Highland Defiance

chapter Four



It took everything she had not to turn and run. But what good would it do to turn her back to what came her way? Thunderous, the men slowed and formed a circle around them. All well-muscled and well-armed, they wore the same sort of garb Adlin had, yet their plaids were a different color.

One man trotted his horse forward a little closer, obviously trying to intimidate her. “Who’s the lass, boy?”

James’ eyes grew round and he glanced from Mildred to the man. “Never did get her name, my laird.” His lip quivered. “But I can tell you she’s no faery.”

The men chuckled, all that is except the one who did the questioning. She wouldn’t call him unhandsome. No doubt he’d once been quite glorious. Now, he possessed an unfortunate fierceness. From this angle his hair appeared dirty blond, his deep-set eyes severely dark. Broad shouldered, he blocked out the sun.

Slowly, methodically, his intense eyes roamed over her. Lord, what must he be thinking of her pants? “Give your name, lass. Why are you here?”

Should she tell them she knew Adlin? No, best to remain vague until she had more facts. Mildred made to speak but her voice caught. Not good. She cleared her throat, stood tall and kept her gaze locked with his. “Mildred. I’m lost.”

The men mumbled in a foreign dialect. The man, Bruce she assumed, shook his head sharply and they quieted. When he swung down from his horse, Mildred locked her legs so she wouldn’t instinctually step back. This was a man she knew she shouldn’t show fear in front of. Not easy though.

Quite tall but not as tall as Adlin, he again looked her up and down. From this proximity she realized that his eyes were not black but a very dark brown. His features were striking but harsh and weather-worn. She sensed that he was in his twenties but looked more like he was in his late thirties, early forties.

“I’ll ask again, why are you here?” he said.

“Because I am lost.”

“Verra lost I’d say.” His eyes shot from her pants to her face. “What do you wear?”

What did she wear? What would make sense? “Traveling clothes. I’m from the south you see.”

“One from the lowlands th—,” said a random man.

Bruce scowled and he stopped mid-sentence. But she’d been given enough information.

Though she couldn’t put the inflection of the Scots in her voice she replied, “Nay, a highland clan. The MacLomains.”

Mentioning Adlin would be her best course of action after all.

She hoped.

Eyes narrowed slightly, Bruce’s jaw hitched slightly. “The MacLomains you say. And why is it I should believe you?”

Mildred thought fast and hoped she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. “Because you know the way Chieftain Adlin thinks. It would not be beyond him to send a strange woman to soften the blow of his arrival.”

The men chuckled. Bruce’s pupils flared. She was on to something.

Several long moments passed before Bruce spoke again. “Not even your accent is right. Where did MacLomain find you?”

Ah. So he believed she’d been sent by Adlin…which made her truly wonder about Adlin’s reputation. “East Lothian,” she replied automatically. “I am a Broun.”

East Lothian was supposedly where her mother’s side of the family came from. With any luck that’d explain some of why she seemed out of place.

“So you are a lowlander,” he grumbled. “Never did see what the MacLomains saw in them.”

Discussion apparently ended, he grunted and swung onto his horse. “We’re off to hunt. See that she gets quarters in the castle.”

With one last, long eyeful of her, Bruce spurred his horse and left, all of his men in tow save two. One swung James up, the other her. Mildred tensed, severely uncomfortable being on the horse with a rugged and somewhat smelly stranger. The castle seemed hungry to welcome her. Square and unforgiving, she realized it sat on a cliff overlooking a raging sea. It seemed she’d somehow found herself at the tip of Scotland. Grinding her jaw she knew without doubt she had not found her way here but somehow Adlin had found the way for her. So did that mean her one true love was here?

Daunting thought.

As the horses cantered over the drawbridge she found herself longing not for the company of her siblings but for that of David and Jim. With them here, this would be an adventure. Without them it felt more like she was being imprisoned. For all she knew that’s exactly what Bruce intended for her.

When they dismounted James left without a word. Though she didn’t blame him she wished he’d stuck around. It seemed he was her only potential ally here. The man who had given her the ride nodded toward the castle and started walking. Apparently she was supposed to follow him.

