Highland Games Through Time

by Nancy Lee Badger

  Jake grumbled a few indiscernible curses, and tangled a fist in her hair. He slowly pulled her into his chest until his breath warmed her cheek. Her skin tingled and her blood raced wild and unchecked, heating her limbs from the inside to match the warmth embracing her chest and neck. He growled low in his throat.

  The image of the horrible creature that had caused her injury rose, and she kicked his shin. She had forgotten she had lost her shoes during her imprisonment. Pain flared up her leg even as Jake grunted.

  “Why did you do that?” He released her rather reluctantly.

  “Ye be hurting me.” She rubbed her sore wrists while trying not to hop on one foot. She tightened the slipping blanket and glanced around, anything to keep from meeting his eyes. Few people remained on the grounds, but no one noticed them arguing.

  Jake growled under his breath. He stepped farther away and she instantly missed his proximity. When he ran fingers through his long, black hair, he paused to search the ground.

  “What be the problem?” she asked.

  “I lost my hair tie.”

  “I see.” He had lost the leather tie which he used to bind his hair. She preferred it loose, but he would never heed her request.

  Dismissing such a thought, she straightened. The man appeared to have smoke seeping from his nose! What was causing this manifestation, and where would it end?

  “Jake?”

  “What!”

  Skye waved a hand between them. The wispy gray smoke broke apart, but Jake’s eyes widened.

  His head twisted, looking for an audience besides her. “Hell’s fire!”

  “Why are ye mad at me?”

  “Skye, you sent me home before I could help.”

  His voice, filled with rage and hurt, surprised her. She had much to learn about the man and his secrets. The ability she witnessed five years earlier was what prompted her to recruit him in the first place. Breathing fire was the secret she had threatened to reveal. He followed her to the past to do her bidding for no other reason.

  Sighing, she crushed the wrap to her damp skin. She was chilled and achy. A deep weariness made her want to lay her head down and rest, but now was not the time. When he met her eyes, the look Jake threw her made her question whether he would believe her, when she asked for his help again.

  Would he trust her when she vowed not to resort to underhandedness a second time? She bowed her head and searched for the words to neutralize the current bad feelings long enough to ask. She raised her gaze to his.

  “Please, I need yer help.”

  He limped in a small circle, then turned and glared back at her.

  She cringed.

  “After five years of nothing, no word at all, you dare to ask again?”

  She stiffened at his painful—yet true—words.

  “Ye forgot me as well,” Skye whispered.

  Jake was suddenly next to her, hovering over her. “I never forgot you.”

  He spoke words she never thought to hear. The urge to raise her mouth to his and lose herself in his kiss was depressingly easy to consider, but imprudent to attempt.

  “We need to push aside our differences.” She wracked her brain for soothing words to gain his assistance. and help her fight the sorcerer who had grown too dangerous.

  “Easier said than done.”

  “My family lives in terror.” The only way to make it all stop was to remove the threat. Jake growled again, but she bit her tongue to slow her attempt at a response. She dare not chance losing his assistance.

  “Haven needs yer help,” she whispered. As she timidly lifted her chilled fingers and stroked the stubble along his cheek, the wool blanket slipped off one shoulder. Like two raven’s wings, the outer tips of his black brows rose. Jake’s face, whiter than an early morning Scottish mist, paled further. He remained silent.

  Darkness had fallen around them, and the breeze cooled her naked feet. Her hand dropped, and she reached for the blanket. When he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at his face, the blanket fell to the ground.

  She shivered, less from the cold than from the look on his face. His eyes closed nearly to slits. Wordlessly, he bent down. As he regained his stance and rose with the blanket, she smiled.

  Jake’s fiery glare held her in place as he bundled her inside the warm, wool covering. When he rested his hands on her shoulders, the tenderness in his touch made tears gather behind her eyes. A brief image of Lethan, and how he had gently undressed her on their wedding night, rose unbidden.

  She stared at his lips a moment longer than was comfortable. Desire, stirring low in her belly, surprised her. His eyes blazed, reflecting the power of the moonstone around her neck.

