Prescribed for Love

by Mallory Moutinho

  “Enough!” yelled Alasdair. “It doesnae matter at this point, for all three of us are now in need of a good cleaning.”

  Alasdair grew nervous as he watched Catriona strip down to the small pieces of cloth she had worn the first time she had come to this body of water. He was afraid how her brother might react to her lack of modesty with him so near. But, seeing Keith dispense with almost as much clothing as Catriona, Alasdair realized she had not been telling him a falsehood—near-nakedness truly was acceptable in her land.

  Alasdair thought Catriona was just going to walk into the pond, but instead she climbed to the top of the rock. Bending her knees she yelled, “Cannonball!” While Alasdair did not know what the word meant, he soon learned as she jumped off the rock, forming her body into a tight ball. She landed in the water with a great splash.

  “Seriously Cat, not cool!” said Keith. “That’s freakin’ cold!” Alasdair did not understand why it was so important to distinguish between cool and cold.

  “Oh don’t be such a sissy! Just dive in,” prompted Catriona.

  Keith slowly waded in to the depth of his calves. “Leave me alone, I’ll do this my own way,” he replied.

  “You’re only prolonging the misery,” she drawled. Alasdair watched as Catriona moved closer to her brother. He considered giving Keith a warning when he saw her intent, but it was too late. He could only laugh as she yanked her brother’s ankle out from under his body. Keith fell on his arse before Catriona pulled him completely under the water’s surface. In retaliation, Keith rose out of the water and dunked his sister face-first under the surface. Alasdair was briefly worried Keith intended to drown her as he continued to hold her under, but relaxed when she once again appeared about the water laughing. Shaking his head, Alasdair began washing in a much more sedate manner than the pair he was with.

  ***

  Cat resumed some of her old activities over the next few weeks. She still frequently went with her brother to the builds, but she also often helped with preparing stores of food. She had felt guilty when Lainie told her she had jarred the blaeberries Catriona had abandoned. As she refocused her efforts, Cat joined her brother less and less often. Realistically, she was more useful in this manner now Keith had additional men to help him.

  She now only joined Keith on the days when Alasdair could not spare as many men. She was excited today was one of those days. Each time she joined her brother, she made it a point to bathe in Alasdair’s pond. The task had become less and less pleasant with the cooling temperatures, but Cat still preferred being clean to being warm.

  “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming,” greeted Keith. “I thought you might have decided to sleep in instead.”

  “It was tempting, but I knew you’d be short on hands today. Well, that and I knew you would need my superior intelligence. I’m surprised you were able to get anything done without me,” Cat replied with a wink.

  “Actually, we’re almost done. Everything should be complete by the end of the week.”

  “You should try and stretch it out a while longer. I still have not found any sign of that stupid book. I don’t want to run out of a reason to stay here. It will give Alasdair the wrong impression if we stay past when we are needed.”

  “Speaking of my future nephew’s father, how are things going with the big oaf?” asked Keith.

  “Or niece,” amended Cat. “They’re not going at all, which is exactly how I like it.”

  “I don’t believe that,” replied Keith, “The man seems crazy about you.”

  “Now that’s an exaggeration. Sure, he still tries to approach me from time to time, but I always turn him away.”

  “Do you need me to go all ‘big-brother’ on him and tell him to leave you alone?” asked Keith while flexing his muscles.

  Cat laughed at his antics. “No, I can fight my own battles. And he hasn’t been really pushy. But thanks for the offer.”

  “Good, I’m glad you said no, because I probably would have refused. I understand why you don’t want to tell him about the baby, but he’s a good guy. It just seems wrong to keep him in the dark,” said Keith.

  “But like I’ve said before, it seems just as wrong to tell him. It’s not like the kid can visit every other weekend.” She sighed, “Not unless time travel machines have been invented in the time we’ve been gone.”

  Keith must have been content to let the matter drop for now. “Do you think if we make it back, the same amount of time will have gone by in the future?”

