Saved by Time

by Jennae Vale

  “Tam is one of me best men,” Cailin said, glancing from one to the other. “He’ll be joining us for the evening meal.”

  “That’s nice,” Tina said. This had to rank right up there as one of the most incredibly awkward moments of her life. She really wanted to bolt, but that wouldn’t have been very polite. She’d behave and stay put, no matter how much her feet insisted that she run away.

  “How are you enjoying your stay at Breaghacraig?” Tam asked.

  Well, she had been having a lovely day with a different man until now. She couldn’t say that. She didn’t really know what to say since most of her time had been spent with Donal and Elena. She wondered how Elena was doing this afternoon, and whether her tummy ache had returned. She looked around and realized she hadn’t answered his very polite question. To make matters worse, Tam hadn’t taken his eyes off of her and she couldn’t seem to look at him. She needed to say something. Maybe that would help. Having a conversation would make things less awkward.

  “It’s a beautiful day.” She couldn’t believe she’d come all the way to the year 1518 to discuss the weather, but that’s exactly what she was doing.

  Tam chuckled. “I believe we’ve made ye wish ye were elsewhere.”

  A relieved laugh escaped Tina’s lips. “No. Not at all.”

  “There’s nae need to spare my feelings,” he teased.

  Okay. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. He seemed nice enough and he understood she wasn’t on board all the way with this matchmaking. She glanced around and noticed that while she’d been busy looking down at the ground, the others had all snuck away. “I think I’m going to go rest. It’s been a busy day for me and the last thing I want to do is fall asleep while I’m eating.” She was babbling and Tam seemed to get it.

  “Until tonight,” he bowed to her slightly before turning and walking away.

  Closing her eyes, she shook her head and let out a big breath. You can do this, Tina. You can do this.

  Donal entered the great hall, hoping to convince Tina to sit with him, but much to his dismay he saw that she was already seated with Tam who had been invited to sit with the Mackenzies. Tina was laughing at something he’d said and he placed an arm around the back of her chair as he gazed into her face. Donal felt his blood boiling. They had spent half the day together, and half the night, too. Why was she with Tam? He felt betrayed by his friend, by the Mackenzies, and by Tina. Was no one on his side? He thought he’d made progress today. Thought she would be the woman for him. The one who would save him from himself and care for his daughter. His plans were truly ruined, but there was something else. A new emotion he’d never felt before. Could he be jealous? He’d never cared enough about the women he’d known to feel it and he wasn’t sure that was what it was. It welled up in him from the pit of his stomach, invading his brain and knocking any good sense he had out of the way. He clenched his fists and stalked to a table occupied by his friends. How was he to sit here and watch this? In his mind Tina was already his. He was going to have to have a little talk with Tam.

  “Yer looking quite angry,” Jock said as Donal plunked himself down on the bench next to him.

  “Aye.”

  “Did the kitchen maid turn ye down again?” Marcas asked, turning to laugh with the other men.

  It was the wrong question and it was all Donal needed to lunge at his friend, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him to his feet. “Watch what ye say!” he growled, tossing him backwards onto the floor.

  The room grew silent around them. Donal realized he’d made a mistake when he glanced up to see Tina with a look of horror on her face, her hand covering her mouth. Marcas wanted to retaliate and struggled to get to his feet, but was restrained by the others around him. With one last angry look at the Mackenzie table, he strode from the hall and out into the courtyard. It wasn’t often that Donal lost his temper. Until a couple of days ago, he was a very relaxed kind of guy, friendly with everyone and quick with a joke. But his life was a mess and just when he thought he was getting it back on track, he attacked a friend. This had to have been the worst time for him to do so. Tina would never look at him the same way again. He’d ruined everything. Not knowing what to do or where to go, Donal stood motionless, arms at his side, head and shoulders slumped in shame and defeat.

  “Donal!” Logan’s voice called to him from the castle doors.

