The Scottish Siren

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Gilly shrugged. “Kennan went with them. All me sons as well. No one is willing to let Coira stay with those monsters. I hope Kennan is right that the McPhersons just need a healer for a little while. If so, they should be back soon. If not, we may be waiting for days while they negotiate for her.”

  “I hope they just need to borrow our healer, then.” Even though the healer was her husband, she knew it would be the easiest solution for everyone. No matter how it made her feel.

  Five

  After discovering where the fabric was, Beth and Kirstine invited Gilly to spend the afternoon sewing with them. Beth wanted to get to know her mother-in-law better, and she knew spending time alone was the worst thing for her when all of her sons and her husband were off risking their lives.

  They spent the afternoon telling stories and laughing. Beth told the others about New York City, and she could see the skepticism on their faces. She talked about flying in airplanes and what universities were like.

  “They allowed ye—a woman—to learn in this university of theirs?” Gilly asked.

  “They did. My university was actually half women and half men. In my time, women can do anything a man can do.” Beth shrugged. “I’m doing a job that was typically done by men, and I do it well.”

  “What else can women do?”

  “They can be doctors and lawyers!”

  “Doctors? Ye mean healers? Most healers are women.”

  Beth smiled. “That changes over the course of the centuries. There are still more men doctors than women, but it’s becoming closer. Women own property in my time, and they don’t need men to protect them. I have been alone since I started college, and I am completely independent. There is no man at all who sees to my welfare.”

  “What if ye are in danger?”

  “I call the police.”

  “Call?” Gilly asked.

  Beth smiled. “I guess I should show you my phone. I shut it off to save the little battery I had left. This will prove once and for all that I’m from the future.” She dug into her purse and pulled out her iPhone. “In my time, everyone carries one of these with them. You can talk to people on the other side of the world with one. And better yet, you can see them. So I could live across the ocean, and you could live here in the Highlands, and we could see each other and talk.” She pushed the button on the side of her phone to power it on and waited as the screen loaded. She still had half of her battery, thanks to her battery case. “In my time it does more than it will do here, because we have something called the internet.” She wasn’t sure how to explain the internet, and thankfully, neither of the other women asked.

  “What does it do here?” Gilly asked.

  Beth grinned. The only thing she could really think of was showing them how to play Candy Crush. She explained about matching the three pieces of candy that were connected and handed the phone to Gilly. Kirstine watched over the older woman’s shoulder, her eyes wide with excitement. “How do ye get your cooking and cleaning done with something like this to distract ye?”

  Beth laughed. “I’m not as into games on my phone as I am into books.” Her eyes widened. “I should show you my Kindle app.” She took the phone from her very disappointed mother-in-law and went to her Kindle app, showing the women how she had books there.

  “Ye have read all these books?” Gilly asked. “Ye must truly be very educated.”

  “Oh, these books aren’t exactly educational . . .” Beth blushed, before explaining. “These books are purely for recreation. I read them for pleasure.”

  Kirstine noted a handsome Scotsman in a kilt on the front of one of them. “I think they would bring me pleasure, too.”

  Gilly grinned. “I have been married too long to say anything about how handsome those men are. I do think me heart is beating a little bit faster, though.”

  Beth grinned. “And now you know why the books bring me pleasure.” She went on to explain about the entire romance genre and all the different books that could be read, ending in how she’d ended up there in Scotland.

  “So ye have always wanted to marry a laird?” Gilly asked. “Is it living up to your expectations?”

  “Well, the plumbing isn’t.” Beth briefly described modern bathrooms.

  “That would be heavenly!” Kirstine said. “No more carrying tubs into rooms and then filling them with water. I canna imagine anything quite so wonderful.”

  There were loud sounds coming from the first floor of the keep, and all three women dropped their sewing, hurrying out the door to see if it was the men.

  Gavin stood at the bottom of the stairs, a small girl in his arms. “They needed someone to heal their laird. As soon as I was done, they gave me everything they had taken, plus twice the cattle. They want to be allies because they want to be able to have access to me healing powers.”

  “And what did ye tell them?” Gilly asked, taking her granddaughter and holding her close.

  “We are going to have a meeting in a fortnight to discuss. I told them I was a newlywed and I dinna have time to talk about such things at the moment.”

  “Was anyone injured?” Beth asked, hoping they hadn’t lost anyone he loved.

  “Aye, Father was injured, but I healed him immediately. It was not a bad injury.” He yawned. “I need to have a bath in our room, and I must sleep.”

  Beth knew her duty, and she hurried to the kitchen to ask for a bath to be brought to their room. After she asked, she realized Kirstine was right behind her. “Ye should have sent me.”

  “I didn’t even think of it. I’m not used to having servants. I have always done for myself.”

  “Go see to your husband. Make sure he has no injuries of his own. Fuss over him and make him feel like he has done something truly heroic. Men need their ego stroked from time to time. Me mother has taught me well.”

  Beth grinned. “I’ll go do exactly that. Thank you!” She hurried toward her bedchamber, where she knew her husband would be. Gilly was still fussing over her grandbaby, and the rest of the women in the family seemed to be gathering around the two of them.

