Tavish hadn’t told her what the stone looked like, she realized as she looked about her. How was she supposed to know if she found it?
He’d said to look by the altar, hadn’t he?
The altar was simple, a single long stone slab supported on two thick stumps of wood. Between the stumps was a wooden box and something told her to look inside. As she opened it she smiled. Inside was a small square of stone about six inches in diameter. In the middle was carved an S in the same Celtic design she’d seen in Tavish’s house.
“You’ve come for the stone,” a voice said behind her as she ran her finger along the curves of the S.
Leaping up in fright, she slammed her head into the base of the altar stone, staggering to her feet, the hood of her cloak slipping from her face.
She found herself looking at a blurred man who had somehow walked into the chapel without making a sound.
“Wh-” she said, stumbling to her knees, dizziness washing over her.
“Apothecary,” the figure shouted. “In the chapel with haste.”
Another figure appeared beside the first and the two of them walked toward Lindsey while she tried to scramble away from them. They came into focus when they reached her.
“Do not fear,” the nearest man said, “We mean you no harm.”
“Who are you?” the second asked. “Are you hurt?”
“I just banged my head,” she replied, her voice weak.
“Punishment enough for sneaking into my castle,” the first man said, chuckling to himself.
Lindsey let them help her up, looking at them both closely. “Who are you?”
The first man spoke. “I am Dom MacIntyre, laird of the clan. This is Father Adam, apothecary and builder of this chapel. And you are?”
“Lindsey MacMillan.”
“Of clan MacMillan? What brings you so far north?”
“It’s a long story and I’m not sure you’d believe me.”
“We love long stories here and we have all the time in the world to listen. Speak.”
Lindsey found herself telling them the truth. Later, she wondered why she’d done it. She guessed it was the blow to her head making her feel woozy. It might have been the quiet serenity of the chapel, the very air telling her she was safe there. It might have just been the warm smiles on the two people sitting with her.
It was hard to square the way they were with her knowledge of the pauper family they’d passed on their way north. This laird seemed kind, ensuring kitchen maids brought her hot drinks while she talked and talked and talked.
When she mentioned coming from the future, the two of them looked at each other, whispering something she didn’t catch.
She told them about arriving, about finding Tavish, about his banishment from the clan. She felt no qualms in telling them she had come north to retrieve the sacred stone.
When she was finished the two of them were silent for a moment before the laird took her hand. “You were meant to come to us,” he said. “Isn’t that right, Father?”
“God has guided her here through the ages as He did the others, praise the Lord.”
“I must say something else,” Lindsey said. “On the way here, we passed a family in the depths of poverty. They said you had burned their crops. Why would you do such a thing?”
The laird shook his head sadly. “That was my father. A cruel man, I am afraid. Times are different now I’m in charge, not that the Sinclairs could yet know the lairdship has changed hands. I seek only peace with all the clans of the Highlands.
“Edward is coming north with his army or so rumor has it. If we are to repel him, we must work together, not bicker amongst ourselves. If you would go to Castle Sinclair and return with an emissary of peace, I will gladly give you their sacred stone in turn as a gesture of good faith.”
“I have an emissary outside right now.”
“Really, who?”
“Tavish.”
The laird shook his head. “We cannot talk peace with an exiled murderer.”
“Did you not hear me just now? He is guilty of no crime.”
“Nonetheless, the Sinclairs will not listen to him so nor can we.”
The apothecary spoke up. “That is why she wants the stone. So that they can gain entry to Castle Sinclair and prove his innocence. Do you see?”
The laird turned to his companion. “You are right as ever, Father.” He turned back to Lindsey. “Prove the truth of which you speak. Bring Tavish to me and I will gladly give you the stone to take back to its rightful home. Perhaps then we may unite as a single people as has always been my wish.”
A minute later, Lindsey was standing waving outside the castle gate, hoping Tavish was watching from his vantage point. She was rewarded by the sight of a figure standing up, silhouetted against the sky for a brief moment before beginning the descent to her.
“What happened?” he asked when he reached her a few minutes later. “Do you have the stone?”
“Come with me,” she replied, taking his hand and leading him into the castle. “There is someone who wishes to meet you.”
Tavish looked utterly bewildered as he walked beside her into the castle. People stopped what they were doing when they saw him, muttering to each other and pointing at the outlaw.
“Tavish Sinclair,” the laird called out from the steps of the keep. “You are most welcome. Come, break bread with me.”
“Am I dreaming?” Tavish whispered to Lindsey as they climbed the steps to follow the laird inside.
A minute later the three of them were sitting at a small round table, trenchers and goblets in front of each of them. “This is a remarkable woman,” Dom said, nodding toward Lindsey. “You’d do well to look after her.”
“I intend to. But where is the laird?”
“Dead these six weeks. I am laird now.”
“I am most sorry for the loss of your father.”
“I’m not. He was a wicked man and the cause of much bloodshed between our two clans. But let us put that behind us. I have an offer for you, Tavish Sinclair.”