  He didn’t move and didn’t respond. He could hear Logan striding up behind him and was ready for whatever might come his way.

  “Donal, what was that all about?” Logan asked. There was no judgement or anger in his voice.

  “I dinnae know,” Donal responded.

  “It’s not like ye to do something like that.”

  “My apologies,” he muttered, unable to face Logan.

  “I’m nae the one ye need to apologize to. Tell me what Marcas has done.”

  Donal sighed and turned to his friend. “There was nae need for my behavior. I was angry when I sat down and something Marcas said…”

  Logan put an arm around his shoulders and got him to walk away from the castle. “So if it wasnae Marcas ye were angry with, then who or what?”

  “Ye ken how yer always telling me I need a wife?”

  “Aye.”

  “I never believed it, but now there’s Elena. And she needs a Ma…”

  “So this is about Elena?”

  Donal searched his heart. Elena needed a mother, but he needed Tina more. More than someone to care for the bairn, she was someone that made him want to be better than he was. “Not really. I believed I’d found the woman I wanted, someone that I wanted in my life, but she was seated with someone else.”

  “So ye were jealous?”

  Is that what the tight feeling in his chest was? “I’ve never felt this way before. Never had cause to be jealous.”

  “Then it must be love.”

  Logan was not making this easier for him. First jealousy and now love? He had never been more confused in his life. “I dinnae ken if ’tis, but I feel things when I’m with her that I’ve nae felt before.”

  “May I ask who it is?”

  “Tina. The lass from the future.”

  “Well, that makes sense then,” Logan mused. “Sara told me that Ashley and Jenna were looking for the right man for her. I believe ye think yer the one.”

  “I thought so, but now after what just happened.” He turned and caught Logan’s eye, then shook his head in shame. “I saw the look on her face. She’ll nae want me now.”

  “You don’t know that. You should talk to her,” Logan suggested.

  “She’s with Tam tonight.”

  “That shouldnae stop ye. Explain what happened. As Sara always tells me, ye need to use yer words.” He chuckled at this.

  “Use yer words?”

  “Instead of yer fists.”

  Donal nodded his understanding. “That would have been useful to know before I tried to kill Marcas,” he chuckled. “Yer wife is verra wise.”

  “She is,” Logan beamed. “’Tis one of the many reasons I love her so.”

  Despite all of his faults and inadequacies, Donal knew that Logan was on his side. He’d been feeling of late that anyone who knew him thought him unworthy. Perhaps they thought he’d finally gotten what he deserved. In some ways maybe he had. It hurt that Lady Ashley and Jenna were trying to find a man for Tina. But if he was being honest, he might do the same thing in their position. Why would they want someone as kind and generous as Tina to be with someone so careless as to not even remember the names of women he had known. He was sure he couldn’t feel any lower than he felt at this moment, but he was more determined than ever to prove them wrong. He wasn’t that thoughtless man any more. He was trying hard to change. He could be a good da to Elena. He could be as good a man as any who resided at Breaghacraig and he could be the kind of man who was worthy of Tina’s love.

  “Thank ye, Logan.”

  “Will ye come back in and join us?”

  �
�Nae. ’Tis best that I punish myself by eating in the kitchen with Mary.” In fact, he was far too embarrassed to go back in to the stares of those in the hall.

  Logan burst into laughter. “She’ll be sure to set ye straight. I’m here to listen if ye choose to use yer words.”

  “I may take ye up on that offer.”

  Logan walked back into the great hall and Donal banished himself to the kitchen where, true to form, Mary showed him no sympathy.

  “What happened?” Tina asked no one in particular as she watched an angry Donal storm from the hall.

  “Someone let their temper get the better of them,” Ashley said.

  What she’d just witnessed had been downright scary. The man Donal had attacked was being held down by three other large Highlanders. She hoped he didn’t go after Donal once they let him go.

  “Dinnae fear, lass. Logan has gone after Donal to see what’s got him so riled,” Cailin assured her.