What a place! Like the environment itself the people seemed more abrasive, their faces harder, eyes colder. Then again, she could only compare them to the MacLomains who she’d so recently visited. But it’d felt warmer there… cleaner almost. Not that it was dirty here. Everything seemed in order. But this clan didn’t nearly possess the comfort level she’d felt when with Adlin. Why would it though? The chieftain hadn’t escorted her here.

No, he’d all but ordered.

“I’ll take her the rest of the way, lad,” a woman barked.

Iosbail? Impossible! Yet there she was, hands on hips, expression exasperated. Before Mildred could say a word, Adlin’s sister looked at the man escorting her and said, “You heard me then!”

The big guy who’d been so strictly ordered by Bruce to get her here now almost cowered when confronted with Iosbail. With a brief nod he turned and left. Mildred was about to speak but Iosbail shook her head. “Come on, lassie. Let me show you where ye’ll be sleeping.”

Could this get any stranger? Why was Iosbail here and so familiar with this clan? Guess she’d find out soon enough. It’d be a lie to say she wasn’t slightly more comfortable now knowing Adlin’s sister was here. That she wasn’t alone.

Like the castle, the great hall was extremely different than that of the MacLomain clan. Where the MacLomain’s hall boasted a variety of tapestries ranging from nautical to warring to sensual, this hall screamed war. The artwork was near sinister and borderline evil.

This clan liked to be in charge… or think it was.

Iosbail led her to the second floor then down a long hallway lit by torches. The smell of Brach and seawater filled her nostrils. The air felt oppressive, musky, humid yet chilly. Eventually, they entered a small chamber. With nothing but a cot in the corner and a single wall torch, it felt like she’d truly been ushered into a jail cell.

The minute they entered the room Mildred confronted Iosbail. “What’s going on?”

“You, it seems,” Iosbail said bluntly before she pointed at the bed. “That’s where you sleep.”

“Really?” Mildred crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s all you have to say.”

“Glad to see my stable boy, James, found you.” Iosbail sat on the cot and casually braced back on her hands. “Aren’t you glad that I’m here to say anything at all?”

Before Mildred could respond, Iosbail continued, “I am here because I married into this clan. You are here because you soon will.”

Iosbail was married into this clan? Interesting. But irrelevant right now.

“So you say.” It took everything Mildred had not to flee now while she could. Would Iosbail stop her? Hard to tell. Iosbail didn’t seem that cordial. Then again, she hadn’t been with the MacLomain clan either. Arms still crossed over her chest she continued. “Where’s Adlin. Again, what’s going on? Why am I here?”

Iosbail lay back on the bed and crossed her legs. With a shrug she said, “It’s hard to ever tell where Adlin is. Typically, he’s with his precious clan. What’s going on? I’d think that is obvious, you’re back in time again. I already told you why I was here.”

Mildred banked her irritation and took a deep breath. Iosbail was a far different creature than her brother. Purposely eying Iosbail up and down she asked, “So why did you marry into this clan?”

A small smirk crawled onto Iosbail’s lips then vanished. “Let’s just say I came into this clan from a different angle than Adlin.”

It didn’t surprise her in the least that Iosbail now acted more like a twentieth century female than one born in this era. The woman was devious and manipulative amongst many things. Iosbail stretched and cinched her hands behind her head, eyes somewhat on Mildred. Naturally, she said nothing but left the conversation loose.

Honestly, this wasn’t Mildred’s cup of tea. Nobody in her family acted this way. In fact, the closest personality type to this pre-meditated sort of nonchalance could only ever belong to Jim. And she knew how to deal with that.

Leave.

With a smile and gracious nod she said, “Thanks, Iosbail,” and left the room.

With no real direction, she walked back down the hall. She’d made it all of twenty steps when…

“Brazon. I see why he likes you.”

Mildred slowed at the sound of Iosbail’s voice but didn’t stop. Why who liked her? Adlin or Bruce? Who cared! As she started to walk down the stairs she wondered where she’d go from here. Truth told she’d hoped Iosbail would have stopped her before this. Apparently the woman had too much pride. Halfway down the stairs she noted how near-empty the hall was with scattered clan’s folk here and there. Though a few had turned their heads when she entered minutes before, now they seemed oblivious. Were they that used to strangers?

“Mildred, yer going in the wrong direction.”

She looked up. Iosbail leaned against the wall at the top stair and grinned. “You really should let me show you around.”

