Chapter 3
Elle thought that her eyes might be deceiving her when Breaghacraig loomed out of the mist in front of them. They were near the ocean, she could feel the sea air, smell the salt water, and see gulls flying high overhead.
“’Tis Breaghacraig,” Donal announced softly in her ear.
“Wow!” was all she could manage to utter.
They rode down a road filled with small cottages. As they approached one, a woman came out and waved to them. “Hamish!”
“Sara,” he said. They came to a stop in front of her.
“Did Zeke and Brenna leave?” she asked, seeming very eager to hear.
“Aye. They’ve gone.”
She appeared a little sad, but then she smiled at Hamish. “Good. They’ll be safer back home.”
Elle listened intently to the conversation.
“Who is she?” she asked Donal.
“’Tis Sara, Logan’s wife.”
“Logan? Who’s he?”
“He’s her husband.” Donal said, as if he couldn’t believe she’d asked him.
“Sorry. I’m just trying to figure it all out.” She was confused by it all. Her brain was busily trying to understand the dynamics of this group. Elle was so busy glancing around that she didn’t notice Sara walk up to Donal’s horse.
“Hi. I’m Sara. I’m from San Francisco, too.”
Elle thought her heart would beat right out of her chest. Tears stung her eyes as she tried to hold them back, but her emotions were getting the better of her. “Really?” was all she could say.
“Yes. Hey. Aren’t you Elle Carrera?”
“I am.”
“I’m a huge fan of your music. I can’t believe you’re here. Hamish says you came in right after Zeke and Brenna left.”
“I guess I did. I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know what happened.”
“Edna didn’t contact you?”
“No. I don’t know who Edna is.”
“Hmmm …” Sara turned back to Hamish. “I’m going to come with you to the castle. I’ll introduce her to Ashley and Jenna.”
Hamish put his arm down for her to grab and pulled her up behind him. She placed her hands on his waist and they walked on towards the gates of Breaghacraig.
***
Donal was doing his best to get under Hamish’s skin and Hamish was fuming.
He rode along behind them, staring angrily at Donal’s back.
Elle seemed to be fairly happy riding along with him.
Hamish had to admit to feeling jealous of his friend.
Edna said Elle was all his, but somehow he’d lost control of the situation when they’d run across Laird Munro and now she happily chatted with Donal as he kept his arms wrapped tightly around her wee waist.
Once in the courtyard, he dismounted at once and lifted Sara from the saddle.
“Thanks,” she said, immediately going to Elle, taking her by the arm and guiding her into the keep. Hamish wanted to follow, but he had to report to Robert MacKenzie about their encounter with Munro.
He left his horse at the stable, stared daggers at Donal and headed to the laird’s office to see if he was there.
Hamish had slowly worked his way up the ranks and was now a captain for Robert MacKenzie. He had his own teulu and had been entrusted with the protection of the clan. He didn’t wish to do anything to cause the laird to doubt him.
Robert MacKenzie sat behind an impressive oak table and he beckoned to Hamish to join him and the brothers, Cailin and Cormac MacBayne.
“Come in, Hamish,” Robert said in greeting. “Did ye get Zeke and Brenna to the bridge without incident.”
“Aye, sir. They’ve gone.” He furrowed his brow and hesitated.
“Is something wrong, Hamish?” Robert asked.
“Sir, Edna Campbell has sent us another time traveler. A lass.”
He noticed Cormac and Cailin exchanging amused glances before looking back to him.
“Ye should introduce her to Ashley and Jenna,” Cailin suggested.
“Sara has taken her to meet them,” he said.
“There’s something else?” Robert asked, one eyebrow cocked.
“Aye. On our return from the bridge, we encountered Laird Munro and his men lurking near the border. He wouldnae give me a straight answer to why he was still here.”
“Did ye engage them?”
“Nae. He was interested in the whereabouts of Brenna and Zeke. I told him they were gone. I dinnae ken if he believed me, but Elle, the time traveler, spoke up when he mentioned Laird San Francisco. She told him she was from San Francisco and he seemed quite interested in finding out if she could take him there. I was worried for her safety, but then Munro rode off across the border and was gone.”
“Do ye think he’ll be back?” Cormac asked Robert.
“One can never tell with Munro. I dinnae trust him, to be sure. We’ll send men out each day to patrol the land. If there’s any sight of him, I want him brought back to me unharmed.”
Cailin and Cormac nodded their agreement.
“What of the time traveler, sir?” Hamish was concerned about Elle. He feared Munro may be back to get her in hopes she could take him where he wished to go.
