Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
A s the days passed within the ancient walls of the fortress, Annabelle found herself settling into her new life, slowly but surely. She spent her time with newfound friends—Jennifer, Mae, and Catherine—whose presence brought her both comfort and camaraderie in this strange world. It was funny that she had to travel more than three hundred years into the past to find a group of women that were quickly becoming the kind of friends she’d longed for all her life.
One sunny afternoon, as they gathered in the library, the women exchanged stories about the modern conveniences they missed from their own times. Laughter and nostalgia filled the room as they reminisced about various TV shows and music that they loved.
It turned out they’d all been fans of Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran and could sing several of their songs. Catherine had taken notes, writing the lyrics out for several so they’d have them for when they started to forget what they sounded like. They made a pact to destroy them eventually so that nobody would think those artists stole their own work. They were all conscious of the fact that they could screw up the future if they let too much of what they knew get out.
As they reminisced, Annabelle couldn't help but feel a twinge of homesickness as she thought about her career as a detective, and she told the girls about what she’d done in the past. Each of them had shared what they’d done too, and it was nice to see that they each were still doing what they enjoyed. Jen teaching martial arts, even though she couldn’t exactly compete anymore, Mae using her degree in psychology to help with anyone’s problems here, and Catherine was writing a history of the Donald clan, and about Islay as she often went out with Eamon as he and his men traveled around the isle in their guard duties. Annabelle just wished she could use her skills in some way too.
Later, as she was sitting in the castle's courtyard, Annabelle was joined by Jamie. “Good afternoon, Jamie. Are you off duty now?”
“I am. Do you mind me joining you?” he asked.
“Not at all. I’m glad for the company. I’m afraid I’ve been feeling a bit melancholy. Missing my job,” she said ruefully.
“What kind of work did you do? I know Mae was getting ready to be a healer and she has found a way to do that here, and Jen, well I told you she teaches martial arts to us. Not sure what Catherine did as a job, she said she was a scholar, but I didn’t know that was a job.”
Annabelle smiled. “Actually, I worked as a police detective for the San Francisco police department. I used to investigate crime and arrest criminals and help make our city safer.”
“Oh, aye? So you were like a guardsman?” Jamie asked, sounding curious.
“In a way, I guess I was. Though I don’t think it was quite the same. I mean I didn’t stand guard on a wall or ride out on a horse or anything like that.” She smiled.
“So what did you do, lass? What kind of things did you investigate?”
Annabelle described her role as a police detective and she couldn't help but notice the genuine interest in Jamie's eyes. He asked about her cases, her colleagues, and smart questions about modern law enforcement and how it compared to what they did here. She loved that he had a thirst for knowledge about it and could relate to a lot of it, making comparisons as she spoke.
Their conversation continued late into the afternoon as Annabelle told him how much she enjoyed looking into older cases and finding the one thing that was missed that would give them a new lead and help them close the case. “It was exciting to be able to finally capture the person responsible and get closure for the victims. I felt like I was making a real difference for people.”
Jamie leaned closer, his eyes fixed on Annabelle's with an intensity that made her heart race. “You did admirable work, Annabelle. I could listen to you tell me stories of your time as a detective all day.”
Annabelle couldn't help but blush under his gaze. "Well, it had its moments," she replied with a hint of modesty, "but I must say, your work as a guard here is just as commendable, Jamie, if not more important."
“Would like to see what we do here?” he asked, standing up and offering her a hand.
Annabelle took his offered hand and stood as well. “I’d like that very much.”
“As I told you afore, the Campbells have been treacherous, but they are nae the only ones. The Donalds have many enemies because we believe Scotland should stand proudly on its own. There are those who want what power can be granted to them and seek to take from us to gain that power, so we stay vigilant.” He led her up the stairs to the top of the wall. “As you can see, we have several guard here, archers who are our first line of defense.”
“How far can they reach?” she asked, curious as she eyed the archers keeping an eye over the land.
“An arrow shot by our guards can fly all the way to the loch.” Jamie pointed toward the distant lake.
“How big is that lake? I can’t see the other side of it.”
“That is Loch Ballygrant. Do you see the road?”
Annabelle narrowed her eyes and raised a hand as shade. “Do you mean that dirt path?”
