Chapter 16 #2
In Dougall’s mind it had been hours since they sat to break their fast, but they were finally up and moving in the direction of Zeke’s castle.
He planned to profess his love to Helene and she, of course, would then soften and decide to return with him.
It was a solid plan and it would not fail.
His confidence was high. The sooner they were on their way back to their own time, the sooner he would never have to listen to Logan and Sara going on and on about the most inane things.
He gritted his teeth, straightened his shoulders and held his head high.
He was a warrior and he intended to show this Zeke what he was made of.
And when Helene saw how much he loved her and how well he could handle Zeke, she’d be falling into his arms and they’d be on their way.
Rounding the corner, Dougall could see the colorful castle Zeke lived in up ahead. He quickened his pace. Logan and Sara jogged to keep up with him.
“What’s your hurry?” Sara asked.
“I believe you know the answer.” Dougall dismissed her silly question.
“I do. Getting there two seconds faster isn’t going to make any difference.”
“So you say.”
“I do. You need to learn to relax. Everything is better when you take a deep breath and calm yourself.”
“Is it now?” He continued on at the same pace. “You don’t seem to grasp the fact that I’m needed back in me own time. The sooner I get back the better.”
Logan grasped Sara’s hand and hurried along beside Dougall.
Sara’s little legs had to run to keep up with them and Logan was giving him a most disrespectful stare.
Dougall was used to being in charge and Logan, as his second in command was used to following orders, so this sudden insolence was disturbing to Dougall.
“What if Helene doesn’t want to leave yet?” Sara asked.
“She will.” Dougall had not a doubt.
“You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
Mercifully they were at the foot of the stairs and Dougall didn’t see the need to continue this conversation with Sara. He took the stairs two at a time and at the top pounded on the door. A moment later he pounded again.
By now Sara and Logan were standing beside him. “You should give them time to answer the door,” she huffed.
They waited, but it became obvious, no one was home.
“Where are they?” Dougall growled.
“Probably at the studio. That’s where Zeke works. Helene must have gone with him,” Sara explained.
Dougall bounded down the stairs, Logan and Sara following. “Which way do we go?”
“We’ll need to get a cab,” Sara pulled an object from her pocket and poked away at it. “Okay. Someone will be here in a few minutes to get us.”
This was a very strange world. Dougall wondered if witchcraft and magick were common here. It seemed that so many things were possible here that in his time were completely impossible. “Are ye a witch, Sara?”
“Me? No. What do you mean by that?” From her reaction, Dougall was fairly sure he’d insulted her.
“I’m sorry, lass. There is no other explanation for the things ye seem able to do.” He pointed to the object she still held in her hand.
Sara laughed. “You mean my phone. It’s not magick and you don’t have to be a witch to use one. Everyone has them.” She pointed to an approaching wagon. “There’s our ride.”
Dougall and Logan sat on either side of Sara, touching everything they could reach. “What is this called?” Logan asked.
“It’s a car,” Sara said.
The driver looked quizzically over his shoulder at her.
“Never mind,” she said to him. “It would take too much time to explain and you’d never believe me anyway.”
The rest of the ride was quiet. Dougall was amazed at the rate of speed they were travelling and it wasn’t long before they stopped in front of a large building that looked like it might fall over in a good stiff wind.
“Thank you,” Sara called to the driver. She led the way to a large steel door, which was locked.
Dougall pounded on it and they waited silently for someone to answer.
He took in their surroundings, noting the unusual materials the building was made of.
He was about to pound on the door once again, when the sound of the door latch caught their attention and Dougall turned to face the door.
A man he was unfamiliar with answered and he was momentarily caught off guard.
“Hey, Wade!” Sara pushed her way past Logan and Dougall to embrace this man. Dougall noted that Logan’s eyes narrowed as this unknown man lifted Sara and swung her around.
“Who are you?” Dougall asked.
“I’m Wade Granville,” Wade answered as he held his hand out to Dougall.
“Don’t bother with that, Wade. His name’s Dougall. He’s not the friendliest guy I’ve ever met.” Sara eyed Dougall and then turned to Logan. “This is Logan.”
“Nice to meet you. Come on in.”
“Where is Helene?” Dougall demanded.
