“Fine,” Tearlach agreed. His gaze again flitted with humor. “Did you truly shoot Peter’s cousin in the arse?”
After noting how quickly word had spread, and he admitted that he had, the Campbell erupted in laughter. Conall had to admit he preferred the man as a friend; he tended to jest and enjoy the moment.
“‘Tis nay a fine way to meet your cousin.”
“Sarah is of no relation to me. While we both call Peter kin, there is no common blood.” While he knew the comment hadn’t needed to be shared, he had an overwhelming need for all to understand they were not related. Such facts only matter if I were to court the lass. Nay something fortune allows me to do, given the bride waiting for me. A woman of legend has been dropped into my life and nay meant for me. The fates are cruel. The idea that perhaps Sarah had come for Evan made his sip of wine taste like vinegar.
Taking advantage of their truce, he added, “If you had seen her great beast of a dog, you would have done the same.”
“I had a glimpse of the creature earlier. I wish I had a dozen of the breed. They must be fine guardians and hunters.” Tearlach refilled his cup. “Mayhap the lass will consent to her bitch being bred. We could share bloodlines in several ways.”
“I will ask her at the meal, provided she is speaking with me.” Conall added the last part to keep the humor and goodwill alive in his study, though he quickly recalled how Sarah had touched him with no forethought or anger in her stunning eyes.
“Let me ask, after all, I have done her person no harm,” Tearlach teased.
Conall finished his wine and set the empty cup on his desk. Taking advantage of their camaraderie, he suggested, “I would see the marriage done quickly.” Tearlach’s humor fled and his gaze shifted to the window behind Conall. Somehow, he doubted the man was taken with the beauty of the spring blooms.
“I have agreed to your custom of no priest, only a contract, public vows and a bedding, per your ancestor’s decree. In the timing of the wedding, I ask for a few days to allow her to prepare.”
Conall assumed he knew what Tearlach meant, time to adjust to her fate. Elspeth clearly had no interest in him and he felt the same. It may take that long to convince her to leave her chamber.
To the knock on the door, Conall called, “What?”
Peter entered the study. “I came to see if you needed aid with the negotiations.”
Rising to his feet, Tearlach shook his head. “You have arrived too late. Our terms are set.” He laughed at the surprise on Peter’s face. “Aye, we have finally finished. Tell me, how fares your cousin?”
“‘Twas a scratch, the fates were kind and Conall’s aim lousy.” Where Conall wanted to argue that his quick reflexes at the lass’s cries had shifted his shot, he remained silent. Let all have their laugh. I shall thank the fates that spared her harm and beg forgiveness until she gifts me with a smile.
Tearlach set his cup on the desk and walked to the door. “I will speak with Elspeth and inform her as to when the wedding will take place. While your keep is a fine one, I would sleep in my own bed.” He left with words of missing the comforts of his wife, something Conall questioned if he would ever enjoy.
Answering Peter’s unspoken questions, he filled him in on the details of the contract to be written; confident his uncle would see it done. “How does she fare?”
Peter sat in the chair previously occupied by Tearlach. “Sarah is doing fine, at least I think she is. It’s kind of hard to tell. Her wound is cleaned and dressed. According to Rosalyn who delivered a meal, Lena is helping her dress. Women from my time would have no idea how to put on a gown of this time period. But something about her behavior makes me question her acceptance.”
Debating the statement, his initial instincts about Sarah, and what he recalled of Peter’s arrival years ago, he questioned, “Do you think she doubts where and when she is?” The fact that he casually contemplated walking through a door that subsequently vanished and arriving in a different land in a different time so calmly made him decide Sarah could never easily accept such a thing. He knew he never would.
“Maybe, maybe not. We’ll find out if she decides to try to sneak out of here tonight.” Which if Conall recalled correctly, was exactly what Peter had done many a night years ago.
