Christmas In Delight: Delight Book Four

by Jennae Vale

  Conall was wary about this conversation. He had to be careful not to say too much.

  “I remember when I first arrived. It was all so new to me. What made ye wish to come to Delight?”

  “Me cousins. The Fletchers. They are needed back home.”

  “I was recently back home. I could no’ wait to get back to me wife and our new bairn. I did no’ believe I could feel so at home in a time…” Hamish cleared his throat. “In a place so different.”

  Conall heard the mistake Hamish made and the correction that came after. Could he be a fellow time traveler? “This may seem strange to ye, Hamish, but I must ask. Do ye believe in time travel?”

  Hamish almost spit out the mouthful of whisky he had just sipped and then almost choked on it as he swallowed. “Why do ye ask?”

  “’Tis something I’m curious about.”

  “Did ye hear something about me? Is that why ye asked?”

  “Nay.” Conall could tell him and if Hamish did no’ believe him he could laugh and say it was no’ true. “Me brother and I are from a different…”

  “Doona say it.” Hamish held up a hand to stop him from speaking. “I thought as much. Ye seem as out of place as I did when I first arrived.” A broad smile spread across Hamish’s face. “It should no’ be so hard to believe. If Donal and I did it, then so could ye.” He stopped for a moment and then slapped his thigh. “Yer cousins are time travelers as well.”

  Relief swept over Conall. This man understood what he was going through. He could speak openly to him.

  “How did ye get here? Was it the bridge? Did the witch send ye?” Hamish seemed quite excited and animated as he fired questions at Conall.

  Conall’s eyebrows collided as he tried to make sense of what Hamish was asking him. “Nay. We came through the cave.”

  “There’s another way to time travel then. It should no’ be surprising, but ’tis.” Hamish chuckled. “Are ye from the year 1520? ’Tis me time.”

  “Nay. 1747.”

  “Long after then.” Hamish took a sip of whisky and seemed to savor the taste for a moment before speaking again. “Ye said ye were here to bring yer cousins back home.”

  “I am. I hope they go peacefully.” Conall found speaking to Hamish to be quite easy. He didn’t have to censor his thoughts about his cousins.

  Disbelief was what Conall saw when Hamish spoke. “Why would they wish to leave? Why would ye?”

  “To save our clan, our land, our homes,” Conall explained.

  Hamish leaned forward in his chair. “Ye can no’ change history, Conall. ’Tis already written.”

  Conall was perplexed. “I doona understand.”

  “Has no one told ye the fate of the Highlands?” Hamish asked.

  “They have no’.”

  “’Tis no’ a good one.” Hamish sat back in his seat, sipping more whisky.

  Conall wondered what Hamish could be referring to. If he went back home and brought the Fletchers with him, they could retain their lands. The English told him so.

  “We’re back.” Amy and Gavin entered the lobby and waved when they saw Conall seated with Hamish.

  “’Tis me brother,” Conall explained.

  “I’ll go find Avery. You should talk to your brother,” Amy said.

  “Talk to me about what?”

  “We’ll talk later, brother.” Gavin sat down on the settee across from Conall and Hamish. “I’m Gavin.”

  “’Tis a pleasure to meet ye. I’ve been enjoying yer brother’s company.”

  “Hamish is here for the wedding,” Conall explained. “He’s time traveled as well.”

  “Have ye? There are more of us than I thought,” Gavin noted.

  “You’ve been gone all day.” Conall handed him a glass of whisky.

  “Amy took me to Reno.” He leaned forward, resting one arm on his knees. “We went to the library and to a place called a casino.”

  “I remember the first time I set foot in a casino.” Hamish, who seemed like a pretty happy fellow, smiled broadly. “What did ye think?”

  “I’ve never seen anything like it. The sounds, the lights, the people. I doona have enough words to describe it.”

  “Have ye been, Conall?”

  “Nay.”

  “Ye should go.”

  “I will no’ have time for that.”

  “’Tis a shame. If ye stayed here long enough ye’d never wish to return.”