“She’s here. Upstairs changing I think.” Wade nodded to the stairs. “Zeke! You’ve got company,” he called in the direction of the office. “Are these the two time travellers Zeke was telling me about?” Wade whispered to Sara before she sat down on the sofa.
“Oh, yeah. You don’t need to whisper. It’s them.” Logan and Dougall stood near the windows. It was obvious that Logan wished to be with Sara, but Dougall wasn’t about to give him leave to sit down.
“I’ll go see what’s keeping Zeke,” Wade said as he left the room.
Dougall moved to the foot of the stairs where he bellowed, “Helene! I’m here fer ye.”
No answer. He was just about to sprint up the stairs to search for her when Zeke entered the room. “She’ll be down in a minute. She’s changing her clothes for practice.”
“Why does she need to practice changing her clothes,” Logan asked, appearing puzzled.
Zeke and Sara laughed. “She’s going to practice some self-defense techniques.” He turned and looked squarely at Dougall. “You know, in case she ever finds herself alone and in a bad situation. I want her to be able to take care of herself.”
The two men sized each other up, neither wanting to appear weak to the other. Dougall turned away from the stairs and spoke to Sara. “What’s taking her so long?”
“I don’t know. I’ll go see what she’s up to.” Sara headed upstairs, leaving all four men uncomfortably eyeing one another.
Dougall broke the silence, directing his comment to Zeke. “Helene is me woman. Have you done anything to compromise her virtue?”
“Helene is her own woman. Not yours. You should probably get that through your thick Scottish skull.” Zeke answered.
Dougall was ready for a fight and it seemed Zeke was as well. “If ye’ve done anything to Helene, ye’ll have me to answer to.”
“I respect Helene too much. I would never do anything she didn’t want me to do.” Zeke crossed his arms and stood tall.
“What does that mean? Have ye done something?” Dougall’s anger was getting the better of him.
“I don’t kiss and tell,” Zeke said.
“Ye’ve kissed her!” Dougall reached for his sword and leaped across the room where Zeke stood his ground and didn’t even flinch.
“Dougall!” Helene was descending the stairs with Sara. “What are ye doing? Why does it always seem that ye wish to battle with Zeke? Dinnae embarrass me.”
“Helene.” Dougall lowered his sword and strode across the room to where she now stood at the bottom of the stairs. “Helene, I’ve come fer ye. I must return home. I havenae the time to spend here wooing ye. Ye ken I love ye. I’ve told ye many times.”
“I cannae return with ye, Dougall. Ye want to be laird and I willnae stand in yer way. If ye must return to Castle Treun, then ye must go alone. I willnae go back there to be locked up again.”
“Ye willnae be locked up, love. I’ll be with ye. He willnae harm ye.” He’d kill his father before he let him every lay a finger on Helene.
“He’ll wait until he’s sent ye off on some fool’s errand as he did before and then he’ll lock me up or kill me or both. I’m sorry, but I willnae return to Castle Treun.”
“Helene, do ye nae love me?” Dougall felt crushed under the weight of his disappointment.
She didn’t answer him. Instead she turned to Zeke. “I’m ready fer me lesson now.”
“Alright. Let me deal with this first, so I can concentrate on you,” Zeke answered.
“Helene!” Dougall tried to keep the desperation out of his voice.
“I’m going to practice with Zeke. He teaches others how to use a sword. He’s going to teach me as well.”
Dougall was at a loss for words. He never thought Helene wouldn’t be happy to return with him and why was she learning to use a sword, when he could protect her and keep her from harm.
He gazed at Logan who was looking at him with a strange sadness in his eyes.
“Dinnae look at me as though I’m to be pitied. ”
“I’m sorry. I didnae mean to,” Logan directed his attention to his feet.
“You can stay and watch, or you can leave. Your choice,” Zeke said.
“A moment, please. I challenge you to a duel.” Dougall stated.
“What for?” Zeke asked, appearing surprised by Dougall’s challenge.
“Fer Helene’s hand.”
“I told you, she’s her own woman. I’m not going to fight a duel to win her. If she doesn’t want to be with you, then you should accept that. Fighting me isn’t going to change anything, but if you really want to fight, then by all means let’s. I’m pretty sure I’m going to win.”