Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
T hree hours on horseback had turned Kate’s legs into quivering masses of jelly, and they still had miles to go before reaching MacDonald territory. The fiery ache that burned through her thighs made her wonder if she’d ever walk normally again.
The Highland landscape stretched before them, breathtaking in its wild beauty, with rolling hills of purple heather and imposing mountains that pierced the clouds, but she found it difficult to appreciate the scenery when every step of the horse sent shockwaves of pain through her body.
“We’ll rest here,” Connor announced, gesturing toward a small clearing beside a burbling stream. “I’ll water the horses while ye stretch your legs.”
Kate had never been so grateful for a break in her life. She attempted to dismount with some semblance of grace, but her stiff legs betrayed her. She slid awkwardly from the saddle and would have crumpled to the ground if he hadn’t appeared at her side, strong hands steadying her.
“Easy,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. “Your muscles will loosen with movement.”
His touch sent an entirely different kind of tremor through her body, one that had nothing to do with saddle soreness and everything to do with the way his blue eyes crinkled at the corners when he looked at her. Since their almost-kiss three nights ago, there had been a new tension between them, a heightened awareness that made even casual contact feel charged with possibility.
“Thanks,” she managed, taking a wobbly step back. “I think I need to walk for a bit.”
Connor nodded, expression unreadable. “Don’t wander far. The MacDonalds have been known to patrol these borders.”
“I’ll stay within sight,” she promised.
As he moved away to confer with the four warriors who accompanied them, she took careful steps toward the stream, wincing with each movement. The journey to exchange the replica brooch for Cameron had been planned with meticulous care, but nothing had prepared her for the physical reality of traveling through the Highlands on horseback.
What she wouldn’t give for a nice comfy car. With music, soft leather seats, and speed. A sigh escaped. Well, at least the horses were cute.
She knelt by the stream, splashing cold water on her face and taking a moment to collect her thoughts. The fake brooch, crafted to mirror the MacLeod heirloom, was safely stowed away in Connor’s sporran. Kate had been stunned by the flawless detail when he’d shown it to her the night before their departure. The fine etching, the weight of it in her palm, even the gemstones looked every bit as luminous as the real ones.
“They’ll believe it,” he’d said with quiet certainty. “It’s near enough to the original that none among the MacDonalds will ken the difference.”
Kate nodded, trusting in the confidence that burned behind his steady gaze. The real Bronmuir Brooch was too precious, too closely tied to the MacLeods’ legacy to be surrendered, no matter the risk. Still, she couldn’t stop the tight knot in her stomach. This was real life, not some historical action movie.
“You’re thinking too hard again.”
Kate looked up to find Ewan standing beside her, holding out a small cloth bundle. “Oatcakes,” he explained. “You’ll need your strength.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the food with a grateful smile. “Is it that obvious?”
“Your face gives you away,” he said, dropping down beside her with the easy grace of someone accustomed to long journeys.
“When you’re worried, you get this little line right here.” He tapped the space between his eyebrows.
“I’m that transparent, huh?”
“Only to those who are paying attention.” Ewan glanced meaningfully toward Connor, who was studying a map with intense concentration. “Some more than others.”
Heat flooded her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ewan’s knowing smile told her he wasn’t fooled for a moment. “Of course not. Just as I’m sure the laird doesn’t find excuses to seek your company at every opportunity.”
“He’s just being hospitable,” Kate protested, though the flutter in her stomach suggested she hoped otherwise.
“If you say so.” Ewan rose fluidly to his feet. “We’ll be riding again soon. Best finish those oatcakes.”
As he walked away, she bit into the dense, slightly sweet cake, watching Connor from beneath her lashes. He stood tall and commanding, his profile sharp against the backdrop of mountains, the wind ruffling his dark hair. Something about him seemed to belong to this wild landscape, as elemental and enduring as the ancient stones that dotted the hillsides.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to remember that she didn’t belong here, that her life in the twenty-first century awaited her return. Sometimes, in quiet moments like these, the future seemed like a distant dream, less real than the solid earth beneath her feet and the man who occupied more and more of her thoughts.
“Mount up,” Connor called. “We need to reach the pass before nightfall.”
With a sigh, Kate brushed crumbs from her skirts and prepared to face another few hours of torture in the saddle.
* * *
They had been riding for another hour when she noticed the thin wisp of smoke rising from a small valley to their left. It was barely visible against the cloudy sky, but once spotted, unmistakable.
“Connor,” she called, pointing. “Is that smoke?”
He reined in his horse, his expression sharpening as he followed her gesture. “Aye. There shouldn’t be anyone living this close to the border.” He exchanged a look with Ewan. “It could be a trap.”
“Or someone in need of help,” she couldn’t help adding.
His jaw tightened, but after a moment’s consideration, he nodded. “We’ll investigate, but cautiously. Kate, you stay with Fergus and Alec. The rest of us will go and see.”
“But—” She began to protest.
