Highlander's Castle

by Joanne Wadsworth

  She lifted her face to the velvet canopy. “I wish upon the Fairy Flag hidden somewhere here within Dunvegan, that my parents survive the terrible fire which took them. Allow Annie to travel through time as she wishes, but please, do not take me from Alex, not now I’ve found him.”

  All around lights shimmered, as if the stars had escaped the sky and blazed above. A mist rose and surrounded her. The stars blinked out.

  “No.” She clutched her belly as it rolled. “No!”

  Her scream echoed through the dense fog, reverberating in her own ears.

  Chapter 7

  This couldn’t be happening. Alex had just arrived and she hadn’t had enough time with him. Thunder boomed and a cold wind whipped her nightrail against her legs. What had she been thinking to make that wish? Yes she wanted her parents alive but—

  In the darkness hands grabbed her. “Anne, hold still, or you’ll topple us both off this ledge.”

  Her feet swayed in midair. “Donald? Where did you come from?”

  “I haven’t left. Don’t fight me.” Breath heaving, the tour guide yanked her up from the abyss and onto the thin ledge beside him. “Damn, that was close. Are you hurt? Hell, where are your clothes?”

  The wind beat against her. “I—I—”

  “Here, take my coat.” He whipped it off and wrapped it around her. “Why’d you try to jump?”

  “I didn’t. James pulled me through.”

  “Who?”

  “The man who ran out of the castle.” She clutched his shirtfront. “Alex rode in on his horse and the men spoke as if from centuries in the past.”

  “Yes, but they disappeared as you jumped.” He flattened his hand against her forehead. “You feel all right. Are you certain James pulled you through? To where?”

  “To the past, to the year fifteen-ninety. I’ve been there over a week, with both your ancestors and mine.”

  “Unbelievable. I made a grab for you as you jumped, and I thought I’d missed then suddenly you were there again.”

  “Please, believe me, Donald. I’ve had enough of everyone thinking me delusional.” She flung open the coat he’d given her and exposed her nightrail again. “See. I’ve been back through time. What else could explain this?”

  Swirling, eerie fog enclosed them completely. “I told you strange things have happened at these ruins, events that can’t be explained. We shouldn’t have crossed here. This is my fault.”

  “You believe me?”

  “Yes, look at what you’re wearing.”

  “Someone who finally believes me. Thank you.” She grasped his hands. “Although my traveling back through time would have happened no matter where I crossed. There was another Anne, one from fifteen-ninety who made a wish upon the Fairy Flag at Dunvegan. Her family call her Annie, and she traveled to the future, while I traveled to the past. I don’t know where she is, but I met her there before she disappeared again. I was supposed to travel.”

  “I’ve heard old folk stories, ones told of unexplained disturbances near the ancient stones. These ruins too.”

  The ruins. Alex was gone and now she balanced on the edge of the stone drawbridge at the time right after she’d met him. The sea roared and the surf washed in against the rock’s sheer surface below.

  Water splashed her nose then her cheek. The heavens opened and rain hit in a torrent, wiping away the fog in one hard blow. On the rock, Dunscaith emerged from the dark, the castle no more. Rubble was all that remained.

  She was back in the future.

  “Alex.” She grasped her head as it spun.

  * * * *

  After stealing back downstairs, Alex eased onto his pallet. Leaving Anne had his gut rolling with turmoil. He wanted to return and hold her through the night. When had she eased her way into his affections so strongly? Or when hadn’t she? Aye, from the morn of their handfast, he’d not been able to keep his hands off her.

  ’Twas just as well she’d declared her place was with him. He’d hold her words close. She was his wife, and a year no longer seemed enough. He had to get her out of here and back to Dunscaith where he’d wed her proper and once done, MacLeod couldn’t interfere. Aye, her chief wouldn’t stop him for long.

  He was here, and he wasn’t leaving without—

  An ear-piercing scream ricocheted around the hall.

  “Anne!” He bellowed her name, shot upstairs and threw open her door.

