Chapter 13
As they approached the bridge, Hamish could feel that something wasn’t right, but he kept it to himself, not wishing to alarm Elle.
His eyes searched the surrounding brush, but saw nothing.
Perhaps it was just a figment of his overactive imagination.
A slight movement on the other side of the bridge caught his attention. Elle saw it, too.
“What was that?” she asked.
“I’m nae sure,” he answered. He cautiously guided Aylwen to the spot on the bridge where he’d first seen Elle. Memories of that day and of all the days that followed flooded his mind. This was it. These would be their last moments together. He dismounted and helped Elle down.
“Is this the right place?” she asked.
Hamish nodded, his senses still on high alert. He pulled his sword from its sheath and stood facing the danger he couldn’t see. “Who’s there?” he asked.
Elle tried to peek around him, but he kept her behind him.
“I said, who’s there?” He called.
Horses burst from the brush in front of and behind them.
Elle shrieked at the sight of several men surrounding them. At the head of the group was Laird Munro.
“What do ye want, Munro?” Hamish said, sizing up his chances against this group.
“Is the young lady heading back to San Francisco?” Munro asked.
“’Tis nae yer business,” Hamish said.
Elle peeked around him. “Yes. I am. I’m going home.”
“May I join you? I’ll see that she gets there safely,” he said to Hamish.
“I’ll nae allow it.”
“Hamish,” Elle whispered. “If he wants to go with me, why not let him.”
“Because I dinnae trust him not to harm ye.”
Munro approached them, sword drawn. “I dinnae believe ye have a choice in the matter. I’ve all me men with me and ye’ve only yerself. ’Twill be a small matter to take her from ye.”
Hamish swung his sword at Munro, who blocked it with his own sword. The men surrounding them began to move in their direction, but Munro halted them. “I will handle this.” They stopped as he commanded.
“Move towards Aylwen,” Hamish ordered. Elle did as she was told, taking Aylwen’s reins in her hands and standing by his side.
The horse whinnied loudly, as if warning Hamish.
Munro moved forward with lightning speed, swinging his sword in a mighty torrent as he circled Hamish.
Hamish parried him, matching him blow for blow as they fought.
Hamish was confident in his ability to win this battle.
His only concern was for Elle and for what would happen when he finally bested Munro.
His men would never allow them to get away.
One thing at a time, he told himself. He concentrated on the battle at hand, it was only a matter of time before Munro would make a mistake and when he did Hamish would take advantage of it.
He’d no sooner thought it, than it happened.
Munro lost his footing and as he fought to stay upright, Hamish moved in, striking the sword from his hand.
Using his free hand he punch Munro in the gut.
He doubled over and hit the ground. A split second passed before Munro’s men advanced on him.
He backed up towards Elle and Aylwen, expecting he’d soon be taking his last breath in an effort to protect her from Munro and his men.
“Edna!” he called. “If yer sending her back, do it now!” Why was she waiting? Did she know they were there? Without warning, he first felt and then saw a thick fog engulfing Elle and Aylwen.
“Hamish!” she cried. “Hamish!”
Without thinking he rushed to her side. Finding himself surrounded by the dense fog he held her close as colored lightning flashed and popped around them.
Not a sound of the attackers reached his ears.
Aylwen stood perfectly still, for which Hamish was grateful.
He muttered calming words, as much for himself as for Elle and Aylwen.
The fog dissipated and a strange buzzing sound reached his ears. He looked around and realized he’d done it. He’d time traveled. “Where are we?” he asked, doing his best to contain his excitement.
“San Francisco,” Elle said. She pulled the thing she called her phone from her pocket. The buzzing sound got louder. “I’ve got service again.” She stared down at the object in her hands as it lit up and buzzed even more. “These are all the messages I missed since I’ve been gone.”
Hamish spun around, taking in San Francisco. “I can’t believe I’m here,” he said. He’d finally gotten the adventure he’d so hoped for. “Thank ye, Edna.”
Elle couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of her phone. She began to walk away from them, as if she’d forgotten they were with her.
“Elle?” Hamish thought she might be under some strange spell. He wasn’t sure she could hear him. “Elle,” he said a little louder.
“Oh! I’m sorry.” She glanced at him then immediately back to her phone. Her thumbs were tapping on the thing like mad. “What am I going to do with you? You weren’t supposed to come with me.”
Hamish was crushed by her words. “Do ye nae want me here?” he asked.