Though not particularly fond of the idea of exploring this place on her own she said, “Honestly, that’s not the most appealing idea.”

Iosbail shrugged, nearly indifferent. “No, I’d imagine not. But you should, lassie. After all… we have something in common.”

Mildred contemplated the woman with raven dark hair and perfect features. A woman with cunning eyes and arrogance so slippery many must have already broken themselves on it. However, despite her reservations, she clearly saw a woman hiding her desperation and masking well blatant fear.

With an obvious look between the hall and Iosbail, Mildred asked, “Will you show me everything?”

Iosbail’s eyes narrowed slightly but still she smiled and nodded. “At the very least.”

Translation, Mildred wanted answers and Iosbail would give them.

She slowly walked up the stairs. Iosbail’s expression remained the same save the unmistakable flicker of relief in her eyes. So now, Adlin’s sister no longer held the upper ground. They were equals. They both needed something from one another. What that was on Iosbail’s part, Mildred had no clue. Regardless, she was moving in the right direction… or at least a better direction.

Iosbail led her right back into the same room and plunked down onto the bed. “I wish there was more to show you but—” She cast a grim eye around the space. “There’s not much to show beyond this room.”

“There’s always more to see,” Mildred said. “Especially for someone from another time.”

“I suppose.” Yet the look Iosbail shot her was nothing less than incredulous.

“If you don’t want to show me around how about showing me how to get home?To my time that is.”

“I’d like nothing better.” Iosbail stood, a touch restless. Almost as if she rethought her words she said, “Not that I dinnae want you here.”

“Of course.” Mildred leaned against the doorway. “When is Adlin coming? Is he coming?”

“You know he is.” Iosbail nodded toward the slit of a window and shrugged. “Soon.”

Though she said as much, Mildred wasn’t inclined to believe Iosbail, mainly because she didn’t trust her. She’d known the MacLomain siblings for less than a day but sensed the two had vastly different personalities.

“So what do you think about Laird Bruce?” Iosbail asked.

“That he isn’t a huge fan of your brother.”

Iosbail chuckled and nodded. “You already know him well then.”

The strain between them softened some. “Why?”

“Why not?” Iosbail shrugged and peered out the window. “Adlin’s more powerful in every sense of the word.” She cast a watchful eye Mildred’s way. “And far more attractive, aye?”

Now it was Mildred’s turn to shrug. “Some might think so.”

Iosbail only gave a small grin and continued to stare out the window.

Was she watching for Adlin at this very moment? Not easy to tell. As tempted as she was, Mildred wouldn’t ask. To her mind, it felt like giving into Iosbail… asking her exactly what she expected.

As if she were reading her mind Iosbail turned and looked her up and down. “Time to get you washed up and dressed. Clans will be arriving tonight for the big celebration.”

“And what would that be?”

“My marriage, of course!”

Mildred couldn’t help but round her eyes. “I thought you were already married into this clan.”

“Nay, I said marriage. To my mind ‘tis already happened. No choice in that. But no. ‘Tis this eve.”

Well, no wonder Bruce expected Adlin’s arrival! Mildred pinched the bridge of her nose. Why couldn’t these people talk straight about things?

“Ech, dinnae look so tortured. Yer not the one marrying a MacLeod.”

The fact that Iosbail’s accent slid back into a deep Scottish brogue told her a lot. The woman wasn’t happy. Leaning out the door, Iosbail whistled and rolled her eyes. “Let’s see how fast they get the bath water here. Better, let’s see how cold it is.”

Iosbail shivered as though she were already sliding into the icy water.

Despite herself, Mildred felt the sudden urge to comfort the other woman but stopped short when she saw the steely determination on Iosbail’s face. She needed no comfort. It was obvious she’d long ago learned how to protect her emotions.

A few quiet minutes passed before servants started to carry in random things. Two tubs of water, two dresses and a variety of other miscellaneous objects. Iosbail immediately unclothed and stepped into one tub, sinking down with an obvious shiver. “’Tis as warm as I thought it would be.”

Though not particularly comfortable with the idea, Mildred stripped and crawled into the other tub. Frigid! She gritted her teeth and quickly lowered into the water. Yet, in its own way, as foolish as it might seem, it felt good to hide beneath the water. And she hadn’t looked timid in front on Iosbail. That was something. However, she drew the line when one of the servants wanted to wash her. She took the crude bar of soap and started to scrub. Iosbail seemed quite content with letting another bathe her and moved comfortably as she was washed.

