Chapter 13
Rory’s room was dark when they entered, his still form barely visible in the bed.
Sara walked to the window and grabbed hold of the shutters blocking the sun. “May I?”
“Yes, please,” Kat responded.
Sunlight flooded the room and Sara got her first good look at Rory. There was no doubt he was Nick’s brother. The same dark hair and tall physique were obvious to her even as he lay in bed. It was also clear that he had lost muscle mass since the time of his accident. He did not look well.
“Rory?” Kat softly said as she sat on the edge of the bed and reached for his hand.
His eyes opened and then closed again. “Rory, I’ve brought someone to see ye. She has something with her that may help ye be well again.”
It was as if he didn’t hear her. No movement came from the bed. Kat motioned Sara over and switched places with her. “Rory. My name’s Sara. I’ve come here with some news for you. Some news from Ailsa.”
At the sound of her name, his eyes opened again and he gazed steadily at Sara.
“You know Ailsa, right?” Sara asked.
His lips moved, but no sound was emitted. He tried again and this time croaked out, “Aye. Ailsa.”
“She was wondering why you didn’t come back for her.”
“I’m sorry. Wanted to.” His voice was getting stronger.
“We’ll talk more in a minute. I’ve brought some medicine for you.
I’m going to give some to you now. It should help you to feel better.
” Sara motioned to Logan for help. “Hold his head up so he can swallow this.” Logan did as instructed, and Sara placed a pill in his mouth and then gave him water to drink.
Rory swallowed it, but it seemed to sap him of all his energy. He sagged back into the pillow, eyes closed. Sara glanced at Logan who wore a concerned expression on his face.
“Rory?” Sara wasn’t sure whether he was still awake or if he had fallen back into unconsciousness. It took a moment, but he opened his eyes again.
“Aisla. Why didnae she come with ye?” he asked.
“She doesn’t know we’re here. Rory, Aisla is with child. Your child.” She heard Kat gasp on hearing this.
A lone tear trickled down his cheek. “Love her,” was all he could manage to say. “Tell her I love her.”
“We will,” Sara said, but you’ll be able to tell her yourself. You’re going to be better soon. I promise.” She didn’t know that she could promise anything of the sort. She was trying to give him a reason to pull through. A reason to live. “She loves you, too.”
There was no way of knowing if he’d heard her.
He appeared to be sleeping deeply, so she let go of his hand and wiped the tears from her eyes.
The sadness she felt for Rory and Aisla was compounded by the sadness she felt for herself and Logan.
She’d never been a very religious person, but she said a prayer now that Rory would live.
Her reasons were no longer purely selfish ones.
She wanted Aisla, Rory and their child to be a happy little family.
“Please God, if you can hear me. Please don’t take Rory away from Aisla.
She loves him and needs him. Please make him well again. ”
The others in the room solemnly watched and listened. Kat went to Sara. “I’ll take care of him now. Do you have the prescription bottle? I’ll see that he takes the pills.”
“Did you say prescription bottle?” Sara looked up at Kat, eyes wide.
“Aye. Yes, Sara. I’m a fellow time traveler and so is Nick.” Kat smiled.
“Amazing! So is Logan!”
“We’ll have to speak more about our experiences, but for now I’m going to tend to Rory.” Sara moved to the end of the bed so Kat could take her seat. She looked back at Rory, he was lying there so still.
“Thank you, Sara.” Nick came to her and wrapped her in a hug.
“I’m just trying to help,” she said.
“Is it true? Is Aisla carrying Rory’s babe?”
“She is,” Sara answered.
“Then ’tis good ye came. Shall we go downstairs and break our fast.” Nick motioned towards the door.
“I’m sure Logan is starving.” Sara smiled lovingly at him.
“I am, but you ken I’m always hungry,” Logan replied.
They quietly left the room and went down to the great hall where they met Hamish who was already fully involved with his food.
“There ye be,” he observed.
“I thought you were going to see yer cousin,” Logan said.
“Aye. I am, but nourishment comes first,” Hamish replied.
“I see yer nose led ye to the food early,” Logan said, sitting down beside him. “Have ye left any fer me?”
“Where have ye been?” He eyed Logan suspiciously and then glanced at Sara with a warm smile.
“We were up in Rory’s room,” Sara answered as she took a seat next to Logan. Nick sat across from them.
“How is he?” Hamish asked.
“’Tis hard to say,” Nick said. “We can only hope that the medicine Sara brought with her will help.”
Hamish eyed Sara with question.
“I had it in my pouch and just remembered it this morning,” she said.
A servant brought food and ale to the table.
Sara had yet to get used to all this ale drinking.
