A Love Through Time

by TERRI BRISBIN

  She had to stoop to enter, but once inside, she could stand again. It was a small cave, dry and clean, with no sign of animals or visitation. A small table and bench took up one wall, and there were some vines and herbs hanging from the ceiling. Using a flint, Moira lit a torch set in the wall.

  "I use this place for drying and preparing some of my herbs and potions. No one knows of it, or at least no one bothers it. Do ye think ye can make yer way here alone if need be?"

  "Why, Moira? Why are you showing me this place?" Maggie's fear grew. This was a place to hide. Why did Moira show her a hiding place that no one in the clan knew about? The vision? What else had she seen in that vision. "What else did you see in the flames?"

  "He is getting closer to Dunnedin, Maggie. I know no' the time he will arrive, but he gets closer each day."

  "The real Alex? Is that who you mean?"

  "Aye, the clan's Alex. He comes wi' soldiers from England. I saw the chaos of discovery and..."

  "You're scaring me, Moira. What else did you see?"

  "I saw a gallows built for one."

  Maggie gasped and then couldn't breathe. Fear tightened its grasp of her and she saw the cave begin to spin around her. A gallows? Someone would hang? God help them!

  "Maggie, do not let fear control ye. Ye must be ready to hide if the need arises. Be strong. Be ready."

  Maggie pulled herself together and looked at Moira. "Will one of us be hanged for this masquerade?"

  "I saw only the gallows, no' someone hanging from it. There is every chance that ye may get out of this alive."

  "We may get out alive? I don't like the sound of this."

  "Weel, ye now ken a safe hidey-hole. If there is trouble, get here wi' or without Alex, and I will find ye. I will do what I can, lass, but ye must be ready."

  "I will be, Moira. Thank you for showing me this place."

  "Now, remember our path as we return. Ye may need to make yer way here in the dark." Moira stepped out into the sunshine and covered over the opening. Once done, Maggie could see the aperture only because she knew it was there. "Come, lass, or Brodie will start on that bairn afore we get back."

  The walk back took a few minutes, and they found Brodie sitting by Rachelle as she slept. He rose when they entered.

  "She is sleeping again. Her throat still hurts."

  Maggie reached down and touched Rachelle's cheek— still cool. She patted Brodie's arm. "Just asleep, Brodie, just asleep."

  "Can I speak wi' ye outside, Maggie?"

  "Of course." She walked outside and waited for Brodie to catch up with her. He stood next to her and took her hand in his.

  "I have not always been good to ye, Maggie, and I beg yer pardon for that. I know what ye did for Rachelle and I thank ye."

  "Brodie, it was Moira who..."

  He squeezed her hand tighter and said, "Nay, Moira told me what ye did for Rachelle. That 'twas yer ingredients that cured Rachelle of the fever." He choked up and couldn't speak. The lump in her throat grew.

  "Maggie, if ye ever have need of me, just call on me. Ye will never know how much Rachelle means to me or what you did for her, for us. I thank ye."

  She still couldn't talk, her throat was clogged with unshed tears. All she could picture in her mind was that baby yet to be born. She just nodded her head.

  "I must get back to the keep. I will return later to see her. If ye need me..."

  "No, Brodie, she's fine, really." Now that she could get words out, Maggie reassured him.

  "Weel, then, until later." Brodie nodded to her and trotted up the path, back to the castle.

  Maggie thought about his words and prayed that she would never need to ask for his help. Alex was right; something was starting here. Trouble was coming straight for them. They would either get back home or end up dead. Maggie shivered at the choice. She knew neither would come easily.

  Chapter 40

  "Do you think we'll ever have a hot bath again, Alex?"

  "Brodie keeps telling me that the loch haes been much warmer this year than last."

  "Well, that's Brodie. That's the first thing I want to do when we get back to our time—soak in a hot bath until I look like a wrinkled prune. Actually, then I think I'll refill it and soak even more." Maggie laughed. "I will never take my hot water heater for granted again, Alex."

