Chapter 9 #2
The bed was turned down for her so all she had to do was climb in, curl up and fall asleep, but instead she thought about Zeke.
It seemed everyone she wanted to talk to was unavailable to her, with the exception of Helene.
She always talked things through with Zeke.
He was a lot like her grandfather. He was steady, strong and very wise, despite his age.
She knew he’d understand exactly how she felt and he’d probably have some great advice for her, if there was a way to speak with him.
“Not much you can do about that,” she said to herself.
“It will all work itself out. I have faith.”
***
Edna stared into the fireplace in her office, unaware that Maggie had joined her. The flames were returning to normal after her visions of Sara at Breaghacraig cleared.
“Auntie,” Maggie said. “Are ye alright?”
Edna shook the last of her trance off. “Aye. I am, love.” She gazed at Maggie who had moved to sit with her on the floor. “Did ye see anything in the fire, Maggie?”
“Nae. What were ye seeing?” Maggie asked.
“I was checking in on Sara and Logan.” Edna stretched to alleviate her achy muscles.
“I thought you said you couldn’t interfere,” Maggie said.
“I cannae, but that doesnae mean I dinnae care.” Edna leaned her head on Maggie’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Auntie, I didnae mean it that way.”
“Sara and Logan are a puzzle that must be solved by they themselves. She seemed quite sad just now. Missing her brother and her grandfather and needing their sage advice.”
“Ye ken who else could give her some good advice, dinnae ye?” Maggie stood and went to the cabinet where Edna and Angus kept their whisky. She poured some for the two of them and brought Edna a glass. “Can ye nae speak with her through the fire?”
“I could, but ’tis not up to me to solve her problems. She will learn a great deal about herself from this ordeal.”
“I see. So, you can manipulate without manipulating. Is that what yer saying?”
Edna laughed. “Maggie, I love ye.” She sipped her whisky. “I guess I can. I’m thinking though that there may be another way I can be of service without directly helping Sara and Logan.”
Maggie waited for Edna to tell her what that might be, but as was often the case, Edna remained lost in her own thoughts.
“Auntie … ”
“Yes, Maggie?”
“Are ye going to share with me?”
“Not this time.” Edna smiled as her niece rolled her eyes. “I will eventually, but fer now I’m going to keep this one close to my heart. I’ve got some thinking to do.”
“Okay. I can accept that.”
“Have ye looked in on them yerself? I ken you would like to.” Edna continued to sip her drink.
“I have,” she was embarrassed to admit. “I want to reach right through the fire and shake the both of them. They’re being so silly.
There is a solution to their problem, but it will take action on both their parts.
” Maggie shook her balled up fists in the air, then sighed and dropped her hands to her lap.
Edna laughed at her frustration. “Ye’ll be happy to hear that Sara is about to do exactly as ye wish. How it will turn out, I dinnae ken, but like ye I’m happy to see her taking the bull by the horns.”
“Let’s hope she doesnae get gored in the process,” Maggie worried.
“I have faith in her, but we’ll see.”
“What are ye two up to now?” Angus stood in the doorway, eyeing them both.
“Angus, love,” Edna beckoned him over.
“How’s Sara doing? I ken ye’ve been checking on her.” Angus moved closer to the women.
“Not as well as I would like, but she has an opportunity to move things in the right direction.”
“Well, I’m about to move things in the right direction, meself. I’m off to bed. Ye need yer rest, Edna. Ye cannae expect to solve the problems of the world without a good night’s sleep.” He reached down a hand to help her stand, then pulled her close.
Maggie laughed. “You too are so cute together.”
“I’ve never been cute a day in me life,” Angus protested.
“I beg to differ,” Edna said. “Ye were quite cute to me the first time I met you at the bridge.”
“Only the first time?” Angus looked hurt.
“Nae, me love. Every time.” Edna touched a finger to his nose.
Maggie loved Edna and Angus’ relationship. They had been married many years, but they still behaved as if their relationship was new and fresh. Edna was now firmly ensconced in Angus’ arms. “Go on, Auntie. I’ll clean up down here. Good night.”
Maggie watched them leave and then went to find Dylan. He was probably still in the kitchen. She walked through the darkened dining room to find him. As he folded his towel and placed it on the rack, Maggie could see that everything was sparkling clean. “I was coming to see if ye needed any help.”
“No. I’m all done. You ready to go back to the cottage?”
“I told Auntie I’d finish up down here, so I’ll be there in a bit.”
“I’ll help you,” Dylan said.
“You don’t have to. I can do it.”
“I know you can, but I want to. It’ll give me some extra alone time with you.” He playfully slapped her butt and headed out into the dining room.
They checked to make sure all the candles had been extinguished. Dylan had already set the tables for the next day. They went through the lobby and straightened the chairs, the newspapers and magazines.
“How’s everything with our time traveler?” Dylan asked.
“Not great, at the moment.”
“It must be driving Edna crazy that she can’t do her thing in this case.” Dylan went behind the over-sized mahogany desk piled high with papers and books. He straightened everything and made sure the filing drawer was locked.
“I’ll say. I found her staring into the fire. She’d been looking in on Sara and Logan. She’s up to something though.”
“Really? What?”
“She wouldn’t say, but mark my words, if she finds a way to affect their relationship for the better, she will.”
“I don’t doubt it. She’s a master in the matchmaking department. Look at us.” Dylan came out from behind the reception desk and Maggie sauntered into his arms.
“I love you,” she said. “I’m happy she matched us up.”
“I like to think we’d be together even if she hadn’t helped.”
“You could be right, but let’s not tell her.”
They put out the lights and made their way through the darkened dining room and kitchen, out the back door and to their cottage.
***
The glow of the moon on the water was so beautiful.
Logan gazed up at it and wished Sara was sitting here with him enjoying it.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to put her out of his mind.
If only Aisla would confide in him. If he knew who the father of her babe was, he’d go find him, beat him soundly and drag him back.
It angered him to think that whoever this man was, he’d taken advantage of Aisla’s sweet nature and then left her to fend for herself.
He lied to her about coming back for her and at the very least, he deserved a good beating.
This unknown man was having an effect on Aisla’s happiness and now on Sara’s and Logan’s.
There had to be a way for him to find this scoundrel.
He’d been so swept up in loving Sara that he’d forgotten the reason he’d taken her into Robert’s office.
He wanted to know what she’d found out. With this man’s name he could solve this whole dilemma, but that wasn’t what Aisla wanted and he had to respect her wishes, no matter that it meant the end of any hope he may have had to be with Sara.
He stood and slowly made his way back up to the path and then to the barracks.
It was dark and everyone had retired for the night.
He was the last one in. Being one of Breaghacraig’s captains, he had inherited Dougall’s private chamber when he’d wed Helene.
He found he liked his privacy. It was good to get away from the others, to have a place to think and, tonight, a place to mourn the loss of the woman he loved.