A Turn In Time: Book 5 of The Thistle & Hive Series

by Jennae Vale

  “You got it.” The lass walked away and back into the coffee shop.

  “I’m confused by all of this,” Dougall said, gesturing to everything around them.

  Sara followed his hand with her eyes. “Do you want to narrow it down to one thing?”

  Dougall could tell from her tone of voice that she was having fun at his expense. “Well, for one thing, is this the kitchen of your castle?”

  “No. This is a coffee shop. I have my own kitchen in my apartment. I’m pretty sure you saw it, although I’d bet money that it’s a lot different than the castle kitchen.”

  “This is nae an inn and ye dinnae pay fer yer food…”

  “Oh, I see what you mean. I have a tab here. They send me a bill at the end of the month. It’s pretty convenient since I live right upstairs, so I have breakfast here every morning. I know the owners, so they trust me.”

  Dougall wasn’t sure of the meaning of some of the words, but he got the gist of what she was saying. “There are many of these coffee shops in this city?”

  “All over the place. Not just in this city. People love their coffee.”

  The lass returned with a tray carrying three mugs and three dishes. She placed one in front of each of them and after giving them all their coffee, smiled and walked away.

  “What is this?” Logan said, examining the cinnamon roll.

  “It’s a cinnamon roll. They don’t have those back home?” Sara asked.

  “Nae.”

  “It’s good. You’ll like it. I promise.”

  Dougall exchanged looks with Logan and then broke off a piece of the unusual looking roll and placed it in his mouth. The flavors were not what he’d expected. This roll was very sweet and filled with cinnamon, something that was a rare treat back in his time. It was delicious. He took another bite and Logan joined him.

  “’Tis amazing! Do ye eat this every day, Sara?” Logan asked.

  “Of course not! I’d get tired of them and I don’t want that to happen. You’ll see. If you stay here again tonight, we’ll try something different tomorrow.”

  The two men continued eating and enjoying the rolls and coffee. They were surrounded by others who sat outside at the tables and seemed to be very focused on the objects they held in their hands or that sat in front of them on the table. Dougall didn’t want to appear ignorant, so he refused to ask Sara what they were doing, but his curiosity was piqued.

  “Almost everyone has a cell phone or a computer when they come here. I know you don’t know what those are, but they are extremely important in this time.” Sara must have noticed his interest.

  “How so?” Logan asked.

  “They can check their emails, or work remotely. Some people go on social media to see what’s going on with their friends.”

  “Why dinnae they just ask them?”

  Sara laughed and began explaining her meaning to Logan, but Dougall had heard enough. He held up his hand to stop her. “Dinnae continue on with this. We dinnae understand any of it and we willnae be here long enough to need any of it.”

  “You know it’s very rude to interrupt someone when they’re speaking, don’t you?” She scrunched her brow and narrowed her eyes as she spoke.

  Dougall wasn’t sure how to respond. He’d never met a woman quite as outspoken as Sara. Ashley and Jenna were also from this time, but they were different. While they spoke their mind, they did it in a way that didn’t offend anyone.

  “Me apologies.” He sipped his coffee and finished the last of his roll. He then waited impatiently for Sara and Logan to stop their inane chattering and finish theirs. It didn’t appear that would be any time soon. He harrumphed to himself, but apparently they heard him because both of them glanced his way, Sara with irritability and Logan with question. “I apologize once again.” This was becoming redundant. He wasn’t used to apologizing for anything. At Breaghacraig he was in charge of his own teulu and no one ever expected him to apologize to them for anything. Around the MacKenzie family he was, of course, careful not to offend. And yet here he’d been put in his place twice in one sitting by this lass. “I merely wish to get on with the day. I must see Helene.”

  “Do you really love her, or is she just a possession to you?” Sara asked.

  Dougall was once again taken aback by Sara. “Of course I love her. If I didnae, I wouldnae be here enduring this, this…” He threw his arms in the air in exasperation.

  “I get it,” Sara said. “When you love someone you’ll do anything for them.”