When finished, Iosbail stood and allowed the servants to help her dry and dress. Mildred swallowed and determined, did the same. It was odd having another help her with such simple tasks. Was she embarrassed? Not really. It just felt unnatural. This was something she could do on her own.

In short time, she marveled at not only the dress Iosbail wore but her own. Long, soft and a lovely shade of blue, Mildred felt like a queen. Iosbail was stunning as well in a crème gown of… she knew that dress!

“My Mama wore that,” she murmured.

“This old thing?” Iosbail winked.

“How is this possible?”

“Surely you know about the wedding gown all MacLomain women wear on their wedding day?”

Did she? Yes she did. But the tale she’d been told said that it’d been passed down through the generations. That the pearls strung through it were hand-picked by a distant relative… one named Iosbail. Impossible. Apparently, the magical dress had been around for thousands of years.

Iosbail wasn’t a day over twenty-five.

“Yer just overthinking things, Mildred,” Iosbail said as she allowed a servant to comb her long, dark hair.

Am I? She had to be. There’s no way that magic was that strong. Was it? Yet even the way Iosbail said it made her once more doubt the woman’s truthfulness. Too many secrets. Despite the meager probability, the idea that she might be that very ‘Iosbail’ made a certain amount of far-fetched sense. Wasn’t the discussion of Adlin’s youthful appearance a recent topic between her and her mother?

“Verra nice,” Iosbail said.

It took Mildred a minute to realize that the servants had left and they were now fully dressed. Iosbail looked amazing with her hair streaming down around her shoulders. The dress fit as perfectly on Iosbail as it would on Sarah nearly a thousand years later.

“Not me. You, lass,” Iosbail said.

Still caught up in confusing thoughts, Mildred looked down haphazardly. While not completely dry, her hair now hung soft and full down her chest. Though there was no mirror to confirm, she felt rather… pretty?

Iosbail walked around her and made adjustments here and there before finally saying, “Aye, yer a fine sight, lass!”

A bit stunned, Mildred did what came naturally and shook her head. “Obviously you haven’t seen yourself.”

Iosbail gave a small smile and shook her head. “Sure I have, one too many times.” Before Mildred could respond, the other woman headed for the door. “Let’s go then.”

Frustrated but somewhat used to the emotion when it came to all-things-Iosbail, Mildred followed. Obviously it didn’t occur to Adlin’s sister to try to break her in slowly, to be a tad compassionate?

Determined to stay strong, Mildred followed her down the hall. How had they within an hourgone from being equals to Iosbail clearly being in charge? Somehow, all she’d thought she’d established had slipped right through her fingers.

Yet the truth was Mildred was suddenly okay with Iosbail once more taking the reins. The situation would most likely be terrifying otherwise. Interesting, when a person felt their most vulnerable it was fine being controlled by another, especially if that ‘other’ knew their environment.

The great hall was somewhat quiet which surprised her. Shouldn’t there be people down here to greet Iosbail in awe? To congratulate her? Apparently not. About thirty clansmen and women filtered around. That was it. Iosbail didn’t seem bothered in the least but urged Mildred to follow her outside.

They’d just exited the door when Iosbail made a loose flourish with her hand. “See, I told you.”

Shocked, she watched as the courtyard filled with horses. The men didn’t wear the MacLeod tartan but instead, the blues and greens of the MacLomains. Chest tight, she scanned them all. Where was Adlin? As if on cue, he trotted through the gates. Was it her imagination or did his eyes go straight to hers?

Right behind him, Bruce MacLeod and his men cantered in. Adlin and Bruce swung off their horses simultaneously. With a smile on his face, Adlin offered his arm. With a scowl on his, Bruce did the same. The men locked arms then pulled away.

Mildred released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Adlin turned to his men. Bruce headed her way. His eyes skimmed briefly over Iosbail before landing on her. Dusty and speckled with dry blood he approached them and said to her, “Glad you were well cared for.”

She’d never heard anything more disingenuous but replied, “Thank you.”

With a brief nod and a long eyeful, he passed and entered the castle.

