by S MacLeod
*
When Duncan saw Sonya looking at him he wondered if the lass fancied him or if she was just curious. He was curious about her, but it wasn't just about her mind that he was curious, and that was taking up a lot of his thoughts at the moment! The shape of her was nice. A pair of hands, his hands, would fit nicely on the curves of her hips. She was tall compared to the women he was used to; Just tall enough to be his counterpart. They would fit together…perfectly.
*
Duncan walked the dog up to Sonya's room & placed her on the floor at the foot of the bed.
"Thank you," Sonya said. She lay the first aid box & a backpack on the bed.
"What is it ye have there?" he pointed to the pack.
"I thought I would get some things off the plane."
"Plane?" he asked looking at her.
"Yes. It is called an airplane."
Duncan looked at her as if he was seeing if she spoke the truth, then walked to the door. Over his shoulder he said, "If ye need a hand, let me ken."
"I will."
He shut the door behind him. Sonya squatted down next to the dog who lifted her head & thumped her tail. Sonya scratched her ears & then got her a bowl of water which she lapped up greedily. "Well, I will go see what they can get me to feed you. I'll be back."
As Sonya headed down the stairs she saw Duncan down on one knee, talking to the little boy she saw the night before. He ruffled the boy's hair & the boy ran off. She had stopped midway down the stairs watching. Duncan looked up at her. Butterflies! And darn it, there was that smile spreading across her face again! Did she have to look like a total idiot?
"Off again are ye?"
"Yes, but I need to get something for the dog to eat first."
"Ye doona have'ta worry about that lass. The boy is going to get her something."
"Oh, great."
As if by cue the boy appeared next to her at the stairs.
"Can I feed her?"
"Yes. Go on up," Sonya said.
The boy dashed up the stairs with a huge grin. "An' doona get into things, Ewan!" Duncan yelled after him. Sonya smiled. 'Did ye want some help?"
"Sure, yes."
They started toward the doors.
*
Duncan looked at Sonya as they walked down to the big steel beast. It was easy to look at the lass, she was very striking. She was a head shorter than he was. Her hair hung just past her shoulders, but it was tied back with a ribbon. He had the urge to reach out & touch it. Was it as soft as it looked? It was blonde but there were streaks of red running through it. Duncan could see the pale color of her breasts through the loop that tied in the front of her shirt. There was something on her chest, just centered above them. What was that? It wasn't something hanging around her neck. Was it a tattoo? It was unlike their tattoos that were blue from the Woad plant. She had been plaguing him with feelings he hadn't felt before. As she spoke he watched her lips moving wondering what it would be like to kiss those lips. To show her what it felt like to be a woman with a man that wanted her as much as he did. What was it about this woman? Because he definitely wanted her.
*
"The metal," Sonya pointed, "on the outside, may be useful to use on your out buildings. Any building really. They are strong."
Duncan looked at the shell of the huge plane. "How do ye get something that big into the air?"
"Well, that could be hard to explain." As they got to the plane she said,"Inside here, this is the engine." How was she going to explain this to someone that hasn't even heard of a car?
"An' whit does it do?"
"The blades here go around. The air comes in & goes out the other side. The force pushes the airplane forward. It goes very fast. Those are flaps. They move up & down & help turn the plane." Duncan looked at her with interest, but not disbelief. After all, it was right there in his field!
"And where were ye going?"
Sonya laughed. "Scotland."
"Well, ye are in Scotia."
"Yes, I sure am!" she smiled.
"But if ye were coming here, why have'na I e'er seen one o' these before?" He waved his hand at the plane.
Sonya walked over to the opening in the side of the plane & glanced around. How did she tell him that she came from another time? Era; whatever it was. "If I tried to explain, you would lock me up for being addled!"
Duncan looked at her so intently that she felt her stomach do a flip flop & realized she was holding her breath. Why was she holding her breath? Her arms & legs suddenly felt week under his intense gaze.
"Whit were ye coming for?"
Sonya turned & stepped inside. She wondered what Duncan would think of the things he was about see. "I was coming to visit."