  When she entered the room, Gavin was stripped to the waist, and she was a little stunned at how truly glorious he looked. The men on the covers should wear their plaids with no shirts. If she ever ended up back in the twenty-first century, she’d make sure someone knew that.

  “Were you hurt?” she asked softly.

  Gavin shook his head. “Nay, but me healing takes a great deal of me energy. I am very tired.”

  “May I rub your shoulders?” Having never really touched a man, she was surprised at how much she wanted to touch the man’s shoulders.

  He nodded. “Aye. Mayhap it will help me relax.”

  “Do you want to be allies with the McPhersons?”

  “Nay. They have been our enemies for a long time, but it would save a lot of people heartache if we were. Then they could simply call on me to heal someone like the other clans do.”

  “That sounds like it would be for the best.” She walked up behind him and put her hands on his shoulders, rubbing them gently. She found a small knot, and she pressed it with her thumb, determined to help him in any way she knew how. “Tell me about it.”

  He gave a brief description of their run-in with the McPhersons. “As soon as we reached their keep, they brought little Coira out and gave her to her father. They explained that they needed a healer for their laird, and I immediately agreed if they would return everything they had taken. I went in and healed him. I have to say it was good they sent for me when they did, because the man was close to death. Something was wrong with his stomach, and it was about to kill him. I healed him, and then the entire party came back together. A couple of me brothers talked about coming back with Coira, but they decided that we would all be safer together.” He hid a yawn behind his hand. “That feels so good. Please dinna ever stop.”

  She smiled. She’d never even attempted to massage someone before, so she was pleased he liked her efforts. “I will h
appily keep going.”

  The tub was carried in then, followed by buckets and buckets of water. There was an entire line of servants carrying the water in. “I will leave you to your bath,” she said softly, hurrying toward the door before he started to take anything off.

  He chuckled. “Run away. But it will not stop things from happening between us, me blushing bride.”

  She closed the door behind her, wondering if he usually had someone help him with his bath as well. As laird she doubted it, but you never could tell. She went back downstairs to join the small group of women who were so pleased to see their men and the little girl who had been brought back to them.

  Gilly broke away from her daughters. “How is our Gavin?”

  Beth smiled at her use of “our” Gavin. She did need to share him with her mother-in-law. “Very, very tired. Other than that, he seems to be fine. He said he wasn’t injured at all and they were waiting to bring Coira out when the men arrived.”

  “I am glad he is all right. And Coira being home with us is a blessing. I dinna think I have ever been so frightened.” Gilly put her hand on Beth’s arm. “How are ye?”

  “I’m good. He’s up there having a bath, and then he’ll sleep. I’m going to make sure a meal is ready for him when he’s finished bathing.”

  “Healing takes a lot out of him. I am surprised they were able to make it back today without stopping to sleep.”

  Kennan interrupted from behind Gilly. “He rode double with me. I kept him upright while he slept.”

  “I should have guessed,” Gilly said softly. “Thank ye for bringing all of me bairns home safely.”

  “It is me job as their father, just as much as it is yours as their mother.” He drew his wife to him and rested his cheek atop her head. “I was worried when they wanted him to go in alone, but I knew I could go in after him if necessary. Even if they locked me out.”

  “You really can make yourself intangible then?” Beth asked, surprised. She knew Gavin had told her of the magic in their family, but she hadn’t been certain she should believe it.

  “I really can.”

  Beth nodded. “I will go talk to Morag about food for the men.”

  “Thank ye,” Gilly said with a smile. “It will be nice not to have the lady’s duties and let them pass on to ye.”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for them, but I will do my best.” Beth rushed to the kitchen, where Morag was already starting a meal. “Will you make something I can take upstairs to Gavin, please?”

  Morag nodded. “I am working on it. He will want lots of food. More than any man should eat, but after a healing, he is always famished.”

  “Do the other men get tired when they use their powers?”

  “Not the way Gavin does. I think it must have to do with his healing power.” Morag turned away, putting food on a tray. “This is all for the laird. Make sure he eats every bite, and if he wants more, send someone to fetch it for him. He will need as much as he can swallow.”

  Beth took the tray and hurried out of the kitchen with it. Kirstine shook her head at her. “I should be carrying that.”

  “Too late now,” Beth answered. “I’m used to doing for myself.”

  “I know.”

  Beth left the maid in her wake as she hurried up the stairs and into the bedroom. She’d forgotten Gavin was bathing and found herself blushing as soon as she walked in. “I brought you food, and now I’ll leave you to eat it.”

  Gavin laughed, reaching for a drying cloth and wrapping it around his waist. “Ye are going to have to get used to seeing me this way, lass.”

  “I might someday, but it definitely won’t be today.”

  “I can see that.” He walked to sit on the bed and reached for the food. “Sit with me while I eat.”

