by Jennae Vale
“Well, I’m nae sure she will want to speak with ye.” Edna’s voice wasn’t reproachful, she was merely stating a fact.
“I ken I should never have left her alone with me father, but I was afraid that if I didnae do as he requested he would lock us both up.”
“And instead, he locked up Helene,” Edna replied.
Dougall’s shame was great. “Please Edna. I must find her and bring her back home. She’s to be me wife.”
“If she’ll still have ye after the ordeal she’s been through,” she replied.
Dougall hadn’t thought of that. In his mind, he thought it was simply a matter of locating her and then things would be back to normal. But Edna had a point. She may be angry with him for leaving her. “Please Edna, I must explain what happened and make sure she is well.”
“I’ll help ye, Dougall. I can get ye to San Francisco, the rest will be up to ye.”
“How will I find her?” he asked.
“Jenna can give you her old address. She is staying there with someone I trust will watch over her. Come to the bridge as soon as ye can. Once there, call to me. Dinnae fear. I’ll hear ye, just as I heard Helene.”
“I’m coming with ye,” Logan said.
“Ye can join him if ye wish,” Edna answered. “Now, if there isnae anything else, I’ll say goodbye for now.”
“Thank you, Edna,” Ashley said.
Edna’s face and voice were gone, leaving the room oddly silent.
“I’m going to put this away. You should gather the things you’d like to take with you and get ready to go,” Ashley said as she left the hall, snow globe in hand.
“Will we be able to take our horses with us?” Logan asked.
“I’ll give you all the information you need and I’ll draw you a map so you can find your way to the stables in Golden Gate Park. I have a friend there. He’ll help you get your horses situated. You’ll have to do the rest on foot,” Jenna said.
Robert, Cormac and Cailin rushed into the room with Irene right behind them. “We’re all ready to go, Dougall. Dinnae fear we’ll find her,” Cormac said.
“It’s okay,” Jenna said. “Edna is going to help him. It seems Helene somehow managed to travel through time to San Francisco.”
“She didnae somehow manage, Jenna. Ye ken Edna had something to do with it,” Cormac answered.
“Edna had everything to do with it,” Jenna laughed, her confidence in Edna evident. Her obvious attempt to lighten the mood was working. The men relaxed their posture and dispersed to stand by their spouses. Cailin went to Dougall and placed a hand on his shoulder, just as Ashley returned to the hall. “Dougall and Logan are going to go to San Francisco,” she said, her voice filled with excitement.
“Do ye need anyone else to go with ye?” Cailin asked.
“No. He doesn’t.” Ashley answered, commanding the men to stay in place with a mere glance in their direction. “This is a two man job. Besides, the last thing the city of San Francisco needs is a mass invasion by Scottish Highlanders. So, no need for anyone else to go with him. Edna will make sure they’re safe.” The men grumbled and exchanged disappointed glances.
“Logan, we’d best be on our way. Pray that our journey will be a successful one.” Dougall addressed the others gathered in the hall. “We’ll be back soon I hope.”
Chapter 12
Zeke’s sister Sara was quickly becoming Helene’s best friend. Helene had been in San Francisco for a little over a week and Sara had taken her under her wing, not only giving her clothing to wear, but also taking the time to familiarize Helene with all of the strange objects she would be using in Zeke’s home. An arrangement had been made for Helene to earn her keep. Zeke could have cared less about it, but Helene insisted that she wouldn’t stay unless she could do all of the things she did back at Breaghacraig. She now understood the workings of all of the appliances, as Sara had called them. After she finished her morning chores, Sara was going to take her shopping for some clothing of her own.
“But I have nothing to give in exchange for these clothes,” Helene said. She didn’t wish to be a burden to anyone and she felt uncomfortable with Zeke and Sara buying clothing for her.
“Don’t worry about it, we’ve got you covered,” Zeke said.
“Covered?”
