Chapter 17
The stormy weather continued well into the next day.
A true sign that winter was on its way, even though it was still a few months off.
Brenna visited the castle early in the morning in hopes that she might speak with Ashley and Jenna.
Neither of them were up yet, so she wandered around the castle searching for the one other person she knew came from the future to live here at Breaghacraig.
She found her in the kitchen helping Mary, the cook.
“Good day to ye, lass,” Mary said. “Ye be out and about early this morn.” The counter was lined with loaves of bread that would be placed in the bread oven for the day’s meals.
The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted her way as Sophia removed several loaves from the oven and placed them on the wooden table. Once they were safely set down, Sophia smiled and waved at Brenna.
“Good day to ye,” Brenna answered.
“Are ye Brenna? Dougall’s wee sister?” Mary asked.
Sophia dusted her hands off on her apron and glanced up at Brenna, curiosity in her eyes.
“Aye. The bread smells delicious.” She hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning and her tummy was revolting at the lack of food.
“Come, sit, me dear. Sophia, get the butter and some honey for our guest.”
“Oh, thank ye, Mary.” She sat at the table. Mary poured them all some tea and then sliced one of the loaves fresh from the oven.
Sophia hadn’t said a word, but she placed the butter and honey within easy reach of them all before sitting next to Brenna.
“Ye must be Sophia,” Brenna said.
“That’s me,” Sophia replied as she slathered butter onto her thick slice of bread, before passing everything to Brenna.
Brenna couldn’t wait another moment. In her mind there was nothing better than fresh, warm bread and a cup of tea. She followed Sophia’s lead and buttered her bread before drizzling it with honey. She took a bite and closed her eyes to relish the flavors. A bit of honey dribbled onto her chin.
“Here ye go, lass,” Mary handed her a damp cloth to wipe her face.
“’Tis quiet here this morn,” Brenna said.
“’Twas a busy day yesterday. The two new mums are still abed, as are their husbands. I haven’t seen anyone yet this morn. They’ll call to us when they’re ready to break their fast,” Mary explained.
“Ethan is a beautiful bairn,” Brenna said.
“I havenae seen him yet. Mayhap in a day or two. Did ye see the bairn, Sophia?” Mary tried to bring Sophia into the conversation.
“I haven’t. Latharn says he’s quite a handsome bairn. I hope to see him soon.”
“Latharn’s her man,” Mary explained.
Mary was a lively woman. Her hair was wrapped in a kerchief, but sprigs of soft brown curls escaped here and there around her head.
“Ye’ve been the cook here for many years, Dougall tells me,” Brenna said.
“Aye. Far too many to count,” Mary laughed.
“And, Sophia, ye are Mary’s helper?”
“I’m not sure how helpful I am,” Sophia said with a soft chuckle. She popped the last of the bread into her mouth, wiping her face and hands.
“Sophia, ye ken I love ye like yer were me own. I dinnae ken what I’d do without ye,” Mary said.
“Are ye happy here?” Brenna asked, hoping she didn’t sound like an idjit by asking.
“I am. It’s very different from where I was born and raised, but it’s home,” Sophia said.
“Ye came from San Francisco, didnae ye?”
If she was surprised by this question, it didn’t show. She merely nodded as she wiped up the table.
“Do ye ever miss it?”
“I do. Not so much that I’d leave here to go back, but there are some things I miss,” Sophia admitted.
“Such as?” Brenna asked.
“The food,” she quickly glanced at Mary, who Brenna noted gave Sophia a hurt look before winking and laughing. “The music, the beauty of the place. I also miss how quickly one can travel there.”
“What do you mean?” Brenna asked.
“I’d better not say,” Sophia answered.
Brenna guessed Sophia wasn’t sure she could speak about time traveling with her.
Helene entered the kitchen. “There ye are. Ye left the house so early this morn, I was afraid something might be wrong. I can see it must have been the aroma of Mary’s fresh baked bread that lured ye.”
Mary chuckled at that.
“Do I get a slice, Mary?” she asked, winking at Brenna.
“Aye. Of course, ye do. Ye dinnae need to ask. Sophia, cut a slice fer Helene.”
While Sophia cut the bread, Helene joined them at the table, sitting next to Mary.
“Tea?” Mary asked.
“Please.” Helene took the mug Sophia handed her and placed it in front of Mary who poured her tea. “This is the best way to start the day, dinnae ye agree, Brenna?”