  “I would no’ wish to leave me home.”

  “It may no’ be our home ever again.” Gavin’s face turned serious.

  “What do ye mean?”

  “The library has many books about Scotland and the Highlands. The English are no’ to be trusted.”

  “’Tis as I’ve told ye,” Hamish added.

  “Ye must believe me, Conall.”

  “Avery may need me. Please excuse me.” He had to get out of that room and Gavin’s daft talk. He couldn’t believe it. He’d been assured that the English merely needed Bear to claim their land and they would all be allowed to live there for the rest of their days.

  “Conall!” Gavin called after him as he hurried from the room, but he didn’t want to hear anymore. Not now.

  “We should no’ go back,” Gavin said to Hamish.

  “I would agree with ye. ’Tis no’ safe to go back.”

  “I don’t know how I’ll convince him.”

  “What of yer cousins? Can they no’ help ye?”

  “They doona trust us. They believe us to be traitors. Conall wishes to bring them back with us, willingly or no’.”

  “I take it ye wish to stay.”

  “I do. I can no’ think of leaving me Amy.”

  “Did I hear someone say my name?” Amy plopped herself down next to Gavin, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. “What did you do to your brother? He came into the kitchen looking like he was in a really bad mood.”

  Gavin’s mouth was set in a grim line. “I tried to tell him what we learned today.”

  “That would do it. Avery will calm him down, I’m sure.” Amy rubbed his back. “Don’t worry.”

  “What am I to do? I will no’ return with him.” Gavin knew he sounded defeated.

  “We’ll think of something. He’s got to stay. It would break Avery’s heart if he left.”

  Avery was Amy’s good friend and he understood how important it was to Amy that Avery be happy. “He believes he can convince her to go with him.”

  “That’s not going to happen. He’s not taking my friend back there.” The strength and determination he heard in Amy were two of the many things he admired about her.

  Amy seemed to suddenly realize they weren’t alone. “You must think we’re crazy.”

  Hamish laughed at this. “No more so than I.”

  She cocked her head. “Are you…?”

  “I am. 1520.”

  “Oh, wow! We’ve hit the jackpot on time travelers, haven’t we? That’s casino talk,” she explained to Gavin.

  The sound of a woman’s voice singing as she descended the stairs caused them all to look toward the doorway.

  “Elle Carrera! I am such a big fan of your music.” Amy was out of the chair and across the room in a split second. “I’m Amy Astin. I’m so pleased to meet you.”

  Elle laughed and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “I never in a million years would have believed a celebrity would make it to our little town.”

  “My sister is a good friend of Crystal’s. She would have come for the wedding, but she’s due any day now.”

  “That’s too bad. I mean, that’s not too bad that she’s having a baby, but that she’s going to miss the wedding.”

  “Priorities.” Elle laughed. “Do you work here at the inn, Amy?”

  “No. I’m across the street at the ski shop.”

  “I’ll have to come visit before we head home. I’m always looking for cute little clothes for our baby.”

  “Sure. I’ve got baby stuff
. Come over any time.”

  “Come sit with me, love.” Hamish held out his hand to Elle.

  “Excuse me.” She scooted around Amy and went to her husband.

  Gavin gave a chuckle when he saw Amy’s eyes wide with excitement. She sat down beside him again. He kissed her hand and held onto it, once again realizing how much she’d come to mean to him and that he could not leave her to return to his own time.

  “Oh, I was supposed to tell you that dinner will be ready momentarily.” She stood and Gavin followed. “Avery said we should go make ourselves at home in the dining room.”

  Avery could see she was going to have her hands full with Conall. He was upset about what he’d been told by Gavin and by Hamish, who she was shocked to hear was also a time traveler.

  “Conall, please don’t stress out about this. Amy and I both felt it would be good for Gavin to go to the library in Reno. There’s so much information available so you can make an informed decision before going back.”

  “You encouraged this?” The scowl on his face didn’t bode well for their conversation.