  Alex watched as she pulled her blouse on and adjusted her skirt and bodice. It took much longer to get her clothes back in order than it took for him to remove them.

  "I'm glad Brodie offered to take my message to ye. I enjoyed this time together." He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers.

  "Moira thinks the real Alex will be here soon. I'm worried about what will happen." She stepped next to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  "She told me the same thing. She warned me to be prepared for the worst, whatever that means." Moira had shared more with him, but now was not the time to worry Maggie. Her own fears were growing already.

  "Did she tell you about the hiding place? Do you know how to get there?"

  "I'm afraid there's no hiding place for me, Maggie. If we're still here when Alex arrives, they will hunt me down, wherever I am. Ye may be safe once they have me."

  "Alex," she said, laying her head against his heart, "I don't like the sound of that."

  "Whatever happens, Maggie, get yerself to that place and stay until Moira comes to ye. Trust no one else."

  "Not even Brodie?"

  "Brodie will be put in a hard spot when the truth is out. He's been a friend, but only because he thinks I am his cousin."

  "Alex, you're wrong. It isn't just your kinship that makes Brodie your friend. You've built a relationship with him in these few months."

  "Aye, but I do not want to test that wi' my life," he leaned down and kissed her, "or yers."

  "He may surprise you, Alex."

  "Weel, I hope he does not have to take a stand against me, against us. I am getting depressed wi' this talk. Can we no' finish our time together wi' something a bit more pleasant?"

  He really needed to hold her longer. The dread of what was to come was getting more powerful, even though he tried to make light of it. He just hoped he was ready when the time came. Moira had stressed how important it would be.

  Moira also thought that the power of the arch was tied to the phases of the moon. A full moon was due in three days. If things went right, they would try then. But, would the arch work this time? Or would they be trapped here and not return to their time? Since Moira remained hopeful in spite of her warnings, so would he.

  "Maggie, let's try that preein' the lips o' again afore ye leave. I need to feel yours against mine."

  As always, she opened to him. She gave him her mouth, her body, her heart. In return, she had his heart, even if she didn't know it yet. He would tell her before she left. He wanted her to know the depth of his feelings, new as they were to him. She would help him make sense of it all.

  He deepened the kiss, enjoying her taste and the feel of her tongue in his mouth. He held her so closely he could feel her heart beating against his. A pity there was no more time for them. Suddenly, the sound of galloping horses seeped into his awareness, and he broke off the kiss. The clan almost never rode their horses here so close to the village. It had to be outsiders.

  "Maggie, get down in those bushes. I do not know who is coming this way."

  "Alex, it..."

  "Get down, I said. Do it now." He grabbed his belt and scabbard. "Stay in there until this is over, then get ye to Moira's hiding place." She followed his orders. He watched her scramble under the low shrubs and tuck her feet under her. With the drab skirt, she blended well enough to be hidden. "I am going to draw them away. Do not make a sound."

  With his plaid and sword in place, he was ready. He thought he was prepared for anything—until he faced his double on horseback.

  The man before him, one of a dozen men riding together, looked like his twin, and yet he didn't. His hair was short and strai
ght and held back from his face by a gold band around his forehead. No beard covered the face, which was pale from being out of the sun's light. Instead of a plaid with knee-high boots, this man was dressed in leotards. Well, that's what he would call them. A very short shirt topped the tights and short boots covered his feet. A cape, not of plaid, but of some fancy material with slashed edges, covered the outfit.

  When their eyes met, the recognition was electrifying.

  Not the same person, but very, very close. Of course, he had warning. The other Alex was shocked speechless.

  Before anyone could move, another group of riders approached from the direction of the keep. The watch had warned the clan of intruders. Alex took a deep breath and prepared himself to meet the challenge ahead.

  "Halt! Who are ye?" Brodie rode at the front of the clan's guards. He hadn't seen Alex standing by the road yet He watched as Brodie's eyes lighted on the real Alex.

  "Who am I? Are ye joking?" The real Alex's voice rose to a girlish pitch.