  She clasped the necklace, sighing with unbridled relief.

  “Thank the stars I did not lose this during my untimely swim.”

  Or my blasted trip to the future.

  Her spell had worked, but not quick enough to stay the dragon’s attack. Pain radiated from her hip and she hoped their conversation would soon end. “I need yer help. Dorcas suggested—”

  “Dorcas! She disappeared from the New England Highland Games and has been with you all this time?”

  “Aye, ‘tis been a few years—”

  “Skye! You sent me back five years ago with no word, no idea of what happened back then. I didn’t know if Haven, Iona, or…you were dead or alive.”

  “I thought ye knew! I thought ye dinna’ care what happened to me…us.”

  Jake’s face was suddenly nose to nose with hers. An angry frown morphed into a pain-wracked grimace moments before his mouth pressed against her chilled lips. The pressure and moist heat pushed her back, and she nearly tripped. Swift as an arrow, he wrapped his arms around her.

  Was it to break my fall or hinder my escape?

  Her eyelids drifted shut as she succumbed to the mind-numbing pleasure; a feeling Lethan never invoked during their short betrothal and even shorter marriage.

  Drowning in Jake’s flavor, breathing in his musky aroma, was heavenly. A sudden tickle in her throat was the only reason she pushed back to break their connection.

  She opened her eyes as two round lights grew closer. The rumble grew louder, reminding her of the roar of the dragon that injured her side. Frightened, she dropped the heavy blanket and ran in the opposite direction. Rocks and twigs stabbed the soles of her feet. She winced, but kept running. When Jake grabbed her around the waist, and raised her off the ground, she cried out.

  He set her on her feet, wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, and whispered in her ear, “Sorry, but where do you think you’re going?”

  “The dragon—”

  “Nope. That’s Bull, bringing my Jeep closer. Great timing as always.”

  The roar went silent, and her shoulders relaxed. The squeak of metal upon metal made her jump.

  Jake chuckled.

  With her curiosity piqued, she stepped closer to the odd lights. Squinting at the brightness, she could barely see her hands. When the blanket slipped low on her forearms, Jake’s hands rose to hold her upper arms. She shook from his grasp and stepped away.

  She must look a sight. Skye ran her hands over her dress to smooth away wrinkles.

  As if doing so will make a difference.

  Wetness beneath her palms meant blood trickled from her wounds. Suddenly lightheaded, she stemmed the bile threatening to rise in her throat by pressing her lips together. A deep breath might help, but the desirable scent of Jake filled the air. She did not wish to succumb to his influence again.

  Footsteps thudded closer, which brought her back to her senses. She forced her lips to rise in the corners and turned to welcome the ever-smiling Bryce.

  Jake growled something ominous beneath his breath, then said, “Skye, stay—”

  “Nay, ‘tis not the time nor place, blacksmith,” she whispered as she padded slowly toward Bryce.

  Jake mumbled a curse, one she clearly understood.

  Skye smiled.

  “Problem
?” Bryce asked.

  With the light behind him, his face was in shadow. She sensed his eyebrows had risen with his question, yet she had no answer to share. What had he seen? Had Jake talked about their previous encounter?

  The first time she visited the future she had walked through the historical village and searched for Dorcas Swann. Instead, she stumbled over the nearly naked blacksmith as he toiled over his furnace. The memory tumbled through her head as if it was yesterday.

  Have I arrived at the correct time and place? I might find myself stranded here if I fail to find old Dorcas.

  Her vision, at the time, told her she had arrived where she would find the old witch. Instinct warned her that her brother would soon need the old crone to fight the evil that sped toward Castle Ruadh, which was where her brother was headed. The Keith stronghold was doomed to feel the wrath of a deranged person. She spied Jake for the first time as he swung a hammer, and slammed it onto a hunk of glowing metal.

  “A handsome man, that. He underestimates his potential.”

  She had jumped, then found Dorcas Swann standing beside her, grinning as if she had read her mind.