  “Not if, but when,” insisted Cat. “I honestly don’t know. Time seemed to continue in a parallel manner for you, but who knows with that stupid book.”

  “Well, there isn’t much we can do about it now.” Keith wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulder, “Let’s get down to the village and get to work. We can try to figure out an excuse about why need to stay longer while we’re there.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” said Cat, wrapping her arm around him in a similar fashion.

  ***

  Alasdair listened to Niall’s and Branan’s explanation before asking, “But why are ye so concerned about cattle being stolen. It is common enough along the borders. While it is a nuisance, it doesnae necessarily mean the Camerons are planning anything.”

  “Aye, but it is the quantity,” said Branan.

  “And the frequency,” said Niall. “We had dismissed it at first as ye have.”

  “We even went onto their lands to see where the cattle had gone,” added Branan, “But none of the homes near the border had the animals. They dinnae appear to have any animals actually.”

  This last statement concerned Alasdair. He wondered why Cameron would need so many animals. If it was not for his people, he worried for whom the animals were intended. “Continue yer observations. If this continues for much longer, or anything changes, make sure I am informed.” Alasdair hoped his conclusion was wrong.

  But just in case his fears were warranted, he went in search of Keith. Alasdair found him just as he was finishing for the day. “Keith, can I talk to ye for a moment.”

  “Sure, what’s up?” said the man.

  “Are ye skilled in masonry as well?” Alasdair explained, “I would like to talk about possible improvements for the castle.”

  “Well, that depends—what are you trying to do?” asked Keith. Alasdair described the additional security and reinforcements he wanted to add. If the Camerons were planning another attack, he wanted his home well-fortified. “I think I can handle that,” said Keith after hearing his explanations. “I would just need to look at a few things. Let’s go take a look now. Oh wait! First, let me go tell Cat where I’m going.”

  “Why? Where is she?” asked Alasdair.

  “She left just a moment before you came,” replied Keith, “I was leaving to meet her at the pond.”

  “She went alone?”

  “Well, she wouldn’t have been alone if you hadn’t stopped me,” countered Keith.

  Disgusted, Alasdair left Keith behind. He intend to retrieve Catriona and lecture her for going off on her own when he had specifically asked her not to engage in such foolishness again. The siblings’ complete disregard for safety baffled Alasdair. Did they have no comprehension of the possible dangers? When she was in sight he yelled, “What were ye thinking coming here alone? Ye promised ye wouldnae come here again unaccompanied!”

  “Jeez, Mac! Why are you yelling? I haven’t come here alone. Well, not before today,” she amended, “But Keith was right behind me when I left.”

  “I tried explaining that to him,” added Keith. Alasdair did not even know he had followed. “But, he didn’t want to hear it.”

  “And ye!” roared Alasdair. “How could ye be so irresponsible as to let yer sister leave without ye?”

  “First of all, my brother doesn’t ‘let’ me do anything,” seethed Catriona. “I’m a grown woman and I make my own decisions.”

  “And second of all,” interrupted Keith. Alasdair was a b
it shocked—he had never heard Keith yell in anger before. “You’ve got a lot of balls calling me irresponsible when you’re the one who got my sister pregnant!”

  “KEITH!”

  “Oh shit!” said her brother. “Cat, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to say anything.”

  Alasdair could hardly fathom what he had heard. “Is this true?” he asked Catriona. But rather than answer, she just climbed out of the water, put her dress on over her soaking wet body, and began to walk toward the castle without saying a word. She would not even look at either of them.

  Alasdair began to follow immediately after her, but Keith held him back. “You should give her some space. Trust me, you want to let her cool down before you try to talk to her.”

  “She still shouldnae be alone,” snapped Alasdair. “It isnae safe.”

  “Fine, we’ll just follow behind and make sure she gets back in one piece,” agreed Keith. Neither man said a word to the other as they followed behind Catriona. Intending to talk to her, Alasdair continued to follow her once they were within the confines of the keep, but was once again stopped by Keith, “Wait, there’s one more thing.”

  “What?” demanded Alasdair in exasperation.

