All In Good Time: Book Six of The Thistle & Hive Series Read online

  So, Sara found herself all alone once again and wondering what the heck was going on around here. “I’m going to go for a walk,” she yelled to no one in particular. They probably couldn’t hear her, but how much trouble could she get in on a walk. She slipped into her nice, warm cloak and went out the door into the garden.

  Despite the chilly weather, the sun was shining and the flowers seemed to be enjoying it. Everything was so green and vibrant. This time of year back home meant rolling brown hillsides due to lack of rain. Still, they were pretty in their own way. It seemed that here in Scotland they got more than their fair share of weather, as she’d noted over the last few days.

  She stopped to smell a beautiful red rose. The aroma was magical. It tickled her nose and reminded her of her favorite perfume. The petals were soft and velvety. Some things never change, she thought to herself. Five hundred years and roses were still roses, and smelled equally as sweet. She strolled around to the back of the house where Helene had planted a vegetable garden. Come harvest time she’d have an abundance of vegetables for her table. Sara wondered about a root cellar. There was no refrigeration, so naturally they must have some place where they kept their food so it wouldn’t go bad. Sara searched around and finally came upon a structure that had been built into the side of a hill. It had a sturdy wooden door and no windows. This must be it. She hoped they wouldn’t mind if she peeked inside, because she was going to. She’d be crazy not to. How many people in her time got the opportunity to explore medieval life as it was actually happening.

  The door opened easily and though it was dark, light from outside gave her just enough visibility to see in. The air was quite a bit cooler inside. The outer wall where the door was located was made of stacked stone. She wasn’t a builder by any means, but this was fascinating. There were tables filled with dirt where she could see carrots, turnips and other root vegetables. This also seemed to be where Helene kept her flour and several barrels meant this was also possibly where they kept whiskey, wine and ale.

  She closed the door and continued her walk. A path leading further away from the house caught Sara’s eye and curiosity got the better of her. She glanced back over her shoulder to see if Helene or Dougall might be looking for her. They weren’t, so she continued on, enjoying the fresh air and the freedom she felt being on her own. She liked it here. It was so quiet she could actually hear herself think. No cars, sirens or planes overhead interfered with the sounds of nature. Happy birds chirped and sang as she walked through the trees and small critters scurried out of her way as she approached. This made her smile. Sara loved all animals, but birds and small fuzzy creatures were particular favorites. Her social media feeds were filled with videos and images of them, so the chance to spend time here among them in their own world was special to her.

  A chilly breeze blew down the pathway causing Sara to wrap herself more snuggly in her cloak. It was followed by the distant sound of thunder. She turned and looked back the way she came to see dark clouds approaching. Sara was certain she had plenty of time to explore before the rain started, so instead of heading back to the house, Sara continued to walk further and further. She was completely entranced by the surrounding woods until a drop of rain, and then another, plopped onto her head. She pulled her hood up and turned back towards the house, but it was no longer visible. She had no idea how long she’d been wandering, nor had she truly paid attention to where she was going. She was fairly sure she’d traveled in a straight line from the house to this point, so she headed back the way she’d come.

  The rain began to fall harder and the air became cooler. The birds were no longer singing and all the little forest creatures had taken shelter. She was completely alone and becoming more and more unsure of herself. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the house appeared and along with it Sara’s sense of well-being returned, until she realized it wasn’t Helene and Dougall’s home she was seeing. It was a much smaller cottage, or croft, as she’d been told they were called. Shivering in her soaking wet cloak, Sara had no choice but to knock on the door and hope that the people who lived there would be kind enough to let her stay until the storm passed.

  A young woman opened the door. “Yes. Can I help ye?”

  “I wonder if I might come in out of the storm. I’m freezing and soaking wet,” Sara said, teeth chattering and water dripping down her face. “I’m staying with Helene and Dougall MacRae at their home and I was out for a walk when it started to rain.”