“Jenna and Angelina left money here for emergencies and I imagine this is an emergency of sorts,” Zeke said.
“How will I pay ye back?” Helene asked. Zeke had already done more for her than was necessary. She couldn’t let it continue.
“You don’t have to,” Zeke answered. A warm smile lit his lips as he gazed at her.
“But I wish to.” Helene was not going to allow Zeke to charm her into letting him take care of everything for her.
“Okay. Okay. You’re working around the house. That covers your room, board and anything you may need to purchase for yourself while you’re here.”
“Seems a fair exchange.” Helene determined that she would do her best to earn her place in Zeke’s home.
“Good. Sara will be here any minute. You girls have fun shopping and I don’t want you worrying about spending too much. Got it.” Zeke wrapped an arm around Helene’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze.
“Got it,” she giggled. She was learning to speak like she belonged in this time. Helene assumed she’d be staying for the foreseeable future and she wanted to fit in. She liked Zeke. He was easy to be around and not hard to look at. He ran a medieval martial arts studio somewhere in the city. He was easily as strong as any of the men at Breaghacraig and he had the muscles to prove it. She was somewhat embarrassed that her mind had wandered in that direction, but her life was different now. More so than she imagined it would be when she was Dougall’s betrothed. As Aunt Saundra said, he was probably happily married and had forgotten all about her. So that meant she was free to do as she pleased, not that she was anywhere near to ready to find another man.
The front door opened and Sara walked in. “You ready to go, Helene?”
“Aye.”
“I’ll see you later. I might be a little late getting back tonight. I’ve got classes until eight.” Zeke escorted her to the door, where he hugged Sara.
“I’ll have yer dinner waiting,” Helene said.
“How did I ever manage to get along without you?” Zeke raised an eyebrow and gave her a thumbs up, “Have fun.”
“Let’s go. You know, you don’t have to make him dinner every night.” Sara took her by the arm and led her out the door and down the stairs to the street.
“I ken it, but I like to do it.”
“Well, as long as you aren’t doing it out of some sense of obligation.”
Helene looked blankly at Sara. “What do ye mean?”
“Just because you’re living there, doesn’t mean you have to wait on him hand and foot. He can take care of himself. He’s been doing it for years.”
“Och, ’tis what I want to do. ’Tis what I did back home. I dinnae wish to feel useless.”
Sarah led her to the corner and then up one of the infamous San Francisco hills to a street filled with shops and places to eat.
“So, back in your time you were a maid?” Sara asked. “What was that like?”
“’Tis me job to take care of the Ladies of the castle. I bathe them, fix their hair and help them dress. I help in any way I can.”
“What about you? Did anyone ever do things for you?”
“Och, nae. Me days were always full with the needs of the Ladies and now Lady Ashley has a baby. Her name is Emma. So I help with her as well. There’s little time for me own needs, but I dinnae mind.”
“Well, since you’re living here now, you need to understand that women are treated differently in this time. We’re more independent.”
“I dinnae ken.” There was so much to learn here, but Sara was teaching her. Every day she knew more than she had the day before.
“I mean we don’t need anyone – and by anyone I mean a man. We can ta
ke care of ourselves. We have jobs and pay our own bills.” Sara explained as they walked. “You know, I have my own apartment. I live by myself.”
“’Tis strange to me that anyone lives alone. At Breaghacraig there are so many people all the time. Do ye never get lonely?”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.”
“Why do ye nae have a man?” Helene was really quite curious about Sara. She was very pretty and a lively lass.
“No. No one right now, but that’s okay. That’s what I mean, Helene. It’s okay to be alone and sometimes you need to be in order to get over things from the past.”
“Like Dougall.” Helene knew she needed to get over him, but she still loved him and missed him terribly.
“Yeah. Exactly,” Sara said.
Helene wished to change the subject. She couldn’t talk about this right now. “’Tis a lovely day today.” The weather was beautiful. Blue skies, dotted with feathery white clouds and a gentle breeze made the temperature pleasant. Not too hot and not too cold. Just right.