  “ ‘Tis easy to know what a bonnie lass like yerself sees in a man like my Jake.”

  “Jake? Is that his name?” She had turned back toward the man’s glistening muscles. An odd sensation flowed through her, turning her limbs to liquid, and her mouth dry as dust.

  “Is he the fellow Lady Haven mentioned?”

  “Aye. He worries about Haven and her friend, Iona.”

  Later, back in Scotland, when she overheard Jake speak with her cousin Cameron, a powerful urge to rid him and her worrisome feelings from her sight filled her. What had caused her anger? A wispy memory filled the shadows.

  “What is it, Skye?” Cameron had asked, joining Jake.

  “I want to help,” she had answered.

  Jake laughed so hard, he had doubled over.

  Skye’s cheeks had heated. “What ‘tis so verra’ funny?”

  Jake had stepped closer to the bottom step. Skye had not moved, except to stand straight and proud.

  “Haven’t you done enough damage? I didn’t appreciate you tricking me into…” Jake paused, and glanced at Cameron, but she had raised her hand and aimed her palm at Jake. Cameron took three steps sideways. A brilliant light filled the shadowy hallway, and Cameron threw his arm up to protect his face.

  I know what I did was not nice, but it was necessary. Besides I was all of seventeen.

  A wave of dizziness pulled her from the old memory, and she stumbled. Her chilled fingers clawed at the warm blanket Jake had wrapped her in.

  “Skye? Are you listening?” Jake snapped his fingers near her nose.

  She nodded, pulling her attention back to the present. Jake disappeared inside the tent, only to return with a small bag. When he drew close, she stepped back a few paces. She stared up at the moon, looking anywhere but at him.

  Deep breaths cleared her head and tossed all memories of their first meeting aside. He had hidden his true self from her, but she and Dorcas knew he was more than he appeared. She bit her lower lip.

  No sense bringing that up.

  Yet.

  CHAPTER 7

  The truth was standing in front of him, looking like a drowned rat. Skye was here. Dorcas wasn’t dead. Bad news and good news, in one fell swoop.

  Jake couldn’t take his gaze from where she nibbled on her bottom lip. A sudden urge to do the same thing brought on a rumbling deep in his belly. The urge to claim her hit him like a brick.

  No. Not a woman like Skye.

  Yet, oddly enough, there wasn’t one woman who attracted him the way she did. He rarely dated. Even the close proximity of his neighbor, Jenny Morgan, failed to inflame his desire. Skye made him ache.

  When she rested a delicate hand against the bloody shreds of her damp gown, he bit the inside of his mouth to keep from gathering her in his arms. Talk about physical pain! She was wet and injured. Whatever feelings had caused him to lose control and kiss her had to wait. Unfortunately, Bull was looking at her like she was a whipped cream-covered dessert.

  “Skye, we can talk when you’re well. Let’s get you fixed up. Bull,” he turned to his friend who stood too close to his….

  My what? Should I call her a friend?

  Shaking his head, he continued. “Start the Jeep. We’ll settle Skye in the back.”

  “What about all your stuff?”

  Jake had forgotten he’d made a pile of boxes outside the tent. He’d planned to throw them in the back of the Jeep. “Help me return these boxes to the tent, and then I’ll tie the door shut. A delivery service will collect everything in the morning.”

  “Okay, buddy.”

  They worked in silence to secure his belongings. Bull disappeared in the direction of the Jeep. Jake lashed the tent flap shut, then walked to Skye’s side. Jake picked up the small bag he’d set by Skye’s feet. She stared up at the stars.

  “A penny for your thoughts,” Jake said.

  “As long as ye hand me a good Scottish penny, and not this new English gold the king has bid us use.”

  “It’s only an expression. You had a sad look on your face.” Jake cupped her elbow and led her toward the purring vehicle.

  “I be thinking of home, ‘tis all. I miss my family.”

  “We’ll try to get you home safely.”

  “I shall have a plan to thwart the sorcerer by then. The bastard must die.”