“It’s not that I don’t want you here. It’s just … I’ve got so much to do. I don’t have time to find you a place to stay. And Aylwen, we’ll need to find a stable for him. I’ve got to contact my manager. He probably thinks I’m dead.”
When he’d spoken with Sara, she’d told him about the demands that would await Elle once she returned to her own time.
He understood it would be important for her to let people know she was safe.
That she had returned. If he had disappeared for days, the first thing he’d do when he returned would be to report in to Laird MacKenzie.
Still, he was crushed at how quickly she could forget he was with her.
But she had told him it would be the case, this was the reason she’d given him when he’d asked her to take him with her.
He didn’t wish to be a burden to her or to make her life more difficult.
He may be a stranger in this land and time, but he could chart his own course.
He was used to ordering his men around, he was sure he could take care of himself in this new world he found himself in.
He took a moment to look around at the large body of water filled with boats, at the expansive bridge off in the distance.
He’d never seen a bridge like it. And the castles.
There were so many and they were so tall.
It occurred to him that he’d never been anyplace where he didn’t know someone, but then he remembered he did know someone.
“The note,” he said motioning to her pocket.
“Sara’s brother. I can call him. He’ll help you.” She pulled the note from her pocket, poked at the phone with her fingers, then held it up to her ear. “Hello? Is this Zeke?”
“Hi. You don’t know me, but your sister, Sara, said I should call you if I needed help and I do.” She smiled at Hamish.
As reassuring as her smile was, Hamish wasn’t sure what was happening. How could she be speaking with Zeke? Was he speaking to her?
“We’re on the Marina Green. I’m with Hamish MacBeown. He’s going to need a place for his horse,” she said.
She was silent again for a moment. “Alright. See you soon.” She turned to Hamish. “He said to wait here. He’ll be here as soon as he can.” Her phone buzzed again. “Sorry. I have to let some people know I’m back.” She began poking away at the phone.
He went back to eyeing the wonders all around him.
There were so many people. More than he’d even seen at Breaghacraig on market day.
Their clothing was different. None were wearing plaids, but they didn’t even seem to notice him, dressed as he was.
He was sure this was going to be the adventure he’d wanted, but Hamish couldn’t help but wonder what happened to the lass he’d hoped to love.
***
“Ugh! This is a mess,” she said to her phone. She seemed very angry at it, Hamish noticed, as she kept poking it with her thumbs and frowning.
They hadn’t been standing there for very long when a man and woman came running up to them.
“Hamish!” the man shouted.
“Zeke, Brenna!” Hamish was relieved they were there.
“You did it! You time traveled,” Zeke said. “What happened? Why did Edna send you? Is Sara okay?”
“Sara is well. I’m not sure why I’m here. I wanted to time travel, but I think this was a mistake.”
“Why would you think that?” Zeke asked.
“Munro was waiting for Elle at the bridge.” He motioned to Elle, who still hadn’t looked up from her phone. “I was caught up in the fog trying to escape his men.”
“Elle Carrera?” Zeke said, turning to get a better look at her.
Elle peeked up from her phone. “What?”
“You’re Elle Carrera,” Zeke said.
“I am.” She smiled, but Hamish noticed it wasn’t the same smile she’d had in his time.
“I’m Zeke and this is my wife, Brenna,” he said.
“Nice to meet you both,” Elle answered, holding out her hand for Zeke to shake and doing the same to Brenna who seemed confused.
“So, why was Munro after you?” Zeke wondered.
“I don’t think it was me he was after. I mentioned I was from San Francisco the first time we ran into him and …”
“He wanted to come after ye,” Hamish said to Brenna.
“I guess he’s not planning to give up any time soon.” Zeke placed a protective arm around Brenna. “But at least we’re safe.”
“Hamish, ye’ll need a place to stay,” Brenna said, speaking for the first time.
“Aye, and for Aylwen.” Hamish was awestruck by everything he was seeing, but he was concerned for his horse. He’d been calm to this point, but Hamish could read the nervous energy he was holding at bay.
“Someone from the stables at Golden Gate Park is going to meet us here. They’re friends of Jenna’s. They’ll take good care of him for you.”
As if on cue, a horse trailer pulled up to the curb. Zeke escorted Hamish and Aylwen over to it while Brenna and Elle hung back out of the way.
“What is this?” Hamish asked.
“A horse trailer,” Zeke said, “to transport Aylwen to the stables.”