  Logan glanced Dougall’s way as if afraid of his reaction and then turned to Sara. “Have ye ever been in love, Sara?”

  “Once. It was a long time ago and it wasn’t mutual. I made a complete fool of myself at the time and I promised never to let that happen again.”

  Dougall impatiently tapped his fingers on the table top. Every fiber of his being wished to be gone from this place, but he vowed he wouldnae leave without his love. He tuned out Sara and Logan and in his mind’s eye he saw Helene. She ran to him with open arms. He felt every inch of her pressed close to his body and he remembered a time not long ago when she’d wanted nothing more than to be with him. He was amazed at how quickly things could change and he hoped that they would change back just as quickly.

  In Dougall’s mind it had been hours since they sat to break their fast, but they were finally up and moving in the direction of Zeke’s castle. He planned to profess his love to Helene and she, of course, would then soften and decide to return with him. It was a solid plan and it would not fail. His confidence was high. The sooner they were on their way back to their own time, the sooner he would never have to listen to Logan and Sara going on and on about the most inane things. He gritted his teeth, straightened his shoulders and held his head high. He was a warrior and he intended to show this Zeke what he was made of. And when Helene saw how much he loved her and how well he could handle Zeke, she’d be falling into his arms and they’d be on their way.

  Rounding the corner, Dougall could see the colorful castle Zeke lived in up ahead. He quickened his pace. Logan and Sara jogged to keep up with him.

  “What’s your hurry?” Sara asked.

  “I believe you know the answer.” Dougall dismissed her silly question.

  “I do. Getting there two seconds faster isn’t going to make any difference.”

  “So you say.”

  “I do. You need to learn to relax. Everything is better when you take a deep breath and calm yourself.”

  “Is it now?” He continued on at the same pace. “You don’t seem to grasp the fact that I’m needed back in me own time. The sooner I get back the better.”

  Logan grasped Sara’s hand and hurried along beside Dougall. Sara’s little legs had to run to keep up with them and Logan was giving him a most disrespectful stare. Dougall was used to being in charge and Logan, as his second in command was used to following orders, so this sudden insolence was disturbing to Dougall.

  “What if Helene doesn’t want to leave yet?” Sara asked.

  “She will.” Dougall had not a doubt.

  “You’re pretty sure of yourself.”

  Mercifully they were at the foot of the stairs and Dougall didn’t see the need to continue this conversation with Sara. He took the stairs two at a time and at the top pounded on the door. A moment later he pounded again.

  By now Sara and Logan were standing beside him. “You should give them time to answer the door,” she huffed.

  They waited, but it became obvious, no one was home.

  “Where are they?” Dougall growled.

  “Probably at the studio. That’s where Zeke works. Helene must have gone with him,” Sara explained.

  Dougall bounded down the stairs, Logan and Sara following. “Which way do we go?”

  “We’ll need to get a cab,” Sara pulled an object from her pocket and poked away at it. “Okay. Someone will be here in a few minutes to get us.”

  This was a very strange world. Dougall wondered if wi
tchcraft and magick were common here. It seemed that so many things were possible here that in his time were completely impossible. “Are ye a witch, Sara?”

  “Me? No. What do you mean by that?” From her reaction, Dougall was fairly sure he’d insulted her.

  “I’m sorry, lass. There is no other explanation for the things ye seem able to do.” He pointed to the object she still held in her hand.

  Sara laughed. “You mean my phone. It’s not magick and you don’t have to be a witch to use one. Everyone has them.” She pointed to an approaching wagon. “There’s our ride.”

  Dougall and Logan sat on either side of Sara, touching everything they could reach. “What is this called?” Logan asked.

  “It’s a car,” Sara said.

  The driver looked quizzically over his shoulder at her.

  “Never mind,” she said to him. “It would take too much time to explain and you’d never believe me anyway.”

  The rest of the ride was quiet. Dougall was amazed at the rate of speed they were travelling and it wasn’t long before they stopped in front of a large building that looked like it might fall over in a good stiff wind.