“You must nay let her,” Conall asserted. In his mind’s eye he could imagine the dangers and perils a lass alone at night would face. First hand, he had seen too many bodies of those who thought to escape when their village had been captured by the Bruce’s or English forces.
“Relax,” Peter chuckled. “She won’t go anywhere alone, I promise you.” He sat silent for a moment. “She’s smart. The only question that remains is whether or not she is ready to face her new life. I am going to take her around the keep and show her the sights outside the walls. Hopefully, seeing will be believing.”
Chapter 5
Throwing the ball for Bella, Sarah stared down the small hill that led from the keep’s gates to the village tucked in the valley. Neat rows of stone cottages with thatched roofs centered on a well that had a constant stream of villagers filling buckets. In the distance, the constant thud on a hammer rang out to mix with the sounds of bird song, insects buzzing, a gentle breeze whispering through the leaves and children’s laughter. The dim chorus could have been perceived as idyllic under normal circumstances. But where in the heck is normal? Did it fly away with rational thinking and sanity?
Behind her stood open wooden gates that when closed would effectively seal the castle, or keep, within walls over ten feet high. The set-up reminded her of medieval reenactments on the History Channel, her father’s favorite. Though he preferred Civil War era programs.
Sarah recalled visiting a Civil War reenactment as part of a family vacation many years ago. The massive undertaking had awed her, along with the details of what would have been camp life in that time period. But there had been minor giveaways and tells that it had made it obvious it had all been make-believe. Rachel had turned finding the flaws into a game. They’d spotted soldiers on breaks talking into cell phones, empty plastic water jugs had been clear in the garbage cans, and the occasional watch could be seen on a wrist. Not to mention noises in the distance of traffic on the highway, a plane overhead and distant music from an unseen radio. Needless to say, they’d driven their parents a bit nuts with the flaws when they were supposed to be learning. Rachel, I wish you were here to help me find a single flaw or shred of reality.
Perched on the hillside, she saw none of the signs of reenactment. Plenty of people had come by to say hello to Peter and meet his cousin who had traveled a great distance. All wished to meet the great beast of a dog that had become the hot topic of the day. They all spoke with the same brogue and all had lacked obvious signs of professional haircuts, with the woman having long hair secured down their backs. The men had hair that fell at the minimum to their shoulders. She hadn’t caught a glimpse of a cell phone, watch, shoelace, pair of earrings or any type of jewelry. None of the women had pierced ears, which was odd.
The air carried a pristine scent she had never experienced. While the north woods of home had always seemed unspoiled to her, her current location screamed of air purity and an utter lack of pollution. Only the innocent smells of wood-burning fires and food cooking filled the air. Along with what she could only describe as the color green, the trees and grass took on an olfactory representation of the color in her thoughts. But the horse stable she had seen earlier had smelled of hay, horses and piles of manure being removed that stank.
“What’s going on?” Sarah asked as she again threw the soggy ball and Bella ran down the hill to chase it.
Peter stopped in his story that mirrored the details Lena had shared earlier in the day. That both told her of the strife with the Campbell clan, Conall’s obligation, and Elspeth’s reluctance with similarities and yet different perspectives had not escaped her notice. They believe their story. Mix that with the scenery and her mind threatened to shut down.
“Ask your real question, Sarah.” Peter’s challenge had her eyes closing in defeat.
Taking a deep breath of air that smelled sweet, she exhaled slowly and turned to face him. Her hands sought pockets, but only found the soft wool of the gown in which she had been dressed. “I’m willing to go along with. . . but this seems to be more than a reenactment.” Her thoughts drifted to a cult of some type, but that wouldn’t explain how she had arrived.
“You are where I said you are.” His gaze stayed on hers until she looked away to again pick up the ball.
Before her tour, Lena had kept her company in what had been referred to as her chamber. The thin mattress had been re-stuffed with fresh hay and wool, furs had been brought to cover the floors, a fire had been lit to take the damp from the room and she had eaten. The simple meal of chicken, fresh bread and cheese had tasted like nothing she had ever experienced. Even the water she’d sipped had been pure and sweet.
