Chapter 12
“Are you alright?” Sara asked, surprising Tina as she stood at the foot of the stairs.
“Yes,” Tina said, recovering. “How are you?” Sara looked like she was ready to pop at any moment.
“Logan doesn’t want me to be home alone during the day, so he brought me here this morning. I was looking for you.”
“I’m right here,” Tina said. “Did you need me for something?”
“No. I just wanted to spend some time with you.” Sara’s sweet smile lit up her whole face.
“Really?” Tina wasn’t sure she should believe her.
“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I’m not Elle.” She had to stop letting those old feelings of not being good enough get in the way.
“You’re here. She’s not. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge fan of hers, but I really like you.”
“You do?” There was that disbelief again.
“Wait, don’t tell me. You’ve been living in your sister’s shadow your whole life and you have a hard time believing anyone would want to get to know who you are.”
Tina’s lips turned up for the first time in a while. Sara was someone she could call friend. “How’d you guess?”
“I’ve seen it on your face every time someone brings her up.”
Tina was surprised by that. Could everyone see it, or was it just Sara? “I didn’t know I was that transparent.”
“Well, you are,” Sara laughed. “How’s Elena? I hear she’s been sick.”
“Fingers crossed she’s on the road to recovery. Her fever’s gone.” She was relieved to have at least one thing off her plate. Of course, that meant it was time for her to go home. She decided not to think about that right now, after all, the fever could come back and Elena would need her then.
“Oh, good. I was worried about her.”
“Do you worry about having a baby in this time?” Tina was concerned for Sara. She didn’t want to frighten her, but things could go from bad to worse in a heartbeat.
“A little, but Edna won’t let anything happen to us. And Logan has agreed to go back with me if I ever want to.”
“That’s sweet of him.” It must be nice to have a man in your life that you could count on, she thought.
“Now you know why I love him. He’s a good man,” Sara said, rubbing her belly as she began to waddle away. “You know who else is a good man? Donal. Are you coming? I need to sit down.” Sara plopped herself down in one of the chairs by the fire.
Tina wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what came next, but she liked Sara and knew she should hear her out.
“I’m a pretty good judge of character, you know,” Sara said.
“I get the feeling you’re trying to tell me something,” Tina laughed.
“And you’ve got good intuition,” Sara replied.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Tina was truly puzzled by her statement. How could Sara know any such thing about her?
“I mean that you know … you feel, what’s right for you.
I think you know Donal is your man. You can fight it all you want and yes, I heard all about the lie and the other women, but give the guy a break.
First of all, we have all done things that we might not be proud of.
Second, if he had any idea that Sionaid was pregnant he would have married her for real. ”
“Are you always this direct,” Tina asked.
“I have a tendency to say whatever’s on my mind. It’s not always a good thing,” she giggled. “One more thing, since I seem to be on a roll here. Donal’s whole life was turned upside down this week. He made some bad choices, but I don’t think he was really in a position to make good ones.”
Tina thought about that. It felt like they had spent a lot of time together, but in reality it was only a few days. He was trying so hard to figure out how to be a dad, maybe she was asking a lot to think that he could figure out how to be a partner at the same time.
“Hey, when you go back would you do me a favor? Would you give a letter to my brother?”
“Of course,” Tina said. “I’d be happy to.”
“Great. She put her hand in her skirt pocket and pulled out two envelopes.”
Tina gazed at them. “What’s in the other envelope?”
“It’s the recipe for the tea. I really think you should do something with it.”
“Wow! Thank you. I just might.”
“The only thing I ask is that you call it Ayla’s blend.”
“I can do that.”
“Good. I also made some other notes about things you could sell that are from this time. Don’t worry, it’s not my muffin recipe.”
“You’re quite the character, Sara. Here you are ready to give birth at any moment and you’re thinking about me and Ayla’s tea.”
“I have to keep myself busy so I won’t start to worry,” she said and then leaning in, whispered, “I’m a little scared.”
“Understandable,” Tina replied. “I think I would be too. I hear there’s a doctor coming to help you and Helene.”
“Dr. Ferguson. He’s delivered babies for Ashley and Jenna. Not Ashley’s first. She did that all by herself with the help of one of the women here.”
“I have a newfound respect for her,” Tina said. “I can’t even imagine what that would be like.”
Tina helped Sara get settled in a chair near the fire. Despite the sunny sky, the weather was cooler than she was used to.
“Logan says we’re expecting some rain,” Sara said.
“Really? It was so sunny outside.”
“He’s always right. He could be a weatherman in our time,” Sara said. “Can you imagine that? He’d be the hottie on the evening news.” She couldn’t contain her laughter and Tina joined her.