Iosbail, with a straight back and calm eyes said, “You did well.”

I did? She’d done nothing at all, at least as far as she was concerned.

“Come.”

Mildred followed Iosbail into the castle when all she really wanted to do was go look for Adlin. Why hadn’t he come right over? What sort of game did these people play?

“Where are we going?” she whispered.

Iosbail said nothing as they went back up the stairs. Once they’d returned to their original chamber, Adlin’s sister said, “We wait a bit then go down.”

“Why didn’t we stay down there?”

“Because our purpose was to greet the laird when he returned.”

Oh wonderful. This was ridiculous. So she decided against it. “I’m going to look for Adlin, I’ll be back.”

Like a vise grip, Iosbail grabbed her forearm. “Good way to get killed.”

Mildred met her eye to eye. “Then talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. Because I guarantee Adlin will.”

“If you make it alive to talk to him,” Iosbail muttered and released her arm. “The way this clan works is the laird rules. All we little people obey.”

Iosbail walked to the window, her posture stiff, expression unforgiving, brogue all but gone. “Follow me and you’ll be fine. Right now, Bruce is under the assumption you’re here for me. You are currently being given the rights of a second to me. Considering I’m marrying his brother, that makes you near royalty in these times, even if you are of Adlin’s clan.”

“And you couldn’t tell me this to begin with!” Mildred blurted. “Or would that have made too much sense?”

“Everything I do and say makes sense,” she said calmly. Before Mildred could say another word, Iosbail’s cool eyes turned her way. “Are you not a Broun witch? Do you not descend from me?”

Her eyes went dry. Her throat clogged up.

“That’s right,” Iosbail said softly and looked out the window. “Now you know.”

Her earlier suspicions had been absolutely correct. Mildred slowly sat on the bed and eyed Iosbail with a new respect. This was the witch her mother spoke so highly of. Though she apparently ended up with the MacLomains this woman had long been one of her own. And if that was true, she was thousands of years old.

If she was who she said she was.

Iosbail’s eyes turned her way, blue eyes turning a deep black. “Do you doubt it for a second?”

Run from the room! Do it! She said to herself. But Mildred didn’t. Instead she stared right back at Iosbail. To run from her… this… would somehow mean running from Fate. Worse yet, running from her fate. Where she got her bravery from she’d never know.

“I did. Now I don’t. I think you stink for not being honest up front.”

Iosbail looked at her long and hard. Every second of that long stare, Mildred wanted to cower. But she didn’t. Eventually, something in Iosbail’s eyes gentled and she nodded. “It willnae be long now.”

Even though she had many questions, Mildred didn’t say another word as they waited, perhaps because she wasn’t quite ready for answers to those questions. It was still hard to believe that Iosbail was the woman of whom her mother spoke. The very concept boggled the mind.

“It’s time,” Iosbail said at last. Head held high and shoulders back, she left the room.

Though it seemed a short time passed, the great hall had filled with people. To Mildred’s mind this should be a grand event but as they descended the stairs no head turned. The clansfolk mingled but their eyes stayed suspiciously away from the women descending. It felt forced, intentional. But what did she know of events like this in such a time period? Perhaps this was perfectly normal.

With a loud, deep bellow, Bruce said, “Here.”

But Iosbail was already heading in his direction. Mildred followed, uncomfortable as the thick crowd parted just enough for them to make their way to the area in front of the great fire. If she’d been claustrophobic, this would be terrible…and smelly. Did these people bathe as a general rule of thumb?

Laird Bruce seemed somewhat refreshed, his hair damp, his tartan clean. So at least he changed. Beside him stood a man slightly shorter and believe it or not, far more stocky. Clearly bathed as well, the man’s expression was an odd mix of grumpy and lustful as he watched Iosbail approach. Heavens above, she hoped this wasn’t her great-grandfather distantly removed. Not enough generations could comfortably come between her and this predator.

Why would Adlin allow this union?

Better yet, why would Iosbail?

As if he heard her very thoughts, a tall man merged in beside her. Iosbail didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Adlin.

Bruce’s eyes hardened slightly. Mildred didn’t dare look Adlin’s way.

Apparently Adlin didn’t feel the same because he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Good to see you again, lass. It’s been far too long.”

Her body warmed not only because of the sound of his throaty whisper but by his very nearness… his heat.

