True to the Highlander (The Novels of Loch Moigh)

by Longley, Barbara

  “It seems I no longer have any idea what is best for my family or my clan. I’m afraid ambition clouded my vision. I dinna suppose you ken where Elaine has gone off to?”

  “She’s not here?” Her mind raced through the possibilities and came up with the only logical solution to Elaine’s whereabouts.

  “Nay, she disappeared without word the same day you did.”

  “I might know.” She played with the edge of the linen sheet. “She said Dylan of clan Sutherland asked for her hand a while back, and you refused to grant them permission to wed. They love each other very much, William. Their feelings endured even though they rarely saw each other. We met Dylan at the fair in Inverness last fall. He asked Elaine to elope with him.” Once again, she glared at her father-in-law. “She refused him out of fear you’d disown her. I think maybe she changed her mind.”

  “I pray it is so and that no harm has come to her. I would no’ forgive myself if anything were to happen to my lass.”

  “I’m sure you’ll hear from her soon.” Their conversation had worn her out. She lay back down and covered her eyes with her arm. “I’m tired.”

  The door to their chamber opened, and Malcolm entered with a tray. The smell of food made her stomach growl. Hunter rushed in behind him and climbed up on the bed beside her.

  “I did what you told me.” He beamed with pride. “I shot the bad man’s horse and came here and got my Da. And then I guarded the horses all by myself.”

  “You did? I’m proud of you, Hunter. You saved my life.”

  His little face went solemn. “I told you we shouldn’t have left without Da.”

  “You were right.” She hugged him to her and glanced at Malcolm. His back was to her as he fixed a cup of tea at the table by the hearth. “I haven’t thanked you, Malcolm. You saved my life. It’s the fourth time you’ve done so, and I’m grateful.”

  He straightened and tilted his head as if recounting the past eight months. With a smile that took her breath, he came to her side with the mug of steaming tea.

  “Have I saved your life that many times?” He leaned over and kissed her forehead, placing the tea into her hands.

  “Yes, you have. The first time was when you found me, then the first time you rescued me from Hugh. There was the time Hugh trapped me in the lake, and again when the Comyn laird had me trapped in the gallery, and yesterday.”

  “Yesterday makes it five times, mo céile. And here I thought ’twas you who did all the rescuing.” Malcolm gave her another chaste kiss on her forehead.

  “Do I have your forgiveness, Alethia? And yours, Malcolm?” William rose from his place by the bed. “There will be no peace for me unless I set things aright.”

  “Aye, so long as there is no more talk of my wedding any other than my own sweet wife.” Malcolm tilted her chin up to examine her battered face, and his eyes were full of tenderness and concern. “Did Mother tell you Alethia carries our bairn?”

  “Aye. ’Tis happy news indeed.” William placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “I will leave you. I expect you have much to talk about.”

  The door shut behind William, and Alethia waited for the lecture she had coming.

  “Alethia, you have no faith in me.”

  “Malcolm, I—”

  “Nay. Harken to me. You will hear what I have to say this day. ’Twas easier for you to leave with my heart like a thief in the night than to place your faith and our future into my keeping. And what of my daughter? You had no right to take her from me, nor to place her life and yours in danger.”

  For the first time she sensed how badly she’d hurt him, and she cringed. She started to respond, only to have the intensity of his glare stop her.

  “No’ once have you come to me with what troubles you. No’ once! Why did you no’ tell me from the first Giselle sent you here from the future? You never came to me with Liam’s secret or Elaine’s. And you kept things from me about the battle at Rait, placing your life and the life of our bairn at risk rather than to have faith in me. You made up your mind to leave me, rather than to tell me what you overheard.” He ran both hands over his face. “It must change. We canna go on as we have, lass. I willna have it.”

  The sadness and hurt in his eyes broke her heart. From his place in her lap, Hunter’s gaze went anxiously from one adult to the other. She hugged him to her. She couldn’t deny the truth. “I…I didn’t tell you I was from the future because I didn’t want to be burned at the stake for a witch.”

  “The MacKintosh have never done such a thing.”