“This isn’t a negotiation,” Connor cut her off, his tone brooking no argument. “If it’s a MacDonald ambush, I need to know you’re safe.”
The intensity in his eyes silenced her objections. She nodded reluctantly, watching as Connor, Ewan, and the warrior named Donald veered off the path toward the smoke.
“Don’t worry, lass,” Fergus said, his weathered face creasing in a reassuring smile. “The laird knows what he’s about.”
Kate wasn’t worried about his competence. She’d seen enough to know he was more than capable of handling himself in dangerous situations. What bothered her was being left behind, treated as someone who needed protection rather than a partner in this journey.
They waited in tense silence, the minutes stretching interminably until Ewan appeared at the crest of a small hill, waving them forward.
“It’s safe,” he called. “But you’ll want to come quickly.”
Curiosity piqued, she urged her horse forward, following Fergus and Alec toward a small stone cottage nestled in a hollow between two hills. It was a humble dwelling, with a thatched roof and a small garden that looked well-tended despite the harshness of the environment.
Connor stood by the door, his expression a complex mixture of emotions that Kate couldn’t fully decipher. As she dismounted, he moved to her side.
“It’s Elspeth,” he said quietly. “She’s here, not at the western edge of the island, as we believed.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “Your sister? But I thought?—”
“So did I.” Connor ran a hand through his hair, a gesture she’d come to recognize as a sign of inner turmoil. “She’s been living here alone for nearly two months.”
Before she could respond, the cottage door opened, and a young woman stepped out. Even at a glance, the family resemblance was unmistakable. The same striking blue eyes as Connor, the same proud bearing, though softened by feminine grace. Her condition was also evident. The gentle swell of her belly clearly visible beneath her simple dress.
“Brother,” Elspeth greeted him, her voice cool. “I dinna expect to see ye here.”
“Nor I you,” Connor replied. “Your message said you were living near the fishing settlement. To the west.”
A flicker of something, guilt, perhaps, or defiance, crossed Elspeth’s face. “I was. Until they made it clear I was no longer welcome with a MacKenzie bastard in my belly.” She lifted her chin. “I’ve managed well enough on my own.”
Kate watched them, the tension between them so thick she thought she could reach out and touch it. Connor’s posture was rigid, his expression guarded, while Elspeth seemed to be bracing herself for rejection.
“This is Kate,” Connor said abruptly, gesturing toward her. “She’s a... guest at Bronmuir.”
Elspeth’s gaze shifted to her, assessing her with a directness that reminded her strongly of Connor. “You’re not from the Highlands,” she observed.
“No,” Kate agreed, stepping forward with a smile. “I’m from... quite far away, actually.”
“The new world,” Connor said. “Her ship was wrecked on our shores.”
Elspeth’s eyebrows rose slightly, but she nodded. “Well, any friend of my brother’s is welcome in my home, humble though it may be.” She stepped back, holding the door open. “Come in, all of you. I have stew simmering, and you must be hungry from your journey.”
The interior of the cottage was small, but surprisingly cozy. A fire burned in the hearth, casting warm light over the single room. Simple furnishings, a table, two chairs, a narrow bed in the corner, were arranged with care, and bundles of dried herbs hung from the rafters, filling the air with a pleasant, earthy scent.
“It’s lovely,” Kate said sincerely, noting the small touches that made the space feel like a home. A colorful woven blanket on the bed, wildflowers in a clay jar on the table.
“It’s enough for me,” Elspeth replied, stirring the pot that hung over the fire. “And for the babe when it comes.”
Connor, who had been standing awkwardly by the door, finally spoke. “How do you survive out here, Elspeth? Winter will be harsh in these hills.”
“I trade with the crofters in the valley, herbs and remedies for supplies. Mother taught me well before she passed.” His sister ladled stew into wooden bowls, her movements brisk. “I’ve always been resourceful, Connor. You know that.”
“Aye, but this is no place for a woman alone, especially one with child.”
Elspeth’s expression hardened. “Would you have me return to the MacDonalds, where I’m treated as less than a servant? Or perhaps to Bronmuir, where Father declared me dead to the family?”
“Da is gone,” Connor said quietly. “And I never agreed with his judgment.”
A heavy silence fell over the room. Kate watched the conflicting emotions on Elspeth’s face. Hope warring with pride, longing with the fear of further rejection.
“I sent for you,” Connor continued. “The day before we left. The messenger should have reached you by now.”
Elspeth stilled, her hand tightening on the ladle. “Sent for me?”
“To come home.” Connor’s voice was gruff but sincere. “To Bronmuir, where you belong.”
Kate had to swallow, seeing him interact with his sister, the olive branch he extended despite the complicated history between them. She’d known he’d decided to bring Elspeth home, but seeing him actually make the offer, witnessing the vulnerability beneath his stoic exterior, touched her deeply.
Elspeth’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “And what of the babe? A child born without a father’s name?”
“The babe is a MacLeod,” Connor said firmly. “My niece or nephew will be welcomed as such.”