Tavish tore off a hunk of bread and ate it slowly. Lindsey watched as the laird did the same, the two men examining each other closely.
Finally, the laird burst into laughter. “You are a strong man but your eyes betray you. I see you want peace as much as me. Take the sacred stone and return to Castle Sinclair. Send them my blessing and ask for parley. We must have peace between the clans if we are to avoid a bloody future.”
Tavish twisted in his seat, giving Lindsey a look she understood at once.
“I told him the truth,” she said. “He knows I’m from the future.”
The laird slid a red velvet bag across the table. “The sacred stone, blessed by our holy men, given freely by the laird of the MacIntyres to you, emissary of the Sinclairs. Take it and fresh horses with all the food you need for your journey home.”
“I cannot ride,” Lindsey said. “Though I thank you for your gift.”
“Ride together on one then,” the laird replied, his smile not fading. “You look like neither of you will find that too great a discomfort.”
He got to his feet, holding a hand out toward Tavish who looked at it for several seconds whilst saying nothing. Then he too rose to his feet.
“Peace,” he said, shaking firmly.
“Peace,” the laird replied. “Lindsey, I have fresh clothes to replace those if you desire. They are somewhat ripe.”
“Very much so,” Lindsey replied.
She changed in a side-room, listening as Tavish and the laird talked about what rumors were spreading regarding the English king. Once she was changed, she walked back out to find both men on their feet.
The laird turned to her. “Now you should both make haste. Your companion tells me you wish to free your father from captivity.”
“Aye,” Tavish said, picking up the velvet bag before turning to Lindsey. “Ready, lass?”
“I am,” she replied.
The laird took
them to the stable. “This is a fine beast,” he said, slapping a black horse on the flank. “Name of Dom after me. He will serve you well. God speed Tavish Sinclair and may you safely return to your home, Lindsey MacMillan.”
“Farewell,” Tavish said, helping Lindsey onto the horse before climbing up behind her.
“Goodbye,” Lindsey called over her shoulder as they rode through the courtyard. Behind her, the laird and apothecary waved until they were out of sight.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Tavish said, leaning forward and kissing her forehead before laughing properly for the first time in days. “You just walked intae MacIntyre castle and retrieved the stone without even breaking intae a sweat.”
“I don’t know about that,” she replied, trying to ignore the tingle running up the back of her spine. “The climb up the garderobe wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.”
“We have the stone,” Tavish said. “Ah can go home at last.”
Lindsey winced. She hadn’t thought about it for some time but he had just reminded her. She was going home too. Her time with Tavish Sinclair was almost at an end.
All she would have to remember him was a kiss and a locket. It would have to do. She had warned herself not to get too close. It was her own fault if this hurt. The kiss meant far more to her than to him. That was clear. He didn’t seem bothered in the slightest that she was going.
She had done what she’d promised. It was time to go back to where she belonged. Put all this behind her. Get the locket, quit her job, put her all into doing up the house with her mother. That was what mattered, not the smell and heat coming from the man mountain on the horse behind her, her arm around her waist, making her feel so safe she could cry.
12
The journey south took many days but for Tavish, it felt as if it were over in minutes. As each mile passed by, he found himself again and again trying to imagine life without Lindsey.
He wasn’t sure why he was struggling so much. It was always going to end this way. He’d manipulated her into helping him get the sacred stone and then she could go back to her own time.
They stopped for the last night together on the shore of Loch Tay. The sun set while they sat together eating rabbit like they’d done on the day she arrived in his time.
His tiny little hut was behind them, the last rays of the evening sun sliding down its walls to the ground. Soon it would be dark and the hut would be hidden from view, as would she.
She was watching the sun set over the water. He looked at her closely, trying to work out what she was thinking. She’d barely said two words to him all day.
Something had changed during their ride south and he couldn’t put his finger on it. Whenever he’d asked her what was wrong, she insisted she was fine.
Perhaps she was having the same doubts as him.
He still had a long way to go. The stone might get him into Castle Sinclair but Lilias could still stick to her story. He would continue to live under the burden of suspicion even if his exile were overturned for retrieving the stone.
He needed to work out what he was going to do but he couldn’t make himself think that far ahead. All he could think about was the fact that in the morning Lindsey would be back in her own time and he would be alone again.
No longer feeling hungry, he dropped his skewer of meat to the floor. What did it matter about being alone? He was perfectly content with being alone before she came along. He could do it again. No problem.
“Are you cold?” he asked, getting to his feet. “Ah’ll top up the fire?”
“I’m fine,” she replied without looking at him.
The stone in its velvet bag was on the ground beside her. She had her hand on top of it and he suddenly had the strangest fear that she might throw it into the loch.
Instead, she turned and looked at him, her face pale. “I don’t know what to do,” she said.
“About what,” he replied, reaching out to take her hand. She looked at it but didn’t move.
“You should look happier, you’ve got the stone. You can go home at last.” Her voice fell to little more than a whisper. “And so should I.”
He couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Stay,” he said, putting his hand on top of hers. “Stay with me.”
She looked down at his hand, her shoulders sagging. Without looking up, she said, “I want to but I can’t.”
“Why can ye not?”
“I don’t belong here.”
“Ye do, lass. You’ve brought peace between the MacIntyres and the Sinclairs. Do ye ken how long we’ve been fighting? Since long before ah were born.”
She looked up at him, pulling her hands to her chest, folding her arms. “I’ve got to go back.”
“Ye dinnae mean that. I can tell just by looking at you. You want tae stay. Ah ken it so why cannae ye?”
“It’s not that simple though is it? My mom will think I’ve gone missing. She’ll never know what happened to me if I don’t go back. And what about the locket, how will she know where to find it? I have to tell her.”
“I said I’d think of a way to let her know where it is.”
“And?”
“I havenae thought of it yet but ah will. Dinnae go.”
She shivered as a breeze began to blow across the loch. “I don’t know what to do,” she said quietly to herself more than him.
“Sleep on it,” he replied. “Ah’ve lit a blaze inside. Let the campfire die. Ye may feel different in the morning. This place has a way of speaking tae people while they sleep.”
Getting to his feet, he waited for her to stand up. Her eyes were twinkling in the light of the campfire. She looked more beautiful than ever.
“Whatever ye decide, ah will respect,” he said before turning and heading into the hut.
He’d laid out two beds of straw inside, piling woolen blankets on hers to better keep out the chill of the night.
“Goodnight, lass,” he said as she lay down and rolled the other way to face the wall.
She didn’t reply.
He headed outside, tamping down the last of the fire. He sat for a moment behind the embers, breathing in the thick smoke while looking out at the water. Mist would come in the morning. He could feel it in his bones.
She had come out of the mist. Would she leave the same way? Fading from view until he was left with nothing but memories.
If only he could think of a way of getting a message to her mother.
He leaned back, his hand falling onto the velvet bag containing the stone. He should be happy. His exile was almost over. They had retrieved the stone. The clan would be all the stronger for it.
A few weeks ago he would never have thought it possible. He was about to go home. The biggest problem was what kind of home would it be if she wasn’t there by his side?
Making his way back inside, he could tell she was dreaming, her body shifting in place. She looked in pain, moaning quietly.
He knelt beside her, placing his hand on her forehead for what might be the last time. “Shush, lass,” he said quietly. “Ah will let nothing harm ye.”
She moved onto her back, the groans dying away as she fell still. Once he was sure she was at peace, he moved across to his bed and lay down.
It was a long time before he slept, his eyes wide open in the darkness as he tried to shake the emotions coursing through him. He’d lived without a woman for a long time. He could do it again. He would survive.
In that moment he had an epiphany. Though he had never done so before, he knew he was in love. For the first time in his life, he could see himself marrying, having children, having a family. All with her.
He’d never thought about it before, never given it as much as a moment of his time.
Now, things were different. He lay down with a smile on his lips. He loved her. In the morning he would tell her.
When he woke up, he rolled onto his side and opened his eyes. Her bed was empty.
He was up a second later, running outside and call
ing her name. She was nowhere to be seen. Mist swirled over the surface of the loch. The water was still. It reflected the red and orange of the sky, the view stunning. He didn’t care. Where was she?
Far out on the water, beyond the island, he heard a faint splash. There. Squinting, he ran along the shore until he could see what it was. A rowing boat heading for the island.
She’d walked all the way around the loch to collect it while he’d slept and he hadn’t even noticed she’d gone. When had she set off? How had he not heard her go?
He dived in a second later, swimming as fast as he could toward her.
He cut through the water quickly but she had a head start, getting to the island first. When he reached the shore, she was already by the well, pacing around it, trying to work out what to do next.
“Lindsey,” he called out, running through the heather to her. “What are ye doing?”
“I’ve got to go,” she said. “How do I do it? You said I can go back if I reach the well. Show me how.”
“Will ye stop for a minute and let me talk to ye?”
“No,” she snapped, turning to face him. “I saw my mom last night. She’s been evicted. They threw her out onto the streets and the locket’s right there waiting for her to find it. I need to go.”
“What do ye mean you saw her? She came here?”
“I saw it in my sleep. I was back home and I saw her. I never should have left her. This is all my fault, getting distracted by you and this stupid place.”
“Look, I’ve got something I need to tell you.”
“I don’t want to hear it. You’ve got your stone, you can go and put your life back together. I need to go home.”
“Let me help you.” He reached out toward her but she pushed him away. “Ah ken how ye can get in touch-”
She waved a finger at him. “This is all your fault. You took me away from her.”
“I’m sure she’s fine. It was only a dream.”
“You said yourself this place has a way of showing the truth in dreams.”
“Listen tae yourself. You dinnae ken what you’re saying.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying. You only wanted my help so you could get back into your clan and I was stupid enough to help when I should have been helping mom.
Outlaw Highlander: A Scottish Time Travel Romance Page 10