  “Please, come in.” The woman opened the door further and Sara passed through. “Here, let me have yer cloak. ’Tis soaking wet. We’ll dry it by the fire.” Sara shrugged out of the cloak and the woman took it from her. She retrieved a blanket from a nearby chair and wrapped it around Sara’s shoulders. “Sit by the fire and warm yerself. I’ll make ye a hot cup of tea.”

  “Thank you.” Sara plunked herself down in front of the fire, happy for the warmth. She stretched her icy cold hands and feet out in front of her. Slowly, she started to feel the warmth of the fire through the chill.

  “You’re quite far from their home. How long have ye been walking?” the woman asked.

  “I don’t know.” Sara admitted. “I wasn’t paying attention. It was sunny when I started my walk and I guess I got lost. I thought I was headed back to their home and instead I found myself here. I’m so sorry to bother you.”

  “’Tis nae bother at all. I be Aisla. I’m pleased to meet ye.”

  “I’m Sara Barrett. Thank you so much for taking me in.” Sara was embarrassed to find herself in this predicament, but this woman didn’t seem to be too put off by her unexpected visit.

  “Do you live here by yourself?” Sara glanced around the small cottage, but there was no one else visible.

  “Nae. I live here with me Da. He’s a blacksmith at the castle. He’ll be back soon I imagine.” Aisla smiled warmly at her. Sara guessed that she must be about the same age as she was. Her light brown hair was braided and hung halfway down her back. She was taller than Sara by a few inches and she had a thin but shapely frame. She had a sweet, pretty face and Sara felt immediately at ease with her.

  She motioned for Sara to come sit down at the table while she got the tea. “Are ye hungry?”

  “No, thank you. Just cold.” Sara took in her surroundings while she waited for Aisla to return with the tea. The table she was sitting at was small and nestled against the wall. There were only two chairs. One for Aisla and one for her father. Something like hay or straw covered the dirt floor and gave off a sweet smell. Sara observed Aisla as she made the tea. She retrieved two mugs and a basket from a closed cupboard. The basket contained herbs which she placed in the mugs. Next, she ladled some water from a pot hanging in the fireplace on top of the herbs.

  “We’ll have ye warmed up in no time.” She brought the tea to the table and handed Sara a mug. “Ye have a strange way of speaking, Sara. Where are ye from?”

  Sara wasn’t sure how to answer that. “Do you know Lady Ashley and Lady Jenna?”

  “Aye. They be lovely lasses.”

  “Well, I’m from the same place they’re from.”

  Aisla nodded her head. “Och. Aye. I recognize the sound of it now.”

  Did that mean she knew about the time traveling? Sara was going to have to get up to speed on what people knew and what she should keep to herself. She sipped her tea. “This is delicious.”

  Aisla smiled at the compliment, “Thank ye. ’Tis me own brew.”

  “You came up with the recipe for it all on your own?” Sara was impressed. She took another sip, wrapping her hands around the mug and enjoying the steamy warmth.

  Aisla nodded again. “’Tis me favorite.” She leaned her elbows on the table as she spoke.

  “I can see why. I really like it.” Sara was enjoying this surprise encounter. Aisla made her feel quite at home.

  “I’ll give ye a pouch to take with ye when ye leave,” Aisla said.

  “Really? That’s so nice of you.”
r />   “Yer words are unusual,” Aisla observed.

  “I’m sorry.” Sara became self-conscious.

  “Dinnae be sorry. I like the sound of them, ’tis only that I dinnae ken the meaning of some.” Aisla shook her head.

  “No worries,” Sara smiled “Tell me when you don’t understand and I’ll try to explain what I mean. Deal?”

  “Deal?”

  Sara giggled, “Okay. No, you don’t know that one either do you? It just means we agree. Does that make sense?”

  “Aye. I understand.” Aisla smiled again and Sara relaxed.

  “Good.”

  They laughed and continued talking until Sara’s cloak was dry and the weather had calmed down.

  “I’d better go. Helene will be worried about me. I don’t think she realized I went for a walk.”

