Morna's Legacy: Box Set #1

by Bethany Claire

  He was rewarded with the expected quick smack on his hand.

  “How many times do I have to tell ye? Ye are no going to get food from this kitchen until ’tis served to ye, as long as I am here. And doona get yer hopes up, I intend to live many more decades still.”

  Arran laughed and bent to scoop Mary up in a large embrace, roughly kissing her on the cheek. “Aye, I surely hope that ye do. The castle would fall apart without ye.” He continued to squeeze her, her feet dangling inches off the ground, refusing to set her down until she screeched and reached over his shoulder to swat at something behind him.

  He quickly set the plump woman back onto the floor and spun to see what had her in such arrears. Eoin stood with his hand extended in the direction of the bread, guilt spread across his face as Mary waved his brother away from the aromatic loaves.

  “Ye shall drive me mad! The both of ye. It doesna matter how many times I repeat meself, ye doona seem to hear it. Now get.” She paused and extended both of her arms out in front of her, palms up, and she briskly shooed them from the kitchen. “I doona want to see yer faces until the evening meal. Get on with ye.”

  “Aye.”

  “Aye.”

  Their voices echoed and, in unison, they each kissed Mary on the cheek and quickly made their leave of Mary’s place of worship. Once outside, Arran faced Eoin.

  “I’ve been looking for ye, brother. I need to speak with ye about the visiting clan. It’s been months, and they’ve still made no decision. We canna allow them to stay here forever.”

  “Aye, ye are right. But that shall have to wait for a few days.”

  Arran paused as they walked together down the hallway, turning to lean against the wall so that his brother would do the same. “Has something happened?”

  Eoin shook his head, and Arran instantly felt relieved. He didn’t think he could bear any more tragedies so soon after the death of his father and the loss of his beloved.

  “Nay, but Bran, from the village, ye remember him, aye?”

  Arran nodded. “Aye, o’course. What of him?”

  “He has asked that I come to help him with the building of a stable. He canna afford to pay anyone to help. He knew as a friend, I would. Bri shall go as well and help his wife with their brood of children.”

  Arran was certain Bran already had a stable, but he decided not to question his brother’s story. If Eoin was gone, it would perhaps leave him with ample time to resolve the situation with their guests on his own.

  “Aye, ’tis kind of ye to agree to help him. Do ye need me to go along as well?” Arran hoped Eoin would say no, but it was formality that he should offer assistance.

  “Nay. I need ye to stay here and serve as laird while I’m gone. I shan’t be far, but I doona want ye to try and find me with castle issues. I trust ye to see to anything that may arise while I am gone.”

  “O’course. Wish Bran and his family well for me. When will ye be leaving?”

  “Tomorrow, I believe. I shall leave ye now. I left me wife in our bedchamber all alone. I am anxious to return to her.”

  Arran smiled and waved his brother off. “Aye, I’m sure ye are.”

  Once Eoin had left, Arran slowly made his way back to his own bedchamber. With Eoin leaving, it was the perfect opportunity for him to figure out a solution for their guests and for Edana. If he could think of a way to resolve the clan’s issue of who should be laird, he knew his brother would not be upset.

  If anything, he would be pleased to have things around the castle calm down to their normal pace. And he knew it would do himself good to have something else to focus his mind upon. He might not love Edana, but he could make sure that she was taken care of. Aye, as far as he was concerned, his brother’s trip to the village could not have come at a better time.

  Chapter 5

  Edinburgh, Scotland

  Present Day

  I was certain I’d never heard such language from a lady. I did me best to listen to the angry woman, but with each breath her voice grew louder, and I found me mind drifting away from the conversation. Not that I was given much chance to speak. The old lady waved her finger at me in such a manner, I was certain it would fall off.

  A momentary second of silence caused me to re-focus my attention.

  “’Ello? Are ye daft in the head? Have ye been listening to a word I’ve said to ye?” Danny threw her hands violently up in the air only to bring them down swiftly so they sat snugly on her hips. Me boss glared at me, unblinking, until I opened me mouth to speak.

