by Jennae Vale
They entered the tiny cottage, which despite its lack of space was tidily kept and there seemed to be room enough for everyone. They sat at a table near the rear window and Heather poured them all some tea. Finn excused himself, saying that he had some sheep to check on. Jenna could hear him calling to the dog as he walked out the door.
The children were all hunkered down on the floor, sifting through the contents of the basket Ashley and Jenna had brought with them.
“And what is all of this?” Heather asked.
“Some treats from San Francisco,” Jenna answered. “I hope you don’t mind that we gave them to the children, without asking you first.”
“Nay. Of course not. They get precious few treats, so ‘tis nothing for ye to worry over,” Heather assured her.
“Heather, I have some news I wanted to share with you,” Ashley said.
“What is that, Lady Ashley?”
“I’m expecting my first bairn, in about six months,” Ashley proudly stated.
“Is that true? Oh, my! I am so happy to hear it. Cailin must be over the moon,” Heather beamed with delight.
“I believe he is,” Ashley giggled. “I’m so excited.”
“I’m feeling privileged that ye wanted to share yer good news with me,” Heather looked genuinely surprised by this revelation.
“Of course. Your family is very special to me. I love your children and seeing them made me realize how much I wanted bairns of my own.”
“Thank ye, Lady Ashley. Ye are too kind,” Heather looked a bit embarrassed. “Let me get ye some of the fresh batch of bannocks that I’ve made.” She retrieved a platter of bannocks, some butter, and honey and brought them back to the table. “Can I get ye any more tea?” she asked, before sitting down again.
“No, this is wonderful,” Jenna said. “They look very delicious.”
“Well, try one then,” Ashley said. “I think you’ll find they taste delicious, too.”
Ashley and Heather chuckled and Heather offered Jenna a bannock. “This is really good,” Jenna said, swallowing her first bite. “The best I’ve had since I’ve been here.” Bannocks seemed to be a staple at every meal. Cormac had even made them for her when they were on their way to Breaghacraig, but these were truly the best she’d had.
“Thank ye, Lady Jenna. ‘Tis me secret recipe,” Heather smiled proudly.
Ashley and Jenna spent another hour at the little cottage, enjoying tea, bannocks, and conversation. The children loved their treats and Jenna was happy to see they’d emptied the basket for the return trip. As they got up to leave, the children lined up for hugs, but not just from Ashley. They wanted to hug Jenna as well. She couldn’t resist. They really were very sweet children and the little one, Mary, was the sweetest of all. The way she nestled into Jenna’s arms and then touched her face and hair, was very precious and had Jenna melting.
“‘Twas so good to see ye both,” Heather said. “I wish ye all the best with the bairn, Lady Ashley. If I can be of any assistance, please let me know, won’t ye?”
“You know I will, Heather. You have a lot more experience than I do. I was told that you might be able to help me with the birthing. Is that true?”
Heather looked a little embarrassed by the praise, but said, “Aye, I have helped many of the women of Clan MacKenzie with their births. I’d be happy to do the same for ye.”
“Good. That makes me feel better.” Ashley had confided to Jenna that she was nervous about giving birth here in sixteenth century Scotland. Jenna had tried unsuccessfully to convince her to go back to San Francisco to have the baby, but Ashley wouldn’t hear of it. She was not going anywhere. She couldn’t possibly leave her husband and all the people she loved behind, even for a short time. Jenna was happy that Heather had helped to make Ashley feel better about the whole thing and now understood the reasoning for bringing Jenna to meet her. Jenna was sure Ashley would be in good hands when the time came, because truth be told, she was nervous about it, too.
***
“What do ye think he’s up to?” Cailin asked Cormac.
“I dinna ken what he’s doing, but I’m happy Robert has someone watching him at all times,” Cormac responded.
The two men were just leaving the practice field when they noticed that Jonathan had been watching them.
“Wow! You guys really go at it out there,” Jonathan said when they approached.
“We must always be prepared for battle,” Cormac responded.