Ale, wine, whisky and water were all she’d been drinking since she’d arrived.
She tried to stick to the water as much as possible.
Helene had a well with the purest water she’d ever tasted.
If she could bottle it and bring it back to San Francisco, she’d be a millionaire in no time.
“Could I have water,” she asked the servant, who nodded and hurried off to retrieve it.
“Is Hamish in on yer little secret?” Nick said, piquing Hamish’s curiosity.
“He’s not,” Sara chuckled.
“Secret?” he asked.
Sara laughed. Hamish was going to be a hard sell, but how could he dismiss what they had to say when so many of them were saying it. He appeared as if he might come right out of his skin if they didn’t tell him in that instant.
“Hamish, ye may nae believe what we’re going to tell ye, and ’tis a secret, so ye must keep it to yerself. Ye ken?” Logan waited for an answer.
Hamish looked from one to the other, to the other and then nodded his agreement.
Sara laughed at the comical way he was staring at them. When she had managed to get herself under control, she said, “I might as well just come right out and say it. ‘I’m from the future.”
“Hah!” Hamish barked. “I dinnae believe ye. Yer having fun at me expense.”
“’Tis true,” Nick confirmed. “She is from the future. I’ve been there meself, as has me wife.”
“Logan, do ye believe them?” Hamish asked.
“Aye. I’ve been there too,” Logan replied.
“Nae. It cannae be.” It seemed he didn’t believe them.
“But ’tis.” Logan caught Hamish’s eye and looking directly at him repeated with conviction. “’Tis.”
Hamish pushed his trencher away, despite the fact that it was still filled with food. “Why are ye telling me this? I’ve been happy enough nae believing in any such thing.”
“We thought it might be easier for you to understand some things about me. Like the medicine I brought with me.”
“I’ve thought all along that ye were different from the lasses at Breaghacraig.” His brows raised and his mouth opened in surprise. “Yet yer much like the Ladies Ashley and Jenna.”
“I am.” She couldn’t help chuckling at his astonishment.
“Who else has traveled to the future?” Hamish asked. “Cailin, Cormac, Dougall, Helene,” Logan listed them all off to him.
“Am I the only one who hasnae?” he seemed incredulous.
“Nae. Ye are one of the few people who’ve been entrusted with this information. I hope ye’ll keep our secret, Hamish.” Nick Mackall leaned across the table as he spoke.
“Aye, sir. I will.” He shook his head in apparent disbelief. “If ye’ll excuse me, I must walk outside in the fresh air.” He got up and left the hall, shaking his head the whole way.
“Where are ye from, Sara?” Nick asked.
“San Francisco.”
“’Tis where I lived when I was there.” He seemed pleased to hear she was too.
“Really?” Sara asked.
“Aye. I ran a medieval martial arts studio in the city.”
Sara’s eyes flew open. “Are you kidding me? Of course. You’re Nick Mackall! I’m such a dummy. I should have known. My brother Zeke worked for you.”
It was Nick’s turn to look shocked. “Zeke! He’s a good man. How is he?”
“He’s great. He’s still running the studio and living in the same place.”
“I’m happy to hear it. I miss him a great deal. He was a great help to me.”
“He talks about you all the time. If you didn’t already know it, you helped turn his life around. And that, in turn, helped me. So, thank you.”
Logan was looking quite puzzled by their conversation. He knew Zeke and he’d seen the medieval martial arts studio. He rubbed his chin in a gesture Sara was coming to understand meant he was thinking.
“Isn’t this amazing, Logan?” She didn’t wait for his answer, instead speaking to Nick again. “Logan was in San Francisco, too. He came with Dougall MacRae and they both saw the studio and met Zeke. Do you know Wade Granville?”
“Aye! Wade! He worked with me as well.” Nick’s excitement at hearing about his old friends was palpable.
“He still works with Zeke. They make a great team.” Sara was happy Zeke had someone he could rely on while she was away. Wade would be sure Zeke didn’t overdo it with work.
“They both deserve a good and happy life,” Nick said.
“I worry about Zeke though. He works all the time and he really has no personal life.”
“No woman?”
“No.”
Nick seemed perplexed by this. “He never had a problem with women when I knew him. What’s happened?”
“His heart was broken,” Sara said, casting a glance at Logan. “He threw himself into the studio when she left.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. I hope he doesnae let it deter him in the future.”
Sara could see that he truly meant it. “Hopefully not.”
“I cannae believe yer here. Zeke’s sister! What will he do without ye to look after him?”
Sara felt guilty again. She looked down at the table, “I don’t know.” She shook her head, “I may be going back. It depends on what happens here.” She chanced a look at Logan who also seemed to be studying the table.