  Deep in her heart she thought she knew exactly what it had been. She’d seen him enter the hall out of the corner of her eye and his expression went from happy to angry in a flash when he saw her sitting with Tam.

  “Is this normal around here?” she asked.

  “I wouldn’t say it’s normal, but it’s definitely not something you should worry about. They usually work things out when they’re sparring with each other.”

  “I’ve never seen anyone get that angry.” She was sure she didn’t want to see it again. She knew many of the men here were warriors. She had seen them training and sparring. It hadn’t really occurred to her how that training would play out when they were angry. She’d only known Donal for a short time, maybe he had a bad temper. She wasn’t sure she could live with that. Tina was rethinking the whole Donal-is-the-one thing.

  “Come sit, lass.” Tam guided her back to her seat.

  “Thank you, Tam.” He really was being a gentleman tonight. Of course, he might have a dark side, too. She had seen him on the practice field wielding a sword with the others. “I think Donal was angry that I was sitting with you. I hope he doesn’t go after you.”

  “If he does, I’m capable of caring for myself,” he smiled at her. Did he not realize how serious this was? He seemed to pick up on her discomfort and explained, “Donal is a friend. If he doesnae like it, he’ll tell me.” He gazed into her eyes. “What of ye? If ye’d rather be with Donal, I’ll understand.”

  “No. I mean… I don’t know. I’m confused right now.” Tina looked towards the door Donal had walked out. There was so much she didn’t understand about this time.

  “I’ll give ye all the time ye need.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  Tina was relieved that she didn’t hear Elena crying that night. It meant that she didn’t see Donal, which was probably for the best. She had some thinking to do. They’d had such a nice day together and she’d thought him to be such a gentleman with her. He spoiled it all when he decided to lose it in the great hall. She wondered if it had really been jealousy that had caused him to lose his temper. If it wasn’t, she wanted to know what had been said to set him off. It was surprising how much it had frightened her. Fighting wasn’t something she saw too often. Her brothers occasionally got each other in a headlock, but it never escalated to the point where she feared they might do physical harm to each other.

  For as long as she could remember it had really bothered her when people around her were angry. Despite her take charge attitude and general snarkiness, it was clear to her that she put a wall up to keep people at arms length, far enough away that they couldn’t possibly be angry with her, or if they were they didn’t dare tell her. Tina wasn’t sure where this all came from. Her family certainly weren’t the type to yell and scream at each other. She’d become somewhat of a people pleaser to avoid being yelled at in school, at work or just out and about in the world. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she was also frightened of her own anger. She hated to lose her temper, feeling that it made her look a little nuts. So she carefully kept it all in check. She certainly let people know when they disappointed her or when she thought they were wrong, but she kept all her anger locked up inside, never allowing it to see the light of day. Giving people the silent treatment and that look she had perfected, the one that said don’t mess with me, was how she chose to handle most disagreeable things.

  The sun peeking in through the lone window in her chamber told her it was time to get up. Unsure of what the day would hold in store for her, Tina reluctantly rose and got dressed. Had she made a mistake coming here? If she had, it was too late now to do anything about it. She splashed some cold water on her face, brushed her teeth with the odd mixture Ashley had given her and then carefully laced the dress Jenna had let her borrow. She donned the same slippers Edna had given her and, taking a deep breath, walked out of her room. It was another day to shine, as her mother always said.

  Chapter 9

  All seemed back to normal this morning at Breaghacraig. Doreen was with Elena again and Donal was nowhere to be seen. As for Tina, it seemed she’d be spending the day with Jock and Marcas. Walking out into the courtyard, she was greeted by bright sunlight and two mountainous men.

  “Lady Tina,” Jock approached with an outstretched hand.

  “Please call me Tina. No lady required.” Her nervous laughter gave away her trepidation about this outing.

  “I be Jock and this be Marcas.”

  “Good day to ye,” Marcas said.