  “Aye. I did hear ye, but I doona understand. There’s no reason why the two of them should have been asleep so late in the day. They werena sick, and ’tis dreadful behavior.” I knew me words were to be met with more screaming and, unconsciously, I felt the tips of me ears pull back as they readied themselves for the inevitable attack.

  “Ye are a bloody fool! If only I had the luxury of sleeping in one day in me lousy life, I would take full advantage. It is not yer place to decide how long our paying guests sleep in the morning. I’ve told ye before, if they are in the room, skip it and go on to the next room for cleaning. Come back to it later, after they awake and leave for the day.”

  “Aye, I willna do it again. I turned to leave, hoping that if I slipped away fast enough, the lecture would be over. I only stepped one step away before Danny reached to grab me by me arm.

  “Ye turn back around. I dinna dismiss ye. Ye are right, ye willna do it again because ye are no longer employed by the hotel.”

  Danny looked at me, satisfaction evident on her face, but as I continued to adjust to the many unfamiliar words of this time, I dinna understand what she was telling me. “I’m sorry. I doona understand ye. No longer employed?”

  “Fired. Doona show up for work here again. I doona want to see ye around here. If this was yer first transgression, then ye would only be getting a warning, but there have been many complaints.”

  Twas cold, but sweat beaded on my forehead, understanding settling in. I no longer had a job. “Complaints?”

  “Aye, lass. Complaints. Many. More than one family said they saw ye sweeping the carpet rather than using the vacuum. Another said they saw ye hanging the sheets up in the room to be beaten with the broom handle. Who taught ye to clean? Yer great-great-great grandmother?” Danny laughed slightly, pleased with herself for the odd joke.

  “No one taught me to clean. I doona like the sound of the vacuum, it hurts me ears. And I doona know how to use the cleaning barrel for the sheets.”

  Danny’s eyes grew wide at me ignorance.

  “Cleaning barrel? Do ye mean the washing machine? Gracious! I’d hate to see what yer house looks like, and I bet yer clothes smell something dreadful. Now, collect yer things and be gone with ye.”

  She gave me no further chance to speak as she turned and left, leaving me alone in the small storage room beneath the staircase. I knew I’d been in trouble when she pulled me into the broom storage, but I never expected to be left without a job.

  Without it, I had little means to pay for the small apartment Jerry and Gwendolyn found for me, and I was unsure of how to search for another job. What could I do? I had few skills, and those I did possess would serve me little in today’s time.

  I’d held the job for only two weeks and, with each passing day, I found myself regretting me decision to stay in this time just a little bit more.

  But it didn’t matter. I alone had chosen me path. Breathing in deeply as I tried to suck back the tears threatening to fall from the corner of me eye, I lifted me head up as I left the closet.

  * * *

  “Wait up!”

  I heard the shout from behind me shoulder but continued to make me way home, assuming the words were meant for someone else.

  “Blaire! Slow down. Ye walk so fast I canna catch up to ye.”

  I stopped walking, causing a man who seemed to be in quite a big hurry to walk right into me back. After he told me what he thought about me in a few short, fairly
shocking words, I turned to see one of the other maids, Isla, lifting her dainty, short legs up in an effort to reach me.

  “I’m sorry. I thought ye were calling after someone else.”

  Once she was next to me, we moved off of the main walkway so that we could stand without blocking the way of others. Isla rubbed her gloved hands together and cupped them around her mouth, blowing air into them to warm her hands.

  I continued to be amazed at how cold everyone seemed to always be. Twas no colder than Scotland always was and, with the thick coats and protective clothing that people now wore, not to mention my favorite modern invention—heaters, I found the temperature to always be quite enjoyable.

  “No, I was talking to ye. I just got off work, and I heard about what Danny did to ye. I’m sorry that ye lost yer job, but I do have to tell ye, ye did do things awful strange. But that’s not what I wanted to tell ye. I might could get ye another job if ye like.”

  “Aye, I would like. I doona know what I will do for a job.”

