered.
Her hand reached up to clasp the necklace.
He had no prospects, as he’d lost almost everything, so no doubt she, and the wealth about her throat, were looking like his only alternative.
A sinking in her stomach left her feeling slightly hollowed out and sick.
If she was personally responsible for ruining Wallace’s chances, perhaps she had an obligation to help get everything back if she could.
But if she handed the necklace over, and went home, she’d be arrested for theft. She supposed she could stay, marry the man, and make reparations that way. But while she was actually catching some feelings for him, he might not be doing the same.
He was probably only doing his duty, trained in chivalry and romance from the cradle. Doing his best to romance a lady who’d not only set him back from his goal, but practically fallen into his lap with a bit of wealth.
She sighed, wishing her path was clear.
She glanced down at the remaining oatmeal and though she didn’t want to finish it, forced herself to eat the rest of the meal.
Not for her own sake, but for how rude it would seem if she didn’t.
If these guys were all about growing and storing food against the coming winter, she wasn’t going to act like a spoiled princess, ungrateful for what she received.
Apparently, she was here for the duration.
She doubted Wallace even had the time to take her to Stirling Castle.
Not at the moment, anyway.
She tugged at her necklace once again, wishing she could just give him the thing.
Maybe he could cut it off of her somehow, and use the stones to feed his people in the coming months.
Of course, if she did that, and did managed to get back to her own time, and yes, she was accepting this, wasn’t she? Then how was she going to explain the missing necklace?
She had no doubt the owner of the piece would be looking for her, and she might even be thrown in jail if she couldn’t produce it.
What was she going to do?
For now, simply stick with her original plan, to romance Wallace.
Whatever happened in the future, she definitely wanted him to think well of her.
Because either way, stay, or go, she needed him on her side.
Chapter 14
“What is everybody doing?”
Cara’s bright, cheery voice, carried over to him, and Wallace realized he must have been watching for Cara, because the moment she came outside, he spotted her.
She was walking in his direction, when she was stopped by his mother.
“Lady Cara, this way, if you please,” his mother instructed.
Wallace bundled sticks together to serve as one corner of the structure, so he could not leave.
The letdown he felt was ridiculous, of course. Though he intended to marry her, there was no reason for her to seek him out and make peace.
Their gazes met, and she smiled and raised her hand.
She’d done something to her hair, and looked lovely. He gave her a nod that didn’t even begin to express the shot of happiness he felt at her acknowledgment.
He purposely turned away, and kept his hands busy, though he found his heart lightened considerably at her appearance.
“I see your lady has joined us, my lord.” Sir Thomas, his blond hair sticking to his forehead, was bundling together sticks for one of the other corners, looking alert.
Wallace felt a rush of irritation at the man’s watchful tone. As if there was some expectation that Wallace would do something about it.
“So she is,” was all he said.
“That’s quite the bauble about her neck,” Sir Thomas said.
“Keep your eyes in your skullcap,” Wallace growled.
Sir Thomas chuckled. “Are you to marry the lass?”
A rush of aggression had Wallace straightening quickly. “How is that your concern?”
“’Twas but a question, my lord. One I would say ye answered,” he said with a chuckle.
When Wallace heard giggling, he found himself glancing up again.
Cara had been installed in a group of ladies that had heretofore been as solemn as church on Christmas Day.
Now, they were all smiles, and Wallace strained to hear their conversation.
The five men around him started talking, and so he gave up the effort.
It seems that her mere presence alone had brought his people to life.
Over the next few hours Wallace continued to work, not only instructing others, but physically doing the labor himself.
Something that would have once been unthinkable for a man of his position.
How the mighty had fallen.
And through it all, he was aware of Cara, working with the women, her conversation animated and fun.
He still felt confused about his mother’s story from the night before, but as the day wore on, it became less and less important.
Wherever, or even whenever Cara was from, she was here now, and he wasn’t planning to give her up.
He’d rued the fact that his betrothal had been broken when the king had taken everything from them.
He’d wished he’d have married the girl sooner, as his father had wished, rather than spending his time in petty wars and tourneys.
If he had, they might have had another strong family to speak for them, and to side with them.
As it was, they had been quick to distance themselves from the Wolfsbane fall from grace.
He’d met the lady a couple of times, and thought they’d do well enough together, though they’d barely spoken, and he knew her not at all.
He glanced at Cara once more and his chest filled with a burning sensation.
If she truly was from another time, and she’d landed directly at his feet, mayhap fate itself gifted her to him?
He turned away, his lips curling at the corners. He was becoming as fanciful as his mother.
Three of his men paused in their duties to stare at him.