“How are you feeling today, Helene? I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” Sara’s face showed she was concerned.
“I be fine.” Helene didn’t wish to hurt Sara’s feelings, so she smiled as if nothing were wrong.
Much to her dismay, Sara saw right through her. “Are you still thinking about Dougall?”
“Aye. I can only hope that some time soon I willnae, but fer now I try not to let it make me sad.”
“I’m here for you. Any time you need someone to talk to, just let me know. I’m all ears.”
Helene laughed at that, imagining Sara with ears from head to toe. “Yer a good friend, Sara. Ye remind me of Ashley.”
“Is she your bestie back home?”
“What is a bestie?”
“Your best friend.”
“Aye. She is.”
“You must miss her.”
“I miss her and everyone else at Breaghacraig.”
“It’s hard to believe you’re actually a time traveller. If I hadn’t seen you with my own eyes right after you arrived, I might not believe it.”
“I can hardly believe it meself.”
“I always loved the idea of it. I mean, I didn’t think it was even a remote possibility, but I thought if I could I’d love to do it.”
“Maybe ye will someday.”
Sara laughed and led Helene into a small clothing store. The racks were organized by color, which Helene found fascinating. Color selection in her time was limited to whatever plant dyes they had available. Here there were so many colors to choose from it became difficult to decide which color was her favorite.
“This one’s pretty,” Sara said holding out a soft grey cashmere sweater with a vee neck. “You should try it on.” She handed it to the clerk, who put it in a dressing room. “Now for some sexy jeans!”
“Sara!” Helene’s face turned three shades of pink from embarrassment. “Ye shouldnae say things like that.”
“Remember you aren’t back home anymore. That kind of talk is totally permissable.”
“I dinnae believe I’ll ever get used to it.”
Sara rummaged through the racks of jeans and handed her a pair. “These.”
“They look to be torn, Sara.” Helene examined the jeans and put her fingers through the frayed strands in the leg. “Ye’ll be able to see me legs!”
“It’s supposed to look like that.” She handed them to the clerk. “A jacket and some boots, oh and some jewelry. You are going to be so hot!”
“It wasnae verra warm outside. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Sara laughed so hard she was gasping for breath.
“Why do ye laugh?”
“Never mind. I’ll explain later.”
Helene tried everything on and Sara gave her a nod of approval. “Sara, are ye supposed to see the shape of me body so clearly?” She turned to look in the mirror and gasped at the sight of her backside encased in the tight jeans. She looked herself up and down, feeling a mix of emotions. She knew she looked good, but these clothes were lacking in modesty.
“You look sexy, lady!” Sara said.
Helene turned three shades of red. “Oh, my. I dinnae think I can wear this.”
“Yes, you can and you will.” She grabbed the clothes Helene had been wearing and went to the clerk. “She’ll wear them. Can you put her other clothes in a bag please?”
The clerk was happy to oblige. Sara paid for everything and then took Helene down the street to a salon where a woman painted Helene’s fingernails and toes. Helene couldn’t stop looking at them. “They’re so pretty,” she said.
“We’re not through yet. We’re going to get you a facial and get your hair done.”
Helene knew she must look completely confused.
“Don’t ask. Just go with it. You’re going to be even more beautiful than you already are. If Dougall saw you now, he’d be so sorry he let you get away. The men will be knocking down the door to get to you.”
“I dinnae wish for anyone to knock down Zeke’s doors.”
“It’s just a saying. Don’t worry. This is all for you. I want you to feel good about yourself and not worry that you did something to cause Dougall to be with someone else.”
“But I did. I was born the daughter of servants.”
“That’s crazy. It shouldn’t matter.”
“I didnae believe that it did, but Dougall’s father would rather see me dead than married to his son.” Thinking about Paddraig MacRae, Helene realized she was much better off here in San Francisco, even if it meant she may never see her friends at Breaghacraig again.