  From behind him his men drew their swords. He stormed to her bed, ripped open her curtains.

  Nothing but the bedding tossed around.

  “Where is she?” Alan gaped.

  “Search the castle,” one of her kinsmen yelled.

  “I’ll get the chief,” another snapped as he tore from the room.

  Alex eyed each of his men. “She has to be somewhere. Aid the MacDonalds in searching for her. We dinnae rest until my wife is found.”

  * * * *

  “I’ve got you.” Donald sat beside her on her hospital bed and tucked her close. “It was a bad dream is all.”

  “I thought I was back with Alex. That wouldn’t be a bad dream.” She grasped the blanket, one perfectly knit by machine, its tag stating it was one-hundred percent wool and made in Scotland. Out the high-rise window, other cold, colorless high-rises loomed.

  Below, moving cars and occasional honks signified life moved on, but not for her. Donald had brought her here, straight from the ruins ten days ago. He’d visited her each day, along with his father.

  “I’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Yes, but the doctor won’t release you until you can keep your food down. Time travel clearly didn’t agree with you.”

  “I’ve never been sick like this in my life.” She flicked the stand holding the bag that fed her much-needed nutrients. “It’s like I’m living between worlds, or times, here but not here.” She gripped his collar with shaky hands. “Did you find out any information on my parents?”

  “Dad’s researching as we—”

  “I’ve made a breakthrough.” William marched into the room. He tugged off his woolen jersey and slung it over the back of the padded chair near the window. Seated, he leaned forward, hands clasped over his knees. “I received confirmation this morning. There’s no evidence of any death certificates being issued for either of your parents.”

  “Then where are they?” She had no way to contact them. After the fire had destroyed her childhood home, she’d purchased a small unit a few streets over, not wanting to be too far away, although not wanting to rebuild. If she could get out of here, fly home, then she could actually begin to search for them. “I have to leave, and you two have to help me escape.”

  “Not until the doctor releases you for travel.”

  “Dad’s right.” Donald took her hands and slowly eased them from his collar. “Look at your skin. It’s almost translucent.” Turning her hands over, he scrutinized them. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

  “The doctor took more blood this morning, and I’m washed out because she did.” She squeezed his fingers. “I’m so grateful you and William have stood by me, but I’ve got to get out of here. My parents aren’t dead. My letter must have reached them.”

  She’d told them of her wish, that her parents survive the terrible fire which took them. That Annie be allowed to travel through time as she wished, but also that she not be taken from Alex. She had been, although her heart was still with him. She should have made her wish more clear.

  “Anne, I have the results from your blood test.” Her matronly doctor strode in, one hand clamped on a stethoscope dangling around her neck. She crossed and perched beside her. “The results are conclusive.”

  “Is it bad?” A shiver chased down her spine. Don’t let it be bad. She had to get out of here.

  “I know you took precautions against pregnancy a few years ago, but you’re pregnant all the same.”

  Oh, and she’d told Alex that couldn’t happen Wow, she was pregnant. Sure, she may not have wished
for it, but since she didn’t have the man, having a part of him like this was a dream.

  “Your morning sickness is rather severe, and began quite quickly. We’ll need to continue treatment until you show some signs of improvement.” Dr. MacKinnon patted her arm. “You have particularly low iron levels, and I want you to begin taking some supplements. Once your levels are up and you’re able to eat then I’ll look at discharging you.” She rose to her feet, dug into her pocket and removed a bottle. “At least we finally have the answer for your illness. I want you to start taking these tablets immediately.”

  She gripped the plastic container and nodded at the doctor. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Try and get some rest, and if you have any questions, we’ll chat on my next round.” She strode out the door.

  “Here’s some water.” William passed her a glass from the side table.

  She swallowed the meds then dropped the bottle into the pocket of her fleecy pink pajamas. Donald had brought her luggage when she’d been admitted. He’d even paid her hotel bill. She owed both him and William more than she could ever repay.

  She rose and lugged her IV stand toward her drawers. She pulled out her travel documents, including her passport. “We have to get serious on finding my missing parents since I’m trapped in this room for who knows how long.”

