“How did you escape?” she snarled.
“Wow, you sure changed. You are not the same lady I met with in your room, Ainsley. You are losing your mind, do you realize that?” I began, standing tall. “You almost got all these people killed today because you are falling apart at the very seams. And I get it. You lost your husband and it wasn’t easy. But these people, they need you. And they need to know Sir Malcolm is dead. You can have a life without him. Your future is good, if you allow yourself to let others in.”
The slap that came after about knocked me off of my feet. I’d never been slapped before. Wow it hurt. I tried really hard to not show how badly it stung, but the tears of anger filled my eyes and I was sure my cheek was bright red. I was trying to talk to her seriously and it seemed she didn’t like that.
“Okay, then. So you want to play that way do you?”
She held her head high, Ainsley was a proud woman and would not admit her faults.
“Ainsley, I am leaving now and no one here is going to stop me. You do realize that I saved their lives, right?”
“Who are you?” she snarled. “Ye aren’t who ye claim to be, that’s for certain.”
I laughed. “No, I am not who I claimed to be. I’m much more important than that. And I thank you for your lovely hospitality, I think the locking me up part was a tad much, but it’s time for me to be leaving. And you will not stop me.”
She moved aside, as if scared of me. Perhaps she thought of me as a threat. Before I left the stables she asked, “Are ye a witch?”
Turning on my heel I said, “Who knows? But one thing is for sure, if you do not start protecting these people better, I will be back and so will the English. Don’t be stupid, Ainsley.”
And in a surprising turn of events she fell to her knees and wailed like a baby. I didn’t stop to look back at her. My job here was done. My mission had altered, but I had done what I set out to do, and then some. I saved Sir Malcolm’s people. And I liked to think that he was smiling down on me, thankful for what I had done for them. As I left the castle and said my goodbyes to all the men who would mostly die in the upcoming battles that lie ahead, I felt a release of pressure. I had saved them that day at least.
The walk to the waterfall wasn’t long and I had done it before with Eoin, so it wasn’t hard to find. I didn’t see Eoin, so I went into the cave where Iona and all the other women were with the children.
“It’s safe,” I told them all. Their eyes lit up. “You can all go home now. Be safe.”
“Thank you, child,” Iona told me. “Will I ever see you again?”
Sadness crept over me as I told her, “No.” But I knew Iona would be all right. If anyone ran that castle it was she. She hugged me for the last time and wished me safe travels. As they all walked away, I watched them until the sun began to lower in the distance. Eoin should have been here by now, but he wasn’t.
Thoughts of him getting caught flooded my brain and I couldn’t help but think the absolute worst for him. Instead of waiting in the cold cave I wandered out and tried to find the best spot to be able to see him if he crested the hill. Finding the perfect rock high up allowed me the sight to see all over.
I sat down on it, my legs tired, and noticed that I had found the most beautiful patch of thistles. I had actually never seen them growing wild before, but as I sat down I saw they were spreading all over this hill. I plucked one and then another, until I had enough for a flower crown. Braiding them together helped ease my mind. When the crown was done, I sat it atop my head.
“That looks bonnie on you.”
Gasping, I looked up and saw Eoin holding his own bouquet of flowers in his hands. They were thistles too.
“You’re late,” I teased.
“Ah, sorry lass, I know. ‘Twas hard saying goodbye again to my parents. But on the walk to meet you I stumbled across a patch of these and I wanted to pick them for ye. But I see that you found your own.”
His smile lit up his face but didn’t disguise the red eyes he had from shedding tears. I patted the grass near me and he dropped down in a heap.
“You missed it,” I told him. “I told Ainsley off.”
He cocked his head.
“Uh, I mean to say we had words. She slapped me,” I said, as I showed him my face. “It hurt.”
“Aye, try being hit with a fist.”
He held up his fist and then uncurled his fingers and ran that hand over my face.
It was now or never. The part I was dreading.
“Eoin, I don’t want to leave. I…”
“Shh lass. I know. But what if you didn’t have to leave. What if ye gave me a choice?”
“A choice? I don’t understand.”
He looked around at his beautiful country and then back at me and touched my face once again.
“If ye ask me if I want to wake up in this land every day of my life, I’ll tell ye yes. But if you ask me if my heart will ache every day you are gone, I’ll say yes again. Isn’t there a way I can be with you? A way I can wake up next to you every day and see the land I love?”
I felt the same way about him, but I couldn’t stay here. This land was beautiful but so full of tragedy. How many years would we have without death or pain? I couldn’t leave behind my time. I had so many things I still needed to do back home. For instance, my best friend and the way I left things with my mother.
“I have broken pieces back home. But I’d have a broken heart if I left you.” I put my head in my hands. I didn’t know what to do. He pulled me off of my rock, and onto his lap, where I curled up like a child. Sadness did that to you. It made you act like a broken innocent kid. I didn’t want to make decisions right now.
“Aye lass. I have broken pieces, too. Let’s be broken together.”
And before I knew it I understood what he meant. I raised my head and asked the question that had been on my mind for days, but I was just too scared to ask.