Iosbail cleared her throat and said softly, “Shall we begin my laird?”

Bruce jerked his head yes. Iosbail and the man who must be his brother stepped forward so that they faced one another. Mildred almost cringed. Iosbail was lovely, refined, and proud, her counterpart however, leering, shifty-eyed, sleazy. It was an unnatural match by anyone’s standards.

As if he sensed her discomfort, Adlin moved closer, his presence the first tangible release from stress she’d felt since traveling back in time again. Yet even with him close, she continued to feel uneasy. Why was this happening? Did the clans need the tie this much?

Mildred watched as a scrap of tartan bound Iosbail and her betrothed wrists together. She listened as they spoke in a foreign language words that were obviously binding them together as man and wife. She bit her lip when the words were finished and the stranger pulled Iosbail into his arms for what appeared to be a very unpleasant kiss.

The crowd roared to life. Bruce nodded and a dry grin broke over his craggy face. Mildred fell back when the mass of people swarmed forward. Grateful, she let them surround her. Stinky folk or not, she didn’t want to be anywhere near what she’d just witnessed.

“Go get some fresh air.”

Though she knew Adlin had whispered in her ear, when she looked around he was nowhere to be found. But his words lingered as well as the suggestion. Fresh air would be wonderful. Mildred shoved through the crowd toward the door. From this point, it seemed a million miles away. Luckily, the people seemed too interested in moving toward the newly married couple.

And they were a bendy crowd.

Mildred spied the doors and gratefully exited the great hall into the cold air of the Scottish Highlands. Or should she say cool with a bite? Unlike a solid New Hampshire winter, the moisture and nip of the wind felt different, far more intentional and sea born.

It felt perfect.

The second she walked out the door she was a little freer than she’d been the whole time in the castle. It didn’t matter that she had no real sense of direction.

“But you do,” Adlin said. She didn’t hesitate when his hand lightly took her elbow. All she’d wanted since she’d arrived was a moment alone with him. As if she thought Bruce was still somehow staring her down she didn’t look Adlin’s way.

They didn’t go far.

When he veered off into the stalls, she followed. A few torches burned. Besides the meager light the stalls were empty of humans, only horses. They walked about halfway down before he pulled her into a dark stall. Positioning himself where light cut across half his face, he put his hands on her forearms and asked, “How have you been all these years?”

All these years? Mildred looked up into his beautiful, concerned face and didn’t know quite what to say. In fact, she was speechless.

Adlin’s large hand cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry that you left so quickly before. It’s hard to imagine you’re back again so many years later.” His tone faltered. “Why are you back, Mildred?”

Caught by the feel of his touch her lips parted, her jaw dropped, but no sound came out. Why did he seem so surprised? Adlin was Adlin. If he was the man whom her mother spoke of he was supposed to know everything. Wasn’t he?

As if he heard her thoughts a certain sort of understanding crossed over his features. His thumb gently caressed her cheek and he leaned close. “You’re here for a reason.” He pulled back slightly as though surprised by his own words. Uncertain, he asked, “When did you last see me?”

As hard as it was to say she whispered, “Yesterday. I saw you yesterday.”

A flicker of confusion crossed his face then vanished as though he were practiced at disguising shock. The moment became not one of romance but one of protection as he cupped her other cheek, leaned his forehead against hers and said briefly, “Please dinnae worry. I will figure this out.”

When he pulled away sharply and began pacing the horse stall, Mildred leaned against the wall, weak from the push and pull of this reality… of Adlin.

None of this made sense. Adlin was supposed to know how to fix this. Yet he seemed confused. With a heavy swallow, Mildred said, “Please just send me home. I don’t belong here.”

As though he’d been caught doing something he wasn’t allowed, Adlin stopped short and looked at her. In that single moment, she saw how much he cared. Perhaps not about her but by her set of circumstances. More than that, she saw remorse. As though he knew he couldn’t make the situation better.

Sudden rage filled her. “Don’t look at me like that! If you’re the man my mother spoke of, you can fix this in a minute. Are you not a wizard? A powerful one?”

Arms akimbo, eyes suddenly calm when he looked at her, Adlin said in a strange tone, “It seems, my lass, you are beyond even my control.”