  “Well,” she muttered, “I didn’t want to be the first. I’m sorry, Malcolm. What you say is true. I’ve been frightened of everything since I arrived here. At first my only thought was to perform the task Giselle thrust upon me so she’d return me to my own time. It was never my intent to fall in love with you, but then I did. I think, maybe I haven’t relied on you out of fear she’d take me from your side.” She swallowed hard. “Since my parents died, I haven’t relied on anyone but myself, not even my grandmother. I’ve kept a part of me from you because—”

  “I ken your reasons.” His voice sounded weary, exasperated. He tipped her face up to look at him. “It changes today.”

  “Giselle—”

  “Will no’ take you and our bairn from me. This I vow. I ken I have your heart, mo céile, now I will have your faith.”

  Alethia nodded, unable to speak through her tears. The knot of fear that had taken up residence in her heart since the day she’d walked into Giselle’s tent melted away to be replaced with trust. Malcolm would keep her safe by his side. No matter what.

  “Giselle remains in Inverness for the time being. We will confront her together, lass. ’Tis the only way we can remove the threat she poses to us once and for all. ’Twill be on my terms, and the time will be of my choosing.” He brushed a tender kiss across her lips. “Are we in accord on this?”

  She nodded through her tears again, her heart swelling with love for the fifteenth-century nobleman who had stolen her heart.

  “Now, I would see this proof from the future you spoke of.” Malcolm sat on the edge of the bed. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his mouth to place tender kisses in the center of her palm.

  “I want to eat and bathe first. Let’s share it with the whole family at the same time, Malcolm. I’ve tried to turn my laptop on every week to keep the battery in good shape, but even with the solar recharger, I’m not sure how long it will last.”

  “I dinna understand a thing you just said.” He grinned. “Except the eating and bathing part. ’Twould be my pleasure to see to both.”

  William, Lydia, Malcolm, Robley, Liam, Mairen and Hunter sat around the table in the laird’s solar as Alethia passed around her driver’s license and money from the twenty-first century. “DOB means date of birth.” She pointed to her license as William studied it. “I was born in the twentieth century.” She giggled. “I married a man more than five hundred years older than me.”

  Robley held the cash she’d earned working at Renaissance fairs. “You say this is currency from your time, True?”

  She nodded.

  “And Giselle sent you to us. We must talk about this future, cousin. Mayhap I’ll ask Giselle to send me there one day. ’Twould be the adventure of a lifetime, aye?” He grinned. “Are all the lasses from your time as canny and braw as you?”

  “Women in the twenty-first century are as varied as they are in this century, Robley. Most are very independent. Some choose careers rather than marriage and a family. We have more choices.” She opened her laptop and turned the power on. The tone it emitted startled those sitting around her. “It’s OK. This is just a tool to use. It cannot harm anyone. Have you thought about what you want to see, Malcolm?” She opened her photos library.

  “Aye. You said you can show us our planet as it looks from out amongst the stars. I would see it for myself, and the space station you spoke of.” Malcolm moved behind her place to look over her shoulder.
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  She clicked on the file of pictures she’d saved to use as wallpaper from the NASA Web site. The screen filled with the images he’d requested. Everyone assembled gasped.

  Lydia reached out a tentative finger to touch the picture. “Och, you say this is truly our world?” she asked, her voice filled with awe. “’Tis quite beautiful.”

  “Humph,” William grunted. “You said you had images of your parents to show us, True. I would see this father of yours now.”

  Alethia brought up her favorite picture from her parents’ wedding. Her mother had chosen a full, white traditional wedding gown with a long train. Seeded with tiny pearls and rhinestones, it glittered richly. She wore a tiara and veil over the long golden locks curling over her shoulders. Her mother’s image smiled out at her, while her father’s gaze remained fixed upon his new bride. The adoration he felt for her mother came through very clearly.

  Her father wore a black tux with long tails. Across his chest he wore a beaded bandolier bag as testimony to the pride he felt for his heritage. He also wore a traditional beaded black felt and beaver pelt hat. Alethia could not help but be proud. They looked every bit the royal couple.

