Chapter 13 #2
“If ye go back, I’d like to go with ye,” Hamish said, he stood looming over Nick’s head. Sara hadn’t noticed his return, which was comical given how big he was.
Logan shot him an angry glare.
“I want to see what ’tis like. ’Tis the only reason,” he was obviously trying to appease Logan. Sara couldn’t help but laugh at Logan’s expression.
“Well, ye can only go if Edna allows it, and I dinnae think she will.” Logan spoke a bit more harshly than was necessary.
Sara thought it kind of adorable that Logan was jealous and trying to protect her from Hamish.
If Rory didn’t make it and she had to go back to San Francisco, Hamish might go back with her, but only as a friend.
She’d probably end up just like Zeke. No interest in finding someone to replace the love that broke her heart.
She latched on to Logan’s hand under the table.
He gave it a comforting squeeze and then proceeded to massage it with his thumb.
Kat joined them. “He’s still sleeping.”
“’Tis good. His body needs the rest to heal,” Nick said.
She sat next to Sara. “Thank ye, Sara. I’m so happy ye had the medicine fer him.”
“Thank Edna. She handed me the pouch at the bridge.”
“’Tis good she did. Who is this Edna? Ye’ve mentioned her before.”
“She’s the keeper of the bridge,” Nick said. “She helped me return home with Richard. I can’t believe I’ve never mentioned her to ye.”
“She’s a witch,” Sara explained.
They ate and talked and when they were done, Nick had duties to attend to, taking Logan along with him. Hamish went off to visit his cousin and that left Sara and Kat alone to talk.
“So, tell me, Sara. How long have ye been in love with Logan?” Kat asked as soon as the men were out of earshot.
Sara was taken aback by Kat’s straight forward question. “What do you mean?”
“I’m nae blind. Tis plain to see how ye feel.”
“I believe I’ve been in love with him from the first moment I saw him.” This was the first time she’d admitted that to herself.
“Truly love at first sight?” Kat leaned in with eyes wide and questioning.
“Yes.” Sara said. “Truly.”
“But there’s a problem,” Kat surmised.
“You’re good. Do you make a habit of reading minds?”
Kat laughed. “Nae. Only yers.”
“There is a slight problem. Logan is betrothed to Rory’s Aisla. He promised to marry her because … ”
Kat finished her sentence for her. “Because he’s a good man. The kind of man you want in your life.”
Sara nodded. “He gave his word and he plans to stick to it unless Rory comes back for her.”
“That may nae happen. There’s nae guarantee he’ll ever recover.”
“I know,” Sara sighed, “and I’ve resigned myself to the fact that if that happens, I will give him up.”
“’Tis verra noble of ye. How does Aisla feel about this?”
“I don’t know really. She knows Logan doesn’t love her in that way, but being an unwed mother in this time would be hard for her and the child.”
Kat’s face brightened. “She could come and live here with us. Rory’s bairn will be family and so will she.”
“That’s really kind of you. She’d still face criticism though, wouldn’t she?” Sara could not allow the small glimmer of hope to grow. There were too many variables, too many ways everything could go wrong.
“Nae. The doings of the Mackall Clan arenae something that those who are extended members of the clan are privy too. Nick’s mother and sisters would welcome a bairn to spoil.”
“Are they here? I haven’t seen them.”
“Nae. They’ve gone to Edinburgh to visit cousins along with Nick’s brothers Duncan, Aidan and Lockie.”
“Do they know about Rory?” Sara couldn’t imagine they would leave with him in this condition.
Kat appeared worried. “He was well enough when they left. We’ve sent word for them to return. I can only hope they’ll be back in time.”
“You don’t sound hopeful that he’ll make it.”
“He went downhill quickly.” Kat’s voice was soft as she looked towards the stairs that led to Rory’s room. It was clear that she cared for her brother-in-law and watching him suffer was taking a toll. “I have hope, but I’m also a realist. Rory is a good man. ’Twill hurt the family to lose him.”
“Don’t say that. He’s going to make it.” He has to make it.
“If your determination alone could make it so, Sara, then he’d be up walking tomorrow morning.” Kat leaned over putting an arm around Sara and touching her head to head. “Yer a good woman.”
Sara didn’t feel like a good woman. Originally the reason she was here was a selfish one and she couldn’t help wishing that Rory would recover quickly so that she could have Logan all to herself.
She was happy to have Kat to bear her soul to.
She’d been unsure at first, but she found that Kat was very intuitive and understood the situation perfectly. She didn’t judge Sara or Logan.
“So, tell me, if Edna didn’t send you to this time, how did you get here?”
“’Tis a long tale. I was born in this time, but in order to save me from some evil that was occurring at the time, the elves sent me to the future. I was but a babe at the time. I grew up there believing I was an orphan.”
“Wow! Did you say elves?”
“I did and they do exist, as do faeries.” Kat’s eyes sparkled as she spoke of the creatures.
“I grew up fascinated by history, which makes a lot of sense, now. I became an archeologist and was working on a project at Sinclair castle when I found a large emerald. I’d no sooner put it in my hand than I found myself back in this time. ”
“How did you meet Nick?”
“He saved me from some verra bad men. I had no idea at the time that I actually belonged here. I found that I have a brother and I was born at the very Sinclair Castle that I was working at as an archeologist. Nick and I fell in love and married. I’ve been here at Dunaill ever since.”
“So, there’s more than one way to time travel,” Sara mused.
“Aye. I believe there are many ways.”
“At least two that we know of,” Sara said. Maggie had been right when she’d told her to keep an open mind.
***
Logan was having a similar conversation with Nick as they made the rounds of the castle.
“Rory will much appreciate what yer doing fer him, but what of ye and Sara?”
“Sara kens the way of it. She has a kind heart and only wishes the best for Aisla and the bairn. She wished to find Rory and she has. ’Tis nae how she hoped it would be, but she can still go back home and have a good life.”
“Without ye?” Nick seemed astounded that Logan would be alright with that.
“Aye. ’Tis the way it must be. I’ve pledged meself to Aisla. We’d have been married by now if it wasnae for Sara.”
“Well, ’tis good that she’s here then. I’m to be an uncle and me mother a grandmother. Now we ken it and we can help Aisla. The little one shall be a Mackall. If the unthinkable happens, Logan, ye must come and live here with us. I can always use a good man like yerself by me side.”
“’Tis kind of ye. Aisla may nae wish to leave her Da behind. She’s his only child.”
“He’s welcome to join ye,” Nick clapped Logan on the back.
“I’ve much to think on, but first we must see if Rory will battle his way back to good health.”
“He’s so many here wishing him well and praying for his recovery, how could it not be so.” Nick was obviously an optimist and Logan appreciated that.
Until this point, he would have said he was as well, but the thought of losing Sara had done a lot to take that optimism away. He made up his mind to do as Nick was doing and look for the positive in this situation.
It was a lot less painful than the alternative.