  But rather than a verbal answer, Alasdair received a punch in the jaw. “You’re lucky I like you,” said Keith, “But I did owe you that; she is my baby sister after all.”

  Alasdair’s guards had moved in closer in case they were needed, but he waived them off. He rubbed his jaw and nodded at Keith, “Are ye sure that is enough—only one blow?”

  “I’m sure. Besides, Cat will probably do worse to you and then kill me,” scoffed Keith. “Good luck!”

  Alasdair knocked on Catriona’s door. She did not answer, but he had not expected she would. He let himself in anyway, prepared to duck under any flying objects. While he knew she was upset, he had not expected to find Catriona crying, “Catriona, I am sorry, I didnae…”

  “You don’t need to be sorry,” she interrupted, “This is just as much my fault as it is yours.”

  “How long have ye known?” he asked.

  “Since just before Keith arrived.”

  This surprised Alasdair. “So ye knew when I offered ye marriage, but ye still refused me?”

  “Of course I turned you down Alasdair, I can’t stay here. Hell, I don’t even know if I could stay here even if I wanted to.” She quickly amended, “I don’t want to by the way—just so we’re clear.”

  “But why did ye nae tell me?” he could not understand why she had kept silent.

  “Because it doesn’t change anything, I have to go home,” she insisted.

  “Yer home is worth taking a child away from its father?”

  “You just don’t understand,” she said.

  “What is there to understand? Ye are now my responsibility, as is my child.”

  “No, that is where you are wrong. I am no one’s responsibility. I deserve to be more than a burden.” The fierceness in her reply took Alasdair aback.

  “Ye wouldnae be a burden,” he insisted.

  “Maybe you see it that way, but I don’t. I need to be able to take care of myself. Back home, my parents died when Keith and I were very young. Our aunt was forced to take care of us. Well, we saw how much of a strain that could be and how it soured any affection she may have had for us. I vowed to never let that happen again, and worked hard to ensure I could keep that vow. I went to school just so I could work in a job that paid well enough to provide for any needs I may have. I can’t just throw that all away!”

  “But ye wouldnae need to work if ye stay here,” he interrupted when she stopped to take in a breath. “And I will provide for yer needs.”

  “Ugh, you just don’t get it, and I can’t even explain it to you. You just don’t think the way I do,” she replied with a huff. But then she calmed, “Look, Alasdair, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but this is exactly why. Nothing you can say will keep me here. I thought it would be cruel to tell you that you had a child, only to take it away.”

  “Then why have ye nae left?” asked Alasdair, even though he knew it had something to do with the book he kept hidden.

  “Because…because I can’t—not yet anyway.”

  “Why?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” said Catriona. With this statement, all of her remaining anger dissipated.

  “I will believe ye. I ken ye are nae a liar, even though ye tend to keep secrets.”

  “Just the one secret.”

  “Nay, I know of at least one more.” Alasdair prompted, “I overheard ye and yer brother one night, I know ye need yer spell book to get home, but I dinnae know why.”

  “I guess I’m not the only one keeping secrets, huh?” Alasdair inwardly cringed at this accusation. He was ashamed he had not told her about the book, but now he found he could not regret his decision—not after learning what he had this day. But, he still needed to discover what it was about the book that was so important. Rather than answer her mocking question, he waited for her to answer his query. “Fine, I’ll tell you—even though I don’t think you’ll believe me. With any luck, you’ll think I’m crazy and be more than happy to get rid of me.”

  “I willnae want to get rid of ye.”

  “Don’t make any promises until you hear what I have to say.” Alasdair listened as she began her fantastical tale. He hated to acknowledge the fact she had been correct; he did not believe her. The idea of magic bringing her back in time was simply impossible. But, he let her continue her story as he let his mind wander. Of what is she so afraid she feels the need to weave such a complicated fiction? Alasdair decided she must be truly desperate to think a story such as this would satisfy his need for information. Catriona began to use her arms to further emphasize certain points in her tale. He was beginning to wonder how outrageous this story would become. “Alasdair. Alasdair! Are you even listening to me? Of course you aren’t! See I told you that you wouldn’t believe me.”

