by Jennae Vale
Dougall finally sat up just as their food arrived. Sara paid the delivery guy and set the food on the dining room table. She got out some plates, silverware and serving spoons. Logan was hovering over her shoulder as she set everything out.
“Grab a plate and help yourself,” she said.
She sat back and enjoyed watching them examine the food. She was sure it had to be the strangest they’d ever seen, but they took some of everything and were happy enough to go back for seconds. She made a small plate for herself.
When they were done she packed up the little bit that was left and put it in the refrigerator. “What do you guys want to do?”
They both looked at her with blank expressions.
“We can watch a movie, or play cards, or listen to music,” she suggested.
“Music,” Logan said.
“Okay.” This will be fun, she thought as she flicked a switch and music came out of speakers she had strategically placed around the living room. She chose fun, dance music and began moving around the room to the beat. Logan joined her and did his best to imitate what she was doing. Loud laughter came from the sofa as Dougall was almost doubled over watching them. Sara was happy to see him enjoying himself. She’d been quite worried about his state of mind. Sara reached out a hand to him and he took it, joining them on the makeshift dance floor in her living room. Luckily, the coffee shop downstairs was closed and they really didn’t care how much noise she made. They danced long into the night and when it was finally time to head to bed, Sara was sure they’d have no problem sleeping. She’d done what she set out to do. She took everyone’s mind off of tomorrow morning. Everyone but hers.
Chapter 19
A chill breeze came off the water as Dougall and Logan made their way to the spot they hoped would take them back home. Accompanied by Sara and their horses, they would wait here for Helene’s arrival and then be on their way back to their own time. It was still dark and Sara was yawning, it was apparent that she was not used to getting up at this early hour.
“Ye should have stayed abed this morning, Sara,” Logan observed.
“I wanted to say goodbye. Besides I’m curious about how this whole time travel thing works.” She pulled her jacket closely around her body and snuggled in.
Dougall watched as Logan went to her and put his arms around her. “I wish I could explain it to ye, lass, but alas I dinnae ken it meself.” He rubbed his hands up and down her back. Dougall was struck with a pang of jealousy watching them.
“I wish you’d stay a little longer,” she said, looking up into his face.
“We cannae,” Dougall answered, even though she wasn’t speaking to him. “Edna will be expecting us both to return together.”
“Aye. If I stayed, I might never be able to return.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t want to. I mean you could stay with me.” She waited expectantly, hoping he’d say what she wanted to hear.
“I’d like that, lass, but we hardly know each other. Me life is back in Scotland. As nice as ‘twould be to stay here with ye, I dinnae belong here.”
That moment of hope she’d had was gone. Dashed by Logan’s words. He was right. They really didn’t know each other. She couldn’t expect him to stay with her and then find out they weren’t compatible. Then he’d be stuck here alone.
The sun began to rise on the eastern horizon and Dougall’s heart sank. Helene hadn’t come to him. There was still time, but he somehow knew she wouldn’t be returning with him and it was breaking his heart. He’d put up a good front so Sara and Logan were unaware of his sadness.
“The sun will be up soon. If Helene isn’t here, we must leave. Edna will send the fog for us.” He strained his eyes to see as far as he could and continued to hope that soon he’d see her running to join him.
Zeke set his alarm clock to give them enough time to get to the spot where Dougall waited and when it rang he was already awake. Sleep had eluded him for much of the night. He wanted so badly to do the right thing and make sure that Helene did as they had agreed upon last night, but he’d developed strong feelings for her and even though he knew giving her up was the right thing to do, it didn’t make it any easier.
He padded down the hallway to her room and knocked on the door. There was no answer and so he peeked his head inside, but she wasn’t there. She wouldn’t have left without him, would she. Panic began to set in. He wanted to say goodbye. He hurried back to his room and quickly dressed before heading downstairs where he was relieved to find Helene curled up on the sofa. She had wrapped herself in a blanket so that only her face was visible. He could see she’d been crying and probably hadn’t slept much. He wanted to take away her pain, to save her from her own self doubt. He wasn’t sure what he could do for her, but he’d start by kneeling in front of her and letting her see how much he cared.
