Chapter 19
The evening meal was shrouded with tension, but the MacKenzie clan did their best to keep the mood of their guests at least one rung below breaking out into a brawl.
“I ken the lass is here, Robert,” Nevil said. “Ye’d be doing me a great service by simply handing her over to me. I would be forever indebted to ye.”
“It would nae be in me best interest to do so,” Robert said. “Paddraig MacRae is a strong ally and I’ll nae ruin our alliance. Forget about the lass and go to MacRae with your complaint.”
Helene listened carefully as she served the family and their guests at the main table.
Zeke spirited Brenna back home to keep her out of harm’s way, so on that count Helene could relax a bit, but she was worried about Dougall.
Robert spread his men out around the room to keep the peace, so he was sitting right in the midst of Munro’s men.
From the look of them they were enjoying their meal and there was no need for worry.
That could change at Nevil Munro’s discretion.
“Ye cannae possibly side with him on this one. The wedding was about to take place when this Laird San Francisco arrived and Paddraig thought he would get a better deal with him for his daughter. Have ye ever heard of this San Francisco?”
“Aye. I have.”
“I know he’s here now, so his wife cannae be far. What do ye ken of the man?”
“I dinnae ken much. He’s here because his sister is here. He’s been practicing with me men and he’s quite a good swordsman. I dinnae believe I’d give him reason for a fight if I were ye.”
“I’ve seen the man fight. He could be beaten,” Nevil said. His arrogance apparently knew no bounds.
“I dinnae want any trouble while yer here, Nevil. Keep that in mind. Ye dinnae want to make an enemy of the MacKenzie clan.”
“Aye. Of course not.” Nevil continued enjoying his meal. “Perhaps yer right. I’ll pay a visit to Paddraig. I will have that land and I will get me cows back.”
Helene finished serving and left the table. She stood in the doorway to the hall and waited for Dougall to look her way. When he did she waved him over.
“He says he’s going to call on yer Da. Says he wants some land and the cows that were reived the night ye rescued Brenna.”
“I’ll send one of me men to warn him.”
“What about Brenna?”
“We’ll have to keep her safely at home until he leaves.” Dougall kissed her cheek. “Wait for me. We’ll walk home together. I dinnae want you off on yer own with these men about.”
***
Robert sent word the following morning that Munro and his men would be leaving by the noon hour.
“He didn’t get what he came for,” Zeke observed. “That makes me worry about what he’s up to.”
“Keep Brenna close,” Dougall said. “I don’t trust him either. I’ve asked Logan to join us here this morning.”
“Is he bringing Sara?”
“Aye. She’ll be safer here with all of us than alone in their cottage.”
Zeke relaxed somewhat. This was not something he ever had to worry about in San Francisco. Hopefully the day would pass without incident.
“Robert’s men will be on alert for a few days now. He doesnae believe Munro would be foolish enough to hurt his alliance with the MacKenzies, but Munro’s nae a man to be trusted, especially where his own interests are concerned.
The door opened and Sara entered, followed by Logan.
“Are we really going to be in the middle of a real medieval battle?” she asked, excitement in her voice.
“This is exactly why I don’t want you staying in this time,” Zeke said.
“Stop being so over protective. Logan will take care of me.”
Zeke watched as Logan put his hand on Sara’s shoulder. “Dinnae fear fer yer sister, Zeke. I promise to protect her with me life.”
“See,” Sara said, gazing lovingly up at him.
“Alright, alright! I guess I’m not going to get you to change your mind.”
“No. You’re not. Where’s Brenna?”
“She’s upstairs.”
“Is she scared?”
“I don’t think I’d call it scared. It’s more like angry,” Zeke answered. “Helene’s up there with her.”
“I’m going up,” she said to Logan.
“I’ll bet she’s giving you a run for your money,” Zeke laughed.
“Pardon?” It was obvious Logan didn’t understand that saying.
“She keeps you on your toes?”
Logan’s furrowed brow said he still wasn’t getting it.
“Never mind. It’s not important.”
“I still dinnae understand your future language, but I’m learning.” Logan assured him.
Zeke smiled. It was easy to see why Sara loved Logan. He knew when he went back to San Francisco that he was leaving her in very good hands.
***
“Isn’t this exciting?” Sara asked.
“Nae,” Helene and Brenna spoke as one.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
“Do they nae have battles in San Francisco?” Brenna asked, curious to know all she could about the future.
“Not like this,” Sara said.
The three women sat on Brenna’s bed, waiting and listening for anything that might signal danger outside of these walls.