Mildred shook her head. “No.” Then she nodded. “You can fix this.”

She ignored the fact that he gazed at her with his heart in his eyes. Yes, he was by far the best looking man she’d ever laid eyes on. But that meant nothing right now. He was supposed to be able to fix this. Not stand there helpless.

“Shh,” he whispered and came to her. He pulled her hands against his chest. “You are not alone.”

Mildred tried to pull away but he held tight. Angry she said, “Not alone. Are you crazed? Not even you understand this. Seems your sister does though. Why don’t you go talk to her and get this figured out so that I can get home.”

Adlin was strong and held her flailing arms in place all while towering over her with that same sad, confused look on his face. His grip only tightened enough to hold her in place. No more, no less. Eventually Mildred stopped trying to flail and looked up into his face.

As if he was waiting for her to calm he said, “Mildred, do you believe in Fate… in Destiny?”

“No I don’t. I believe a person controls their own fate. Nobody else controls it.”

He pulled her closer. “Would you believe me if I told you that you were wrong?”

Mildred found herself nodding and then shaking her head, mesmerized by his intense gaze. “I think you’d tell me just about anything to keep me calm right now.”

His eyes searched hers, his lips hinted at a smile. “And would that be so terrible?”

Caught in the rich, enticing depths of his eyes she said, “No.” Then the nagging feeling that she was being led astray by ‘everything Adlin’ resurfaced and she said, “Yes!”

Lord, he smelled good. Like spice and outdoors and something else.

He moved her back against the stall, shaking his head the whole time. “There is such a being as Fate. There is such a thing as Destiny.” His head lowered until their lips were within inches. “I never stopped thinking about you, Mildred. And now you’re back.” His lips came so close that the corner of his met the corner of hers. “Are you here for me?”

The touch of the corner of his lip made her suck in air. She should try to pull away, something. But the warmth of his breath, the protection, the pure need, made her turn her lips to his, to seek them.

When their lips came together it was as though they’d never been apart… as though their lips were made to fit together. She felt as though she was kissing a man for the first time. Both startled and intrigued she brought her hands to his shoulders. His skin was hard and on fire.

As his lips tilted over hers, her fingers curled, nails digging. Muscled, smooth, knowing, his tongue swung into her mouth. Eager, she met and swirled…relished. He tasted as good as he looked, delicious. Hungry, she stood on tip-toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t fight him when he wedged her thighs apart and pushed against her, his arousal thick and wanting against her innocent but eager core.

“Guess he lucked out.”

Startled, she froze.

Adlin made a gesture with his hand and deepened the kiss. Caught off guard, Mildred pulled back and frowned. Nothing had changed. She could still hear men talking right outside their stall.

“They can’t hear us,” Adlin said. Yet he didn’t pursue the kiss, almost as if he were afraid.

Bereft, absent almost, Mildred felt cool air rush between them.

“I don’t believe you,” she whispered.

Then she felt it, a slight electrical charge in the wall at her back. Pushing away, she fell conveniently against Adlin. His arms came around her, his chin rested on her head. Mildred’s eyes widened as she watched the stall illuminate in pale blue then fade.

“Bonnie lass,” another man responded. “I’d take her for a ride, I would.”

Mildred stilled in fear. Adlin held her face against his chest and stroked her hair. The gesture was comforting and she relaxed against him. She knew what was happening around them didn’t feel right… still.

This was Adlin.

He was safe.

As if to test her resolve the air started to crackle around her.

“Time for you to go,” Adlin said abruptly.

Before she knew it, Mildred was standing in the hay-lined stall between doors. The men who walked by them turned and smiled then continued on their way as if they didn’t remember walking through the barn. She shook her head and turned back only to find it empty.

Panicked, she stuck her head into the stall and looked around, “Adlin, they’re gone. Please, where are you?” Mildred paused, waited, and then began to shake. “You didn’t leave. That much magic is too much for me.”

No response.

Mildred entered, heart thumping.

But there was nothing.

Nobody.

As if Adlin had never been there.

She leaned against the stall wall and licked her lips, still tasted him. Mildred closed her eyes and hung her head. Was he still here somewhere or would it be several years before they saw one another again? What sort of bitter time warp had she been thrust into? Because it was terribly cruel.

Now her heart was invested.

Because of a mere kiss.