Chapter 16 #2
Brenna removed her cloak, hanging it on a hook by the door.
She was determined not to let her feelings show.
What good would it do her? She’d only end up looking the fool for having feelings for a man who loved another.
She sat in one of the chairs by the fire, staring into it.
She had to say something, but what. She cleared her throat. “Are ye enjoying yer visit?”
“It’s been great so far. I’m learning a lot from the men. I’ll be able to take that knowledge back with me when I go home. I can take what I’ve learned and teach it to my students.”
“Tell me about San Francisco,” she said, enjoying the deep timbre of his voice. “I’d like to know more about the place where ye live.”
“It’s a beautiful place, filled with many amazing things that you’d have to see to believe. I’m sure Helene could tell you all about it, or even Sara for that matter.”
“Is San Francisco a big castle?” she asked.
“No. It’s a city filled with tall buildings, steep hills and thousands of people. It’s pretty perfect.”
Brenna tried to imagine a city that large. “And yer the laird of this place?”
“No. I’m not a laird. I’m just an ordinary person. I only said that to impress your father because I didn’t know how to explain to him who I really am.”
“So, ye lied,” she noted. “Have ye lied to me about anything else?” She watched Zeke as he appeared a bit uncomfortable with this lie he’d told, but she realized he hadn’t done it to hurt anyone.
“No. I don’t usually make it a practice to lie. I try to be as truthful as possible.” He gazed deeply into her eyes. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Brenna.”
Feeling herself falling into the depths of his sky blue eyes, she looked away. “I should see if Sara needs any help.” She rose and went into the kitchen. Sara wasn’t there. Where could she have gone?
“She’s nae here,” she called to Zeke.
“She said she needed some vegetables. Maybe she’s in the root cellar. She’ll be right back,” he assured her.
Sara had left her here all alone with Zeke. She’d remain in the kitchen to avoid being alone with him. Cups were sitting on the table in the kitchen and she filled them all with boiling water and tea.
“Do you need any help?” Zeke asked, standing right behind her.
So close she could feel his presence. He placed his hands on her shoulders and she felt the same sensation she’d felt when he kissed her.
It traveled from his hands right to her core.
The urgent longing she felt made her unsteady on her feet.
His hands gripped her to keep her from falling. “You should sit down.”
“I’m fine. Dinnae worry about me.” Her words were soft, when she’d meant them to be strong.
What could she do? She was hopeless when it came to him.
She tried to remember that he wasn’t touching her because he felt anything at all for her.
He was only being the kind man that he was.
It had nothing at all to do with her. He’d do the same for anyone.
But would they be breathless at his touch, as she was?
He turned her to face him, lifting her chin with one crooked finger.
She held her breath, eyes focused on his lips and he got closer still.
He meant to kiss her. She waited in breathless anticipation.
His lips softly brushed hers and she quivered at his touch.
He held her face gently between his hands, gazing into her eyes.
He bowed his head ready to kiss her again.
“Hey, you two,” Sara said as she bounded through the door.
Zeke stepped back away from her. “Hey, Sara,” he said.
“I’m sorry. Did I interrupt something …” They both shook their heads, no. “because it looks like I interrupted something.”
“Nae. Ye didnae.” She ran her fingertips across her lips, sorry Sara had returned so soon. “I had something in me eye. Zeke was trying to help.”
“Right.” It was obvious Sara didn’t believe her.
She raised an eyebrow and shook her head.
“I’d go back out, but it’s pouring out there.
” She shook the rain from her cloak and walked towards them.
“I helped myself to some carrots,” Sara said.
“Zeke, we should go. This storm is only going to get worse. Unless you want to stay. I can walk back by myself.”
“No. I’ll come with you.” He gazed at Brenna. “Will you be alright here alone?” Zeke asked.
“Aye.” She walked them to the front door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Zeke said. “I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“Hopefully your eye is better,” Sara said, a crooked smile on her lips. “Tell Helene I took these.” She held the carrots up in front of her.
“I will.”
Brenna closed the door after them, wondering what it was Zeke wanted to talk to her about.
***
“Well, that was interesting,” Sara said as they hurried along the path that would lead them back to the cottage. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I’m a grown man, Sara.” Zeke grabbed her before she was about to step in a large puddle. “Watch where you’re walking.”
“Thanks. Logan’s always saying the same thing to me. I get so preoccupied I forget to look.” She skirted another puddle, before continuing. “Back to you. What’s up with you and Brenna?”
“Nothing. We’re handfasted. Who knows what that means.”
“It means you’re as good as married.”
“Not really.”
“Zeke, if you go, you’ll break her heart.”
“I know. I guess I’m afraid of my own heart being broken. I can’t let it happen again. I can’t fall for a sixteenth century woman. But it’s just that …”
“She’s irresistible to you. Like Milly with catnip,” she teased.
“Sara, come on. A little sympathy for my situation would be nice.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just second nature to tease first and ask questions later.”
“I came here for you. I had no idea I was going to end up with a wife.”
“You have to know that if Edna sent you here, it’s not surprising at all. She must think you and Brenna belong together and I’ll tell you, Zeke, she’s always right.”
Zeke thought about Olwydd. “You know, my horse was supposed to know the way. The man at the bridge told me not to worry.”
“Did you meet Wallace? I love him. He reminded me of Grandpa,” Sara said.
“He wasn’t there very long. Just to meet me and give me the horse. He told me the horse knew the way. I couldn’t figure out why I ended up at Castle Treun.”
“Now you know. It was Edna’s plan all along.”
Zeke shook his head in disbelief. “So, I guess I should throw caution to the wind and convince Brenna to go back home with me.”
“You might want to take things a little slower, for her sake. But you should definitely follow your heart and things will work out the way they’re supposed to. Don’t be afraid to take a chance, Zeke. A lifetime of happiness is worth it.”
They were completely drenched by the time they reached the cottage. Sara laid her cloak out in front of the hearth.
“I’m going to get changed into some dry clothes,” Zeke said. “Do you think Logan will mind if I borrow something else of his to wear.”
“No. Not at all. Bring those out when you’ve changed. I’ll dry them here with my cloak.”
“You know, Sara, if I could come here for a vacation every year and you came home to San Francisco once a year, I think that would be good. The thought of never seeing you again isn’t alright with me.”
“Me either. We’ll have to bring it up to Edna and see what she says. She’s the one who’ll have to arrange it, but I’ll bet she would.”
Zeke felt at peace for the first time since he’d arrived here in the sixteenth century. It seemed this was his destiny, so he should just accept it and let it happen.
***
Alone in the kitchen, Brenna wondered what it might be like to live in Zeke’s world.
Would she fit in? Would she be afraid or feel lonely?
She knew the answer to the last question.
No. She couldn’t ever feel lonelier than she had these last months since her Da had been married to Greer.
She didn’t wish to be a burden to Dougall either.
She loved her brother and Helene, but the honest truth was that she’d hardly spent any time with him since he’d been here at Breaghacraig and she was just starting to get to know Helene.
Yes, they were famliy, but couldn’t Zeke be her family, too?
Wouldn’t life with him be exactly what she wanted?
So many questions, but she didn’t know if he even wanted her.
His kisses said he did, but maybe that was all he wanted from her.
First, she had to know if he still loved Helene.
If he did, all her questions would be answered and she would then have no choice but to make Breaghacraig her home.