  “Yes. I did. I’m concerned about you and your brother. I don’t want anything to happen to either of you. I’m sorry if that isn’t what you wanted. Would you rather go back ignorant of the facts?”

  “Ye doona understand. ’Tis our home and it will be again.”

  “You can’t trust the English, you know.”

  “I’m no’ sure there is anyone I can trust.”

  His words were like a punch to the gut. Avery didn’t know what to say other than, “You can trust me and you know it.”

  “Do I?” He strode from the kitchen and from the sound of the front door slamming shut, she knew he’d left.

  The anger he’d expressed came as a shock at first, but the thing that stung the most was that he didn’t know if he could trust her. She leaned her hands on the counter, feeling helpless to do anything to save him from himself.

  Amy hurried into the kitchen. “What happened? Did you guys have a fight?”

  “It wasn’t a fight. He’s upset and he doesn’t want to listen to reason.”

  “Where do you think he’s going?”

  “That’s a good question. It’s freezing out. I don’t know what to do.”

  “You can’t go looking for him. You’ve got guests to take care of.”

  “I’m going to call Ross and Cassie. Maybe they can find him and make sure he’s alright.”

  “Good idea. Can you make sure everyone has a drink and maybe bring out the salads while I call?”

  “Sure. Don’t worry. He’ll be okay.”

  Avery wasn’t quite so sure about that.

  Conall was angry, hurt and unsure of everything he’d thought was true. The only thing certain was that he couldn’t stay at the inn a moment longer. He’d allowed himself to have feelings for Avery and he was sure she’d been trying to trick him into staying.

  He walked around back to where his horse was stabled, saddled up and headed back to the only place he felt he could go. It brought him closer to home than anywhere else in this town and no one would bother him there. Gavin would know where to find him.

  He rode along the edge of the dark road. An occasional vehicle passing spooked his horse, but Fergus trusted him and was back under control in no time. Light flakes of snow began to fall and Conall pulled the collar of his jacket up around his neck to block the icy wind.

  The farther he rode, the more he realized that his anger wasn’t serving him well. The lights of the ranch glittered up ahead and as he rode past, he noticed his cousins standing outside. Now was as good a time as any to convince them he was no traitor.

  “What are ye doing here?” Bear asked. Flanked by his brothers, they all took on a posture that told Conall they were ready to do battle.

  “I’m no’ here to fight. I’m here to talk.” He dismounted so he could look them each in the eye as he spoke.

  “Say yer piece and then be on yer way.”

  “I’ve come to tell ye that I am no traitor. Nor is Gavin.”

  “Yer in league with the English.”

  “To get our land back,” Conall stated. “I ken ye doona believe me. The English have promised me that if I bring ye back to them and ye sign an agreement no’ to stir up trouble, they will give the clan lands back. Ye doona need to stay. Ye can return to yer wives and yer life here. I ask ye for the rest of us. For those ye left behind when ye disappeared.”

  “There is no clan to go back for.”

  “I ken they’ve all scattered, but if ye came back, so would they. Ye can make me clan chieftain. If ye back me, they will be happy to rebuild what was lost.”

  Bear exchanged glances with Payton and Kade. “How do we know that if we return with ye, we’ll no’ end up imprisoned or dead?”

  “Ye must trust me. I’ve gotten to know the commander at Fort William he would no’ lie to me,” Conall answered in all earnestness.

  “What else have ye done for him?” Payton asked.

  “I swear to ye that I’ve only been a scout for him. I’ve only guided them through the Highlands. I would never do anything to hurt our people.”

  “We’d heard that you helped round up prisoners for them. Is that true?” Kade asked.

  “Only those who’d committed crimes that could be proven. We did our best to warn others that the Dragoons would be coming and that they should flee.”

  “They’ve made a fool of ye.” Bear seemed disgusted with Conall. “The people of the Highlands do no’ consider ye a friend. Yer life will be worthless, even as the chieftain of our clan.”