  “Thank you,” Sara called to the driver. She led the way to a large steel door, which was locked.

  Dougall pounded on it and they waited silently for someone to answer. He took in their surroundings, noting the unusual materials the building was made of. He was about to pound on the door once again, when the sound of the door latch caught their attention and Dougall turned to face the door. A man he was unfamiliar with answered and he was momentarily caught off guard.

  “Hey, Wade!” Sara pushed her way past Logan and Dougall to embrace this man. Dougall noted that Logan’s eyes narrowed as this unknown man lifted Sara and swung her around.

  “Who are you?” Dougall asked.

  “I’m Wade Granville,” Wade answered as he held his hand out to Dougall.

  “Don’t bother with that, Wade. His name’s Dougall. He’s not the friendliest guy I’ve ever met.” Sara eyed Dougall and then turned to Logan. “This is Logan.”

  “Nice to meet you. Come on in.”

  “Where is Helene?” Dougall demanded.

  “She’s here. Upstairs changing I think.” Wade nodded to the stairs. “Zeke! You’ve got company,” he called in the direction of the office. “Are these the two time travellers Zeke was telling me about?” Wade whispered to Sara before she sat down on the sofa.

  “Oh, yeah. You don’t need to whisper. It’s them.” Logan and Dougall stood near the windows. It was obvious that Logan wished to be with Sara, but Dougall wasn’t about to give him leave to sit down.

  “I’ll go see what’s keeping Zeke,” Wade said as he left the room.

  Dougall moved to the foot of the stairs where he bellowed, “Helene! I’m here fer ye.”

  No answer. He was just about to sprint up the stairs to search for her when Zeke entered the room. “She’ll be down in a minute. She’s changing her clothes for practice.”

  “Why does she need to practice changing her clothes,” Logan asked, appearing puzzled.

  Zeke and Sara laughed. “She’s going to practice some self-defense techniques.” He turned and looked squarely at Dougall. “You know, in case she ever finds herself alone and in a bad situation. I want her to be able to take care of herself.”

  The two men sized each other up, neither wanting to appear weak to the other. Dougall turned away from the stairs and spoke to Sara. “What’s taking her so long?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll go see what she’s up to.” Sara headed upstairs, leaving all four men uncomfortably eyeing one another.

  Dougall broke the silence, directing his comment to Zeke. “Helene is me woman. Have you done anything to compromise her virtue?”

  “Helene is her own woman. Not yours. You should probably get that through your thick Scottish skull.” Zeke answered.

  Dougall was ready for a fight and it seemed Zeke was as well. “If ye’ve done anything to Helene, ye’ll have me to answer to.”

  “I respect Helene too much. I would never do anything she didn’t want me to do.” Zeke crossed his arms and stood tall.

  “What does that mean? Have ye done something?” Dougall’s anger was getting the better of him.

  “I don’t kiss and tell,” Zeke said.

  “Ye’ve kissed her!” Dougall reached for his sword and leaped across the room where Zeke stood his ground and didn’t even flinch.

  “Dougall!” Helene was descending the stairs with Sara. “What are ye doing? Why does it always seem that ye wish to battle with Zeke? Dinnae embarrass me.”

  “Helene.” Dougall lowered his sword and strode across the room to where she now stood at the bottom of the stairs. “Helene, I’ve come fer ye. I must return home. I havenae the time to spend here wooing ye. Ye ken I love ye. I’ve told ye many times.”

  “I cannae return with ye, Dougall. Ye want to be laird and I willnae stand in yer way. If ye must return to Castle Treun, then ye must go alone. I willnae go back there to be locked up again.”

  “Ye willnae be locked up, love. I’ll be with ye. He willnae harm ye.” He’d kill his father before he let him every lay a finger on Helene.

  “He’ll wait until he’s sent ye off on some fool’s errand as he did before and then he’ll lock me up or kill me or both. I’m sorry, but I willnae return to Castle Treun.”

  “Helene, do ye nae love me?” Dougall felt crushed under the weight of his disappointment.