"Oh aye. Ye have kin here?"
"I have kin that died...a...some time ago."
"Oh?"
"Um, yes. My family used to live here." She didn't add, hundreds of years ago.
"And now they live where ye are from?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps ye can show me this home of yours some day."
Sonya smiled, warm inside. Somehow, she really doubted it would look the same, but she replied, "I would like that."
"But?"
"But my home is no longer my home."
"Och, lass, I am sorry." Every time he called her lass tingles shot through her. She stopped & looked back at him. He was so serious & looked… concerned. "Ye can make this yer home, lass. I bid ye welcome on behalf of Castle Ronin & the Clan..."
"MacLeod," they said at the exact same time. He looked surprised & she smiled.
"I know the clan tartan. My name is Sonya MacLeod." A broad smile spread across his face. It went up a bit on the left side, making him look mischievous. "I changed my name to MacLeod some years ago. You can do that where I come from."
"I see. Sonya MacLeod. Well," he smiled, "ye picked a mighty fine name!"
Sonya didn't know how long she stood there, but she was sure it was longer than she should have, yet again!
"This is a cause for celebration then! Ye have traveled a long way & ye are now home among yer people."
"But I told you I am not really a MacLeod. Not by blood anyway."
"Nor are many of the people here. Adopted, or under the protection & care of the Clan MacLeod, it matters not."
"I am not big on celebrations."
"Perhaps that will change, aye?" he said.
"Perhaps," she smiled, "but not likely!" He laughed. Parties were never her thing. "Thank you…for saying I can stay," she said quietly & smiled. "I would like that very much." Duncan smiled back at her & she wanted to melt into jelly! She turned back & she could have sworn she felt the heat of his body behind her.
*
Could it be that she was destined to come here? She chose to be a MacLeod. She was very independent. She didn't even ask him to give her a hand up, like it didn't even cross her mind. Hmm. As he stood there behind her, inhaling her scent, his arms ached to reach around her & pull her to him. It made no sense to him. Maybe he didn't need it to.
*
"How do I ken if ye want something or nay?"
"Well, if it looks familiar, we can always use it."
"What be this?" It was a laptop!
"Oh! Let me see."
Duncan raised an eyebrow. He seemed amused at her enthusiasm & she smiled up at him. She was hoping it had a full battery. Pushing the on button she was happy to see that it did! As the screen lit up Duncan let out a, "Hmm." She looked up & turned it off. Snapping it shut she put it in the pack.
"What happened to it?"
"Oh, it's okay. I just don't want to waste the uh, what makes it work. It won't last too long. If you see any more, let me know. Hopefully mine is in here somewhere."
"When ye find yers, will ye show me what it does?"
Sonya glanced at him. "Yes, sure." Why wasn't he freaked out by this stuff? He should be freaked out by this stuff! Was I? No, I wasn't, I realized. I was excited! Reading all those books abou
t magic & kingdoms of long ago with my mother made it all the more exciting! She would have loved this too!
In total they returned with several suitcases, carried by guards, some dog tins, 3 laptops, paper, pens & pencils. Sonya was especially happy that she had found Cami & John's luggage. She hoped it would give Cami some comfort. She also hoped that she could find the others' luggage as well. It didn't seem like much, but it was all she could offer.
*
"Come in," Cami called. Sonya walked in with two suitcases in hand & Cami looked up.
"Ah, Sonya. What treasures have you found?" she asked as she rinsed out a rag she was using on the man's face, who was laying in the bed.
"I believe," Sonya started, but John came running in from the next room & yelled, "My bag!"
Cami looked at the luggage by Sonya's feet & smiled. John grabbed his little suitcase & was trying to pull it away so he could open it. Cami came around the end of the bed & smiled. She took her suitcase, opened it, & closed it again. "Thank you."
"No, problem."
"Look, Sona, look!" John held up a bright red fire truck.
"Wow, John that is great!"