“Would ye care to join us when next we practice?” Cailin offered.
“That might be fun. I could stand to work off some of this stress,” Jonathan said.
“Fine then. We meet here every day at the same time. You’re welcome to take part,” Cormac responded.
They walked away from Jonathan and headed toward the stables. “Why did ye ask him to join us on the practice field,” Cormac asked.
“‘Tis better to know your enemy’s capabilities - dinnae ye think so, Cormac?”
“Aye. Yer right. We can see what his skills are and be prepared should he try anything.”
“Look, Ashley and Jenna are returning from their walk. I hope she didnae tire herself.” Cailin said worriedly.
“Dinnae fash, brother, she is verra able to take care of herself.”
“That is what I’m for, Cormac, to take care of her,” Cailin protested.
“Ye apparently dinnae understand these women from San Francisco. They are fine on their own.”
“That’s what they say, but I dinnae believe it.” Cailin headed off towards the women and Cormac quickly followed behind.
“Ashley, are ye well, love? Where have ye been?” Cailin asked.
“We just took a walk to Heather and Finn’s,” Ashley responded. “And before you say anything, I am not going to break, Cailin. I’m just having a baby and I feel wonderful. There is no need to worry. If there is, I’ll let you know.” With that pronouncement, she stood on tiptoes and kissed his nose.
Cailin seemed to have had all the wind taken out of his sails. He just stood there looking as though he was searching for a good reason to disagree with Ashley, but instead he smiled down at his lovely wife and took her arm to lead her inside.
“How was your walk, Jenna?” Cormac asked.
“Good. Ashley wanted to take some treats to the children and to ask if Heather would help her when it comes time for the baby to be born.”
“And will she?”
“Yes. She said she’d be happy to help. I think that put Ashley’s mind at ease. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, but giving birth in these times can be dangerous for a woman.”
“But not in your time?”
“Not so much,” Jenna assured him. “I tried to convince Ashley to come back to San Francisco to have the baby, but she wouldn’t hear it.”
“I would think not. Her life is here now. She wouldnae leave Cailin,” Cormac stated firmly.
“I know. That’s what she told me,” Jenna said. “Don’t worry; I’m not going to try to steal her away with me when I leave.”
“I hope not, love. It would kill me brother.” Just as it will kill me, when you leave.
Jenna scrunched up her nose and stuck her tongue out at him.
“I can think of better things to do with that tongue, love,” Cormac teased.
“I bet you can,” Jenna responded.
“You’ll have to wait until later, as today is the day you ride Rose all on yer own.”
“Ugh, not today,” Jenna whined.
“Today.” Cormac started striding towards the stable. He looked back and noticed that Jenna had not moved, so he stopped and waited for her to join him.
“Okay. Okay. I’m coming.” Jenna grabbed his arm with a frustrated huff and followed along to get Rose.
***
Jenna was pleased with her riding lesson. She didn’t know why she’d ever doubted Cormac when he’d told her he’d have her riding Rose on her own. She was proud of herself and feeling very accomplis
hed, when she ran into Sophia just outside the stable doors.
“What are you doing here?” Jenna asked. She searched around to see who was watching Sophia and saw Latharn leaning against the wall of the blacksmith’s shop. He nodded at Jenna, to let her know he was keeping an eye on the situation, when Cormac emerged from the stables.
“Are ye ready, love?” Cormac stopped short when he saw Sophia standing there.
“I was just about to tell Jenna, that I was going in to look at the horses,” Sophia confessed.
“Do ye ride, lass?” Cormac asked.
“I’ve ridden before. Not a lot, but I think I did pretty well when I did.”
“Mayhap ye can convince Latharn to take you out for a ride. I’m sure he’d be pleased to go with ye.” Cormac nodded in Latharn’s direction and Latharn headed towards them. “Latharn, ye should take the lovely Sophia out on one of the horses. She may enjoy it.”
Sophia looked up at Latharn with a huge smile. “I’d love it, actually.”
