Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
Brianna’s head was still spinning, long after dinner. She just couldn’t get Lachlan’s final words—the hardest to believe in a series of hard-to-believe words—out of her head. “Fate will take you where you’re meant to go, Breagha, I’m certain of it—whether you’re ready for it or not.” He’d said it so seriously, too. She’d searched for any kind of twinkle in his eye, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, but came up empty. So, either he was crazy—along with Dar and Celeste, which frankly was hard to believe—or time travel was real, they knew how it worked, and they were convinced that she was next.
She tossed and turned most of the night, kept awake by all the possibilities of what-ifs . Mainly, what if they were right? It would certainly explain how Lachlan, Dar, and Celeste had all sat at that table, delivering clear, watertight stories that felt natural—not memorized or fabricated—making it nearly impossible to deny their credibility, or at least that what they’d told her was something that they believed. Unless all three were suffering under the same unlikely delusion, they had her almost convinced. What if they were right? Yet every time Brianna teetered on the side of believing them, her more sensible side—the side that an accredited historian who dealt in facts—said it was impossible. But, what if ?
What if every choice she’d made in her life had led her here , to this very place to embrace her destiny—which according to the MacTavishes was hundreds of years in the past, her own family’s gloriously-magical (their words) past? No wonder her aunt and uncle had been only too happy to let her go call on the MacTavishes. Celeste had shared with her that it was she who had been the rightful claimant of the letterboxes—that the letters inside had been written to her by Dar centuries ago. Maybe Uncle Christopher and Aunt Michelle hadn’t been duped after all.
The new-leaf side of Brianna let herself imagine. She could visit her family, and see the letterboxes and Dunhill Manor in all their splendid and original glory. Good Lord, she could meet Cateline De la Cour herself, her favorite ancestor and true trendsetter of her time! For a moment, Brianna let herself get excited about the possibility of exploring in real life what she’d spent over a decade discovering in old dusty sections of libraries. Maybe it was part of her journey, her soul’s journey. Maybe that part of her, the terribly wounded part that she’d locked away, would finally get a chance to heal. Based on what Lachlan, Dar, and Celeste had shared, if this was her destiny, as it had been for them and several of their friends, then there wasn’t anything that could stop it. Unable to wrap her head around the implications of what that would mean for her entire perception of reality, Brianna settled on one thing: she would speak with her hosts in the clear light of day, and try to get some sleep tonight.
When she finally tossed the covers aside the next morning, she wasn’t sure what to expect when she went downstairs. Would her hosts be sitting around the table laughing, ready to explain that it had all been an elaborate joke? Or would they double down and continue to insist it was all true? Oddly, Brianna was beginning to feel that it seemed more likely that the time travel story was real.
When she entered the kitchen where the MacTavishes were setting up for breakfast, Brianna noticed that something felt different. An urgency, something in the air.
“What is it?” she asked, feeling suddenly apprehensive.
Dar glanced at Celeste before he reached for an envelope that Brianna hadn’t noticed, propped up against a fruit bowl. “When you arrived yesterday, I sent a courier to retrieve this.”
Brianna took the envelope and gasped as her eyes caught the familiar, flourishing script on its front. “I don’t understand?” she whispered, as her fingers brushed over the letters of her name. “This is from my grandfather. But… how do you have it? ”
“I believe it was given to Derek along with the sword.” Dar looked at Celeste, who was staring at him now, crestfallen.
“You never told me,” Celeste said.
“I meant to. I’m sorry, love. It was hidden in our safe. I may not have found it or thought to look more closely if we hadn’t sold the house. I just wanted to be sure nothing was left behind.”
“Wait,” Brianna shook her head, “You’ve had this…for how long?”
“Not very. But as it only said ‘Brianna’ on it, with no surname, it wasn’t until your call that I realized who it belonged to.”
Brianna barely waited for him to finish speaking before she had the envelope open and was unfolding the single sheet of paper waiting for her inside. She began to read:
My dearest Brianna,
If you’re reading this, then I suppose I’ve departed this earthly world, and you’ve discovered that the sword is gone. It’s imperative that you know that I was of sound mind when I sold it to Mr. Lowell, and while you may scoff at the dollars and cents of it all, I hope you will trust my judgment enough to know that it was the right decision. Rest assured that I believe this transaction was not only necessary but required to ensure our legacy and an outcome that even I (a full believer) never imagined. That’s all I’m able to say for now, but one day, you’ll know why I’ve done this. I think you’ll find that some part of you knew all along.
