Chapter 19 #2
Jenna stood, hands on her hips and for the first time noticed that her clothing was different.
“What happened to my clothes? And your clothes?” she asked in total confusion.
She found herself wearing a long medieval looking dress and cloak.
She checked her feet and much to her surprise was delighted to find that she still had her tall boots on.
That might become a problem if she had to do a lot of walking, but at least she had one thing to hold on to from her life in San Francisco.
Cormac was still dressed in a kilt, but gone was the leather jacket and t-shirt.
In its place he wore a linen shirt with laces and the kilt looked different as well.
He still wore boots, but not the one’s he’d worn in San Francisco.
The leather satchel still hung across his body and despite the difference in his clothing, he still looked amazing to her, but she was angry with him.
He took her away from everything she knew and brought her to an unfamiliar place, and according to him, time.
Get it together, Jenna. You need him to help you.
Her heart was racing in her chest and she was starting to hyperventilate.
She took a deep breath and did her best to relax.
Jenna was shaking uncontrollably as she walked back towards Cormac.
He reached out to pull her into his arms and she stood away from him.
“Don’t touch me. Don’t you ever touch me again. ”
Cormac held his hands up in surrender. “I’ll not touch ye lass, but it might be near impossible because we have to share my horse.”
“I’m not getting on that horse. No way. I hate horses,” she yelled.
“Lass, it’s a long way to Breaghacraig. Ye cannae walk all that way, especially in yer tall boots.” He smiled and she knew exactly what he was thinking.
“Stop it. Grrr … I can’t believe this. When I meet this Edna, she’s going to be one sorry witch.
I can’t even believe I just said that. Witch!
Time Travel! Scotland! I’m going to be sick.
” Jenna started to feel nauseous and dizzy.
“I think I might faint. No. No, I will not faint.” She was determined to get a grip and she would ride out the sick feeling that was overtaking her.
“Jenna, please, calm yerself. I will help ye, but I cannae do it here. We must go. It is a long way from here to my home.”
Cormac went to get his horse “Saidear,” he softly said as he stroked the massive bay’s neck.
The horse nickered and nudged Cormac with his nose.
“Come my friend,” Cormac said. As he approached Jenna, she backed away.
“I told you. I’m not getting on that horse.
I’ll walk. Which direction are we heading in?
” Cormac pointed towards the path and she headed off at a determined pace.
She could feel him behind her, but she was not going to soften her stance.
Had he planned on kidnapping her all along?
She wanted to scream, but what good would that do?
As frustrated and angry as she was, Jenna knew that her only chance of getting back home was Cormac.
The sound of hooves pounding on the pathway behind them caused them both to freeze in their tracks. Looking back, Jenna saw a man dressed completely in black riding atop the largest horse she had ever seen. He galloped past them and then reined his horse in and turned their way.
“Is that Cormac MacBayne I see?” the man questioned. He had an English accent.
“Aye. ‘Tis.” Cormac answered. He had an intense, angry expression on his face as he quickly made his way to Jenna’s side. “How did ye get back here?”
“Good question. I’ve been waiting for quite some time, but today was my lucky day. The fog happened to be swirling back at the bridge and I was able to ride through. Who is this lovely woman you have at your side?”
“’Tis not your concern. I warn ye, Richard, stay away from MacKenzie land or ye’ll pay the price.”
“Ha. I have other things to attend to MacBayne and none of them include the MacKenzies. At least not at this moment.” Richard sneered at him and gave an appraising once over to Jenna before turning his horse and charging off deeper into the woods.
“Who was that?” Jenna asked.
“That is Sir Richard Jefford. He is an enemy to my clan,” Cormac was watching intently as Sir Richard disappeared into the trees. “We must get back to Breaghacraig at once. We must warn them.”
“Warn them about what?” Jenna wondered.
“Warn them that he is back. He’s been in the future for these past months. We were told he had been jailed. I didnae expect to see him ever again, but he is here and he will be trouble.”
“So the future is back that way and you’re leading me away from it!” Jenna was beside herself. “I’m heading back and don’t try to stop me.”
“Jenna, you don’t understand. The fog must be there and it is gone now.”
“Then how did he get here? He said the fog was there. You’re lying to me,” she barked.