“I was worried when you weren’t in your room. Are you alright?” he asked.
“I was thinking. I ken we spoke about it last night, but I’m nae sure I can go through with it. I dinnae wish to be the ruin of his life.”
“Why would you think that? He loves you. It’s obvious. Have you asked him if he’d rather have you or the lairdship?” Zeke cared a great deal for Helene. He could hardly believe he was pushing her back into Dougall’s arms, but he knew deep down she could never be his.
“There’s nae need. He’s told me all along that he was to be laird some day. He was proud of it and was looking forward to being the one that his clan relied on. I cannae take that away from him.”
“Well, you should at least go to the Marina and tell him that.”
“I dinnae believe I can. Tis best if he thinks I dinnae care. ’Tis best for him to leave without seeing me. I ken I’ve broken his heart.” She closed her eyes as if trying to blot out the hurt she knew she had caused Dougall.
“You’ve broken your own heart as well,” he observed.
Helene sat up and took Zeke’s hand. “Aye, but I will be fine. I’ve learned a lot since I escaped Castle Treun and much of it I learned from ye and Sara. I ken that I must take care of meself. I am a strong woman. Ye helped me see that I can make me own decisions.”
Zeke softly stroked her cheek. “I can only imagine how much you’ve grown going through all of this. You’re a brave woman, Helene. You’ve found a place in my heart and I hate to see you go, but I think it’s the right thing. Even if you only go back to Breaghacraig. The MacKenzies are your family. What about Ashley and Jenna?”
“I love them as though they were me own sisters,” Helene said, a small smile showing on her lips.
“Then go back for them. You’ll miss them terribly and this may be your only chance to go back.” It went against his best interests, but he had to convince her to go.
“Can I have a cup of tea with ye while I think on it?” Helene’s soft voice was filled with a warmth he knew he’d miss.
“Of course. Let’s go do that, but we don’t have much time left, so we should hurry.”
The morning fog hung heavy and close to the ground. Dougall’s heart was racing as he waited in the hopes Helene would join them. It was difficult to see clearly. People walking along the Marina appeared as ghostly figures off in the distance. Any one of them could be Helene, but he knew in his heart they weren’t.
Glancing Logan’s way, he smiled sadly and shook his head. “She’s nae coming.”
“We should wait a bit longer before we call to Edna, dinnae ye think?” Logan said.
“Had she wished to be with me, she would have joined us by now, but I’ll wait a few more minutes.”
“Sara, can ye nae call to them on that thing ye carry with ye?” Logan asked.
“I wish I could, but I left it back at my apartment. I’m sorry, Dougall.”
‘Nae need fer apologies, lass. Ye’ve been more than kind to two highland strangers ye happened upon on the street.” Dougall kissed her cheek and squeezed her in a hug.
Their horses calmly grazed on the grass at their feet, hav
ing somehow gotten used to the strange sights and sounds of this great city. Dougall rubbed Broch’s great neck causing the huge beast to lean into him, begging Dougall to continue. Time passed slowly as they waited and finally Dougall called out to Edna to bring them home.
Logan stepped away from Sara, who moved farther away. They’d explained that she should not get too close or she may find herself joining them on their trip. The horses lifted their heads, ears pricked forward as the fog began to swirl around their feet and slowly creep up their bodies. Dougall could think of nothing but how much he would miss having Helene in his life and before he knew what was happening, they were on their way back in time.
“We should hurry, Helene,” Zeke grabbed her cloak and his jacket. Helene had dressed in her own clothing for the return trip to the sixteenth century. He held out his hand to her and she grabbed it as they left the house and ran down the street towards the Marina. The sun was up now and Helene silently cursed herself for waiting so long to make her final decision. If she missed her chance to go home, she would have no one to blame but herself. The Marina was in sight and she lifted her skirts with one hand while holding tight to Zeke. They ran as fast as possible. He was guiding her to the place where he’d found her that morning not too long ago. They crossed one final street and they were on the green, only moments away from Dougall and Logan.