Jamie chuckled. “Aye, tis nae a small walking path, lass, merely looks that way from here. Tis a road that will take you north to the town of Ballygrant. Once you reach Ballygrant, if you travel east, it will take you to Caol Ila, on the coast of the Sound of Islay. If’n you go west for a couple of hours, you’ll reach the town of Bridgend and beyond it, Loch Indaal, which leads out to the Sea of Hebrides.”
Annabelle shook her head in amazement as she giggled. “You know, in my time, we could probably reach it in a few minutes or less. That’s going to take me some time to get used to. Travel will literally take hours or days for me now.”
They walked down the wall toward the towers and climbed the steps. He brought her to the top point and let her stand next to Shaw. “Good afternoon, lass, I see you’re getting the full tour of Fort Donald from Jamie,” he said.
“I am. This is an impressive view. You can see for miles it seems.”
“Aye, any trouble headed our way, and you can be assure we will see it coming,” Shaw replied with a nod.
“Let’s head down to the training area,” Jamie said, touching her elbow and send an electric wave through her.
“You should take her out on a horse, show her all of our land.”
“Aye, I will.” Jamie gave Shaw a nod. “Best nae do it today though, as it tis getting late.”
Annabelle was thrilled that he was thinking about spending more time with her in the future. Jamie’s sunny personality was such a delight in comparison to Edward’s demanding and brooding personality. She felt as though she could be herself around Jamie, that she could do or say anything, and it wouldn’t bother him in the least. Not like it would Edward.
She followed him down the stairs and over to the training grounds where they watched several of the guards in mock battle with wooden swords so they wouldn’t accidentally wound each other. As they moved further about the training ground she paused to watch another group grappling, and doing what she could only assume was martial arts. It almost looked like the kind of sparring they did in a UFC match.
“Is that what Jen has been teaching you all?” she asked.
“Aye, some. We also use boxing and wrestling. Anything that will give us an advantage over our foes,” Jamie explained.
Annabelle watched in fascination and then glanced at Jamie. “You don’t do all that, do you?” she waved toward the men pummeling each other.
Chuckling, Jamie said, “Aye, lass. All the guards do, even Cam.”
“Is it safe?” she murmured, worry creasing her brow.
“For us? Aye, but for our foes, nae.” A wide grin split his face, and his eyes sparked with an almost feralness and Annabelle could see that these men would be a force to be reckoned with. She was glad they were on her side.
* * *
Later that night, Annabelle's peaceful slumber took an abrupt turn, and she woke with a start. Her heart raced, and she sat up in bed, her wavy black hair cascading around her shoulders. Beads of perspiration clung to her forehead as she tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare that had gripped her.
In the nightmare, Edward had been berating her, shouting at her, grabbing her, and forcing her back into the house, shoving her around like a ragdoll. It wasn’t so much a nightmare as a memory of the first time he’d done that to her. She had made plans to go out with a couple of girlfriends, and he’d shown up at her place, seen how she was dressed and lost it.
He’d demanded she go inside, and at first it was just to change, or so he said, but once they were in the house, he’d gripped her arm and dragged her to the bedroom, screaming at her, calling her some horrible things and then forced her to be with him. Saying if she wanted to dress in that way, then he’d treat her like the slut she was dressed as.
Afterwards, he’d apologized and said he’d been drinking, and he didn’t mean any of it. She’d forgiven him. That was the biggest mistake she’d ever made in her life. She’d been young and stupid, but she knew that should have been the end of them. Looking back, she wished she could change how she’d reacted. Instead of running away, escaping him, she’d turned inward. Attempted to be everything he wanted. Not make him mad, ever. It worked for a little while. Long enough for him to convince her that he wasn’t that guy and that she should move in with him.
As she sat here, contemplating a life that was now hundreds of years away, Annabelle couldn’t help thinking that no matter how far he was from her, she would never escape him because he lived on in her head. He’d turned her into this mess, and she didn’t know how to get her innocence back. She used to think that most people were inherently good, but with how he’d picked at her and shaken her confidence, she now didn’t trust so easily as she had before Edward.
With a sigh, Annabelle lay back down, attempting to banish Edward's lingering presence from her thoughts. She wrapped herself in the covers, staring at the wooden beams of her bedchamber ceiling. In the quiet of the night, she couldn't help but wonder what Edward believed had become of her and part of her hoped that he would be blamed for her vanishing.