  “I’m so happy ye knocked on me door. I hope ye’ll come back to see me.” There was a sincerity in Aisla’s words and Sara knew she’d be back to visit again.

  “I’d love to. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but it was fun getting to know you.”

  “I’m always here should ye need to stop or if ye’d like to share some tea.” Aisla handed Sara a cloth pouch filled with her special blend. “For ye.”

  “Oh, thank you, Aisla.” Sara hugged her new friend, then put on her cloak and headed out the door. “Point me in the right direction please.”

  “Stay on this road and walk straight past Breaghacraig. Dinnae wander into the woods again and ye’ll find it easily enough.”

  Sara chuckled at that last comment. “I’ll definitely watch where I’m going this time.”

  The door closed behind her and Sara headed back to Helene’s, knowing she’d made another friend here in this time.

  Chapter 6

  Sara’s brain traveled along at a mile a minute. Everything around her was so different than back home. So beautiful… she was trying to keep an eye on the castle so she could find her way back to Helene’s, but it was definitely hard to do when she wanted to take in everything from the color of the sky after that storm to the smell of the clean air, to the sun hitting the peaks in the distance. Everything except what was directly in front of her. She didn’t see the wagon rut in the road until she stepped into it and lost her balance. She felt herself falling, but before she hit the ground, two strong arms reached out to grab her.

  She gazed down at the rut and was thankful she hadn’t fallen into the giant puddle of mud in its center.

  “Thanks for saving me,” she muttered as she quickly glanced up, adjusting the hood of her cape and then looked away without registering the face of the man who’d so gallantly saved her from becoming a muddy mess.

  “Sara?”

  Familiar tingles ran through her body as she recognized the voice and ventured another peek at the face of the man she’d been longing to see. “Logan!” Sara threw her arms around his neck and held on tightly. “I’ve been hoping to find you. Can you believe we bumped into each other like this?”

  “What…” Logan stammered, “what are ye doing here?”

  “I came to see you.” Happiness like she’d never felt before gave Sara an euphoric feeling.

  Those same strong hands that had saved her and were attached to the man she’d been wanting so badly to see were now removing her arms from around his neck. She couldn’t read him. Wasn’t he excited to see her? Sara couldn’t be sure if he was simply shocked at finding her in his time or if he wasn’t happy to see her at all. Her first clue that it might be the latter was the serious expression on his face as he gazed down at her. As a matter of fact, he almost seemed angry.

  “Are you mad at me?” Sara asked. “I mean, aren’t you happy to see me?”

  “It doesnae matter if I’m happy to see ye or not.” He was so quiet. Was he actually scowling at her?

  Panic started to well up in Sara. “That’s a weird answer to a very simple yes or no question.” She stiffened her spine and backed away from him. “What’s wrong with you?” He was huffing and puffing at her like an angry bull.

  “Sara, ye dinnae belong here. Yer much better off in yer own time.”

  Weighing her responses to this unexpected reception, Sara remained silent. The deep disappointment she was feeling was the polar opposite of the happiness she’d just experienced. She was determined that she wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t let him see the tears that were on the verge of falling.

  “So, you’re not happy to see me.” She choked back the emotion that was about to overcome her. “I’m sorry, I thought we had something special when you came to San Francisco, but I can see that I was wrong.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading back to Helene and Dougall’s. If I don’t see you again, I hope you have a happy life.” She didn’t really, but she couldn’t possibly say what she was thinking right at this moment. She was so angry with him and even more so with herself for being stupid enough to think this crazy time traveling escapade was going to work in her favor.

  Sara tried pushing him out of the way, but it was as if she were trying to move a giant redwood tree. He simply didn’t budge. She resisted the urge to look up at him and instead trudged straight through the muddy wagon rut to get around him. In this moment, it was as if the sky, the distant mountains, the very air had disappeared completely and all she could do was stare at the castle to guide her along the road to Helene’s house.