“What’s it like there?” Brenna asked. “Sophia told me that ‘tis beautiful and that she likes the music and food. She also said something about travel. Do ye ken what she was speaking of?”
“Travel is a lot faster there. There are cars, which you see everywhere. Also planes,” Sara said.
“Planes?” Brenna tried the word on her lips.
“They fly. People get in them and they can travel anywhere in the world in a short period of time. It’s not like here, where it takes days to get anywhere.”
Brenna couldn’t believe her ears. The thought of flying like the birds had always been something she’d wondered about, but would be afraid to actually do.
“Aye. Do ye remember taking me to the movies with ye, Sara? And then we’d go have those delicious cinnamon rolls,” Helene said, appearing almost wistful.
“Oh, yes! That was so much fun. I miss cinnamon rolls.” Sara smiled.
“You know, when Zeke and I were kids we lived with our grandfather and he’d take us to baseball games in the city.
We’d always get hot dogs and a soda. Grandpa would have a beer and Zeke would always volunteer to hold it for him and when Grandpa wasn’t looking he’d sneak sips.
Zeke wanted to be a baseball player when he grew up, but things didn’t work out that way. ”
“What’s baseball?” Brenna asked.
“’Tis a sport,” Helene offered. “’Tis verra fun to watch.”
“There’s nothing better than going to a game on a hot summer’s night.”
“I don’t understand.” Brenna was puzzled by this.
“It’s too difficult to explain. It’s too bad there’s nothing like it here in this time,” Sara said. “Do you have any good dirt on Logan?”
“I dinnae ken what ye mean. Logan was like any other lad. He was always playing in the dirt.”
Sara smiled at her misunderstanding, “That wasn’t quite what I meant, but I can just imagine what he must have been like as a little boy.”
“He was always with Dougall. They’ve been friends for many years.
They’d go off on their horses and stay away from the castle overnight.
Da would punish Dougall, but that never stopped them.
They learned quickly though that Da wouldnae be angry with them if they brought back fish for the evening meal, or better still if they’d spied on our neighbors and then told him all about what they’d found. ”
“I’ll bet they were cute,” Sara said.
Again, Brenna wasn’t sure what Sara meant, but she knew that the time they’d spent talking had taken her mind off of what was happening at the castle. They continued their conversation, laughing and enjoying themselves as they shared more stories about the men when they were lads.
***
A knock at the door took the men by surprise. They drew their weapons as Dougall approached the door. “Who’s there?” he called.
“They’ve gone,” Hamish reported and Zeke breathed a sigh of relief.
“Come in,” Dougall said. “Logan go tell the ladies they can come down now.”
“They seem to have left on good terms with the laird,” Hamish said. “They were laughing and smiling as they said their goodbyes.”
“Hamish, welcome,” Helene said as the women and Logan came into the room. “Will ye stay and have something to eat with us?”
He looked to Dougall, who nodded, “Aye. I’d be honored.”
The women went into the kitchen and Zeke followed.
“Are ye going to help?” Helene asked.
“No, I just wanted to be sure you were all safe. I know Munro is gone, but I …” he looked at Brenna. He didn’t quite know what to call the pull that led him to follow her, but he just needed to.
“You don’t need to explain yourself,” Sara said. “We don’t mind the company. Do we ladies?”
“We willnae be able to speak freely about Zeke if he’s here,” Brenna teased.
“If yer going to stay, ye might as well make yerself useful. Would ye mind going with Brenna out to the root cellar?” Helene asked.
“Sure,” Zeke said.
Brenna joined him and he put his arm around her waist.
“Hey, you two,” Sara called after them with a wicked grin, “don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She winked at Zeke, who shook his head and laughed.
“Aye. Mind what yer going for. Brenna ye ken what we need. No doddling.” Helene, hands on hips, looked from one to the other with one eyebrow raised. .
“We won’t be long,” Zeke reassured her.
He took Brenna’s hand and led her outside into the garden, where she took in a deep breath of fresh air.
“Finally, I have you alone for a moment. How long before Helene comes looking for us?” he asked.
Brenna giggled at this.
“Come here,” Zeke said.
There was no hesitation at all, Brenna was in his arms in a split second, her bright eyes and fresh face gazing up at him. How could he possibly help himself? He bent his head until his lips found hers and enjoyed the sweetest of kisses.
“Where’s the root cellar?” Zeke asked, coming up for air.
Brenna pointed to a door nestled into a rock wall.
He let her go, taking a moment to watch as she walked to the door of the root cellar before following her. A flash to Brenna’s right caught his eye and too late, he saw Nevil Munro at her side, holding a knife to her throat.
He unsheathed his sword.