“Aye.” Brenna answered, thinking it might be even better if she started it with Zeke.
The ladies ate and talked while more servants joined them for their morning treat of bread and tea. Soon word came to them that the MacKenzies were ready to break their fast. Helene and Brenna left the kitchen so Mary and Sophia could get back to work.
“Why did ye come here so early this morn, Brenna?” Helene asked.
“I couldnae sleep and I didnae wish to disturb ye or Dougall.”
“Dougall was already up and gone. I woke to an empty house,” Helene said.
“I’m sorry. If I’d know, I would have waited for ye.”
“No need for apologies. Did ye get what ye came for?”
Brenna smiled warmly at Helene. She obviously knew something was up with her. “Nae. I’m afraid not. I think Sophia was worried about speaking to me.”
“Whatever for,” Helene asked.
“I wanted to ask her about San Francisco. Jenna and Ashley werenae awake yet, and I remember hearing that she also came from the future.”
“I see. She probably doesnae ken that yer aware of it.” Helene put a hand on Brenna’s arm and stopped in the passageway. “What do ye wish to ken about the future? Ye ken I’ve lived there. Ye could ask me.”
Brenna gazed at her shoes. She didn’t want anyone to know what she was thinking about. It was obvious Helene wasn’t going to let her go until she told her everything. “I thought mayhap Zeke would ask me to go with him to the future and I want to ken what ’tis like there. ’Tis all.”
“Ye dinnae wish to stay with us? With Dougall?”
“I love ye both,” Brenna said, “but I need a place I can call me own. Everywhere I look here … none of it is mine. ’Tis yer home, yer bed, yer chairs, yer garden. Ye have work to do here at the castle and I can follow you around, but I wouldnae have me own purpose. I want that too.”
“I cannae argue with you on that,” Helene said. “I know how ye feel. I felt the same way meself - before I married Dougall.” She put an arm around Brenna and continued walking with her. Do you love Zeke?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been in love. All I know is that I cannae stop meself from thinking of him. All day long he’s in me thoughts. I wonder what he’s doing, where he is? I wonder if he’s thinking about me.”
“It sounds to me as if ye are. Has he said anything to ye?”
“Nae. He hasnae. Helene, I think he’s still in love with ye.”
Helene’s eyes flew wide open in surprise. “Brenna. He doesnae love me. He knows I’m with Dougall. He sent me back here to be with him. I admit that at one time I believe he thought he loved me. Mayhap he did, but Zeke wouldnae spend the rest of his days loving someone who didnae love him back.”
“But ye did love him?” she asked.
“I thought I did, but all along the only one for me was yer brother. I was angry with him while I was in San Francisco. I learned many lessons along the way, but I never stopped loving Dougall. I love Zeke as a friend. He helped me when I needed it the most. He took me in and taught me how to live in his time. I believe he could do the same for ye. He needs someone to love. Ye’ll never find a better man and if he does love ye, consider yerself lucky to have his love. ”
“Do ye think I should do it?” Brenna asked.
“I do, but first ye must find out if what yer feeling really is love and if he feels the same. Ye cannae do that if yer hidden away here at the castle. Ye must find him. Spend some time with him. I dinnae believe ye’ll be sorry if ye do.”
Hope welled in Brenna’s heart. “Thank ye, Helene. I love ye.” Brenna hugged Helene, who returned the hug.
“Now, before ye run off to find him, come help me upstairs. I only have two hands and there are three little ones who need tending to this morn, as do their mums.”
***
The heavy rain subsided as the noon hour approached.
Logan and Zeke headed to the practice field only to find the rest of the men already hard at work.
Zeke was impressed with their work ethic.
He wouldn’t have expected there to be a practice on a rainy day such as this, but Logan made a good point.
“Ye cannae always pick the weather when ye find yerself under attack. So, we practice in all kinds of weather. ’Tis one of the reasons the MacKenzie warriors are the best in the highlands.”
Zeke lifted an eyebrow in question.
“I’m sure there are other clans who would argue me point, but they’d be the one’s who havenae yet met us on the field of battle.”
A towering red haired man joined them, drenched to the bone. “Hamish, I almost didnae recognize ye all cleaned up as ye are,” Logan chuckled. “You’ve met Zeke, havenae ye?”
“Aye. I was just about to ask him if he’d like to spar with me.”
“Zeke?” Logan glanced in his direction.
“Let’s go,” Zeke answered. He followed Hamish out onto the field and prepared himself to take a beating.
***