  This was the man Donal had gone after last night. She glanced around to make sure Donal wasn’t anywhere nearby. The last thing she wanted or needed was for another brawl to take place over her. Some women might enjoy having two men fight over her, but Tina wasn’t one of them.

  “Mary has kindly packed a basket for us. We thought ye might like to sit by the water with us,” Marcas said.

  Tina wasn’t so sure that was what she would like at all, but she had agreed to meet the other single men that Ashley and Jenna suggested so she would go through with it. “I’d love that.”

  She found herself sandwiched between the two men as they walked out through a side gate and along a path that sat above a strip of beach she hadn’t known existed before this moment. She’d known they were close to the water, but since she’d arrived, she hadn’t really had time to explore. “It’s beautiful,” she said. The cry of the gulls and the scent of the salt water brought her back to childhood trips to the beach with her family. She immediately relaxed. As they approached a narrow path leading down to the water, Marcas went first, holding her hand and leading her down. Jock followed behind, she imagined to catch her if she fell. Two sweet men she should consider and give a chance, as she would with Tam.

  Jock spread a tartan on the beach where they sat and talked for hours. Each man took a turn to tell her about his childhood and his life here at Breaghacraig. She had so many questions for them. Where were they from? How many brothers and sisters did they have? Would they miss them if they had to move far away? That one was important to her. She wasn’t planning to stay, but she didn’t want to drag any of them kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century.

  It occurred to her that she hadn’t actually asked Donal these questions either. She thought back over the time that they had spent together and realized they hadn’t shared much about their families. How could she possibly be thinking that he was the “one” when she didn’t even know if he had siblings?

  Marcas had some reservations about leaving his very large family to move away and couldn’t see anything ever happening that would make him change his mind. Jock on the other hand seemed open to adventure, which life with her would surely be.

  “So, you’d be alright moving far away from your family?”

  “I would. I dinnae see them verra often. This has been my home and these people have been my family since early on.”

  Jock was tall, but weren’t they all, with dark blond hair and hazel eyes. His features were perfect, but may
be a little too perfect. No. She was just being picky she told herself. He was strong and masculine, but he also had a gentle nature. She had no idea how she knew it, but she did. He’d make a good husband and father.

  Marcas was darker in coloring, having dark brown hair and very dark brown eyes. He reminded her of her brothers. He’d fit in well with her family, but he wasn’t interested in leaving his behind. That was a deal breaker for her, and she was glad to have at least one of the men off her list. There was something she wanted to ask him, but had avoided until this point. No harm in asking now, though.

  “Marcas, why did Donal attack you last night?” she asked, hoping against hope that there’d been some reason for what she’d seen.

  He laughed at that, “Och! I teased him about the kitchen maid. He took exception to it.”

  “The kitchen maid?” she asked, unsure what the kitchen maid had to with anything.

  “Aye. I asked him why he was angry. Was it because the kitchen maid…” he looked down at the sand he was sifting through his fingers as he spoke. It was clear he wasn’t sure if he should tell her what he wasn’t saying.

  “Please, you can tell me,” she said, encouraging him. She had to know what had been said and why Donal reacted the way he did.

  “Well, Donal has eyes for the kitchen maid, or at least he did until ye arrived. Before ye came to Breaghacraig something always got in the way of…”

  This was like pulling teeth. He kept stopping right before the part she was interested in. “It’s alright. You don’t need to tell me.” Maybe she didn’t want to know. It sounded very much like Donal was planning to cheat on his wife with the kitchen maid and that made her skin crawl. He had said that they hadn’t been together for months and clearly, there were a lot of issues with their marriage. But still, she wanted to believe that she would choose a partner that would never cheat. No relationship was perfect, she understood that and had seen her parents fight and make up over the years. She wanted someone that would work with her through their problems. That didn’t mean Donal was the right choice, she’d seen his temper and it had frightened her. It was not something she thought she could live with.