Chapter 10 #2
Just as Logan predicted, it rained for two straight days which meant that Elle and the others were stuck in the great hall.
As confining as it was, there was something oddly warm and comforting about spending time with these women.
The sight of Ashley and Jenna with their little ones, along with Irene, Helene and Sara doing needlework touched a place in Elle that spoke to her about the beauty to be found in simple things.
“Ouch!” Sara yelped. “I’m never going to be any good at this,” she complained.
“Why is there nae surprise that ye’ve stabbed yerself with the needle?” Helene tittered.
“Helene! You know how I am with this kind of thing,” Sara said.
“Then why do you do it?” Elle asked. “Really, if you don’t like it, isn’t there something else you could do?”
“But I do like it, that’s the problem. I just wish I was as good at it as everyone else.”
“Ye will be,” Irene said. “Give it time.”
Elle wondered if it would be possible for her to live in this time.
She had the feeling she might just be stuck here.
She hadn’t heard from Edna again and wondered if she’d forgotten her.
She worried that this peaceful, simple existence just wasn’t for her.
If she had to stay, could she do it? To this point, she’d found this little detour to the sixteenth century both educational and relaxing, but she couldn’t help but wonder what awaited her when, or if, she returned to her own time.
Would her career be in shambles? What would she do if that was the case?
All these questions floating through her head were making her anxious, so she pushed them aside for the time being.
There was nothing she could do about it, and as her mother had once told her, “When there’s nothing you can do, then it’s best to do nothing. ”
“What are you working on?” Elle asked, not wanting to dwell on her own problems any longer.
“I’m making something for the baby.” Sara smiled holding up the piece of cloth she’d been sewing.
It looked like it might be a baby bonnet, but she couldn’t be sure. “Cute,” Elle said.
“Do you want to give it a try?” Helene asked. “I’ve plenty here I could share with ye.” She had a mischievous grin on her face.
“Don’t tempt me, Helene. I might agree and then you’d have a real problem.”
“Ye dinnae sew?” Irene asked.
“No. I’ve tried a time or two, but the best I can do is sew a button.” She stood and paced before the hearth.
“No word from Edna?” Ashley asked.
“Not yet.”
“Would you mind holding the baby for a minute?”
“Sure. I’d love to.” Thankfully that was something she was sure she could do. “Hey, little sweetie,” she cooed.
“You’re a natural,” Jenna said.
“I don’t know about that. My brother has kids and …” And what? She didn’t see them very much. Was too busy to visit and bring them gifts like a good aunt would do.
The others were staring at her, waiting for her to finish her thought. “And, I can’t wait to see them when I get back to San Francisco.”
“I’ll bet they’ll be excited to see you,” Sara said. “How cool for them to have an aunt who’s a famous singer.”
“I don’t know that they are old enough to understand who I am.”
“Well, when they are, they’ll be bragging about you to all their friends.”
“Maybe,” she answered. She wished she could excuse herself and go out for a walk.
Being in this room with these women was making her feel anything but good about herself.
They were all happily married with lives that they loved.
At this moment she wasn’t so sure how in love with her own life she was.
She already knew she wasn’t a good daughter and now she could add aunt to the list of things she was really bad at.
It made her sad to think of how many people she was disappointing in her life.
She needed to get home, but did she have the power to change things once she got there?
If she could, it would make it all so much better, but she’d dug a hole for herself and she couldn’t seem to get out of it.
***
The rain didn’t bother Hamish, or his men.
They were used to patrolling in all kinds of weather.
They were settled in for the night in a shallow cave where they were warm, safe and dry.
With any luck, the morning would bring with it sunshine and dry weather, although none of them would have taken bets on it.
Their patrol had been uneventful. The weather had seen to that. Hamish and his men were the only ones out roaming on MacKenzie lands. Tomorrow they would head back to Breaghacraig and another group would take their place riding the land and searching for anyone who shouldn’t be there.
The fire they’d built was enough to keep them warm through the night.
Hamish sat up staring into the flames. It was his turn to keep watch and the others were all sleeping soundly, as he could tell from their snoring.
He wondered if his life would ever hold the adventure he so craved, or if the only adventure he’d have would be found on these patrols.
He never complained about his lot in life.
He was happy to have a place with the MacKenzies and he realized how lucky he was to have been given the rank of captain and to have his own teulu of men.
Despite all his blessings, he hoped that one day he’d be able to see the world.
To travel far from the lands he knew so well.
Lands he could ride with his eyes closed.
He wasn’t sure that day would ever come, but he wasn’t willing to give up hope.
He watched the flames lick at the new piece of wood he tossed in and then much to his surprise, he heard a woman’s voice call his name. Either he was losing his mind or it was Edna. His heart raced in his chest as he waited for her to speak again.
“Hamish, ’tis I, Edna Campbell.”
He couldn’t speak. His voice seemed to be caught in his throat.
“I ken yer there. I can see ye,” she said.
“Ye can see me?” He glanced around, expecting her to be right there next to him.
“Aye. Through the flames. If ye look hard enough, ye may see me.”
He searched the flames and sure enough, he saw a white haired woman staring back at him. “There ye be,” he said, grinning like a fool.
“It’s time to take Elle back to the bridge,” she said.
His heart sank at the thought of saying goodbye to her.
“Must I?”
“Aye. Ye must. Did ye think she would stay in the past forever?”
“Nae. I ken ’tis nae her home, she wouldnae be happy here. ”
“Then ye’ll do it.”
“Aye.”
“But ye dinnae wish to?”
“Nae.” He had to tell her how he felt. Maybe she’d let him go with Elle. It would be the adventure he’d hoped for. “Edna, she is … I care for … I just …” He stumbled and stuttered over his words, not sure how to say what he needed to say.
“Do ye love her, Hamish?”
“I think I may. Edna, send me with her.”
“I cannae do that, Hamish. Not unless she wishes you to join her.”
Disappointment may as well rip his heart from his chest. “She doesnae wish it,” he sadly intoned.
“I’m sorry. I thought she might return yer feelings, lad.”
“There was a time when I thought she did. I didnae think she loved me, but I thought she could. She willnae allow me to love her.”
“I dinnae believe she can stop ye. If ye love her, then ye love her.” Edna’s tone was matter-of-fact.
“Then what can I do?”
“’Tis nothing I can say or do to guide ye. Ye must believe in yerself. If that spark still remains in her heart, ye can rekindle it. Ye ken?”
“Aye.”
“When ye return, take her to the bridge. If she wishes ye to join her, ye may. If she doesnae, ye must stay where ye are.”
“Edna, ye said I could time travel. Why have ye sent this lass to me only to take her away?”
Edna sighed and briefly glanced away. “Hamish. Ye will time travel. If not with Elle, then at another time. I promise.”
He could see the kindness in her eyes and hear it in her voice. “Thank ye.”
“Now, I must go. I wish ye luck. Remember, get Elle to the bridge as soon as ye can.”
Her face and voice faded in the flames, leaving only the sound of the crackling wood as it burned brighter and then returned to normal.
He had to escort Elle back to the bridge. He knew it was what she wanted and he was happy for her. She’d be going home, and taking his heart with her.