“I’ll get some horses saddled up then.” Latharn seemed completely smitten with Sophia, and it seemed the feeling might be mutual.
The two walked into the stable together, leaving Jenna and Cormac alone outside.
“That was weird,” Jenna observed.
“Weird?”
“You know… not normal,” Jenna explained.
“Latharn will keep an eye on her.”
“Okay. Is it bath time, yet?” Jenna picked up her skirts and started to run for the castle doors.
“I believe it is,” Cormac said. He took off in pursuit of her, catching her just as she got to the steps of the Keep. “Wait for me, love. It wouldn’t do for me to be chasing ye through the doors. What would me sister think?” Cormac chuckled at the thought of what his sister would say, if she knew what they were up to.
Jenna straightened her dress and fixed her hair, putting on a show of regality, and stifling a giggle, she tucked her hand in the crook of Cormac’s arm and let him guide her through the doors and upstairs, to what was fast becoming their afternoon ritual.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Jenna could hardly believe her stay at Breaghacraig was almost over. Here it was, Day Four, and she had to admit that she wasn’t looking forward to leaving. She’d thought when she first arrived that she couldn’t wait to go home, but the last few days had taught her that she enjoyed life at Breaghacraig. She loved seeing Ashley every day and she definitely loved being with Cormac. Day Seven was going to be torturous. But that was still a few days off. She’d done a good job of not thinking about it and she planned to keep it that way.
Cormac had saddled up their horses after breakfast and they were going to go for a ride down to the beach. Jenna was really looking forward to it. Rose was turning out to be a quiet, calm horse and her gentleness was infectious. Jenna relaxed and enjoyed riding her. They made their way through the castle gates and rode side by side down the path that led them to the nearby shoreline. Cormac had explained to Jenna that in times past, this beach had been the landing site of smugglers. They’d bring goods from other European ports and sell them here at Breaghacraig.
“That would explain where a lot of the beautiful things in the castle came from, then,” Jenna observed.
“Aye. Some of it came from the smugglers, but some also came from travelling vendors and from journeys that the MacKenzie’s took to Edinburgh and London.”
“Do people here know that there’s a land on the other side of the ocean?” Jenna wondered aloud.
“Aye. Some have travelled there. But ‘tis not called America in our time.”
“So, I guess Columbus didn’t really discover America,” Jenna observed.
“Who do ye speak of, love?”
“It’s not important, really. It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?”
“Any day I can spend with you is lovely,” Cormac answered, a serious look in his eyes.
“Don’t make me jump off this horse and onto your lap, you sweet talker, you,” Jenna teased.
“Teaching ye to ride was a good thing, but I think I liked it better when ye rode with me,” Cormac said.
“Me, too,” Jenna answered.
They rode to the edge of the bluff and dismounted. Cormac removed the saddles and let the horses graze on the abundant grass surrounding them.
“This way, Jenna.” He held out his hand and guided her down the path to the beach. He had brought an extra plaid and a basket of food with him. “We can spend some time here, if ye like.”
“I like,” Jenna agreed.
Cormac spread the plaid in the sand, and placed the basket down beside it. He helped Jenna down onto the plaid and sat next to her.
“This is such a nice way to spend the day,” Jenna said.
“I’m happy you approve,” Cormac replied. He moved closer to Jenna and placed his arm around her shoulders.
Jenna sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder while she took in the beauty of the beach and the water. The smell of the ocean brought her memories back to the waters of San Francisco Bay and a childhood spent with Ashley and her family, and Dylan. Those were happy, happy times for Jenna. Her life had not been quite so happy over the last few years. Of course, she’d had a period of false happiness with Jonathan and the more she thought about it, the more she realized the happiness she enjoyed with Cormac was the real thing. It was the same sense of happiness she remembered from her childhood. It was carefree and easy. She knew she was safe, protected, and loved. What more could a girl ask for?
“Cormac, this is perfect. Thank you for bringing me here,” Jenna said.