“Eoin, do you think that you could love me?”
This was the hardest question I had to ask anyone before. I was putting my heart out there; it was vulnerable.
He kissed me and took my face in his rough hands. He pulled me back onto the grass and he lay with me, holding me. Love. This was what it felt like. Two people intertwined together.
He lifted his head and said, “I’d go anywhere with you, lass. And as for yer question, I already do.”
I sat up and looked out at the beautiful Scottish landscape that I was about to say goodbye to for now and then looked at Eoin.
Without any words, or any further questions I held out my hand to him. He took it and we stood up. I pulled out my bracelet and put it back on.
We were standing in my bedroom seconds later. Eoin had grass in his hair, and I held onto the flowers he gave me but my crown was gone. Oh well, perhaps a child would find it. At least a piece of me was still there.
I was scared to look at Eoin, for fear of him looking sad that he had left Scotland to come here with me. What would happen to us if he realized his mistake and wanted to go back home? Would I be able to live without him? Knowing what I knew now, in that moment, that I had fallen so hard for someone so fast, I couldn’t be without him.
“Look at me, lass,” he said. So I did. “I would follow you anywhere; I told you that. I made this choice.”
“Eoin, I have an idea, but I need you to trust me. Do you?”
He pulled me into his arms, and kissed me, which I took meant yes. All of the times that I faked being happy in my life, this time was different. My happiness with him was genuine. Sure, our relationship was complicated and he had just given up his time for mine, but he would see Scotland again soon.
Twenty-Four
Our flight was leaving at two o’clock and we were already packed and ready to go. Jessa was our cook for breakfast apparently, b
ecause she had a full meal laid out for us when we rolled out of bed. She was merrily humming as she placed bacon on the counter and filled our glasses with orange juice.
“Wow, Jessa, this is quite the spread,” I remarked, as I sat down at the table.
She waved her hand dismissively. “It was nothing. I love to do it, you know that.”
I nodded as I flung pancakes onto my plate and doused them in syrup. I would miss surprise breakfast from Jessa, it was the only thing she knew how to make. As for me, I couldn’t make anything. I’d have to learn if I was going to feed Eoin.
He was still getting dressed so Jessa and I had a few minutes to ourselves.
“Jessa, I want you to know that you and I will always be friends, even now that Eoin and I are going to Scotland. I’ll never have another friend like you. Ever.”
She nodded and I saw her swallow. I knew that she was trying not to cry. It was the reason she cooked so much food, and why she sang all morning; diversion tactics.
Eoin and I had made the choice to move to Scotland so that he could be home, in a sense. Moving there was a no brainer for me. There was no place that made me feel more at home than Scotland and in Eoin’s arms. Putting the both of them together made Savannah one happy girl.
“But I won’t be your protector any longer,” she said, sitting down with her smoothie, while shoving a piece of pancake in her mouth.
She was right. That was the only bad part of this move; losing her. We both knew that long distance friendships were hard. I’d need a new place to conduct my preserving and a new protector in order to travel. It was a thought that weighed heavily on me.
“I can do it,” Eoin said, as he appeared in the kitchen fully dressed in his kilt. I sighed at the sight of him.
“You, protect her?” Jessa asked incredulously.
Eoin sat down, in the tiny seat next to me. He practically dwarfed anything he was near. Including our furniture.
“Why not? I will protect her with my body and my soul if I need to. Why can I not do so when she travels?”
“I don’t see why he can’t,” I agreed, stuffing a piece of pancake in my mouth. “But Jessa will have to teach you, Eoin. Maybe we can Facetime and she can teach you then? She knows all the rules and is the only one I’d trust to be your tutor.”
It seemed like a nice way to include Jessa, and Eoin did have a lot to learn.
“I am a good teacher,” Jessa said.
“Aye, no doubt I’d be learnin’ from the best. First lesson, Facetime.”
They both laughed.
I loved how my best friend and my boyfriend got along so well. And I can’t believe I had a boyfriend. Using the word was foreign to me. But one night, when we were alone, I had asked him if that was what he was. He said, “I do not know the term. But if it means that I belong to you, then yes. I guess I am yer boyfriend.”
They talked over breakfast as Jessa gave him his first rundown on all things protector. She excused herself from the table a few minutes later, and I began washing the dishes and putting the rest of the food into containers for Jessa to eat while we were gone. I realized that poor Jessa would be alone for a while. If anyone needed a roommate it was Jessa. She needed me as much as I her. I sat there with my hands in the water, watching the soap run over them, and the tears that fell from my eyes drop down into the soap. Ever since meeting Eoin, I was an emotional wreck. I cried all the time. Love does that I suppose. It sure brought out the side of me I tucked deep, deep down.
“What is it?” Eoin asked. I shook my head, not able to talk. “Ye don’t want to leave? We don’t have to. I can adjust here. I can live here with you. I can be happy in time.”