My eternal love,
Dougal O’Roarke
While vague, her grandfather’s cryptic words gave credence to Lachlan’s. Somehow, in some way, Brianna shared something deeper than family ties with this group of people. It was a lot to take in. All of it. Overloaded and overwhelmed, the newly minted fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants Brianna went back into hiding. A necessity, in order to process this whirlwind. At the very least, she would take a pause, using her standard cloak of ‘when in doubt, do nothing’ mode.
Thankfully, when she excused herself with a mutter of “I need some time to think,” she was met with understanding and warmth.
Lachlan gave her a fatherly smile. “Take all the time you need, lass.”
Grateful, Brianna slipped the envelope into her pocket and padded back upstairs, the cup of coffee Dar had insisted she take with her in hand. Once in her room, she did what she did best, and what had allowed her to excel in her particular line of work. Narrowing her focus, leaving the stories, the connections, the coincidence, and all the odd occurrences by the wayside, Brianna immersed herself in her surroundings, paying particular attention to the things around her. Her safe place. After a long shower, dressed in her favorite soft linen chinos and a simple top, she reached for her walking shoes but paused when she caught sight of the ankle boots from the fair. Selecting those instead, she tried them on and was surprised they were so comfortable—not only were they a perfect fit, but they were supportive, too. She took a moment to admire how they pulled her outfit together before grabbing a lightweight jacket and heading downstairs. On her way to the gardens, she passed through the kitchen, stopping short when she saw Celeste and Dar there, enjoying a bit of alone time sans Griffin.
“Oh no,” Brianna whispered, then blushed and covered her eyes.
Celeste and Dar laughed a little and waved her on. When Brianna was nearly out the door, Celeste called after her.
“Hey,” she said. “If you explore the tunnels, just be careful around the cliffs.”
“And stay out of the water,” Dar added.
They really were serious. Brianna raised her hand and assured them she would avoid the water, which really wouldn’t have been a problem anyway. Funny how vast open spaces scared the bejesus out of her, but mention of a dark, claustrophobic cavern piqued her interest.
Ditching her original plan of exploring the gardens, she passed through them and instead found her way to the tunnels on the far side of the property. Although the area was graced with a pretty sitting area, the entrance itself was hidden behind a beautifully manicured hedge. It was meant as a deterrent, but Brianna reminded herself that she had permission (as long as she didn’t jump) and squeezed through the dense vegetation.
Once inside, she brushed off her jacket and waited for her eyes to adjust, wishing she’d grabbed a flashlight. She smiled a moment later as soft lighting flickered to her left, and realized she must have triggered a sensor. The lanterns brightened the tunnel ahead as if calling her name, and she tread forward, excited to see what she might find.
Oddly, other than a few sitting areas nestled in the occasional alcove she passed, she didn’t come across much. Still, there was something compelling and inviting about the space, an energy that spurred her on, and Brianna lost track of time, winding her way through the cavern. When she heard water sloshing, she was confused and wondered if she’d somehow descended to the shoreline. It seemed impossible given how high up she’d been at the start, but as she followed the sound, bright light spilled into the passageway just ahead, and when she turned, she had to shield her eyes from the glare as she stepped into the large opening.
When her eyes adjusted, Brianna just stood there, absolutely stunned by the most beautiful, picturesque, and yes , God help her, magical setting she’d ever seen in her life. It was a hidden grotto, rival to none, with burbling tide pools cloistered beneath a natural rock ceiling. Worthy of any mythical court, yet far enough from the shore and open sea that it still felt safe, Brianna was giddy at her find. She was no expert when it came to geology, but she was a sucker for a pretty stone, and in an area as rich in minerals as this one, Brianna wondered if she might even get lucky and find a crystal.
Excited by the prospect, Brianna walked the rocky shelf between the gravel beach and hidden cove, crouching now and again in her search for treasure, always being careful with her footing. After making her way around the pools that were still full, and without spotting anything interesting in them, she worked her way back toward the rock wall where the pools were mostly empty in the wake of the receding tide.