* * *
Annabelle woke again to a knock at her door. The embers of the fire from the previous night were nothing but a small orangish glow and the sun was streaming brightly through the window. “Just a moment,” she called, rising from the bed.
She reached for the robe that Bridie had sent to her along with several other dresses the evening before. It was nice to have a wardrobe made completely for her. She’d sent a note telling her there were a couple more coming before her wardrobe would be complete. After that, she’d repair or adjust anything as needed.
Opening the door, she was surprised to see Jamie standing there, a grin on his face as he waited patiently for her to greet him. “Oh, hi?” she said.
“Good morning, lass. I was hopin’ you might wish to accompany me on a ride this morn.”
“I’d love to, but I’m afraid I don’t know how to ride a horse.”
“You can ride with me then, if’n you still want to go with me?”
“I would, yes. I don’t know that I have anything to ride in, can I do that in one of the dresses?”
“Aye, any of them will do you fine, lass. I’ll meet you at the stables then, and donnae worry about breaking your fast, I’ll bring something for us.” He winked at her.
Thirty minutes later, down at the stables, Annabelle met up with Jamie who led her to his horse. It was a sweetheart, solid brown with a black mane and tail. Annabelle stroked his neck and said, “What’s his name?”
“Sgail, which means shadow in English,” Jamie replied as he mounted and then reached down for her arm to lift her onto the horse’s back.
Annabelle held onto his waist, her heart quickening at the proximity as he nudged the horse to move. Together, they rode out of the fort, the imposing stone walls gradually receding as they ventured down the huge hill toward the small village, but once there, they turned toward Loch Ballygrant.
The loch was a sight to behold, a tranquil expanse of sparkling waters nestled amidst rolling green hills. The surrounding landscape was dotted with vibrant wildflowers and inhabited by an array of wildlife. The air was crisp, carrying with it the invigorating scent of the Scottish wilderness, a smell she was coming to really love.
They rode along the shores of Loch Ballygrant for a while and then Jamie assisted Annabelle in dismounting from the horse. As their eyes met, Annabelle felt an undeniable spark of chemistry between them, a silent acknowledgment of the connection that seemed to be growing stronger with each passing moment.
“Let us find a spot to have our small picnic, aye?” Jamie suggested.
As they strolled together along the tranquil shores of Loch Ballygrant, Jamie bent down and began picking wild flowers and making a bouquet. With a genuine smile, he offered it to Annabelle, his romantic nature shining through in this simple gesture.
Annabelle couldn't help but notice the romantic undercurrent of their outing. It felt remarkably like a first date, and the realization tugged at her heartstrings, stirring emotions she had long suppressed. “Thank you, Jamie, no one has ever given me flowers before. These are beautiful.” She lifted the bouquet and sniffed them.
“That’s a shame, lass, I cannae believe no man of worth courted you in your world. Are they blind?” he inquired, giving her a curious look.
“I did date someone in my time, but…” she sighed. “It’s a long story and not a very good one.” Thoughts of Edward ran through her mind.
Jamie reached out and ran a finger over her forehead, where she knew it had creased. “Lass, if’n you wish to share, I have a good listenin’ ear.” His hand cupped her cheek. “Let me get the blanket and food and you can think about it.”
He stepped back from her and then jogged over to Sgail, opened the saddle bag, and removed the blanket and a tied up bundle then returned and spread it on the ground. He set the bundle in the center then took her hand and brought her over to it.
“Come sit, Mira fixed us some Bannock and I snitched some meats and cheese as well.” He smiled.
Annabelle loved how easy he was around her and she felt herself compelled to tell him. “I met Edward after I got out of the police academy. He was a business man, successful and established and I was amazed that he’d even noticed me. We started dating and things were good at first.”
“Jen explained to me before that means you courted, but it’s different than the way we court here.” Jamie nodded.
“Yes, I’m sure it’s pretty different. Edward would get jealous if I made plans with friends, saying he barely got to see me, so I stopped making so many plans with my friends. I’d go to work and spend nearly every bit of my time off with Edward. About three months into us dating, he asked me to move into his place. At first, I didn’t. I liked having my own place. And then we had our first fight.” Annabelle licked her lips and recalled the nightmare.
Jamie grabbed her hand and held it, using his thumb to caress the back. “You donnae have to tell me, if’n you donnae want to.”