  “At least there’s no record of their deaths,” Donald stated. “That’s a start, although I wish you had some living relatives Dad and I could call. It’d make things so much easier.”

  “Sorry, I’m it.” She passed him her travel pack. “Could you two take this to the New Zealand Embassy and explain I’m in hospital. See if they’ll seek the information we need regarding my parents’ current whereabouts now we know they’re alive.”

  He flicked through her documents. “This’ll help open some doors. Hold on. If your parents are alive, I wonder if your childhood home still burnt to the ground?”

  Shoot. She could kick herself for not thinking of that.

  “If your parents live,” Donald continued, “maybe that’s where they are. What’s your old address and phone number?”

  “We lived on 484 Ocean Beach Road in Mount Maunganui.”

  William nabbed a pen from his shirt pocket “Right, what was the phone number?”

  Her sight dimmed and William’s words were lost to her. She swayed and crumpled to the ground.

  * * * *

  Her head pounded as if horses stampeded within.

  Oh, so not good. William. He’d wanted her phone number. She had to give that to him.

  She scrubbed her head, and the drip attached at her wrist caught around her fingers. “Ow. Ow. Ow. Stupid—”

  “Stay still, Annie. I dinnae know what this contraption attached to you is, but ’tis embedded in with a needle. What have you done to yourself?”

  “What?” She flung her eyes open. Great, now she truly was hallucinating. “Margaret?”

  “You’ve been missing for nigh on ten hours. The whole clan searches for you, but I cannae let them know I’ve found you like this. You appeared out of nowhere, right afore my eyes. You’re truly no’ Annie are you?”

  She pushed herself upright, taking care not to bump the drip again. “I haven’t been gone ten days?”

  “Nay. Wait a moment.” She grabbed her burgundy skirts and rushed to the door, closed it and slid the bolt into place. “What is this metal box, the rod and bag of...well, how did you get it here? Where did you go?” Margaret plucked at her fleecy pajama bottoms. “You’re even wearing men’s trews, pink ones. I’ve never seen such a sight.”

  Oh, she really had returned to the past. And drat, she’d left her parents behind before she’d had a chance to find them. Nothing was going her way. Except Alex was here. Her heartbeat raced. Alex was here. “Ignore the pants. My parents are alive.”

  “Then you traveled back to the future? Where’s Annie?”

  “You finally believe me?”

  “Aye, it’s hard no’ to since you disappeared for so long and without one guard seeing you leave, and now you return out of nowhere, dressed like this, with that thing attached to you.” She grasped her hands with shaky fingers. “Who would try to harm you like this? And why with such a strange contraption?”

  “It doesn’t hurt, or at least it didn’t until I knocked it. I was sick and—” She eyed the near empty bag. “I’m going to have to take this needle out. I can’t have anyone seeing it, other than Alex of course. He so needs to see this.”

  “We’ll hide it all under your bed for now. You said ten days? Where’s my cousin?”

  “I have no idea where Annie is, but my parents are no longer dead. The letter you kept for me made it to them, only I couldn’t find them. They’re alive, but I have no idea where in my time.”

  “And Annie is still living there?” Margaret fluttered her hand in front of her pale face.

  “Sit.” She tugged Margaret onto the bed beside her. “When you’re ready, press down on this needle while I pull the tape off. You may not faint until after you’ve aided me.”

  Tears trailed down Margaret’s cheeks as she pressed where she’d asked. “My cousin is living in the future. I cannae believe it. I might never see her again.”

  “Or you might. I have no idea how this time travel thing works. I can only say she traveled back here once, that first night I arrived at Dunscaith, and now I’ve traveled back and forth too. If it happened once, it could happen again.”

  She peeled the tape from the needle then slowly withdrew it. She wiped away the dot of blood. “Margaret, I’m pregnant. This device gave me nutrients. I’ve been terribly sick for the past ten days.”