  Beth wanted to run, but she didn’t want to make him unhappy either. What would he do if she did? Take her back to where he’d found her and leave her? She knew that never happened in the novels she’d read, but novels weren’t real life. And no one really knew what things had been like in the thirteenth century, did they? “I’ll stay.”

  “How was your day? Why was Mother here when we arrived home?”

  “Kirstine and I went to her to ask her to sew with us. I had never picked up a needle before, and I’ve done a little sewing today. Nothing like your mother and Kirstine can do, of course, but better than I could do yesterday.”

  “What are the three of ye sewing?”

  Beth grinned. “Clothing for me. I have nothing but a borrowed nightgown and a borrowed dress. It might be nice if I could have some clothing of my own for a change.”

  “I burned your other clothes. I was afraid they would be found, and I didna want people to think ye were a witch.” Gavin finished his first bowl of stew and started on the second without pausing. By her accounting, he’d also eaten six biscuits.

  “I think that was wise. I won’t need them again.” She was happy to hear her bra had been burned but sad she hadn’t been the one to do it. Bras were evil and should all be destroyed. It actually made her feel good to know that they hadn’t been invented yet.

  “I will probably sleep until morning once I am asleep. I know ’tis strange, but I sleep and eat a great deal more than your average man after I have healed someone. The healing takes a great deal out of me.”

  “I would think so. It has to be using everything inside you.”

  “I am honestly not certain how it works, but it feels like the power is coming from deep within me and using up all of me.” He shook his head. “I would have healed the McPherson if I had only been asked. I dinna care if he is me enemy or not. Mayhap we need to let that spread throughout the Highlands so no one else feels the need to abduct one of me nephews or nieces. Or one of our sons.”

  “Is it possible to send an envoy to each of your enemies telling them that? I know it would be strange, but it could keep something like this from happening in the future.” Beth knew it had to be a ridiculous idea, and she wished there was a post office, so they could mail each of them a letter. Of course, with the percentage of people who could read in this century, there was a good chance no one would understand the message anyway.

  “I suppose it could be done.” He stood and yawned, having completely cleaned the tray.

  “Do you need more food? Morag said there was plenty more if you were still hungry.”

  He shook his head. “Nay. At this point I need sleep more than I need sustenance.”

  She got to her feet and picked up the tray full of dirty dishes, noting there was not a single crumb left. “Is there anything else I can do to make you more comfortable?”

  “Nay. Go and finish your sewing or do anything ye would like. I will sleep.” Gavin didn’t wait for a response as he climbed beneath the covers, his drying cloth falling to the floor.

  Beth turned her back and hurried from the room, closing the door behind her. She could hear his laughter through the closed door, but she was determined to ignore it. Her new husband had a strange sense of humor, but she needed to let him be who he was. He had just healed his enemy after all.

  Why, the man was practically perfect in every way, and no one could tell her differently. Absolutely no one.

  She took the tray back to the kitchen and sat on the edge of the circle of people celebrating the return of the men and child. Instead of trying to be part of them, she observed them all, enjoying every single minute of the conversation. All too often the conversation switched to Gaelic, and since she could barely understand their English, the Gaelic was much too hard for her. It wasn’t a language she had any familiarity with.

  As she watched them, for once she didn’t feel like an observer. She had a place within these people, and it was a place she would always have. Soon, she’d be having a baby as well. At least that’s what everyone kept telling her. She just hoped that Dr. Lachele’s spell or whatever it was she’d done had been permanent. She needed to stay in this world forever. A world where she belonged and wher
e she was married to a handsome Highland laird. A world where a woman called her daughter. A world where life wasn’t quite as hard.

  She sighed. Never had she thought she would find a place with no indoor plumbing easier, but it seemed to have happened. Only here for two days, she already felt as if she truly belonged in a way she never had in her own century.

  Gillian smiled over at her, making sure she knew she was allowed to be part of the group instead of observing it, but Beth didn’t need the reminder. She just needed the space.

  As she watched children and men and women, she had to wonder what her and Gavin’s children would look like. She said a silent prayer that she would stay in the thirteenth century forever. Right where her husband was.

  Six

  By the time Beth woke the following morning, Gavin was already out of bed and had started his day. She lay awake for a moment, wondering if their marriage would ever be a real one, before she got out of bed and started to dress for the day. She still needed help with the plaid, but the rest of her clothing she could don herself.

  She had just finished putting her dress on when Kirstine came into the room. “Do ye need help dressing?”

  Beth sighed. “I hope that someday in the not too distant future, I’m going to be able to say no to that question. Otherwise, you’re going to have to dress me for the rest of my days.”

  Kirstine giggled softly. “I would like to know what ye wore that was so different in the future. Women still wear dresses, do they not?”

  “Yes, they wear dresses . . . sometimes. Most women I know wear pants the majority of the time.”

  “Truly? Trousers? Why would women do that? Do they not feel as if they are unfeminine?” Kirstine shook her head. “I canna imagine being as comfortable in trousers as I am in me dress and kilt.”

  Beth shrugged. “It’s easier to run around in trousers without worrying about always keeping your legs together and looking like a lady. I think that’s why most women prefer them.”