“Let’s not talk about that anymore. We’re having fun today.”
Helene smiled warmly at Sara. “Yer right. I will be happy and think nae more about the past.”
A full schedule of classes and interviews with new students kept Zeke’s mind occupied most of the day. The few moments he’d had to relax and take a deep breath were a revelation to him. It seemed whenever his mind wasn’t on the school, it was on Helene. She was an unexpected surprise. She came into his life at a time when he wasn’t prepared to get involved with any woman, not even one as charming, beautiful and sweet as Helene. And yet, he kept seeing her face, her sapphire eyes, her sweet smile, not to mention hearing the soft sound of her adorable Scottish accent. It was creating feelings in him that had remained dormant for some time.
“Hey, I’m going to head home unless you need me for something else,” said Wade Granville, his second in command, interrupting his thoughts.
“I think we’re good for today. Have a good night.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Wade walked away, leaving Zeke to pick up the remaining practice items that hadn’t been put away by his students. He’d have to remember to talk to them about respecting the tools they’d been given and not taking them for granted. This was something he’d learned a little late in life, but he found it to be important and wanted to pass that along to his students. Next he neatly piled the mix of applications, score sheets and progress reports into the labeled boxes behind his desk. He’d have plenty to do tomorrow morning when he arrived, but for now he was unusually happy to be going home.
The house was in total darkness when Zeke pulled up out front. That was odd, Helene and Sara should be back by now. He locked the car and headed up the stairs, checking his phone for messages as he went. Nothing. Where could they be? Unlocking the door he entered the silent house.
“Helene?” he called, thinking she might just be upstairs sleeping.
No answer. The entire first floor lit up with the flick of a switch. With disappointment as his only companion, Zeke went to the kitchen to find something to eat. He was just shuffling items around in the refrigerator when he heard the front door fly open, followed by the sounds of a breathless Helene.
“I’m so verra sorry I’m late. I ken I promised yer dinner would be here when ye arrived, but…” she stopped speaking and stood staring at Ze
ke.
“Wow! Look at you.” Zeke walked to her and taking her hand twirled her around so he could see her from all sides. The warmth of Helene’s hand was like an electric charge running up his arm. This involuntary reaction to her was something Zeke hadn’t felt for a woman in a long time. Looking at her in her sexy jeans was causing his own jeans to tighten uncomfortably. “You look beautiful.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “You always look beautiful, but today there’s something different about you.” He reached out and took one beautiful blonde curl into his hand, thinking he’d like to kiss her right now, but knowing this was not the time.
“Well, yer sister did buy me new clothes. Oh… and I got me hair and nails done. Do ye really like it?” Helene was talking a mile a minute. She seemed flustered by his reaction to her.
“I do. I mean, you are a natural beauty. You don’t really need all the extras, but it’s not that. You seem more… I don’t know… alive. You’ve got a confident air about you.”
Helene was staring at him as if he’d sprouted another head. “Did I seem dead to ye before?” She appeared quite confused by his statement.
“No. Of course not. It’s just that you’ve been so sad since you arrived. This is the first time that I can feel that sadness has gone away. Am I wrong?”
Helene gazed down at her new boots. “Nae. Yer not wrong. I had fun today. I left me woes behind and enjoyed the day with Sara.”
“Good.” He was still holding her hand and was surprised she hadn’t removed it.
“I’ll go make ye some supper.” She pulled her hand from his grasp and began walking to the kitchen.
“No. Don’t bother. Let’s go out for something to eat.”
“’Tis nae trouble,” she said as she turned back towards him.
“I know. I want to take you out to dinner.”
She tipped her head and gazed quizzically into his face.
“Come on. Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the door. “Besides you’re all dressed up. We don’t want to waste that now do we?”
A sweet smile crossed her lips as she followed him out the door, making him feel like he just might be the luckiest man on earth to have found her.