A bit disappointed she hadn’t found anything, not even a polished stone, Brianna scanned the area one last time. Her gaze landed on a cluster of flat-topped rocks bathed in sunlight. Perfect, she thought. If she wasn’t going to be returning with her pockets full of pretty stones, then she could at least rest for a bit, and take in this beautiful setting. Making her way over to the rocks, she sat down gently, enjoying its warmth, and lifted her face to the sun. After the whirlwind of the last few days, it felt so nice to take in a deep, cleansing breath, and just relax—like, truly relax. She was having such a lovely time, all her questions and uncertainties temporarily forgotten—until a shout from afar nearly gave her a coronary.
Brianna looked up and saw that the shout had come from Dar, who was heading her way briskly, with Celeste and Lachlan in tow. Not sure what had them all so alarmed, she waved so they’d know she’d heard him, then stood to join them. When she looked back up, they were all running toward her, and Brianna saw that Celeste was carrying a large bag…a satchel she would swear even from this distance was hers. Actually— was that her satchel? They were shouting something, but the wind had picked up enough that Brianna couldn’t make out what they were saying. As they moved closer, the gusts intensified, echoing so loudly, she had to cover her ears. Feeling their urgency, Brianna started to hurry, moving at a steady clip, and trying not to imagine what kind of bad news they were running to deliver to her.
Closing the distance between herself and the others, Brianna passed another tide pool, and a bright glimmer caught her eye. She hadn’t meant to stop, but the collector in her got the better of her—as did the fact that she was almost certain she’d inspected that pool thoroughly already. Blocking out the calls from the MacTavishes, barely audible over the sound of the now howling wind, Brianna looked toward the spot where she’d seen the glint. Her breath caught when she saw it, a large golden coin of some sort, lodged in amongst the rocks. Like a moth to a flame, she was drawn to it, and reversed course, making her way to a shallow slope she’d noticed on the other side.
Operating in work mode now, Brianna’s focus narrowed as she ignored all other sounds and senses. Not her best move as it turned out. Nearly there, she slipped on a mossy stone and cried out as she stumbled. She flailed her arms, doing her best to avoid a haphazard fall, but gravity had already taken over. Using her forward momentum, she pushed herself up at the very last second, and without thinking, leapt straight toward the center of the pool. In those few seconds between her slip and when she landed, everything became eerily quiet, and a flash of what she could only describe as energy surrounded her—it happened so fast that she didn’t have time to be scared. Bracing herself, she landed hard, stumbling to her knees, her hands scraping the gritty sediment on the bottom of the tide pool. Dizzy, her heart racing from the adrenalin rush, Brianna stared at the rocky basin, blinking slowly until everything came into focus. She checked her hands as she caught her breath, picking out a few pebbles stuck in her palm, then once she ascertained there’d been no real damage, she turned her attention back to securing her treasure. As luck would have it, she’d landed inches from the coin and carefully dislodged it from its resting place. Holding it in both hands, she grinned broadly—it was a prize more than worthy of her embarrassing spill. What she’d first mistaken for a small coin, was actually a large hand-forged medallion. Although she couldn’t determine what exactly it was made from, it was in such good condition, that it appeared to be almost new. Brianna held it up to catch the light, admiring the beautiful circular infinity knot carved around the edge, floored that she’d found such a gorgeous artifact. When she turned her attention to the design on the face, her breath caught at the image of a beautiful and formidable bear, set in relief. Bears had always been an omen of good luck for Brianna—her father’s name, Arthur, came from the Celtic word for bear. She smiled, brushing her fingers over the raised contour, before turning it over. Brianna nearly dropped it when she saw the etching on the back. It was the same knot, the knot, the circular symbol that until yesterday had eluded her for most of her life. With a bear on one side, and that unique Celtic design on the other, she knew the medallion meant something. This couldn’t be a coincidence.