  “Pregnant?” Margaret’s face washed completely out. “You’re having Alex MacDonald’s bairn? But Rory willnae—oh, this is all a terrible mess.”

  “I need your help, but first”—she bundled up the tubing and jammed it under the bed with the stand—“I need to get dressed.”

  “Aye, dressed, before a guardsman returns to check this floor. I willnae fail you now.” Margaret dashed to the trunk and foraged through it. “You cannae tell Rory about the bairn you carry. He’ll question how it could have happened so soon and you cannae speak of those ten days.”

  “No problem.” She dug the pills out of her pocket then stripped off her pajamas. “Having lost my family, I know exactly how important our closest are. I never thought I’d see Alex again, and now I’m back.”

  “Arms up.” Margaret eased a day ruby-red dress over her head. The layers slid down her body and skimmed her ankles. Margaret nabbed the white ribbons dangling at her waist and laced up the front stays. She pulled the fabric snug and tied the bow along the low square neckline. “Let’s tidy your hair.”

  She pocketed her pills and sat near the side table. “I’m so glad I met you, Margaret.”

  “You’re a MacLeod, and kin. I’ll always stand by your side, whether you’re my cousin or no’.” She brushed her hair.

  “I haven’t had family in a long time. Now I do.”

  “You also have a man who cares for you. We all heard your scream and when I raced in here to find you gone, Alex was issuing orders to his men. He said he wouldnae rest until his wife was found, and he surely meant it. At dawn both my clansmen and his began searching the forest.”

  Out the window, the sun was high. It was past midday. “When will he be back?”

  “Once he finds you.” Margaret braided her hair and secured it with a red ribbon. “Rory is with him. He was certain Alex had something to do with your disappearance and didnae care to let him out of his sight.”

  “Alex will be beside himself.”

  “It appeared so.” Margaret gripped her shoulders. “What happened to you must stay between us. I believe because I saw you appear out of thin air. I know what you speak of is true, but no other will see it that way. I have to protect both you and my cousin should Annie return.”

  A knock sounded on the door and Margaret called out, “W
ho is it?”

  “Mary MacDonald. Has there been any word on Anne?”

  “Just a moment, Mary.” Margaret held a finger to her lips. “She’s been so worried about you. We’ll say you walked in your sleep and I found you in my dressing room, that I didnae think to look there.”

  “Absolutely. I must go to her.” She raced to the door and flung it open.

  “Oh my, am I seeing things?” Mary staggered back. “Anne?”

  “It’s me.” She pulled Mary into her arms. “I’m so sorry to have caused such an uproar. I’ve missed you.”

  “Where have you been?” She caught Anne’s face between her hands, her gaze searching hers. “Last eve, I heard your scream. Were you hurt?”

  “No, but I woke a little while ago inside Margaret’s dressing room. Sometimes I sleep walk.”

  “You look exhausted, as if you’ve had no sleep at all.” Her gaze traveled over her body. “And thin. You’ve lost weight since I last saw you. Come, you should eat.” She wrapped an arm around Anne’s waist and guided her downstairs.

  “I’ll organize a meal,” Margaret said from her other side. “Something simple. How does bread and honey sound?”

  “Perfect.” Maybe she’d be able to keep it down. Oh, she was back. This was real. Her mind was still cloudy, but clearing more with each minute that passed. She hoped William and Donald would keep searching for her parents even though she’d gone.

  “I willnae be long, and I’ll send one of the lads out to inform Rory you’ve been found.” Margaret rushed off toward the kitchen.

  Mary urged her to sit at the dais. “Almost everyone has joined in the search.”

  “I didn’t mean to cause such mayhem.” Gripping Mary’s hand, she whispered, “I saw Alex, ah, last night before I wandered off.” Great. She’d have to keep track of her days. So many lost, and her mind wasn’t where it should be. She needed sustenance, badly.

  “He risks so much when MacLeod has already made his intentions clear.” Mary leaned in. “We dinnae need to have hostilities rise again between our clans.”

  “What exactly do you mean? What’s Alex done?”