Zeke suddenly stopped and Helene ran into him. “Why are ye stopping?”
“Look.” Zeke pointed ahead to a lone figure walking their way. “It’s Sara.”
Helene’s heart sank. They were gone. Dougall was gone without her. Once again, she was alone in the world with no one to rely on but herself.
Sara spotted them and waved, running the rest of the way to meet them. “I’m so sorry. They’re gone.”
Helene stood there, unable to speak, unable to cry. She might never see home again and it was all her own doing.
“Helene, we’re here for you,” Sara reassured.
“I ken ye are and I thank ye.”
“I’ll try to contact Edna. She spoke with me through the fireplace,” Zeke said. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you home again, I promise.”
“Dinnae waste yer time fretting over me. I’ll be fine. I’ve survived everything that’s happened to this point, and I ken I’ll survive this as well.”
The three of them walked back to the house. Not a word was spoken by any. Their mood was somber and Helene knew they were at a loss as to what to do with her.” She’d earn her keep as she had at Breaghacraig while she waited to see if Edna would let her go home.
Chapter 20
When the fog cleared, Dougall was relieved to see they were exactly where they were supposed to be. A man with a horse and cart was about to cross the bridge and seemed surprised to see them.
“Where’d ye come from?” he asked.
“We’ve travelled a great distance to be here. Can ye tell us the year kind sir?” Dougall knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it. The reality of all that had happened over the past weeks weighed heavily on him and he needed the acknowledgement that he had survived it all and arrived right back from where he’d left.
“’Tis 1516, as ye should well know.” The man furrowed his brow and clucked to his horse to get him moving.
“Ye are correct, sir and thank ye,” Dougall said.
The man seemed suspicious of them and he hurried his horse to move on across the bridge. He was headed in the opposite direction of the way they would go and Logan laughed. “We’re here. I can hardly believe it.”
“’Tis nae hard to believe if ye believe we’ve just spent time in the future.” The future – where Helene remained. He was sick at the thought of it. How did all of this get so out of hand. If only he hadn’t left her alone with his father, perhaps none of this would have happened. If only he hadn’t pushed her to make a choice – stay in San Francisco or come home with him. If only he had listened to Sara, perhaps things would be different. Perhaps she’d be at his side now instead of somewhere in a time and place far away from him.
“I wish Sara had come with us.” Logan said, obviously unaware of Dougall’s pain.
“Ye didnae ask her,” Dougall growled.
“I wish I had.”
“Too late now.” Dougall had little patience for Logan’s lament, he had enough of his own regrets.
“Maybe Edna will help me.” Logan sounded hopeful to Dougall’s ear.
“Ye’d have to ask her and I’m nae so sure she’d help ye.”
“Why not?” Logan’s puzzled expression was almost comical, but the last thing Dougall felt like doing was laughing. All the joy had been drained out of his life and he doubted it would ever return.
“She doesnae ken who ye be,” Dougall said.
“Does she ken ye?”
“Aye. She does.” Dougall left it at that. He didn’t bother to tell Logan that he hadn’t officially met Edna, but had seen her when he was with the MacKenzies after Ashley’s arrival. Dougall wasn’t sure why Edna had helped him. In any case, it hadn’t worked. Here he was back in his own time and without Helene. “We should ride to Castle Treun. I must speak with me Da.” Dougall spurred his horse forward and Logan followed.
“Why are ye in such a hurry?” Logan questioned.
“I wish to get this over with.”
“Edna!” Zeke called into the fireplace. “I feel like a fool talking to my hearth, especially since she’s not answering.”
“She may nae wish to help.” Helene was wringing her hands, pacing back and forth. It was sweet of Zeke to try to help her, but she knew from everything she’d heard that Edna had her own reasons for when and how she helped. “Mayhap she doesnae wish me to be with Dougall.”
“Why would you think that.” Zeke turned away from the fireplace to face Helene.