Cormac didn’t respond. He let the moment rest on Jenna’s words. She liked that about him. He cared what she thought, how she felt, if she was cold or tired. She would never take that for granted. Until this point in her life, no one had ever cared about any of those things and she would have said that it didn’t matter because she knew what she thought and how she felt. If she were cold, she’d get a jacket. If she were tired, she’d go to bed. She’d never had the luxury of anyone else caring about those things. Sure, people said they cared, but they didn’t really. Cormac really cared and that was quite a gift he had presented to her, but one she could not accept. Before she started to feel sad about her circumstances, she quickly stood up and offered Cormac her hand.
“Do you want to go for a walk down the beach?” she asked.
“I’d love nothing better,” he replied.
***
“Did you two have fun?” Ashley queried, as soon as they walked through the door.
“Aye. I believe Jenna enjoyed the beach as much as you do,” Cormac said.
“I love the beach. It’s my favorite place,” Ashley agreed.
“Me, too,” Jenna added.
“Well, I’ll leave you with Ashley, then, love. I cannae keep ye all to myself.” Cormac kissed Jenna softly on the lips and let his fingers caress her cheek before he went back out the door.
“He’s a keeper, Jenna, I’m telling you. You need to rethink this whole going home thing,” Ashley insisted.
“I know he’s a keeper, but Ashley, I’ve already told you I can’t stay.”
“Don’t be so stubborn, Jenna. You know you don’t have anything waiting for you back home that you need to hurry back for,” Ashley argued.
“What about Dylan? And Chester? They need me. And my parents’ foundation. Who’d take care of that? And all my charitable work. I have to go back, Ashley.”
“No. You don’t have to go back, Jenna. You and I both know it. Dylan and Chester will be fine. And there are plenty of people to look after your parents’ foundation and the charitable work. You need to think about Jenna right now. Don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
Jenna shook her head in denial. “Ashley, I don’t want to argue with you about this. I’m only here a short time and I don’t want to spend it with the two of us being pissed off at each other. So, enough about me staying. Okay?”
; Jenna could tell Ashley didn’t want to cave so easily, but after a minute or two, Ashley nodded her head in concession. “Okay. Let’s hug it out,” Ashley said, pulling Jenna into a bear hug and giggling the whole time.
“You know, for a tiny little pregnant woman, you’re pretty strong,” Jenna teased.
“I can still kick some ass if the need arises, so don’t you forget it.” Ashley flexed her arm muscles for Jenna.
“Very impressive, my friend.”
“Hey, we’re having a big to do around here tomorrow night. There’s going to be music and dancing. It’ll be lots of fun.”
“Am I invited?”
“Don’t be silly; of course, you’re the guest of honor. I should give you one of my pretty gowns to wear. That one’s starting to look a bit tired,” Ashley chuckled.
“Guest of honor? You’re kidding, right?” Jenna thought it would be highly unlikely that anyone here would be celebrating her visit.
“Nope. I’m not kidding.” Ashley stated.
Jenna continued to appear skeptical, but decided to go with it. “Okay, then. I’ll definitely need a gown. Should we go see what you have in your closet?” Jenna linked arms with her friend, they headed for the stairs, and up to the chambers Ashley shared with Cailin.
“I miss shopping with you,” Jenna admitted. “I guess this is the next best thing.” They had pulled every gown out of Ashley’s armoire and thrown them on the bed. Jenna was trying on a lovely green dress, when her eyes lit on a pale aquamarine gown, not unlike the color of the dress she’d worn to the gala she attended with Cormac in San Francisco. “Oooh… I like that one.” She pulled the gown from the pile and held it up against her body.
“Oh, me, too,” Ashley agreed. “Try it on. I’ll bet that’s the one.”
Jenna stepped out of the green gown and into the blue one. Ashley did up the back for her and tipped her head from side to side to get a better look.
“What do you think?” Jenna questioned breathlessly.
“You look stunning,” Ashley said. “You have to wear that one.”
“Okay. It’s settled.” Jenna took the gown off and got dressed again. “Let’s take this one to my room and then go downstairs for some tea.”