  Jake, taken aback by her harsh words, would listen to her plan, once she was warm and her wounds were treated. Allowing Skye to go after a powerful wizard by herself was out of the question.

  “It’s getting cold, Bull. Let’s put the sides up. Hold this.” Jake set the flashlight in Skye’s trembling palm.

  She stared down at it then back up at him, as if he had handed her the sweetest gift.

  “This will only take a second, and then we’ll get you taken care of. Trust me.”

  Her responding sneer made his gut clench. Trust had been an issue ever since she had blackmailed him to help her.

  Bull helped him remove the doors from where he’d stashed them in the rear, then they tackled the door clamps. The back seat was snug, but Jake hoped she’d settle in until they could reach an urgent care facility.

  “Hell’s fire.”

  “Did you say something?” Bull asked.

  Jake shook his head, realizing a problem—Skye had no identification, and no insurance.

  I’ll take her home.

  She had to get out of her wet clothes, and he wouldn’t mind helping. The idea had merit until he saw her pale and sweaty face. Besides, Skye would balk at getting undressed anywhere near him.

  He dropped his shopping bag on the floor in front of the passenger’s seat. Pulling his cell phone from his vest’s inner pocket, he dialed his neighbor.

  “I thought you aren’t supposed to carry modern things up here,” Bull said.

  “I hid it. I only turned it on while packing up.”

  When he raised the phone to his ear, Skye stepped so close that the scent of the sea filled his nostrils. Her mouth opened as if to say something. When a female voice came on the line, Skye’s eyes widened. The shock in her delicate features was a reflection of her innocence. How could he forget how young she was; how out of place in this century?

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Jenny. Are you at home?”

  “Yes. Why? You need one of your horses inoculated?”

  “Something like that. Actually, I have a friend in need of a little medical attention. Will you be there for the next hour?”

  “I’m on call, but there are only a few sick cats at the clinic. I was planning on ordering a pizza. Want to share?”

  “Yes, but I have two guests. Get three pizzas. Sausage and pepperoni?” He glanced at Bull, who nodded.

  “Are you paying?” she asked.

  “Sure. See you soon. Thanks, Jenny.”

  He closed his phone.
r />   “What be that contraption?”

  Skye’s breathy voice trickled over him. The hair on his forearms lifted as if she’d touched him. He turned toward her, planning to explain, but the blanket had slipped off her right shoulder again. Her skin, paler than normal, peeked from beneath her tangled black hair. He sucked in a breath.

  “This is a telephone. It lets us speak to people far away.”

  “To those beyond shouting distance?”

  “Yes,” he said, and turned to Bull. “We have to go.”

  Bull’s face held a quizzical look, but he silently folded his kilt beneath him and slipped behind the wheel. Jake pushed the seatback forward, and nodded toward the open door. Skye stepped forward, her chin raised in a comical attempt at bravery.

  Offering his hand, she slipped hers in it. Jake helped her as she cautiously stepped into the vehicle. She settled on the rear seat in slow motion. He tucked the blanket around her feet until she fidgeted.

  “Just trying to keep you warm, love.” The Jeep’s tiny back seat would keep her safe.

  Bull steered away from the historic village, and headed down the mountain trail. The Jeep bumped over ruts as it followed the dark path lit only by the headlights.

  “Slow down, Bull.”

  “Sorry. Forgot.” Bull and Jake glanced at their passenger. Terror filled her eyes and white knuckles clinging to the back of Jake’s seat were the only signs that she wasn’t enjoying her first ride in a motorized vehicle.

  The forest flying by was a shadow-filled blackness. When Skye grasped his shoulder, Jake turned in his seat. Ignoring the seat belt digging into his shoulder, he waited. She’d ask her questions in due time. He knew that much about her.

  “This conveyance. How does it move with no beasties?”

  “It’s powered by a modern-day fuel. I’ll explain later, after I take care of you,” he whispered.

  “I need to get home. Can ye help with that? Will ye come with me of yer own accord this time?”