  Logan was stunned as he watched Sara march down the road away from him. He resisted the urge to go after her, to take her in his arms and crush her to him. To kiss the lips of the woman he’d been obsessively thinking of for months. Instead he stood there watching the only woman he’d ever wanted walk away from him. His heart pounded frantically in his chest as he struggled to breathe, wondering what cruel twist of fate had brought her to him at this very moment in time.

  He had to let Sara go. He’d given his word. Aisla needed him. He would take care of her and her child. He was a man of his word. He made a commitment. He would stick to it. No matter what his feelings were for Sara, he couldn’t go back on his promise. It was best to leave her thinking he had no feelings for her.

  It tore at his heart to do so, but it was best for Sara. If she was angry with him, it would be easier for her to get over him. The last thing he wanted on his conscience was Sara’s broken heart, but he doubted he’d ever be able to forget the look on her face when she thought he wasn’t happy to see her. In fact, it had taken everything he had not to jump for joy at the sight of her.

  He wished now he had taken her back with him when he returned from the future. Back then, he wasn’t sure whether the few short days they had spent together would have been enough for either of them to build a life. He could not be certain they were meant to be together. But he had held on to those few days like a precious gift. Now, she was here. She had travelled through time hoping to be with him. Fate was cruel.

  Sara couldn’t possibly stay here in his time. She required his protection and as long as he was married to another he wouldnae be able to give it. It was for her own good that she go back to her own time and forget about him, just as he should stay here and do his best to forget about her. She was used to the finest luxuries in her own time, something that, no matter how hard he tried, he’d never be able to provide for her.

  If he thought long and hard enough, he was sure to come up with an infinite number of reasons why she didn’t belong here. He must keep those thoughts at the forefront. If he did, he’d be sure to keep from going to her and confessing his true feelings. That must never happen.

  “Good day to ye, Aisla.” Logan said as she opened the door to him.

  “Come in,” she said.

  Logan closed the door behind him and attempted a smile for her, but she wasn’t fooled.

  “What’s wrong? Have ye had a run in with me Da?”

  He could see the fire in her eyes and didn’t envy her Da. Luckily that wasn’t what was ailing him. “Nae, I’
ve not seen yer Da.” Hearing the irritation in her voice he did his best to alleviate it. He also knew that she felt a good deal of guilt about this rift between the men. Her father had always liked and respected him, but once he learned Aisla was with child and was told Logan was the cause, he’d been unforgiving in his treatment of him.

  She stood hands on hips and eyed him “Then something else?” She cocked her head and awaited his answer.

  “All is well, lass.” He hoped that would set her mind at ease.

  “Och, I dinnae believe ye, but if yer determined to keep it from me, I’ll leave ye be.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm that her sweet smile couldn’t hide.

  He didn’t wish to lie to her, but if he told her the truth he knew she’d encourage him to go and be with Sara. She’d gladly fend for herself despite the consequences to her own well-being.

  “I ran into someone I haven’t seen in a while. Things didnae go well.” He had to tell her something. He hoped this would do.

  “I’m sorry to hear it.” Aisla pulled a chair out for him to sit, but he didn’t feel like sitting. He was only staying a short while, so there was no need to make himself comfortable.

  “’Tis nae a thing to concern yerself with. I doubt I’ll see them again.” If he did his resolve would vanish into thin air.

  “Good. I had a surprise visitor today, but it went better than yer meeting. I believe I’ve made a new friend.”

  “One can nae have too many friends.” Good they were on to a new topic.

  “She’s a lovely lass. Visiting with Helene and Dougall.” She wiped the table clean as she spoke, brushing the crumbs into her hand and then tossing them into the fire.

  Logan’s heart dropped and he was sure it showed. Sara!

  “Are ye well, Logan? Yer face has grown quite pale. I hope yer not ill. Did ye keep yerself warm while ye were out with Dougall?” She fussed over him like a mother hen, feeling his brow for a fever.

  Logan was only half hearing what Aisla had to say. This wasnae good. He’d speak with Dougall about keeping Sara away from Aisla. He couldn’t chance them meeting again.