  “Oh, my dear. Your parents were quite handsome. Your mother looks as if she could have been from Scotia. She’s so fair and bonny.” Lydia sighed.

  “She was Scottish, a MacConnell. In the twenty-first century, there are more Scots living on the North American continent than in Scotland.” She grinned.

  “The devil you say.” William moved closer to the screen.

  “I don’t know what to do with all this stuff. It’s from a different time, and it wouldn’t be good if—”

  “I agree.” Malcolm placed both hands on her shoulder. This shall remain between us, aye?” He waited until everyone nodded their assent. “Mayhap we should destroy these things, or bury them where they can never be found.”

  “Eventually.” Alethia glanced up at him. “I’m not quite ready to part with them.” A lump rose to close her throat. “This is all I have left of my life and family. I have no way of printing the pictures I have on my hard drive.”

  “Hard drive?” Robley leaned closer. “I agree with Cousin True. Let’s not be so hasty to dispose of these wonders.”

  “Dinna even think it, lad.” William huffed out a laugh. “My brother would never forgive me if you were to disappear to the future.”

  Alethia caught Robley’s eye, and he winked at her.

  “Of course no’, Uncle William.”

  Alethia shook her head, knowing whatever was to come was out of their hands, exactly like her arrival had been completely out of hers. She let her gaze fall on each member of her new family. Her heart filled with love, and she placed her hand gently on her growing baby bump. “Here, I’ll show you the space station.”

  June 1424

  “I still dinna ken why my daughter and her husband insisted we must travel to Inverness to see them,” Lydia complained from her place in the caravan traveling to the spring fair in Inverness.

  “I think despite William’s letter giving them his blessing for their union, they are nervous about seeing him and wish their first meeting to be on neutral ground,” Alethia answered from atop Ikwe’s place beside her mother-in-law. “Elaine knows how much you dislike traveling, Lydia. It will mean so much to her that you made the trip.”

  “I should think so,” she snapped. “You should no’ be undertaking such a journey in your condition, True.”

  “I’m fine.” She placed her hand over the swell of her growing child. “We’re fine. Besides, nothing could have prevented me from seeing Elaine.” She glanced to the head of their party. William and Malcolm led them, with Hunter in his place of honor in Malcolm’s lap. She sighed with contentment. She and Malcolm had discussed the possibility that Giselle could still be in Inverness. Together they decided to confront her if they had the chance. Both knew it was necessary if they were ever to put all fears of her behind them.

  Alethia fixed a wary eye on the fortune-teller’s green-and-white-striped tent, and gripped her husband’s arm. “Malcolm,” she whispered, pointing with her chin toward the dreaded tent.

  “I see it, mo anam.” He gave her hand a reassuring pat.

  Hunter, sensing their sudden tension, clutched her gown with one hand and Malcolm’s plaid with the other. Alethia took a deep breath and raised her chin. “Let’s get this over with.”

  As they approached, she felt the same sensation prickling down her neck she’d experienced the first time she entered the fortune-teller’s tent. Giselle appeared in the entrance as if she’d been expecting them. Hunter balked, stopping in his tracks.

  “Welcome, Alethia.” Giselle beckoned them to come inside. “Malcolm.”

  “Madame Giselle, we have some questions for you.” Her heart pounding, Alethia forced herself to move forward. The old woman chortled, sending goose bumps skittering over her skin. She nudged Malcolm, who hadn’t said a word.

  “Aye, we have questions. I would have your assurance my family is safe to enter yon tent.”

  Malcolm had his hand on the dagger at his waist, and she held her breath.

  “You have naught to fear from me, lad. Enter. I will answer your questions as best I can.”

  Hunter wouldn’t budge. Sending Malcolm a look, Alethia beseeched him for help, and he lifted his son and ducked as he entered the tent. She followed. Giselle had three chairs set around her table. She had been expecting them. Alethia arranged her gown and sat in one. Malcolm took his place beside her, and Hunter clung to him with his face pressed into his foster father’s neck.