  "I ask ye who are ye, and who is this?" Alex waited for Brodie to recognize the man on horseback.

  "Wait a moment, ye are my cousin Brodie," the real Alex said. "Ye have grown bigger than I thought possible, cuz." The soldiers in his group laughed at the insult.

  Brodie recoiled, and his horse reared at the movement on the reins. Brodie regained control easily and walked the horse forward. He had finally seen Alex. His eyes, wide with shock and disbelief, went back and forth between the two. The other clansmen also gaped openly at the two similar men. Alex waited, he would put up no struggle in what was to come; he would raise his sword only if forced to defend himself.

  "I am yer cousin, Alesander MacKendimen, lately a guest of good King Edward and companion of David, king of the Scots. Since ye are kin to me, ye may call me Sandy." The men in his traveling party all cheered at his declaration.

  "Ye canna be," Brodie started. "This is Alex..." He stared at Alex, waiting for him to deny this claim.

  Alex wouldn't lie to him now. He shook his head slightly so that only Brodie could see it. Brodie's eyes widened as he realized there would be no challenge. Brodie dismounted in a smooth motion and stood before Alex. He grabbed the sword from Alex's scabbard and handed it to another.

  "Who are ye?" he bellowed at Alex. "Tell me who ye are!"

  "I am Alex MacKendimen," he replied in a low voice.

  "Nay! There canna be twa of ye." Brodie grabbed Alex by the shirt and yanked him forward. "Now, tell me who ye are."

  Alex didn't reply. He stared over Brodie's shoulder, not meeting his look. Brodie roared out and then swung his fist at Alex's face, hitting him in the lower jaw. The force of the blow knocked him to the ground and left him dizzy. Brodie picked him up and backhanded him into the dirt again. His jaw ached, his lip split, and his nose now bled profusely. It was probably broken. Alex wiped the blood with his hand and waited for Brodie's next move.

  "Iain, Braden, tie him and bring him to the hall. Struan will straighten out this mess." Brodie mounted and called out, "We ride." The clan guards surrounded the visitors prepared to lead them to the castle.

  Alex was pulled roughly to his feet by the young Iain. His hands were tied in front of him, and the rope was held by Braden. As they kicked their mounts into a trotting pace, he searched for Maggie in the bushes. He didn't see her. Good. She was safe for now if she followed his orders.

  Then he was running to keep from being dragged and had no time to think at all.

  * * *

  She waited in the bushes until they all rode away. She had seen and heard it all and only stayed quiet by clamping her hand over her mouth. When Brodie punched Alex she fought the impulse to go to him. Then Alex was being tied and led away. She saw him glance her way, looking for her.

  Maggie knew she had to get to Moira's cave before the whole clan knew of their deception. Searching the ground for anything she had dropped, Maggie scurried out from the thicket and ran from the lake. Skirting the edge of the village to avoid being seen, she found Moira's cottage empty. She gathered a water pouch, a few oat cakes wrapped in a piece of linen, and an extra plaid and left quickly.

  A few minutes later, she arrived at the cave. To her surprise, there were more supplies already inside. Moira had brought a pallet, some dried meat and hard bread. Jugs of water and cider stood in the corner. It looked as if she would be staying at the cave longer than she had thought.

  She prayed Alex was still alive. Would they hang him? How would Struan react to their deception? Anice? The rest of the clan? Maybe Moira would know what was happening when she came to the cave. She didn't want to just sit there and worry. But, she had no other option. Rushing into an unknown situation at the castle might cost her and Alex their lives.

  She would wait.

  And worry.

  * * *

  The great hall filled rapidly as the wild tale spread through the clan. The reaction was always the same: one look at him, one look at the real Alex, another look at him. Men and women he had lived with for these last months glared at him now. He stood, trying not to flinch as they yelled their questions at him. He and Moira had decided long ago that it would be best not to answer questions or charges. She had seen most of this in her last vision.

  Struan had not come to the hall yet. Brodie was missing, too. The real Alex sat at the high table, eating and drinking with his men. Every so often, they would glance across the room.