As they sat and continued their conversation, Tina’s mind kept wandering up the stairs and into Donal’s room.
***
“She feels quite warm again,” Donal said, pressing his lips to Elena’s forehead as he’d seen Tina do. “Will ye tell Tina before ye leave?”
“Aye. I’ll go now,” Doreen said.
Donal dipped a cloth in cool water and swabbed Elena’s face and body with it. It seemed as if Tina would never arrive, but then the door opened and she hurried in.
“Her fever’s back?” she asked
Elena coughed and Tina’s face immediately showed concern. “How long has she been coughing?”
“Since I’ve been back. Is that bad?”
“I don’t know. Could be.” Tina examined Elena from head to toe. “She’s got a rash. I don’t like that.”
“When will Dr. Ferguson arrive?” He tried to keep the worry from his voice, but it was a futile effort.
“The only thing I know is that he’s on the way.”
“Ye said that Ashley can contact the witch. Will she help Elena?”
“Yes. I’m sure she will. Go find Ashley. I’ll stay here with Elena.”
Donal strode from the room, purpose clear on his face. He didn’t have to go far to find Ashley. She was in the passageway leaving her chamber.
“Ashley,” Donal said before she began descending the stairs. “Elena’s fever is back. She has a cough and a rash. Tina thought we should contact Edna.”
Ashley immediately turned back towards her room. “Come with me,” she beckoned him.
He followed her into the chamber she shared with Cailin. From a chest in a corner of the room she removed an odd globe which she held up in front of her face.
“Edna,” she said. “It’s me, Ashley. We need you.”
A moment or two passed before a woman’s voice came from the globe. “Yes, Ashley. I’m here.”
“Is that her?” Donal asked.
“Edna, you know Tina’s here,” Ashley said.
“Of course I do. I sent her.”
“Well, the little girl she’s been taking care of is really sick. Her Da, Donal, is here with me and he’s asking for your help.”
“Hold on for a minute while I try to see what’s happening.”
Donal wasn’t sure how she could see what was happening, but he also wasn’t sure how he could hear her voice, so he decided he’d just accept it no matter how odd it seemed. The only thing that mattered was getting Elena some help.
“I see now. Dr. Ferguson is still a few days away. Have Donal bring her to the bridge and I’ll send them across. We’ll get her to a doctor here.”
“It is two days ride to that bridge. There’s rain coming and Elena should not be out in it,” Donal said.
“You’re right, Donal. We can’t let her get worse. Is there another bridge nearby?” Edna asked.
Ashley glanced at Donal. “Is there?”
“There is one. Not far from here.”
“I’ve only used my bridge here in Glendaloch and the bridge in San Francisco. I’m nae sure it will work, but we can try. How quickly can ye be there?”
“’Tis getting late, but I believe we can be there before the sun sets.”
“Go then. I’ll watch for ye.”
“Thank ye, Edna, and thank ye, Ashley.”
Donal pushed all the panic away and focused on what he needed to do as he hurried back to his room.
If he thought too much about Elena or traveling through time he would not be able to move.
Years of training to stay calm in battle were serving him well.
“I’m taking Elena to a nearby bridge. Edna will send for us to come to her. ” He hurried to wrap Elena in a plaid.
“What about me?” Tina asked.
Donal continued getting ready and didn’t answer. He wanted her to join them, but he knew she didn’t want to be with him.
“Donal,” she touched his arm and he felt her comforting touch bring him a small amount of peace. “I’m coming with you,” Tina said.
He nodded, “Hurry then.”
Tina ran back to her room and grabbed what little she had in the way of possessions before joining Donal in the hall. They hurried down the stairs and out into the courtyard where Donal’s horse awaited them.
“Ashley told me ye were hurrying to get to the bridge before nightfall,” Cailin said, handing him the reins. Tina held onto Elena as Donal mounted the horse and Cailin helped boost her and the bairn up in front of him.
Donal wrapped an arm around Tina’s waist before clucking to the horse. “Thank ye, Cailin!” he called as they rode out through the gates.
“The bridge is over a day’s ride away,” Tina said.
“Edna will meet us at one that is closer,” Donal said.
“Why didn’t Edna use that one to send me here?”
“I dinnae know. I dinnae know how any of this works. I just want Elena to be well. ’Tis all I want,” he wanted Tina, too. He couldn’t tell her that. She still hadn’t forgiven him and she might never.
Tina remained silent as she held Elena in her arms. He was struck by how much they appeared to be a family to anyone they might pass on the road. The truth of it was quite different.
***