Chapter 12 #2
Donal’s strong arm wrapped around Tina felt good.
Better than good. She was secure and unafraid, knowing that he would see them safely from this time to the next and that they would both do whatever was necessary to get Elena the help she would need.
She wanted to tell him she forgave him, but the words stuck in her throat.
Why was she so difficult? She didn’t even know the answer to that question, so she remained silent.
She recounted all the times in her life she had been thoughtless and unkind to her sister.
Selfishly wanting her to give up her career to stay at home with the family instead of following her passion.
Tina wasn’t perfect and she knew it, but why did she expect everyone else to be?
Why did they all have to play by her rules?
Maybe it was time for her to rethink that whole thing.
She was going home. Once she got back to her own time she wouldn’t be returning.
She hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye to anyone, but she hoped they knew how much she appreciated everything they’d done for her.
Things may not have turned out the way she planned, but it had been an adventure of sorts.
As they rode, the sky began to darken and Tina worried it might get too dark for them to see where they were going. “Logan said it might rain,” she said.
“We’ll make it to the bridge before it does,” Donal said.
“Will we get there before dark?”
“I’m hopeful we will.”
“When I get back to my own time, I won’t be coming back here with you.” There she’d said it.
“I understand.”
Tina wasn’t sure what she expected him to say or even what she hoped he would say. “Don’t worry. Elena will be okay. The doctors there will know exactly what to do.”
“I ken ye dinnae wish to hear this, but I’m verra sorry for lying to ye.”
“I know you are.” Could she say it? Could she tell him what he needed to hear. “Donal …”
“Aye.”
“You’ll never know how hard it is for me to say this, but I forgive you. I’m learning that no one’s perfect, especially not me and I should have given you a chance to explain yourself.”
He pulled her tighter against his strong chest where she felt warm and safe. “Thank ye, lass. I didnae want ye to hate me, especially now that yer going back to yer own time and I’ll nae see ye again.”
“I don’t hate you,” she protested. Had she really given him that impression.
“My wish is for ye to remember me with some fondness, as I will ye.” He placed a small kiss against her temple then sat up straight. The movement put a small amount of distance between them and yet it felt like a chasm.
This was bad. He was tugging on her heartstrings.
The sincerity in his voice told her she’d been a fool where he was concerned.
Damn her high expectations. But this was what she did.
She held every man she met to some unattainable moral code in order to sabotage her own happiness.
But why? If she only knew the answer to that question it might solve all her problems. She still had feelings for Donal, but it seemed she was willing to throw that all away because of her own stupid pride.
“Donal, when we get to my time and once we know Elena will be alright, we need to talk. I haven’t exactly been fair to you.”
“The bridge is just up ahead,” he said. “I don’t know what we’re to do when we get there.”
“I think we just wait.”
***
“Maggie,” Edna yelled from her office desk. “I need ye.”
“Coming,” Maggie answered.
A few moments later she appeared. “What do ye need?”
“We’ve got to get Tina, Donal and wee Elena back here.”
“You’ve done that a million times. Why do ye need my help?”
“This time they’re coming from a different bridge. Ye ken I’ve only worked with the two.”
“Oh!” Maggie seemed at a loss. “Can we do that?”
“I don’t know, but I hope so. The bairn is quite sick. She needs some twenty-first century medical attention.”
“That goodness Dr. Ferguson’s nephew took over his practice. What’s wrong with her?”
“I’m nae a doctor, lass. Ye ken it.”
“Sorry. Silly question.”
They stared into the flames of Edna’s hearth waiting for the trio to appear.
“I can see the bridge,” Maggie said. “Is anyone waiting for them here at our bridge?”
“Yes. I sent Teddy. He should be there by now.”
“Well, at least we’ve got that part covered.”
“There they are,” Edna said, pointing into the fire.
“What do ye want me to do?” Maggie asked.
“Stay right here with me. I may need some added energy to create the fog.”
“Donal, can ye hear me?” Edna asked.
“Aye. Where are ye?”
“Ye cannae see me, but in a moment or two, if all goes to plan, ye’ll be surrounded by a swirling fog. Dinnae panic. Can ye keep yer horse calm?”
“Aye. He’s as steady as they come,” he said.
“Good. Hold tight to each other and before ye ken it ye’ll be here. Stay right where ye are now.”
Edna closed her eyes, focusing on the fog and the bridge. She repeated an incantation over and over again until she heard Maggie’s voice.
“It’s working, Aunt.”
She opened her eyes just in time to see the swirling fog encircle them and then they were gone.
***
Donal’s arm tightened around Tina’s waist as the fog cleared and he saw that they were on a different bridge.
The one he knew to be more than a day’s ride away.
Everything seemed a bit different to his eyes and as he glanced around they came to rest on a man standing there. He seemed to be waiting for them.
“Are you here for us?” Tina asked.
“I be Teddy,” he said. “Follow me.”
Donal prodded his horse forward. It was fully dark now, but there were balls of light on posts above their heads as they rode, lighting their way. They followed Teddy as he led them to a road with unfamiliar buildings.