  This was not what he expected to see in the real heir to the clan. He looked, acted, and sounded more English than Scottish. The silly clothes and hairstyle made him look more woman than man.

  And being called Sandy? What the hell kind of name was that for a good Scot?

  He wasn't the only one with such thoughts. He saw the expressions of those who watched the real Alex. Many emotions crossed their faces, but the most common was disgust.

  They must now be realizing that this was the real Alex they remembered from those years ago. This Alex fit more with their memories: rude, overbearing, a disgraceful heir for the MacKendimens.

  Loud voices came from the other end of the hall, and Alex turned to see what caused the commotion at the entranceway. Struan, followed by Brodie, Dougal and Anice, came barreling into the hall. Struan waved away those who tried to speak to him. Alex watched their progress through the crowd until they reached the steps to the dais.

  Struan started up the steps, stopped, and then walked over to where Alex stood between Iain and Braden. Struan opened his mouth to say something, but then shook his head. The older man searched his face for a long minute before turning away. He climbed the steps and approached the table.

  The real Alex threw aside the chicken leg that he was eating and it landed next to the table in the rushes. After wiping his hands on the table cover, he gulped down the rest of his ale. Then he stood to greet his father.

  "Faither, I have come home and found things not right in the MacKendimen keep. Who is that impostor?"

  Struan's reply was too low to be heard by anyone but the real Alex. Struan must have made an impression, for Sandy's face reddened and he coughed several times before saying anything more. Then the man walked to the table and gave his companions an order. They resisted at first, then complied, getting to their feet and leaving the table. When the table was empty, Struan sat in his chair and pointed to the stool next to it. Anice, pale as a ghost and shaking with each step she took, moved to her place.

  Iain and Braden dragged Alex up the steps and stood with him at the end of the table, facing Struan and Anice. They held onto his arms as the real heir approached.

  "I guess I can see how ye could have made the mistake. If he was cleaned up, he would resemble me." He turned to Struan. "I suppose after years apart, ye did not know what to expect."

  "Why did you return now?" Struan asked heavily.

  "It seems that David received a message from the MacNab, my betrothed's dear faither, offering his thanks to the king for arranging the match. The MacNab also ex
pressed his disappointment that David would not be joining us at the wedding." The real Alex walked to Anice and touched her cheek. She flinched at his touch and he smiled at her reaction. "We did not understand how a wedding could be performed if the groom was in London and the bride was here in Dunnedin. He sent me to investigate."

  "So, Sandy, do ye have proof of yer words?" Struan asked in a mocking tone. Alex could tell that Struan was already disappointed in what he found in his real son.

  "Proof? Did ye ask that one for proof on his arrival? If ye had, ye could have saved the clan this humiliation." Sandy had no idea how close Struan was to laying him out in the rushes, Alex realized. "Aye, I have proof. Here," he took parchment sheets out from under his cloak and handed them to Struan, "are the letters from the MacNab and from David."

  While Struan looked over the letters, Sandy reached for Anice's hand, pulled her to her feet, and forced her to walk to the end of the table where Alex stood. Alex waited to see what Sandy would do.

  Poor Anice. The lass looked near to fainting. What a shock this must be to her, he thought. Looking at Sandy, he pitied the girl and what she would have to bear from this jerk.

  "Tell me, Anice, did he fool ye, too?"

  She trembled and stuttered, but Sandy interrupted her, dragging her forward. She stumbled at his side until Sandy stopped right in front of Alex.

  "Did ye give to him what belongs to me, my dear? Will I find ye still a maiden when I take ye to bed?"

  Anice gasped and struck out at his crude remarks. Her slap could be heard throughout the hall. Without hesitation, Sandy struck back at her. The force of the blow pushed her off balance, and she stumbled.

  Alex couldn't stand still and watch this. He pulled his arms free of his guards' hold and grabbed at the falling Anice with his bound hands. He caught her arm before she fell off the dais. Brodie, standing at the bottom of the steps, reached them and pulled her to safety.