  Isla smiled and put her arm around me as if we were more closely acquainted than we actually were. “I thought that might be the case. There is a catch, though. Ye canna do this job looking like ye do. It would only cause trouble for ye.”

  I stepped away, still uncomfortable with the familiarity that people of this time used with one another. “What do ye mean? What is the job?”

  “My cousin owns a pub not far from the hotel. I’ve been bartending there as a second job, but I canna juggle both at the same time. He’s looking for a replacement for me. I would train ye meself, and I know he will give ye the job if I ask him. All ye do is mix drinks, but ye look too pretty and sweet with yer long hair and clean face. I know ye have enough spunk to handle the job, but yer appearance needs to reflect yer no-nonsense attitude. I’ll help ye change yer look. What do ye say?” Isla smiled and shrugged her shoulders, raising her hands palm up as if awaiting my answer.

  I knew it would be foolish to tell her no. “Aye, I canna thank ye enough, Isla. What do ye want to do about the way I look?”

  I fidgeted uncomfortably while Isla looked me up and down, deciding how to best alter what appeared to be so unacceptable. “How would ye feel about cutting yer hair? And maybe piercing yer ears? And eyeliner, ye definitely need to learn how to implore the use of eyeliner. It will make ye look more intimidating instantly, and believe me, when tending bar for a bunch of rowdy Scots, ye want a look that says ‘doona even think about it’.”

  “Aye, if ye say so. But I doona wanna look like a man. The hair goes no higher than me shoulders.” I reached a hand up to run through my long locks. Mayhap a change would be good.

  “Deal.”

  With that, Isla led me in another direction, away from me new home. We walked for what seemed liked miles, me feet heavy and tired from working all day at the hotel. Several blocks past the street leading to where we’d both previously worked, Isla turned us onto a dimly lit street where we made our way into what she called a hair ‘salon.’

  I was seated quickly. As the woman behind me snipped away at me long, dark hair, I kept me eyes focused upon the floor. I dinna want to see me reflection in the mirror, each snap of her scissors causing me heart to beat a little faster.

  After cutting what I was sure was every hair off the top of me head, she took out a large and frightening object that shot out warm air that she blew onto me wet strands. Once all of them were dry, she continued to mess and spray odd potions into me hair as I sat nervously in the seat. By the time she finished, the city was engulfed in darkness, small street lamps the only visible light outside the window.

  “Are ye ready?” They were the first words the woman had spoken to me. With me mouth dry I simply nodded, keeping me eyes squeezed shut as she turned me to face the mirror. “Open yer eyes, dear. If ye doona like it, it’s only hair. It’ll grow back.”

  Her argument was sound and slowly I opened my eyes, unable to stop the wide smile that spread across me features as I took in me glorious reflection.

  While I was certain I was going to find meself without hair, she’d actually kept a good amount. With the ends lightly curled around me shoulders, each strand of hair seemed to find new life, no longer weighted down.

  “I love it.” I smiled and stood, hesitantly reaching a hand out to pat the woman on the shoulder. Twas a gesture that seemed acceptable in this time, and now that me hair seemed to fit, I thought I could at least make an effort to make my behaviors fit as well.

  “Great. Now, on to make up and piercing.” Isla stood, extending money toward the hairdresser before motioning that I follow her out of the shop.

  The next place we found one block further down and located on a street even more dimly lit than the last. Situated in between two stores on either side, which claimed to draw pictures on people’s skin, we made our way inside the frightening looking shop.

  Once again, I was thrust into a seat and handled as the man working obeyed Isla’s orders and held different shapes and sizes of objects up to my ear. Once Isla found one that satisfied her, I was told to sit back and not move as there would soon be a prick.

  I relaxed, certain that a prick would be no worse than being stuck by a pin whilst being fitted for a dress. As the man squeezed his fingers together over a foreign contraption, and I felt the rod of the object pierce my skin, I let out a howl I was sure the Conalls could hear all the way back in 1646.