Excited to show the MacTavishes what she’d found, and hopefully get some answers, Brianna stood, waving it in the air and grinning like an idiot. But as she stared down the shore, not only was the path that they’d been on empty, it—and the rest of the scenery—was altogether different. The wide gravely expanse between the rock wall and open sea was gone, and the rock wall itself, from the cliffs and grotto where she’d first emerged from the tunnels to the shore far down the property line, was lush with vegetation that she was certain hadn’t been there before.
As she struggled to comprehend what had happened, she felt that odd energy-like sensation again. Like a buzzing in the air around her. When her bag appeared next to her, with a plop, Brianna froze and an ominous feeling crept over her—that somehow, she’d done exactly what she wasn’t supposed to do. Hoping she was wrong and doing her best not to panic, Brianna placed the medallion in her pocket, then bent to pick up her satchel. But as she riffled through it and saw that Celeste had packed everything Esmeralda picked out for her, her heart rate started to ramp up again—exponentially. Trying to control her shallow breaths and ward off a full-on panic attack, Brianna looked down the empty path again, hoping desperately that she would see Celeste making her way toward her. Oh no. No, no, no. She’d just wanted some time to explore her surroundings and not think about the MacTavishes’ extraordinary proposal and all that went with it.
Had she really… time-traveled?
Staring at the empty expanse, Brianna wondered how she’d gone wrong. She was certain she’d heeded Dar and Celeste’s warnings. Hadn’t she? She’d avoided the water, and as for the cliffs, well, she hadn’t even gotten close to an opening, so she surely hadn’t jumped. But then the memory of how she’d pushed off the rock—an instinctual, almost uncontrollable action—flickered into her mind, and she recalled how she’d leapt into the air before landing in the center of the tide pool. Wait. Did that count? As she looked back down at her bag, Brianna had a feeling that it did. No wonder they’d been running toward her—they knew, and she’d been oblivious. A strange yet vaguely familiar feeling came over her then, as she pulled herself up and out of the shallow tide pool. Fear. Real and total fear and uncertainty. She hadn’t felt it, not like this, not in decades—not since the night her parents died .
Shaking, and wondering what she was supposed to do next, Brianna’s ears pricked at the sound of a faint, wispy cry. Grateful for something, anything really to focus on, she turned toward the sound where a tiny little kitten stood only a few feet away.
“ Oh …hi, baby.” Thinking it was an odd spot for a kitten to be wandering around, Brianna gave a cursory sweep of the area, but couldn’t see any signs of its mama or litter mates. “Where’s your mama? Did you get lost? Or fall?” Brianna asked, looking up at the craggy rock wall.
The kitten just stared at her, then emitted another wispy yowl. Worried the little creature might run away if she reached for it, Brianna took a moment to brush the sand from her hands and her pants, smiling when it started walking toward her with an unsteady gait. Looping the strap of her satchel over her shoulder, Brianna adjusted it on her hip, then reached for the kitten, now at her feet. The sweet baby started purring as soon as Brianna cradled her against her chest.
She stood that way for a moment, giving and taking comfort too, until the distinct sound of horses in the distance put her on high alert. Brianna turned and nearly dropped the kitten when she saw a sizable contingent of men galloping down the long narrow stretch of shoreline, filling the whole beach from the shallows to the rock wall, a sight both beautiful in its symmetry and terrifying for its testimony. Brianna blinked, wondering if it was merely a figment of her imagination (or, had she somehow hit her head after becoming airborne and not noticed?) or was this more evidence that what she’d been told was true—time travel was indeed possible, and she’d just done it. After a few seconds, there was no denying—a figment, it was not.
As they rode closer, Brianna suddenly realized what she was wearing— pants , for starters—and reached into her bag, shifting the kitten to one arm so she could dig for fabric. Grabbing the crimson dress, she put it over her head, tugging the material over her modern outfit. With seconds to spare, she clutched the kitten and considered running, but the men stopped not ten feet from her. When one dismounted and began to approach her, she stood her ground, not that she had a choice, and decided to give it her best.
“Are ye lost, lass?” he asked, his Scots Gaelic more proof of what happened.
Apparently, Brianna’s best was silence at the moment. She hoped he thought she was shaking from being cold.
“Are ye hurt?” He asked, concern replacing curiosity. “Can ye tell me your name, lass?”
God help her, she hoped she was making the right choice. “Brianna,” she told him. “Brianna O’Roarke.”