I looked at him and had no doubt that he would do fine here. Eoin could blend in anywhere he went. He was already learning so fast in the past four weeks we had been back. He knew a lot about how the world worked, but heck, even I didn’t know it all. There was so much that he didn’t know, because I wasn’t informed enough to teach him. Being in Scotland would allow him to feel comfortable enough to learn such things. He would be with his people. I would be with my heart.
“Yeah, but I can’t stay here. I would drown here, Eoin. Much like I was before I met you. I am the one who wants to go. You’re not making me,” I finally said. “Happiness never found me here. I feel at home in Scotland. You know, before I went inside the book that day it called to me, I had a dream. It was so realistic. I was running through a field of heather with a man whose face I couldn’t see. He and I touched hands for a brief moment and then we were pulled apart. And I was so frantic because I had to find him. I woke up all sweaty and bothered.
“It took me so long to figure out who that man was and what the dream meant exactly. And also why the book called to me that day. The man was you, Eoin. And we were being pulled apart by time while we ran. You were pulled from me, and I was trying to find you, even when I didn’t know you. But my soul did. And the book pulled me in because I was meant to be there with you; to save you and for you to save me. I was suffocating here without you, Eoin. But now that we’re together,” I took his hands. “I can finally breathe. And losing my best friend sucks royally, but I have no doubt that she will do just fine without me. She’s bubbly and outgoing and she will find a new roommate in no time. Probably someone who prefers dresses. And we will stay in touch. That’s what friends do.”
“And I can visit anytime I want, right?” Jessa said, startling me.
“Of course.”
She came closer and handed Eoin a book which he took and looked over. “What’s this?”
“It’s the most important book you’ll ever own, Eoin. It’s the guide for protectors, so guard it with your life you crazy Scot! And if you lose it, I’ll come to Scotland and rip out all that blond hair.”
He held it close and promised to never lose it. Eoin went back into the room to pack it in his bag.
“I promise to take care of Fred,” Jessa said, which reminded me I was also giving up my crazy cat. They needed one another more than ever. While I had been gone, they formed an unlikely bond, and I couldn’t take that away.
“I finally signed up for that design school,” Jessa told me. “I didn’t tell you because I was waiting on their response.”
“Well?” I asked.
“I got in! I’ll be attending in the fall and my parents are so pissed,” she laughed. “So I’ll be moving anyway. Yep, me and Fred will be moving to New York City. She’ll be a city cat before you know it.”
I grabbed her and wrapped her in a hug. This was the best news I’d heard all week. Jessa was destined for design.
“Maybe I’ll see your fashions on TV!” I said hopeful. “You have more talent in your pinkie finger than most people have in their whole body, Jessa. You will pave that city in gold when you’re done!”
“More like glitter. Which reminds me,” she said, “Let’s take a look at which clothes you are packing for Scotland, shall we.”
Oh man, I was in trouble.
****
Saying goodbye to Jessa tore my heart out and my eyes were still puffy when the Uber pulled up to my mother’s house. I had to say goodbye to her before we left. Eoin and I got out and were instantly greeted by a different dog than Tuck. This dog was younger and lighter in color.
I bent down and patted him on the head. “Hey puppy,” I said.
“That’s Georgia,” said my mom as she came out of the house. “Tuck died last month. I buried him out back if you want to go say goodbye to him.”
She was expecting this visit. I had text her to let her know I was moving and that I would stop in and say goodbye before I left.
“That’s all right,” I said. “He’s not really there anymore.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, that’s true. He’s in doggy heaven. He was an old dog Savannah. You know that.”<
br />
I did, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. Mother looked good. She had color to her cheeks that I hadn’t seen in ages.
“Have a seat,” she said to me and Eoin, pointing to a nice little table on the front porch. “I’m Diane.”
She held out her hand to Eoin and he took it and shook once. We were working on greeting people. It was a work in progress. The past month that he was here, I had taught him so much about living in the 21st century. It’s been tough, but he was a fast learner.
“Eoin,” he said. “I’m pleased to meet you finally. Thank you for allowing me the honor of loving your daughter.”
She stood back and said, “Wow. Okay, you’re welcome.”
She laughed a bit and it was a nice sound to hear from her. I guess she was really working on her personality. I could already see a difference. It figures that now that I was moving she would change.
I sat down and she went inside and brought back out tea and cookies. Eoin sipped it and made a face. Her tea was always really sweet.
“So, Scotland,” she said.
“Yeah. It’s his homeland and I found a job there already. It’s a small town library. I’d be the media specialist. It’s a start. The school is nearby so I can finish my degree.”
“And preserving?”
“Is still possible of course. I won’t give that up.” I could feel myself becoming defensive.
“Well, good. You’re good at it, I’m sure. Just do what makes you happy Savannah. I really do want you happy,” she said, her eyes on me. “I am sorry for how I treated you. You were right you know?”
“About what?”
“When you said that dad leaving changed me. It did. I resented him and you. I felt like I had no purpose and I didn’t see that my purpose was raising you until it was too late. Savannah, don’t make the same mistakes I did. Love those around you and be happy. If moving to Scotland is what makes you so, then good for you. But I ask one favor.”
The Archivist Page 15