“No one is playing dress-up here. You are in the Highlands in the year 1314. Can you accept that?” Again, he challenged her with the insane notion.
“Would you?” she asked as her gaze again focused on the village and its simple sounds that floated to her ears.
Peter chuckled. “It took me a while to, but I was a teenager when I came through.” He paused and then laughed. “The fact that I had been drinking that night did nothing to help me come to terms with my new reality. I fought it for quite some time.”
Sarah sat on the grass and without looking at him, asked him to tell her how it happened to him. Her energy began wearing thin in what seemed to be midafternoon. She knew enough to be certain she had come through the door into their early morning; sunshine never lied. But it had been after seven at night back at her home. I feel like I’ve been awake forever. Wherever she was, it was late spring with leaves on the trees opening, early May according to Peter, not the September day she’d known. Nothing made sense.
Sitting at her side, Peter took his turn with the drenched ball and then wiped his hand on the grass. “I had been drinking with a friend. We were going to get wasted and see a movie.” She could feel his gaze on her. “We wondered if the movie would be better a third time if we were drunk, so Dan had pilfered a bottle of his dad’s tequila and we had polished off quite a bit of it. There were miles of empty land outside the city and we used to go there to drink and smoke.”
Sarah managed a laugh at the mild rebellious behavior.
“Anyway, we were getting ready to leave when we saw light from over a small hill. We were afraid one of our parents had tracked us down, so we crept up the hill to take a peek.” He paused before letting out a sigh. “It wasn’t headlights. It was a door or whatever those openings are. Bright daylight came through it and likes two idiots, we moved closer to check it out. It’s weird, but I can still see the forest from our spot in the desert.”
Sarah closed her eyes and saw her own version of the door and Peter standing in it and understood what he was saying. She would never forget that sight as long as she lived.
“Dan dared me to go through it, so I did. The only problem was that I couldn’t come back. I was standing in a forest in the morning staring at Dan in the darkening evening in the desert.” Peter’s voice became soft and she heard the raw emotions he spoke of experiencing. “I was scared out of my mind. I couldn’t get back to my world and I tried. Shit, I tried over and over until the door blinked away. It was gone, and I was trapped. I can still hear Dan screaming my name as the door disappeared.”
Peter shivered beside her. “I just stood there frozen until I heard someone behind me. Long story short, it was Conall’s father. He found me and brought me here.” His arms gestured to the gate behind them. “I fought it and him for quite some time, even tried to run away before I believed what should never be able to happen.”
Sarah nodded and waited for him to kill the last of her hope of being abducted. “I’ve lived here for over twenty years and life has been good. Not perfect, but really good. I have respect, a home, and a family that loves me.” False laughter left his lips. “It’s more than I left behind.”
Sarah turned to eyes filled with pain. “What do you mean?” The therapist in her heard a cry for help and needed to ease his hurt.
“My parents and I were on rough ground together. They didn’t understand why I was out with Dan and not some pretty girl. We used to have fights. . .”
Leaning back on her hands, she knew where the conversation was headed. She’d had clients in similar situations before and had always assumed she would again. “Your parents didn’t approve of your sexual orientation.”
“That’s an interesting way to phrase it, but you’re quick on the uptake.” Peter laughed. “While you may not want to know that, I assumed giving you some of my story would help you adjust.”
His concept was solid. Some patients responded better when they knew they weren’t alone with issues and problems. Then her mind filled with the failure she had shared with Rachel, of the patient who didn’t want to learn from someone else’s mistakes. Pushing the reminder away, Sarah turned her head to hold Peter’s gaze that filled with uncertainty. “I have no issues with your sexual orientation. Honestly, it’s not that big a deal.”
“Seriously? It was something I never even really admitted to myself until several years ago. No one approves of that type of behavior.”