A single tear slipped down Elspeth’s cheek, quickly wiped away. “The clan?—”
“Will follow their laird’s lead,” Connor interrupted. “And their laird says you and your child are MacLeods.”
The siblings stared at each other, years of hurt and misunderstanding hanging in the balance. Then, slowly, Elspeth nodded.
“I will consider it,” she said, her voice steady despite the emotion in her eyes. “But I cannot leave today. There are preparations to make, things to gather.”
“We continue to MacDonald territory,” Connor explained. “To negotiate Cameron’s release. On our return journey, we’ll stop for you.”
“Cameron?” Elspeth’s face paled. “What’s happened to Cameron?”
As he briefly explained the situation, Kate found herself studying Elspeth more closely. Despite her obvious pregnancy and isolation, there was a resilience about her that Kate only wished she had. His sister had made a mistake in trusting the wrong man, but rather than crumbling under the weight of scandal and rejection, she had forged a life for herself and her unborn child. It was impressive, especially considering the limited options available to women in this time.
After the meal, which was surprisingly delicious given the simple ingredients, Connor and his men stepped outside to discuss their route, leaving Kate alone with Elspeth.
“He’s changed,” Elspeth observed, clearing the bowls from the table. “My brother. He seems... softer somehow.”
She smiled. “I wouldn’t let him hear you say that.”
His sister laughed, a light sound that transformed her serious face. “No, I suppose not. Connor has always prided himself on his strength. But there’s strength in gentleness too, something our father never understood.”
“Your brother is a good man,” Kate said. “He was worried about you.”
“Was he?” Elspeth paused, vulnerability flashing across her features. “I thought... after I left the way I did...”
“Family is complicated,” Kate said, thinking of her own parents, their expectations and disappointments. “But it’s also precious.”
Elspeth studied her curiously. “You speak as if from experience.”
“I’ve made my share of mistakes,” Kate admitted. “And I’ve learned that forgiveness, when offered sincerely, is a gift to both parties.”
“You’re not what I expected,” Elspeth said after a moment. “For a woman in my brother’s company.”
Her cheeks warmed. “We’re not, I mean, Connor and I aren’t?—”
“Perhaps not yet,” Elspeth interrupted with a knowing smile. “But I see the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching.”
Before Kate could formulate a response to that startling observation, the door opened and Connor stepped back inside.
“We need to continue if we’re to reach the meeting place by nightfall,” he announced.
His sister nodded, moving to embrace her brother. After a moment’s hesitation, Connor’s arms came around her, holding her carefully, as if she might break.
“Be safe,” Elspeth murmured. “The MacDonalds are not to be trusted.”
“I know,” Connor assured her. “Ye have three days to pack up your belongings, then we ride for home.”
As they prepared to leave, Kate found herself drawn to the small shelf above Elspeth’s bed, where a familiar glint caught her eye. A brooch. Not as elaborate as the Bronmuir Brooch, but similar in design, with a small blue stone set in silver.
“It was my mother’s,” Elspeth explained, noticing Kate’s interest. “The only thing of hers I took when I left.”
The brooch, so similar to the one that had brought her to this time... Could it possibly work the same way? If she could borrow it, perhaps try it at the ancient cemetery where she’d first arrived...
“It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice sounding strange to her own ears.
Outside, the men were already mounted, waiting. As Kate climbed awkwardly into her saddle, she glanced back at the cottage where Elspeth stood in the doorway, one hand resting protectively on her belly.
The sight stirred something deep within Kate. A longing she hadn’t fully acknowledged until now. Not just for home and the familiar comforts of the twenty-first century, but for connection, for belonging, for the kind of love that endured despite mistakes and misunderstandings.
As they rode away, her thoughts turned to her own secret, the truth of her origins that she kept hidden from Connor. If he knew she was from the future, would he look at her differently? Would the trust they’d built crumble under the weight of such an impossible revelation?
The brooch. If she told him the truth, perhaps he would let her borrow the Bronmuir Brooch, just long enough to see if it could send her home. But the thought of leaving, of never seeing him again, never knowing what might have developed between them, filled her with an unexpected ache.
“You’re quiet,” Connor observed, drawing his horse alongside hers.
She managed a smile. “Just thinking.”
“About my sister?”
“Partly,” she admitted. “She’s remarkably strong, living out here alone.”
Connor nodded, pride evident in his expression. “MacLeods are stubborn by nature. It serves us well in difficult times.”
“Must run in the family,” Kate teased, trying to lighten her own mood.
The smile he gave her in return, rare and genuine, made her heart skip. “Aye, so I’ve been told. Usually by you.”
They rode in companionable silence for a while, the beauty of the Highland landscape unfolding around them. Kate found herself memorizing details, the particular shade of blue in the sky, the way the heather moved in the wind, the solid presence of Connor beside her, knowing that someday, whether tomorrow or years from now, she would have to leave this place, this time, this man.
But not yet. Not today.