“’Tis been six days since they spoke through that strange device which captured their voices. Time has no meaning until we’ve arrived.” She pulled her into a hug. “Your parents are wonderful. Your letter to them was very clear. They cannae wait to see you.”
“Ha, that would be nice,” she mumbled into Annie’s pajama top, no, one of her old pajama tops. “How come you didn’t go with them?”
“I’ve no passport, and even though I could use yours since we’re identical, Donald and William had it.”
“Argh, that means we’re both stuck here.”
“I don’t mind. I love your country. The beach is beyond your window, and the sand is so soft, the water such a clear blue. ’Tis no wonder MacLeods traveled halfway across the world to settle here.”
“Alex needs me. We handfasted, and then Rory came for me, you, I mean—well, you know what I mean. He came and I returned with him to Dunvegan. That’s where I made a wish upon the Fairy Flag as well.”
“You did? ’Tis the power behind our travel. What was your wish?”
“That my parents survive the terrible fire which took them. To allow you to travel through time as you wished, but that I not be taken from Alex.”
“With our wishes made, our travel may be intertwined. You have come to me, once at Dunscaith and now here.”
“Yes, but I need to see my parents, and I also need to get back to Alex. He followed me to Dunvegan. You wouldn’t believe how stubborn he is.”
“You’ve come to care for him?”
“More than anything.” She palmed her chest. “My heart aches for him, and I carry his child. He knows, and I’m sure right now he’s peeved I disappeared the way I did.”
“A bairn.” She hugged her. “Goodness, our Highland men are incredibly obstinate, although I don’t know how you’ll get back to him. The portal has a mind of its own.”
She swayed on her feet. “Sorry, it’s been a long day.”
“Dinnae apologize to me. Come. I’ll see to your care.” She guided her out the door and down the cream carpeted hallway.
Colorful prints of her family graced the sea-blue walls, a montage from over the years. Her favorite was one of the three of them sitting at the base of the sand dunes. The foamy waves had rolled in and tickled their toes. Memories surged. “After the fire, I had nothing, not one of these prints. Now, it’s all back. Amazing.”
“You have a wonderful family.” Annie led her across the kitchen to the side alcove.
“I’ve missed this place.” Silver-edged blue curtains adorned the bay windows and she sat underneath them on the padded seat. She stroked the covers sewn in the same luscious fabric. On the kitchen countertop, Mum’s glorious white roses bloomed in a sparkling crystal vase. “Did you pick those?”
“Aye, they’re beautiful. Morainne’s rose garden is stunning.” Annie nabbed a credit card from the bench then sat beside her. “She gave me this and a number which unlocks money from those machines which hand it out. I had some practice before she and Tor left, but ’tis good you’re here to aid me.”
“I’m so sorry.” How could she have forgotten how scary the future must seem to Annie. Sure, her ancestor had made the wish, which had started it all, but she was also here, trying to fix what she’d begun. “I met Margaret. She insisted we not tell Rory what had happened, that he’d never believe and only blame Alex for my loss of mind.”
“Aye, she’s right. It would take a miracle for Rory to believe you were no’ me. Look at us. We’re the same, even down to the tiny mole we have above our left eyebrow. We must be close in age”
“My birthday is June first. I’m twenty-one.”
Those identical eyebrows rose. “I too am one and twenty, June first. Blood of my blood.” Annie clasped her hands. “That could be another reason our wish was granted.”
“What happened to your parents? I’ve heard they passed away, but not how.”
Tears welled in Annie’s eyes. “They should never have died. Three years past we were traveling to Edinburgh. Mother and I sat in the cart as Father and several of our guardsmen rode with us. Such rugged terrain, but still we traveled the roads instead of the waterways. One of the wheels came loose and we had to stop. The moment we did, a savage party of ruffians stormed out of the forest. They wielded two claymores each and attacked with ferocity.”
“Why?” Oh, poor Annie. She must have been terrified.
“There is such unrest in the Highlands. The king wishes the wealth of Skye for himself and if a clan denies what he requests, they soon find disfavor and bounties on their heads. A number of clans have lost their lands. Those cast out take what they can, where they can. ’Tis a game of survival, although many are strong, highly trained warriors. This band of ruffians was one such group.”
“But you survived.”
“Father tossed me his dirk and told me to take Mother and run. She wouldnae leave him, and I couldnae drag her away. Father died protecting the two of us.”
“And your mother?” She wiped her wet cheeks.
“We were taken. Mother fought her captor and hit her head on a low tree branch as we passed underneath it. She never recovered from the blow.”