  He’d said what he wanted to say to his cousins. If they did not believe him then there was nothing he could do. The one thing he did know was that he wouldn’t force them to return with him. If they came willingly, so be it. He had little hope that would happen. “All I ask is that ye think on it.”

  He turned his horse and began to ride away when the door to the ranch opened and Cassie came out. “Conall, Avery’s worried about you. She wanted to be sure you were alright.”

  “Tell her I’m fine.”

  “Where are you going? It’s freezing out. She wants you to go back to the inn where it’s warm and dry.” Cassie wrapped her arms around herself. “She cares about you, Conall. Don’t leave her this way. She’ll blame herself.”

  “’Tis no’ her fault. She did nothing wrong. I will see her before I leave.” He turned his horse and trotted off toward the cave. He could stay there. When they’d rescued Amy and Avery, they’d left their supplies behind in the cave. He’d have food, water and a fire. It was all he needed.

  Chapter 14

  Throwing the covers off, Avery forced herself from bed. A little chill in the morning air was all she needed to get moving. She’d hardly slept a wink the night before. All she could think about was Conall. She hoped he’d been warm and he hadn’t frozen to death overnight.

  “He said he’d see you before he left,” Cassie had told her.

  The icy tile floor of the bathroom reminded Avery to put her slippers on. She rushed back to the safety of the carpet and slipped her feet into their fluffy warmth. She tried not to think about how devastated she was. She’d felt such a connection to Conall, but maybe he hadn’t felt the same.

  She wasn’t feeling it, but smiled at herself in the mirror, trying it on for size. Doing her best to look happy was going to be a challenge. She’d never been very good at hiding her feelings, but it was important today that she somehow pull it off. She had guests to see to. Amy and Gavin had gone back to Amy’s place. Although they’d offered to stay, Avery sent them on their way hoping that Conall would come to his senses and return to the inn.

  She set the coffee urn on the buffet table and laid out the pastries she’d bought from Rose the day before. She told herself everything looked perfect and would be. Once her guests came down for breakfast, she’d leave them to enjoy it and go about the business of the day. Another trip to the bakery would be on her list
. The wedding was tomorrow.

  Her phone rang. “Hello.”

  “It’s me,” Amy’s voice came through the phone. “Are you okay? Did Conall come back?”

  “I’m not good and no he didn’t. I don’t know what to do.” She didn’t want to cry. She had to maintain control. She had guests and an inn to take care of.

  “Maybe we should go to the cave and drag his butt back to the inn.”

  “That won’t work. If he doesn’t want to stay, I can’t make him.” He’d made that very clear.

  “If you need anything, you know where I am.”

  “I do. Thanks for being such a good friend.” What would she do without Amy? She was always there for her when she needed someone.

  “It takes one to know one. I love you, lady. I mean it. Call me.”

  Avery hung up just as Elle and Hamish came downstairs. “Good morning!” She put on her brightest, cheeriest voice.

  “Hi.” Elle scoped out the buffet. “Mmm…I’m hungry and everything looks amazing.”

  “Trust me. It is. Everything is from Rose’s Bakery, which is just down the street. Help yourself to whatever you like. I’ve got some errands to run. What are your plans for lunch?”

  “We’re heading down to the ranch. Cassie invited us.”

  “Great. I’ll be back in time for dinner. So I’ll see you then.”

  She left them filling their plates and went to her room. She’d called the cleaning crew and they would be there to clean and straighten up after Elle and the band left for the day. Everything else seemed to be in place. She glanced at her bureau and saw the gift she’d bought for Conall and hoped she’d have a chance to give it to him.

  Sitting on the foot of the bed, Avery mulled over her options and made a decision. She was headed for the cave. Conall would have to talk to her and maybe she could convince him to return with her. She wouldn’t take the gift with her. She was going to keep a positive attitude that he would return with her and she could give it to him on Christmas Day.

  Feeling better after coming up with a plan, she called Rose and placed her order. Walt said he’d drop it off at the inn before heading to his shop. She had an inn to run, which hopefully would take her mind off of Conall… at least for a little while.