“No, it’s okay. I had planned to go to a friend’s birthday party. I hadn’t seen them in a while, and I wanted to catch up. Edward came to my place, started screaming at me, demanding things, he didn’t like how I was dressed, he called me horrible things. And then…” Tears welled in Annabelle’s eyes. She took a moment to compose herself. “I didn’t go out. He made me stay in and be with him.”
Jamie’s hand tightened around hers for a moment. “Did he hurt you?” his voice, normally sweet and gentle, had an edge of harshness to it that startled her, and she looked up, meeting his gaze.
She met his gaze and nodded, but couldn’t bring herself to answer him verbally. She looked away, toward the loch and then said, “He apologized, said it would never happen again and I was young and stupid and believed him. I moved from my place into his and he slowly began isolating me from everyone even more. All I had was my job and he was trying to get me to quit doing it, but I wouldn’t.”
“Right bastard,” Jamie muttered, but it almost sounded like a growl.
Annabelle flicked her gaze back to his face, wondering what he was thinking. His grip was still a little tight on her hand, but it wasn’t hurting her, more like he was holding on to her, protecting her from the phantom memory of Edward.
“If I could, lass, I’d find him and beat him until he respected you properly. No real man would treat a lass in such a way.”
His words fixed a hole in her heart she hadn’t know was there. That he was ready to defend her after just a few days of knowing her warmed her and touched her heart. “Thank you, Jamie.”
He lifted his other hand and cupped her cheek. "If you were mine, lass, I'd treat you like a rare rose, cherishing your every petal."
The look in his eyes, coupled with his words melted the wall of protection Annabelle had erected around her heart. It was so sincerely said, and she could see that he meant what he said. Part of her wanted to lean forward and kiss him, but figured that would be way too forward in this age. Instead she smiled at him and said, “You’re making me blush.”
He chuckled and then turned to the food. “Eat up, lass, Mira will nae like it if’n we let the wee fishes eat her offerings.”
Their conversation momentarily lapsed into a thoughtful silence as they ate, the echoes of Jamie's heartfelt words lingering in the crisp Scottish air.
“We do have ones such as that Edward in our time, though not among us, now.”
Annabelle frowned. “Where did they go?”
Jamie ate another piece of cheese and then said, “Before my brother became the chief, we were without one and there was a vote. It was between Cam and our cousin Malcolm. Malcolm is one like the man you courted. Controlling, aggressive, angry. When the vote didnae go his way, he became volatile and left us. He’s been causing us trouble ever since. We still donnae know where he might be.”
“What do you mean by trouble?” Annabelle asked, her brow furrowed.
“Thieving, killing livestock, we suspect he’s behind some of our people being killed as well.”
“And you’ve no idea where he is?”
“Nae, we have patrols out looking for sign of him daily, but we suspect he’s with a group of bandits and other marauders.”
Annabelle couldn't suppress her detective instincts. “Where was the last confirmed sighting of this Malcolm?” she asked.
“Been more ‘an a month, lass, since we heard he might have been with a group in Kellis.”
“And you said you’ve got men out patrolling? Are they actively hunting this man, or just keeping an eye on a specific area?”
“Aye, Eamon and his men go out on patrol and cover specific areas. When we hear rumors of where he might be, Eamon and his men ride out to check it out, but either the townspeople are providing him with shelter and siding with him, or he hasnae been there. We are nae positive of which.”
“Is he an imminent threat? Is there something specific he’s after?” Annabelle asked.
“We are aware that he is a threat to us, Aine has forewarned us that he will cause us chaos in the near future,” Jamie replied.
“Who is Aine?”
“She’s a wise woman. She’s like Dub Sith, or close enough,” Jamie replied.
“And she can see the future?” Annabelle questioned.
“Aye, in a way. She doesnae see it exact, you understand, more impressions of what possibilities are in the future for us.”
Annabelle nodded. “I see.” She wasn’t sure she believed that anyone, even a Fae could see into the future, but then what did she know? Dub Sith had literally come to the future and brought her back here, so maybe they could? It was hard to wrap her head around that.
Jamie smiled and reached for her hand. “Lass, you have a keen mind, and I am quite drawn to you.”
Annabelle blushed as she felt the bond she’d been forming with Jamie deepen. She just wasn’t sure she could trust it. She’d trusted Edward and look where that had gotten her.