Well, and no wonder, was it? When was the last time he’d smiled about anything?
He got back to work, resisting the urge to join Cara, more because he didn’t know what he would say if he walked over. The thought of her and the other ladies staring, caused a wave of heat to rise up the back of his neck.
Nay, he would bide his time, and talk with her soon enough.
After all, neither one of them had anywhere to go.
The morning passed quickly and Cara stood, arched her back, and groaned as she used her fingers to rub at the base of her spine.
She definitely was not used to physical labor, and bending over and putting together bundles of straw that would make up a roof was exhausting work.
Still, she couldn’t say she wasn’t enjoying herself.
She felt productive, and literally keeping a roof over the heads of these nice, hard-working people, was satisfying.
She glanced around, but Wallace had been called away, and still hadn’t returned.
“I’m famished.”
Cara turned to see Dori at her elbow. “What’s for lunch?”
“What?”
“Our next meal?”
“Oh, you mean dinner.”
Cara had to admit, she was having fun with Dori. She’d never had a younger sister, and the hero worship in the younger girl’s eyes, the way she followed her around, made the teasing fun for both of them.
“Dinner, then.”
“The steward brought down a stag yesterday, so mayhap we’ll have venison!”
Oh, yummy. Certainly not her first choice, but remembering
all the mouths Wallace had to feed, all she said was, “That sounds great!”
They walked back toward the manor when Cara spotted a turtle at the edge of the path. “Oh, look!”
She reached down to pick it up. It was about the size of a small Frisbee, and she held it up to look at its little head, retracting inside its shell. “Cute little thing, isn’t it?”
“If we give it to cook, mayhap we’ll have turtle soup for supper?”
Cara looked down at Dori, horrified. “Turtle soup? That’s disgusting!”
“Nay, ’tis quite tasty.”
Cara placed the turtle in the grass near the top of the moat, and gave it a little push so it slid down into the dirt. “Go on, little thing, before Dori eats you alive.”
Now it was Dori’s turn to be horrified. “Alive! Now you are the disgusting one!”
Laughing, they walked on. “What do you mean? You don’t let them stroll down the table, grab hold of them, crack them open, and dig in with your spoon?”
Dori giggled. “Ye say such strange things, at times.”
“Maybe so, but at least I don’t eat poor, innocent little turtles.”
Dori snorted. “They are quite tasty.”
“Agree to disagree.”
Cara had spent the morning thinking about returning home, and the only conclusion she’d come to was she’d have to return to Stirling.
If she went there, and touched the stone, would she suddenly return to the Hollywood movie set?
She had no way of knowing.
She reached up and touched the necklace at her throat. She’d thought about it and all she could remember was it had some sort of history with the Dinsdales or Wolfsbanes.
So, it was old.
Could her falling through time have anything to do with it? For all she knew it was magic, and trying to return to its rightful owner.
At this point, she wasn’t ruling anything out.
They went inside to find lunch, or rather, dinner underway, about half the seats filled.
Wallace was already there, talking with a couple of men beside the fireplace. Waiting for her?
She sighed. She admired him more each day. He was a hard worker, and his life had been difficult. It was a good thing he had such broad shoulders because, as she saw it, he had the weight of the world on them.
He glanced up and his expression lightened, and she was flooded with a rush of breathlessness.
She smiled at her own reaction.
She was simply flattered. Even now he watched her make her way toward him.
What if she were stuck here?
Would she really marry Wallace?
As she followed Dori, passing several long tables, and making her way around the room, she found herself frowning.
She wasn’t sure she was cut out for this life, and if she wasn’t, she needed to let go now.
Let him go.
What she didn’t need was to catch feelings for Wallace. She needed to go home while she still could.
If she still could.
Day by day, she’d been getting more attached, because the thought of leaving him made her feel … sad.
What if she arrived at Stirling, and she couldn’t go home?
Would she forever yearn for her old life, for her parents?
What if she made it to Stirling, and she could go home?
Would she always wonder what might’ve been with this big, gorgeous, honorable man?
That was a decision she might only be able to make once she arrived.
“Is there any chance you can take me back to Stirling Castle?”
Wallace bit back a sigh as he looked down into Cara’s earnest hazel eyes, and couldn’t help wanting to please her, but there was no reason to go.
The fair was long over, and only the residents of the castle, and the nearby villagers would be around. “Why do you wish to go there?”
Her gaze flickered down, and she seemed to think for a long moment.
“Lass?” Could there be someone at Stirling who’d captured her fancy? Because he still had difficulty believing the story of a far off time and place.
Even as his mood darkened at the thought of it, he reached out and with his fist, gently lifted her chin until he could see her eyes once more. “What, do you wish to see?”