"My daddy is a firefighter." Sonya glanced up at Cami & saw sadness flash over her face. "Well, John, that is a wonderful truck." John smiled & ran off making engine noises.
"His father died in a fire," Cami explained.
"I'm sorry, Cami."
She smiled a sad smile & looked up. "Thank you, really, for this. It means a lot."
"No problem. There was one other thing I found that I wasn't sure if you could use." Sonya took the bag off of her shoulder & Cami looked in it.
"Oh, Crochet! I haven't crocheted in ages! This will definitely come in handy! Thank you."
"Maybe some time you can teach me how to do it."
"Well, after I remember myself!" Cami laughed.
"Well, I will see you all later."
"Yes, okay." Cami was still smiling as Sonya closed the door.
Going to her own room Sonya was greeted by a happy dog. "Hello girl." Sonya helped the dog up onto the bed where she sat, bringing out the laptop Duncan had found. She opened it up & turned it on. She didn't know what she was expecting or hoping. Did she think she could get an e-mail across the ocean & across time? The screen came up with a photo collage. The people didn't look like any of the survivors. Parents, children, grandchildren? Warm tears began to flow down her cheeks. Her chest ached for them. She closed the laptop & was wiping the tears off of her cheeks when a knock at the door startled her.
"Yes? Come in."
Little fingers appeared around the door before Duncan's son peered in. "Mi'Lady?"
"Come on in." He smiled shyly. "Did you come to check on the dog?" she asked him. A silent nod & grin. She held up a finger. "First tell me your name."
"Ewan." he stated as he walked over to the bed.
"What a nice name. Do you know I haven't named her yet?" Sonya pat the bed with her hand & the dog wagged her tail. She licked Ewan's face & he giggled.
"So, what shall we name her?"
"Aaralyn."
"That is a beautiful name. You have been thinking about it."
Ewan kept petting the dog & said, "It was my mother's name."
"I see," Sonya said quietly, with a gentle smile. "I bet she was as beautiful as her name."
Ewan looked over at her from where he laid his head on the dogs. "Aye." He gave the dog another pet & said, "I must go now."
"Okay. Thank you for giving her such a beautiful name."
He smiled, looking at her with his bright green eyes. "Bye."
"Bye," she called after him. "His mother's name, did you hear that? I think that means you had better take extra special care of him." Sonya ruffled her fur & she licked her hand. Glancing at the laptop she decided she wouldn't turn it on again. She didn't want to see what she already knew; there would be no way to go back. No way to let her family know that she was okay & that she loved her family very much. She shoved it under the bed. It was time to dress for dinner, but she was in no mood to sit in a room full of people.
Letting out a sigh, she watched the women hurrying back & forth with the trays of food & drinks. After a bit there was a lull & she descended the stairs, quietly walking to the door. Instead of going in the hall she crept past the door. She wanted to walk down to the stone wall. She liked it there. It was comforting somehow & she could think. She took in a breath of the cool air as she walked out the door. The air smelled so good, so clean. The sky was full of stars. It was beautiful. It seemed to be the one thing that hadn't changed. Stretching out her arms she twirled herself around in a circle as she looked up.
*
Back in the hall neither Cami, Kerry nor Duncan missed Sonya slinking by. Duncan leaned over & said something, got up & went out the door. Cami & Kerry smiled at each other around the children.
Where was the lass off to? Why did'na she come eat? Duncan certainly had a strange pull to her. He never had this type of feeling before, not even when he was younger & almost asked a lass to wed him. It was more than the feeling that he wanted to take her in his arms & kiss her. I want to kiss her as she has never been kissed before. I want to make love to her & keep her wrapped in my arms. To feel her skin & grasp her hair in my hands, pulling her body close to mine. I want to make her want no one but me. I never wanted anyone else to touch her, but me. Duncan froze. His own thoughts surprising him. Why was he so possessive? The feelings welling inside him was making it hard to continue walking. It was making him hard, period. He shook his head. He needed a dip in the cold loch!