“Come on, gay marriage is legal, and you could adopt if you wanted. Why would I care?” Sarah threw back at him.
“I couldn’t get married.” Peter argued.
“Sure you can. I mean, I don’t know about here, but at home, yes, you could.”
“You forget when I’m from. No one approved in 1977. At least, not in my house.” Peter waited for her to react.
Sarah fell back onto the grass with earlier revelations of the day clicking in her head. He said he was from that year. The braid in her hair, compliments of Lena, could be felt as she tried to let the jumbled nonsense become solid. Her hand lifted to feel the frizz starting in the strands that had been smooth during her months in Arizona. I can feel the humidity in the air. Even my hair thinks this is out of control.
Turning her head to face him, she said, “This is all real, isn’t it?” She didn’t want it to be, but every fact pointed to the impossible being possible.
“Yeah. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” Peter’s sincerity struck her, and she closed her eyes at the loss that threatened to overwhelm her.
Will I ever go back? Rachel’s having babies. I need to be there. What will my family think happened to me?
“What do you, I mean, did you do?” Peter asked and one more level of reality crushed down upon her.
“I hold a Master’s in psychology with a specialty in cognitive behavioral therapy and am, or was, currently seeing patients in a clinic.” The certainty of a career loss added one more layer of insecurity. What I am now?
“Is that like a shrink?” His antiquated term spoke of age differences and references that had been obsolete for decades.
“Pretty much.”
She caught the spark of an idea in his eyes. “You could be a huge help if you could get Elspeth to come out of her chamber for more than only the evening meal. I’m not asking you to convince her to want to marry Conall, just to have her stop acting like we’re torturing her. She’s too dependent on her guard, who will leave after the marriage. The girl could use a friend.”
“I had originally thought she might need rescuing from this insane reenactment camp or cult,” she admitted without as much of a tease as she had planned. In the business we call that vocal tone defeat.
Peter laughed. “So that’s what was in your head. I like it and wish it were that simple. But then I missed a movie and miss my friend even more.”
Sarah sat up and rubbed the dog that plopped down at her side. “I’ll talk to her. But I don’t know anything about the psychology of arranged marriages, other than they are considered archaic, oppressive and potentia
lly dangerous to the bride.” She left out that the last person she wanted to befriend was the one who would have the man she had silently claimed as hers. What is that thought all about?
Peter laughed at her. “What’s there to know? Two people are being forced into a situation that neither wants for the sole purpose of peace. Wait, make that two purposes. There is also the hope that they have kids that bind the Campbell clan and the Draig.” Her jaw dropped with the implications.
“Are you asking me to calm her down enough to go through with having sex with a man she doesn’t know or want?” Her stomach heaved at the concept as disgust threatened to morph into outrage.
“Pretty much. But before you go off on me about the morality of the situation, because there isn’t any, you need to know this type of stuff happens every day in this time. The big difference here is that Conall is a decent man who won’t force her.”
Sarah sighed, wanting to believe that about the man who had carried her. Her mind whirled with what lay before her and the absurd twist her life had taken. This can’t be real. Again, she studied the village and contemplated the area around her without any notion of how to make it not real but failed.
“I’m asking too much, aren’t I,” Peter said rather than questioned.
“Maybe. Or maybe this is just too much to deal with, or maybe it’s all a delusion of sorts.” Sarah studied the trampled grass beneath her and noted the lack of conformity in the growth. Clearly no sod had been used and weeds mixed in with the grass, making it look like natural growth rather than a lawn to be tended. Everywhere I look I see that this is real.
A heavy sigh left Peter’s mouth as he rose and held out a hand to help her to her feet. Sarah took it and stood facing the man who challenged every precept of reality she knew. “I know it’s hard to deal with, Sarah. But I am here for you every step of the way.” He gazed to the sky. “I should head back inside and make sure everything is set for the announcement at the evening meal.” His gaze twinkled with amusement. “That’s dinner to you.”
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