“I wouldnae lie to ye, lass. Ye cannae go back right now. The fog is fickle. It is only there when someone is waiting on the other side. Do ye nae ken? If there is no one waiting for you, in the future, the fog willnae appear for ye.”
“Was someone waiting for him? I didn’t see anyone else when we arrived. How did we get here?”
“My horse was awaiting our arrival. The fog left as soon as we got here. I dinnae ken how Richard got here. I’m not the one in charge of the bridge.
If Edna were here, she could answer yer questions, but I cannae.
” Cormac was looking and sounding pretty frustrated with Jenna.
He raked his fingers through his hair and looked up to the sky as if asking for divine intervention.
“Now, come with me … please. We must hurry.”
Jenna glared at him, hands fisted at her sides. Damn, damn, damn him … and Edna! “Fine, let’s go.” She again headed off down the path, Cormac following close behind. She’d figure this out, without his help.
Cormac had been so busy trying to appease Jenna that he almost missed the sounds of voices coming from their left.
Jenna was babbling on and on in a most disagreeable manner.
“Shhh …” Cormac put his finger to his lips to silence her.
She was about to protest when she obviously heard it as well.
She gave him a questioning look and he held up his hand for her to stay put. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered.
Leaving his horse and Jenna behind, Cormac silently made his way through the trees toward the voices.
“Where are we,” the woman’s voice said.
“How the hell would I know?” The man answered her with an angry growl.
“Hey, don’t get mad at me. It’s not my fault something weird just happened.” Again, the woman spoke.
Creeping closer, Cormac was able to make out the figures of a man and woman standing in a clearing.
They had their back to him, but he could tell they were from the future.
Their clothes were a dead giveaway. They searched the area, looking confused and out of place.
As they faced his direction, Cormac dove low into the cover of some brush.
He peeked over the top and was amazed to see Jonathan and Sophia, not more than ten feet away.
How did they get here? He was just about to approach them, when Sir Richard appeared in the clearing.
“Hello, fellow time travelers. I’m Sir Richard Jefford. Can I be of service? You appear to have just arrived.”
“Time travelers?” Jonathan questioned.
Sophia crept closer to Jonathan’s side, but he offered no protection. “Where are we?” she asked.
“You find yourself in Scotland. The year 1514.” They looked shocked and Sophia teetered on her feet. “I’ll let that sink in for a minute.” Sir Richard sat atop his horse and waited before speaking again. “Where are you from?”
“San Francisco. 2014,” Jonathan answered.
“Do you know how you got here?” Sir Richard asked.
“I’m not too sure …” Jonathan looked to Sophia, as if she might have the answer.
“We were following Cormac and Jenna when we walked into a fog bank. Next thing we knew we were here. Do you know how to get back?” Sophia appeared to be regaining her composure.
Why were they following us? Cormac didn’t like the sounds of that. Perhaps if he listened longer he might have his answer. He was concerned for Jenna, but felt sure she’d stay where he left her.
“Did you say Cormac and Jenna? I just saw them. Or at least I assume that was Jenna. Cormac did not introduce us. They are most likely heading back to Breaghacraig. What do you want with them?”
Jonathan perked up when he heard that. “I have to get Jenna back to San Francisco. She’s going to help me get some money I need.”
“I thought you said you wanted to convince her to be friends with you,” Sophia interrupted.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t get any money when she annulled our marriage, so I have to get it somehow.” Jonathan defended his actions.
“You have an ulterior motive, it seems. Do you wish this woman harm?” Sir Richard asked.
“I don’t know how any of this is your business.” Jonathan said.
“It’s only my business because she’s with Cormac MacBayne, and he and his family … let’s just say we’re not on the best terms. What is his relationship to this Jenna?” Richard asked.
“They’re definitely an item,” Sophia offered.
“An item?”
“They like each other … a lot,” she said.
“I see. Well, then perhaps we can help each other.” Sir Richard said.
Cormac had heard enough to know that Jonathan was planning to find Jenna and bring her back to San Francisco and not with a good purpose in mind and that Sir Richard was still up to his old tricks.
He had to get Jenna away from here. He left Sophia, Jonathan and Sir Richard to their plotting and he hurried back to Jenna.