“Because she’s a matchmaker.”
“So you think the fact that Dougall left without you is because Edna planned it that way.”
“Aye.”
“I disagree. It was a timing issue. We were late.”
“I was late. ’Twas me. I couldnae make up me mind and now I’m stuck.”
Zeke went to her and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. “Don’t blame yourself. Let’s just say it was poor timing.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll keep trying. Sooner or later she’s going to answer me. If all else fails, we can fly to Scotland and see her in person.”
“Fly to Scotland! Do ye really think we could do it?” She had no idea that people of the future could fly.
“Sure.”
“I don’t think so, Zeke.” Sara came down the stairs to join them. “She needs a passport. Where are you going to get her one of those?”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” he said.
“Not only that, she has no identification to speak of and no way of getting any.” Sara poked a finger into her brother’s chest as she spoke.
“Is that a problem?” Helene asked.
“Only if you want to get a job, drive a car or travel anywhere. There are lots of reasons you might need an I.D.” Sara seemed angry with her brother. “You should have seen to it that she got there on time this morning.”
“Oh, my.” Helene was beginning to feel as though she had done nothing but worry from the moment she’d arrived. Would it ever get any better, or would she always be afraid of living in this time. There were so many things to know and while her confidence had been bolstered by this experience, she wondered if she would ever feel at home in this place.
“Don’t worry,” Zeke said. “We’ll find a way to make this work, but I’m not giving up on getting you back to your own time, no matter how long it takes.”
All was quiet at Castle Treun as Dougall and Logan rode through the gates. It would be hours before those in the castle awoke to begin their day. They dismounted and walked their horses to the stable entrance where they were greeted by a young lad who took their horses from them. Dougall strode across the courtyard, followed by Logan. When
they arrived at the castle entry, Logan left him and went off to the kitchen in search of food. Dougall chuckled to himself. Logan was always interested in filling his belly and constantly worried about where his next meal would be coming from.
A fire blazed in the hearth of the great room and Dougall made himself comfortable in a chair he placed before it. He rested his elbows on his knees, mesmerized by the flickering flames, which reminded him of the many nights he’d held Helene in his arms as they enjoyed the warmth emitted by such a fire. How he would get her out of his thoughts wasn’t something he hoped to accomplish. At least not right away and perhaps not ever. She was so much a part of him that he was amazed he was able to walk and talk without that piece of him that was now missing. It would take time to mend his heart and to heal his soul.
A loud hacking sound came from behind him and he turned to find Laird MacRae stumbling into the hall.
“Da, are ye well?” he asked.
“Dougall! Yer back!”
“Aye. I’ve come to speak with ye.”
Paddraig dropped himself into a chair opposite Dougall and took a long swig of ale. “What ye didnae say enough the day that ye left?”
“Nae. I’ve come to tell ye that if ye wish me to marry Greer, I shall.” As he spoke the words, his stomach revolted on him and it was all he could do not to retch on the stone floor. He steadied himself. “Helene…” Her name caught in his throat. “Helene is gone.” He didn’t say more. His Da had no need to know the particulars of his situation.
“Aye. Well, ’tis good to hear. I didnae wish the lass any harm. Me only wish was that she leave ye be.”
The anger Dougall had been containing came roaring back to life. He fisted his hands to keep for pummeling the old man. His voice came out in a low growl, “Da, ye tried to kill her. Ye left her to die. How can ye possibly say that ye meant her nae harm?”
“I told yer sister to tell her that because I wished to frighten her into leaving and never coming back. I sent one of me men to follow her. Ye must believe me, I didnae wish her to come to any harm. He made sure she didnae, at least until they came to a bridge where he lost her in the fog. He couldn’t find her, so he returned to me. Ye ken me better than that lad. I was strict with ye when ye were a lad, but I am nae a murderer.” He looked in his cup and seeing it was empty, lurched from the chair and across to the sideboard where the ale sat in a pitcher. He poured himself more. “Do ye wish some ale, lad?”