  She didn’t answer him. Instead she turned to Zeke. “I’m ready fer me lesson now.”

  “Alright. Let me deal with this first, so I can concentrate on you,” Zeke answered.

  “Helene!” Dougall tried to keep the desperation out of his voice.

  “I’m going to practice with Zeke. He teaches others how to use a sword. He’s going to teach me as well.”

  Dougall was at a loss for words. He never thought Helene wouldn’t be happy to return with him and why was she learning to use a sword, when he could protect her and keep her from harm. He gazed at Logan who was looking at him with a strange sadness in his eyes. “Dinnae look at me as though I’m to be pitied.”

  “I’m sorry. I didnae mean to,” Logan directed his attention to his feet.

  “You can stay and watch, or you can leave. Your choice,” Zeke said.

  “A moment, please. I challenge you to a duel.” Dougall stated.

  “What for?” Zeke asked, appearing surprised by Dougall’s challenge.

  “Fer Helene’s hand.”

  “I told you, she’s her own woman. I’m not going to fight a duel to win her. If she doesn’t want to be with you, then you should accept that. Fighting me isn’t going to change anything, but if you really want to fight, then by all means let’s. I’m pretty sure I’m going to win.”

  Chapter 17

  The atmosphere in the studio was strained causing an uneasy knot to form in Helene’s stomach. She was afraid that Dougall might injure or even kill Zeke. He was, after all, one of the best swordsmen in the MacKenzie clan. Only Cailin and Cormac MacBayne were better. She had no idea what skills Zeke had, but she hoped they were good enough to at least prevent his own death.

  Thinking more on it, she was angry that Dougall had taken things to this level, although it was somewhat flattering that he wished to fight for her. Still, that wasn’t about to change anything as far as she was concerned. He’d always told her that he couldn’t wait for the day when he would become Laird of the MacRae Clan and she wasn’t about to make that difficult for him. She’d always be a servant in the eyes of the MacRaes and she knew his father would never approve of his marriage to her, so where did that leave her? She’d already told him she refused to be his mistress and she wasn’t about to change her mind. No. He had to go home and accept that he was to marry Greer Matheson. Helene would be fine here in San Francisco. It wasn’t Breaghacraig and she’d certainly miss the MacKenzies, but she had Zeke and Sara and she was meeting som
e of their friends. Dougall must return to fulfill his life’s goal. She’d be fine.

  Dougall joined the rest of the group in the center of the space.

  It was a large open room with high ceilings showing long tubes running across from one end to the other. The floors were covered with an unusual rug that was soft under foot. Zeke turned on more of the overhead lights, brightening the interior so they could see more clearly.

  “I’ll be with you in a minute,” Zeke said as he entered an adjoining room.

  “Dougall, ’tis a fool’s errand yer on. I’ll nae go back with ye.” Helene had to find a way to stop this fight from happening.

  “Ye must,” Dougall said.

  The hurt she saw on his handsome face, the face she loved above all else, tore at her heart, but she wasn’t going to take him back. He had to leave. He had to be Laird MacRae. She would sacrifice everything for him to achieve the one thing he’d always told her he wanted.

  “I’ll nae leave without ye, love.” Dougall softened his tone, almost pleading with her.

  She fought every instinct she had that was telling her to go to him. If she touched him or felt his breath upon her cheek, she’d be unable to resist this man she had loved for so long and who now could no longer be hers. “Yer a stubborn man, Dougall MacRae.” Helene walked away, following after Zeke.

  Dougall’s head was spinning. Where was the Helene he knew and loved? This Helene seemed determined to hurt him. He understood why she would be angry with him for leaving her with his father, but he’d had no choice. If he hadn’t then he would have ended up imprisoned and unable to help her. When he’d left her there in his bed, he was the happiest man on earth. He was confident he could overcome his father’s objections to Helene. He merely had to make him see how he felt about her and his father would capitulate, or so he thought. He knew his father to be conniving, but he had no idea he would go that far. That he would lock her up and leave her there, hoping she’d die before Dougall got back and thus solving Laird MacRae’s problem.