“She’s safe here at Breaghacraig. I’m sure ye’ll be keeping close watch over her,” Robert chuckled. “Get yer men a meal and some rest. Ye deserve it.”
Hamish made his way back past the great hall.
Hearing the sounds of female voices, laughing and excitedly speaking, he paused for a moment to look in.
Ashley, Jenna, and Sara were obviously happier than honeybees amongst a sea of thistles.
He found it quite amazing that they all seemed to know Elle and were overjoyed to see her.
Hamish wanted to speak with her, but he didn’t wish to interrupt, so he silently stole away in search of Donal.
***
“Oh, my gosh, you’re Elle Carrera,” Ashley blurted out as she was introduced. “You’re one of my very favorite singers. I can’t believe you’re here.” She turned to a nearby servant. “Could you bring us some tea and cakes, please.”
Elle was torn between the singer greeting her fans and the woman who somehow found herself transported through time and in need of help from those very same fans. “I’m happy to meet you all,” she said.
“I wonder what Edna’s got up her sleeve this time,” Jenna said.
“You’re all from San Francisco?” Elle asked.
“We are,” Sara assured her.
“How did you get here?”
“The same way you did,” Ashley said.
“I don’t really know how I got here,” Elle said.
“What do you mean? Didn’t the fog bring you?” Jenna asked.
“I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t see any fog.”
“Hmmm …” Jenna said. “That’s weird.”
“You all knew where you were going?”
“I did and Jenna did,” Sara said.
“I was a bit surprised,” Ashley said. “Edna wanted me to meet Cailin and she lured me to Scotland and then over the bridge.”
“How is it that you don’t know what happened?” Sara asked.
“I was busy with my phone. I was texting my sister and on my way to meet my manager. When I looked up … well, Hamish was standing there staring at me.”
“Uh-oh!” Ashley laughed.
“What do you mean?” Elle was feeling a little better, but was still baffled by it all.
“Edna’s a matchmaker.”
“I thought she was a witch.”
“She is … both.”
“You see, we all met our husbands because of Edna.”
“You think I’m here because she’s trying to fix me up with someone?”
“Not just someone. Hamish,” Ashley said. All three women nodded their heads.
“Wait. I’m not looking for a husband and even if I was, I wouldn’t be searching whatever year this is.”
“1517.”
Elle felt faint. Her head was spinning and she almost fell over, but the ladies grasped her by the elbows and guided her to a nearby chair. “This is crazy!”
The servant returned with a tray, setting it on a table near Elle. She handed each of the women a mug and left the tray of cakes within easy reach.
“We all felt the same way, but if you let it happen, you won’t be disappointed,” Ashley assured her.
“Why are you all still here? Why aren’t you back in San Francisco?
Are you stuck here?” She could feel herself hyperventilating.
She couldn’t stay here. She had a new album out and a tour to go on.
Her manager would be frantic wondering where she was and so would her family.
She could see the tabloid headlines now.
Singer Elle Carrera Missing.
“I can’t stay here. People will miss me.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t have to stay, you can go back home, but Edna has to be the one to send you,” Sara said, patting Elle’s hand.
“Okay. How do I find her?” Finally, there was a way out of this.
“She’s not here. She’s in your time. In Scotland,” Ashley said.
Her fight or flight instinct was kicking in and she almost made a run for it, but realized that if she did she might be hopelessly lost here in the Medieval Highlands of Scotland forever. At least if she stayed here, she had these three women to commiserate with and maybe they could help her.
“You’re looking panicked. Try to relax. We’re here for you and Edna will be in touch.” Ashley laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“How?” Her situation was becoming more and more unbelievable with each passing moment.
“Let’s just say if you hear a woman’s voice speaking to you from the flames of a fireplace, that would be Edna,” Sara chuckled.
Elle knew her face read total disbelief, but something in her heart told her not to worry. It was all going to be okay. She could see from the concern on their faces that these women would help her.
“And, if she doesn’t contact you soon, we can probably get in touch with her for you,” Jenna said, exchanging looks with Sara and Ashley.
“But, in the meantime, you should relax and enjoy your stay. How many people do you know who can say they’ve been to a real medieval castle in actual medieval times? ”
“Absolutely none,” Elle said, resigning herself to the fact that this had become her life.
***
“Donal!” Hamish shouted as he watched him hurry out of sight. “Donal!” he ran to catch up with him.
“Hamish, I was looking for ye.” Donal said.
“Liar!” Hamish roared. “Ye were hiding from me.”
“Alright. I was hiding, but if ye could see the evil look on yer face, ye’d hide too.”