  “First, I want to know why you never came for me after I saved Malcolm’s life,” she began. “Did you always intend for me to stay?”

  “Malcolm’s life? Humph. ’Twas not his life you were sent here to save, child.” Giselle snorted.

  “Whose then?” Fear that her ordeal was not yet over gripped her.

  “There sits the lad whose life hung in the balance.” Giselle pointed to Hunter.

  Hunter glanced at the old woman over his shoulder, his eyes wide with fear.

  “I don’t understand.” Alethia frowned. “Why did you give me the pendant? You said I’d know my destiny when I found its mate.” She looked at her husband. “He had the ring.”

  “Aye, I gave Malcolm the ring so you’d know you were in the right place.” She cackled with glee. “I do enjoy a bit o’ matchmaking. Do you still have the necklace?”

  Giselle looked at her as if she knew very well what had happened to the pendant.

  “No.”

  Beside her, Malcolm reached into his sporran and drew out the necklace with the ring on its chain. Alethia jumped to her feet. “You’ve had that damned thing all this time and never told me?”

  “Be at ease. Neither piece holds any magic whatsoever,” Giselle commanded. Her voice had changed. No longer did she sound like the old woman she appeared to be. “They are a gift to you both. My husband had them made for me as a wedding present eons ago.”

  “Who are you, Giselle? Do you pose a threat to me and mine?” Malcolm demanded as he too rose from his place.

  “Nay, I am no threat to you and yours. Sit, both of you.”

  As Alethia watched, Giselle changed before her eyes. The visage of the old gypsy gave way for a brief instant to reveal a being so ethereal and beautiful it hurt to look at her. Hair the color of moonlight hung about her shoulders and fell all the way to her ankles, huge eyes an impossible iridescent blue set wide in a perfect oval face regarded them with an expression she could not interpret.

  She sat as ordered. Malcolm did the same beside her.

  Just like that, the image disappeared, and they faced Giselle once again. “Did you see what I saw, Malcolm?” she whispered.

  “Aye, I saw.”

  “My name is Áine. I am of the race called Tuatha Dé Danann. Some call us faerie folk, though we do not name ourselves thus. Only once in my long life did I wed, and he was a mortal—a b
raw warrior and the founder of clan MacConnell. I gave him seven sons and one daughter. Hunter is my grandson many generations removed. The blood of the Tuatha Dé Danann also runs through your veins, Alethia. ’Tis why you have the gifts that you do. It took me some time to find one such as yourself. My husband’s clan intermingled freely with my people. Their giftedness was highly revered by all. You are both MacConnells.”

  “Wait. Time out!” Alethia cried. “I’m part faerie?”

  “Aye.” Giselle laughed, and it sounded like a running brook. “I am a time traveler. I like to visit my progeny from time to time. It gives me pleasure to do so.

  “Shortly after Hunter was born, I came to see him. As I left, his father got caught up in my wake and was taken to the future with me. He died before I could return him to his home. Time travel is not an exact science, you see. One cannot always predict—”

  “So that left Hunter without his father, which led his mother to return to our village, which in turn led to the illness that took his mother and his hearing,” Malcolm surmised.

  “That is so.” Giselle nodded. “If I had not sent Alethia when I did, my grandson would have perished over the winter.”

  “Humph. You chose my wife because you knew the two would have an affinity?”

  “Yes. Hunter needed her, and only she could save him.”

  “What about the visions, Giselle? When the Comyns threatened the MacKintosh, I had visions. Are they part of my hidden talents?” she asked.

  “Yes and no. I cannot be certain. You carry a daughter who has gifts of her own. It may be her power mingles with yours, and that is why the visions were possible. It may also be that in times of trouble you will receive visions to guide you.” Giselle smiled. “I have no control over such things.”

  “I have another question, if you dinna mind my asking.” Malcolm looked at Alethia as he spoke.

  “What is it you wish to know, warrior?”

  “My wife has told me about the wonders of her century. She has shared with me many of the miracles healers from her time can perform. I fear for her life when the time comes to deliver our babe. So many women perish during childbirth…”