  “Catriona, what ye are describing is impossible,” he replied. “What is the real reason ye need the book? Why will ye nae tell me?”

  ***

  Looking at the disbelief clearly etched into Alasdair’s face, Cat made a decision. “Here I can prove it to you.” She took her smartphone out of her purse and turned it on. Good, there’s still more than enough battery! She aimed the camera at Alasdair.

  “Catriona, what are ye doing?” asked Alasdair. “How would a shiny little box convince me ye are from a time six hundred years in the future?”

  “Like this,” she said as she walked to stand beside him. “Here look at the screen.” She hit play and then watched Alasdair’s reaction. Cat knew that no matter how long she lived, she would never be able to forget the reaction on his face when he saw the video of himself. It was fear, shock, awe, panic, and delight all rolled up into one odd facial contortion.

  “Are ye actually a witch?”

  Cat face-palmed herself. I should have seen that question coming. She replied, “No, and there’s nothing magical about it. It’s just a tool, like a hammer or a saw or a sword, just a little more complicated. Look, if you just press this with your finger, you can make a video as well.” Catriona could not help but laugh as she watched Alasdair use the phone. “Alright, I need to turn that off, I need to conserve the battery.”

  “What else do ye have hidden in there?” asked Alasdair as she put the phone back in her purse.

  “I have photographs from home, they’re basically just small pictures,” she explained. “Would you like to see?”

  “Aye.” Catriona showed him all the pictures she had. She knew some on her phone were better, but she really did feel she needed to save the battery. Alasdair was most interested in the pictures that showed the tall buildings. “Did yer brother build these?”

  “No, but here is the first he helped build right after he got out of college.” This was one of the milestones that made it into a hard copy for the photo album she always kept with her.


  Alasdair continued to stare at the photos in amazement until he got to the last one. “Why would yer brother waste something so amazing by making a face such as that?”

  “It wasn’t a waste, hundreds of these can be made in mere seconds. Besides it’s a funny memory. He was making fun of my driver’s license. See.” Catriona pulled the identification from her wallet.

  “But why would ye make this face in the first place?” he asked.

  “Ugh, it wasn’t on purpose!” Cat really did not want to focus on her inability to take a good photo. “Oh and this might interest you. It’s just a flashlight, but it is a lot easier than fire.”

  Alasdair turned the light on and off a few times before saying, “Ye had this with ye the night ye snuck into my room. I remember seeing an odd glow like this.”

  “Yeah, I did. And let me tell you, it was no easy matter keeping it hidden after you knocked me to the ground.” Catriona blushed as she remembered where that night had led. She dug further into her purse to avoid blushing. “Here’s something you might like—it’s an umbrella, I think they already exist in this century, just not in this country.”

  “What purpose does it serve?” he asked as she expanded the ribs.

  “It’s for keeping you dry when it rains,” answered Cat. “Considering how rainy it is in Scotland, I’m surprised you haven’t invented them yet.”

  “Catriona, I’m sorry I didnae believe ye. After seeing all of this, I cannae deny yer tale—even though I can still barely comprehend the truth.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” she answered. “I didn’t really expect you to. Hell, it took me a lot longer to believe I was in the past. Here, let me show you what else I have in here.”

  ***

  Alasdair continued to be enthralled by Catriona’s items. He had just been inspecting something she had called a ‘Swiss Army Knife.’ The concept of miniaturizing many tools into one small object had never even occurred to him. He could see the use for such an item when travelling long distances. “Catriona, may I borrow this?” he asked, but she was asleep. Lifting her from the chair in which she had settled, he placed her in the bed. As he laid her down upon the sheets, he let his hand rest on her stomach—over the child he had put there. A lump formed in his throat. Now that he knew the truth, he really was afraid he would lose Catriona and his child. How can I even hope to convince her to leave a life full of such wondrous things? And should I even try?