“The touching stone.”
A chill went through him.
She wouldn’t truly wish to travel that distance, just to try and convince him of her story, would she?
She might if her story was true.
He thought of his mother, who was naught if not honest, and her version of the events that led her to marry his father.
He did not wish to think upon it.
“Nay, we will not be traveling to Stirling anytime soon. There is much to do here.”
At her crestfallen look, his chest tightened. He did wish to please her, he’d admit to himself, if to no one else.
“Besides which, you would not wish to miss the wedding, would you?”
“The wedding?”
“Aye, the queen’s niece. I thought mayhap we could ride a little bit north to our neighbors at Marshall Keep, as they are likely to be traveling to Newcastle as well. I could send a messenger to gain Marshall’s agreement.”
Apparently, he decided to take her.
He knew Lord Marshall married but recently, and reasoned that Cara might enjoy travel with a lady her own age. It would not hurt her to see a newlywed couple, and perhaps envision herself in such a role.
He liked the idea of that very much.
“But what about Stirling Castle? When can we go there?”
“I’m much too busy with preparations and do not have the time for it now.”
“I’m just asking, when?”
Impatience had him snapping. “I’ve not the time for such nonsense!”
He felt his suspicions rise again. Was it truly the touching stone she wished to see?
Or someone at the castle.
When she continued to argue, he simply turned and walked away.
Chapter 15
Cara silently fumed.
She watched Wallace walk away and join a group of men who were busy building, and thought about going after him, but knew she’d be the one that ended up looking foolish if she did.
She could join the other women in their work, but didn’t want to be around Wallace at the moment.
She turned and walked toward the stables and out buildings, and when she reached the fence, leaned against it and watched the goats play King of the Hill on the only rock in the enclosure.
After a moment, she was laughing.
One thing she knew for sure about Wallace was that the moment she got angry at him, he shot her right down.
The man thrived on praise, and since she knew his mother, she doubted he’d earned much in his life.
So, yelling, demanding, wouldn’t get her anywhere.
One of the goats trotted up to her and nuzzled her palm before bleating at her.
She chuckled. “Sorry about that, if I had anything on me, I’d give it to you.”
The goat bleated at her once more, and she leaned down to rub its head. “I guess I’ll have to call you Hungry, and your friend over there standing so proudly on his rock, can be Bossy. And we’ll call the three others Sleepy, Jumpy, and Chewy.”
“Begging your pardon, my lady, but I don’t think you’re supposed to name them.”
She turned to see Sir Gladwin.
“Sir Gladwin,” she glanced at the goats once more. “Why shouldn’t I name them?” She asked the question, knew it was expected.
“Because, when you’re having goat stew, ye want to be enjoying yourself, not thinking about your friends.”
She chuckled. “Too late, too late.”
The man kept a respectful distance and she realized he might be able to answer her earlier question.”
“Sir Gladwin, do you know where Stirling Castle is from here?”
“Of course. Up north
, in Scotland.”
“And that would be, which way?”
He chuckled, and pointed toward the woods, and she realized that was the direction they’d come from when they’d approached the manor. She should have figured that out herself.
“And where is the queen’s niece getting married?”
“Newcastle.”
“And which way is that?”
He pointed in the completely opposite direction, and she realized she should have known that as well.
That didn’t mean she had to like it.
Knowing this didn’t help her any. Okay, now she knew which way was north, and which way was south, and no doubt if she took off, she’d start turning in circles and get lost.
Or attacked again.
Or killed.
So, she was basically stuck here until Wallace decided he wanted to take her to Scotland.
Her stomach sank.
She didn’t like feeling trapped, she never had. One of the reasons she’d chosen her career, was for the opportunity to travel. And also, to be able to return home between contracts.
She missed her parents.
Knowing they weren’t even in the world that she was living in, left her feeling bereft.
“Are you well, lass?” Sir Gladwin asked.
“Can you tell me what year it is?”
“Lass?” He chuckled. “Is this a test of my wits?”
At her arched brow he lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. “’Tis the year of our Lord 1260.”
She smiled. “Just checking. I’m trying to get a sense of my place in the world.”
She glanced up to see the confusion on his face. “I just ... I just realized, my freedom has been severely curtailed, and I don’t particularly enjoy the feeling.”
“I understand. If I’m in one place too long, I tend to get restless.”
“Yes, that’s it exactly.”
The older knight gave her a short nod. “If I can ever do aught to help, I will. You’ve just to let me know.”
She let out a breath, already feeling a bit embarrassed about how much she had revealed, but she simply said, “Thank you.”
With a nod, he turned and wandered away.
