“You wanted the truth, Alex, and this is it. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. Annie disappeared before my eyes and I don’t know what caused her to go. The same could happen to me and there is nothing I can do about it.”
He speared her a fierce look then stormed to the door. He stood, his hand on the doorknob as if he didn’t know whether he should stay or go. “I never want to hear you spout such rot again.”
“I said you wouldn’t believe me, but it isn’t rot. I have no reason to lie to you.”
“You’re no’ from the future.”
“I am. In my time we have machines which do almost everything. Man no longer travels by horse, but within large steel contraptions that roll on wheels. Man has even taken one of those planes I spoke of, specially outfitted for space, and landed on the moon.”
“Enough.” He shook with fury.
“We have medications which prevent so many diseases and death. Women rarely die in childbirth and people live to eighty, ninety, even one hundred years of age.”
“I cannae listen to any more of this. You’re to remain here until I return.” He yanked open the door and slammed it behind him. His booted footsteps clomped down the passageway.
Ooo-kay, that went well.
This time was so backward. He had no right to demand she remain here, only for the life of her, she wasn’t game enough to open that door and step out.
She crossed to his corner desk. In the top drawer, she found paper, a quill and ink. Lovely. She sat in his chair and penned precise instructions for her parents to ensure they were never taken from her by the fire. The fire report had said the blaze had begun in their bedroom due to an electrical fault with their heater.
She listed the date and gave as much information as she could about her trip to the past, the very one Alex had not believed her of. But her parents had to. At the end of the note, she signed her name then blew on the ink until it dried. After folding it in three, she tucked it into an envelope and sealed it with red wax and the MacDonald stamp.
Now, she had to get this to the MacLeod stronghold. Dunvegan had never fallen to another clan, and it was the one place in the future where someone might ensure her letter was kept safely locked away. Her parents had to receive this note, and before they perished. Surely they’d believe her.
Her heart throbbed and sank like a stone in her chest. She wanted more time with Alex, but if she was pulled back to her own time before she’d had a chance to deliver this letter then she’d never forgive herself.
Cursing, Alex marched into the great hall. Dunscaith would never fall into ruin. Anne could not possibly have come from the future, and all those things she’d spouted couldn’t even conceivably occur.
“What has that dark look on your face, my son?” His mother wandered around the trestle tables, placing bowls of arranged flowers in the center of each one. Other than her, the room was clear, still he couldn’t repeat his wife’s words. They might turn his mother against her. Although, Mother had been here as he had not.
“’Tis naught. Have you noticed a difference in Anne since the night she escaped?”
She halted then fidgeted with a bowl. “While you were gone, she was amenable, but neither of you had spent much time with each other. I feared she was uncertain, so before your handfast, we spoke. All was well afterward.”
“She did no’ appear different?”
Water sloshed from the next bowl as she placed it on the table. Her gaze jumped to his. “Pray tell what you mean by different?”
He had to be careful he didn’t raise her suspicions. “I only meant by her disposition.”
“Oh, then aye, but she is a MacLeod among so many MacDonalds. Her earlier wariness while you were away was expected.” She took the last bowl and walked to the stairs. “I must finish seeing to the flowers. The chambers need brightening. I’ll see you at the evening meal.”
“You will.” He had already lost much of his afternoon, and the loch awaited.
Outside, converged at the edge of the shore, his men stripped off their shirts and rolled their trews to their knees. He did the same then dove into the loch and led the way. They swam several miles along the coast as part of their daily training. Swimming such distances was imperative since they fought on both land and sea. It ensured they were at their fittest. Any possible weakness could certainly lead to death, and a warrior’s life was already short enough.
As dark descended, he slogged out of the water, pulled his shirt on and a dry pairs of trews left by one the maids. Dressed, he tramped to the keep. His men followed, their hungry rumblings heard by the maids who rushed to fill the tables with hot and hearty dishes of food and their tankards with ale.
With his clan assembled in the great hall, he took his place at the dais and turned to Alan at his right. “Do you have aught to report?”
“Your lady has kept to your chamber since ye left.”
Good. At least she had not defied his order. He removed the dirk strapped to his thigh, stabbed a wedge of beef and ate it from the tip.
“Good evening, Alex.” His mother swished by and took her seat. “Where is Anne?”