  Chapter 6

  Conall Castle

  1646

  “Are ye sure that ye wanna go through with it? I will no be able to sleep a wink while ye are both away. I think ye are being foolish, but ye never wish to listen to me.” Mary fluttered nervously around the spell room, rambling as she listed reasons why Eoin and Bri should not try and go forward to retrieve Blaire, only stopping when she was interrupted by Adelle, who stood anxiously in the doorway.

  “She’s right. I miss Blaire, but I’d rather the two of you didn’t risk your own lives to go look for her.”

  The two women continued to rant back and forth, talking more to each other than to Eoin or Bri, each doing their best to proclaim themselves as alpha among the mother and mother-figure duo.

  Bri looked over her shoulder at Eoin, who had his arms wrapped around her to hold her close. “They aren’t going to stop until we are gone, you know that, right? It’s best that we get going. It will take us a few hours to walk to the inn, and we are going to have some explaining to do about your clothing if we run into anyone at the castle or along the road.”

  “Aye lass, I suppose ye are right. What are we to tell them again?”

  Eoin squeezed Bri tightly, and she sighed in response to the comfort of his warm arms around her before responding. “Well, let’s hope that we don’t bump into anyone who works at the castle, like a tour guide. If we do, we will just tell them that you wanted to dress up to get into the spirit of things. They will think you’re crazy, but any girl that sees you is just going to be so pleased they had the opportunity to gaze upon you shirtless. I doubt they will care much about your sanity.”

  Bri smiled as he chuckled deeply into her ear. “I doona think that is so, lass. I’m no so uncommon looking.”

  “Pfff…yeah, whatever.” She paused to twist and give him a swift kiss on the lips. “Let’s shut these two yappers up and get out of here. You ready?”

  “Aye. Do ye wanna get their attention or should I?”

  “I’ll do it. I know just how to get a response out of Mom.” Bri smiled before she shouted, “Adelle,” in her mother’s direction. Instantly, her mother’s eyes widened and whipped toward her, awarding Bri with a stern expression.

  “What? I know that you didn’t just call me ‘Adelle,’ right? I’m your mother.”

  Bri stepped away from Eoin and looked up at him. “Told ya,” she whispered before moving to pull her mother into a hug. “We’re leaving now, Mom. It’s going to be fine. Morna’s spells seem to be pretty reliable.” Bri pulled away from her mother’s vice-like emb
race and moved over to hug Mary. “Now, both of you try not to worry while we’re gone. It may be a few weeks before we get back. Just keep yourselves busy.”

  It was Mary’s turn to react. “Do ye no think that I always keep meself busy? Do ye think that I just lie around the castle, trying to dream up things to do?”

  Bri rolled her eyes and stepped back so that Eoin could bid both of the women farewell. “No, of course I don’t think that, Mary, and you know it. Now remember, don’t let Arran find out where we’ve gone off to. He’ll find out soon enough if Blaire wants to return. If she doesn’t, I don’t want him getting his hopes up.”

  Both women nodded and, when it was clear that Bri and Eoin were about to begin the spell, they quietly retreated from the small room.

  Standing in front of the old, faded book, Bri took Eoin’s hands. Together they lit the candles and read aloud the words from the book. Momentary shockwaves of pain coursed through them. They wrapped their arms around one another, and together, vanished from the room.

  * * *

  Muffled voices became audible above their heads. Both groggy and confused, they leaned against the walls of the once familiar room until they found themselves reoriented. Having already made the trip through once, Bri knew instantly the headache Eoin would have and went straight for her mother’s backpack, still tucked neatly behind the bench in front of the table, out of sight from the eyes of wandering tourists.

  Opening the inner zipper pocket, she pulled out the bottle of Advil and dumped out five round pills into her hand, two for herself and three for her beast of a husband. They had no water, but if either of them were to function, they had to medicate the head trauma that always seemed to occur when travelling through time by Morna’s spells.

  “Here.” Shakily, she moved to stand in front of Eoin, her legs still slightly unsteady and discombobulated. “Put these in your mouth and swallow them. They will help with your headache.”