*
Sonya heard a faint noise behind her & turned to find Duncan only a few steps away. Sucking in air, her stomach lurched. He was way too quiet! She felt her cheeks burn as she looked at him. "Hello, Duncan," she said as she turned back & rested her arms on the stone wall, trying to control her breathing. She suddenly wondered if her dress showed too much cleavage & then she wondered if it showed too little!
"Hello, Sonya, lass," he said as he leaned on the stones next to her. He was at least 6 inches taller than her. He & Ewan looked so much alike, except for their eyes. She looked back in front of her.
"Ye did'na come to eat."
"No. I didn't feel like being around people tonight."
"Shall I go?" She laughed. He liked the sound of it.
"No, I just mean so many people. I don't mean to be rude, especially when you are allowing me to stay in your home."
"I doona think any of ye have been rude. I canno' imagine what ye have been through. Ye lost a lot of yer people & are far from yer homes." He gazed out. " I know they were very happy ta see the things ye brought from the plane." He watched her smile & then look down. The lass was modest, too. The more he learned about her the more he liked her.
"You have been very kind to us. Have the others told you what they have decided to do?"
And a subject change away from her. Hmm. "The Andrews family is moving into one of the but-ah-bens." Duncan pointed to the right, across the field where there were several small cottages. "They have three bairn & would like to get them settled. I am having their things taken down tomorrow. Chris & his wife will have a slow start, but in the mean time I have other work he can help with. I told him what ye said about using the outside of the plane. He explained why it would be good & agreed to start work on it. It would seem that they too know their home has changed."
Sonya looked at him. Did he understand what had really happened? How could he, he didn't even know what a plane was! If it had happened before, he would know. "Yes, Chris is good with that sort of thing."
"You ken him well?" He didn't like the idea of her knowing any man well, even if he was married.
"Yes. I consider him like a brother. His wife, Kerry & I have been best friends for years. I am very attached to their girls." She smiled & Duncan stepped back from the wall. He walked past her & she fell into step at his side as if it was second nature. It felt second nature.
/> "I almost forgot, Ewan said he would feed the dog after he ate."
"I will be sure to thank him. Your son, Ewan, will he take over here when he is grown?"
"Aye."
"How did you come by your land & home here? The MacLeod Clan head lies further on."
Duncan smiled. Maybe she impressed him with her tiny bit of knowledge. And that was about it on the knowledge front too!
"My da was given it for his services to the king."
"Oh, wow."
"Aye." He smiled proudly. "He designed it himself, my da."
His smile was breathtaking. "That is awesome."
Duncan frowned. "Awe-some?"
"Uh, incredible?"
"Aye. Aye."
Sonya took a deep breath & before she lost her nerve she asked, "What year is it?" She looked over at him & his eyebrow shot up.
"1390."
She nodded once. 1390. 1390. 1390. Could that sink in? She started laughing so hard that she had to sit down on the ground. As she fell back, Duncan couldn't seem to help letting out a chuckle as well, although she was sure he had no idea why. Here she was laying on the ground & she couldn't stop laughing. Maybe all of the emotions had come full circle & she had finally lost it. Sitting up she took in deep breathes, trying to calm herself. Duncan squat down in front of her. He pulled something from her hair. He was so gentle. Then he tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. Even this light touch felt like lightening running through her body. Well this isn't helping me breath! She looked up & extended her hand & he pulled her up, sending the same shock through her. Did he feel that too? He stood just inches away. She really wished her breathing would control itself because she sure couldn't do it! She also really wish the man in front of her would kiss her.
"More than a little far from yer home, are ye naught lass?" he said in a low voice.
"Yes," she said softly. She dusted her skirt off & when she looked back up he was smiling at her. She could just imagine him wondering how he gave refuge to a crazy woman! Yet all she could think was how she wished he would wrap his arms around her. I want to know how it feels to have his body against mine. What the heat of his body feels like. She suddenly realized her other hand was still in his & she was still staring at him. Thank God he couldn't read her thoughts! His eyebrows rose & she felt sheer heat surge down her. Maybe he could read thoughts! She looked down & let her hand fall from his.